Students who do not demonstrate the required competence must enroll in a developmental or remedial course designed to provide concentrated assistance to bring them quickly up to college level work. In most cases, this is accomplished in one semester, but it may take longer. Some colleges and universities require an exit from remediation exam of their students before they can enter a college-level course. Thus, developmental courses are the foundation for academic quality in a community college. Without a strong remedial program, community colleges cannot expect an entering student who has been out of school for ten years or who has demonstrable academic deficiencies, to enter a college-level class and do well.
Remediation is neither recognition of failure, nor a waste or resources.
Remediation is as important to an open admissions college as a strong curriculum, equipment and buildings. Without an effective remedial program, the alternatives are to become selective or, indeed, lower academic standards. The best way to visualize the difference between an open admissions college and a selective admissions institution is to use the analogy of a funnel. The admissions process is the wide end of the funnel, and the curriculum is the narrow portion. In a selective admissions institution, the funnel is very small.