Over half of all students taking classes at the college level do so at a community college. Many policy-makers, pundits, and politicians are wondering how to best improve these key educational institutions. This 40-page report released in April 2012 takes a look at the current shortcomings of American community colleges, along with offering some suggestions about the way forward. The report was sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges, with generous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, ACT, and Educational Testing Service. The report is divided into five parts, including "An Imperiled Dream," "Redesigning the Community College," and "Essential Elements in Institutional Transformation." Also, the report contains four appendices and a list of illustrations.