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Abstract
West Virginia's public colleges have a rich tradition of making higher education accessible through the delivery of community college programs. Challenged by mountainous terrain that often isolated communities, 4‐year colleges in West Virginia offered associate degree programs as early as the 1930s — 40 years before a formal organization of community college education was initiated. Development of the community college system in West Virginia began in 1971 through legislative action. Yet the role of community college education in West Virginia has been slow in crystallizing. Recent state legislation has focused on higher education in general and community colleges in particular in a state that leads the nation in the lowest percentage of college graduates. To meet the challenges of the 21st century, West Virginia's community colleges are positioning themselves to respond to state and higher education mandates via a global perspective. The potential of community colleges to impact West Virginia's economic development and stimulate job acquisition is a goal of state officials and a shared vision of the higher education community.