Position Papers.

Five position papers from the American Association of Community and Junior College's (AACJC) task force on small and rural community colleges are presented. On the issue of equal opportunity for the small/rural college, the task force asserts that public policy-making bodies must provide for comprehensiveness in curriculum and in services in all its community college units regardless of size or geographic location. In regard to financing, it is felt that equity in funding in any state system of public and community colleges depends upon the inclusion of some means, mathematical or other, of allowing for the higher costs of operation per unit within the smaller, rural community college. In regard to small colleges and accrediting agencies, it is stressed that any judgements should entail a preponderance of weight resting with representatives from peer institutions. In the area of federal and state constraints on small college programs, the task force emphasizes that federal funds are not serving to equalize education for students of two-year colleges. In respect to developing the literature and research support of rural community colleges, it is recommended that an AACJC monograph on rural colleges include an updated bibliography, that a collection of literature be established, that AACJC stimulate research, and that the AACJC Journal devote an issue to rural community colleges. (Author/MB)