For over a decade, the Community College Futures Assembly has provided a learning environment where tough questions are raised, critical issues are discussed, and policy implications are challenged. The Community College Futures Assembly convenes annually as a national policy forum for key opinion leaders to work as a think tank in identifying critical issues facing the future of community colleges. The 2005 Community College Futures Assembly, themed "Recreating America's Community Colleges," held to its tradition of providing an "edutainment" setting where higher education leaders could attend inspiring Bellwether presentations and collaboratively debate substantive policy issues. This special issue highlights the best practices of thirty Bellwether trendsetting institutions who competitively presented their lessons learned to representatives of colleges interested in replicating their programs. In each of the three award categories, 10 Bellwether finalists were competitively selected and featured as presenters at the assembly to share their leadingedge ideas with colleagues and fellow delegates. Three institutions then won the prestigious Bellwether Award in their respective category.
