Open admissions

Open admissions (sometimes called open enrollment) is a type of unselective and non-competitive college admissions process in the United States in which the only criterion for entrance is a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.^[1]

Definition

This form of "inclusive" admissions^[2] is used by many public junior colleges and community colleges,^[1] and differs from selective admission policies held by most private liberal arts colleges and research universities in the United States, which often take into account standardized test scores as well as other academic and character-related criteria.^[2]

History

The open admissions concept was heavily promoted in the 1960s and 1970s as a way to reduce discrimination in college admissions and promote education of the underprivileged. The first major application was at the City University of New York (CUNY). CUNY later applied this policy only to graduates from two-year Community Colleges, since they are better prepared for remedial education.^[3]

Graduation rates

The graduation rates of colleges are closely tied to their admissions policies. Six years after beginning a four-year program, an average of 60% of students nationwide will have graduated. However, that rate varies from 89% at colleges that accept less than one-quarter of applicants to 36% at those with an open admissions policy.^[4]

See also

• Open-door academic policy
• Cooling Out

References

External links