This paper summarizes the features of the City University of New York's (CUNY) open admissions plan and briefly describes its accompanying research component. Its major features are: (1) a system of 4 and 2 year colleges, with students eligible for the 4-year institutions if their high school average is 80 or better or if they rank in the top half…

Presents additional data covering the first four semesters of open admissions, showing that the four semester CUNY net retention rates are considerably higher than the eight semester national rates; the proportion of attrited students who return is discussed also. (Author/JM)

On December 15, 1975 the Board of Higher Education of the City of New York passed a resolution requiring that all applicants demonstrate on eighth grade reading and numerical competence level to be required for admittance on a full time, matriculated status. In as much as the open admissions policy had the aim of increasing the participation of…