This course will provide students with the philosophical and historical foundations of the American community college system. Students will explore current issues including, but not limited to, the evolution of the community college baccalaureate, principles of accreditation, institutional effectiveness, workforce development/career readiness, and federal oversight of community colleges. In addition, barriers and strategies to improve throughputs in PK-20 will be discussed, highlighting the role of the community college in that pipeline process and how additional designations such as Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) can further enhance their ability to transform the education system. This course benefits learners interested in higher education and those who aspire to be professors, researchers, policy analysts, and/or administrators at institutions of higher education.