The difficulties encountered by a community college in its first years of operation can be considerable. When that college is initiated in an ethnically diverse community marked historically by inadequate educational and social services, new educational offerings and organizational arrangements at first can prove ineffective. Such a scenario is presented from the author's experiences as a faculty member at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College, in the South Bronx. The author analyzes social and educational problems which arose during the first two years at Hostos, concluding with a number of recommendations for similar community colleges. Although the article does not describe developments at Hostos beyond the first two years, it is worth noting that the college has survived its early instability and is currently serving the South Bronx community.

Click here to purchase this article.