Open-door academic policy

An open-door academic policy, or open-door policy, is a policy where a university enrolls students without asking for evidence of previous education, experience, or references. Usually, payment of the academic fees (or financial support) is all that is required to enroll.

Universities may not employ the open-door policy for all their courses, and those that have a universal open-door policy where all courses have no entry requirements are called open universities. The policy is sometimes characterized as a part of an educational revolution.[1] From the dictionary meaning of the open-door policy, which is the idea of granting access to all those who want access,[2] a similar idea can be drawn in terms of education.[3]

According to Deepa Rao, the open-door academic policy is one of the main ways in which adult learners become a part of university/college life.[4] The recognized demand for post-secondary education made many institutions commit strongly to the policy, but many concealed limitations in the policy can prevent some from securing a degree.[4]

History

From the beginning of universities and colleges in western countries, during the early parts of the 20th century, higher education was supplied in large amounts. During these times the acceptance of all varieties of students was very limited, yet this approach was coming under pressure due to an increase in the industrial and business industry's demand for highly trained and educated employees.[5] The Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s and the Baby Boom in the 1940s-1950s, also presented further reasoning for the implementation of the open-door academic policy.[5]

In response to these pressures, the colleges and universities lowered standards of admission and offered financial support to try and win back the students. This soon turned into the open-door policy, which became a successful and well used form of recruiting students.[6]

Pros and cons

Positively, the open-door academic policy has enabled a step into higher education such as a bachelor's degree, to those who had been restricted access to these opportunities due to social or economic factors.[5] The policy has also created a sufficient amount of well trained students to fulfill the demand for educated employees for the industrial and business industries.[5]

However, despite its benefits the open-door academic policy has faced its criticism. 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.[7] Additionally, the offering of financial support has created a heated issue for higher education due to the requirement for students fees which enable the universities and colleges to stay current with changing technology, employment needs and the fluctuating student population.[5]

Demographics

Students at open-door universities tend to:

  • Be non-traditional students, for example those who have delayed enrollment (those who did not go straight into university education after completing secondary education)[4]
  • Be older than students pursuing college directly after secondary education, their average age being 29.[4]
  • Possess an adult diploma or GED, rather than a normal high school diploma.[4]

Limiting factors

Limiting factors restrict the student acceptance rate due to the following situations:

  • Funding cuts, which can be supported by further funding. For example, funding through the school e.g. school fairs, raffles etc. Budget rearrangement is also a consideration in terms of allocating a smaller portion of funding for the open-door academic policy courses.
  • Lack of teaching staff, teachers resources, classroom space.
  • Over-subscription.
  • Legal terms restricting access for some students.
  • Waiting lists.
  • Prioritizing of students who have submitted.
  • Increase in education levels of students who submit.[5]

Notable institutions with open-door policies

The open-door academic policy's requirements can differ not only between different countries, but also between sub-national jurisdictions (states, provinces, regions). The following is a list of some universities and colleges around the world that have an open-door academic policy:

See also

References
  1. Ng, Pedro Pak-Tao (1980). "Open-Door Education in Chinese Communes: Rationale, Problems, and Recent Changes". Modern China. 6 (3): 327–356. doi:10.1177/009770048000600305. JSTOR 189007. S2CID 143069578.
  2. "Open-door policy | meaning of open-door policy in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE".
  3. "open-door policy - Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online". www.ldoceonline.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  4. "NCSALL: The Open Door Policy". www.ncsall.net. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  5. Hendrick, Ruth Zimmer; Hightower, William H.; Gregory, Dennis E. (2006). "State Funding Limitations and Community College Open Door Policy: Conflicting Priorities?". Community College Journal of Research and Practice. 30 (8): 627–640. doi:10.1080/10668920600746078. S2CID 143762610.
  6. Cohen & Brawer, A & F (2003). The American Community College. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  7. "What are the graduation rates for students obtaining a bachelor's degree?". Fast Facts. National Center for Education Statistics. May 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
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