To ascertain whether the needs of disadvantaged students were being met by the public community colleges of Texas, a committee was established in March 1972 by resolution of the Texas Senate. This report of the committee study contains the following chapters: 1. The Open Door?--the problem and its dimensions; student population by racial-ethnic group, as compared with county population, and classified as disadvantaged; 2. The Needs of Disadvantaged Students--identified needs; financial aid survey; appraisal of extent to which colleges are meeting identified needs; faculty attitudes; and student questionnaire responses; 3. Special Programs and Services for Disadvantaged Students--varieties of approach; how to evaluate; studies of five Texas colleges; and graduation or transfer credit; 4. Present and Future Needs--funding remedial-compensatory courses; future trends; projected enrollments, 1968-1985; 5. Summary, Findings, and Committee Recommendations. The recommendations included the following: 1. Special courses and programs are vital to meet the needs of disadvantaged students; 2. Junior colleges should encourage enrollment of more disadvantaged students; 3. Recommendations of a 1968 Governor's committee should be implemented; 4. Remedial courses should receive full funding; 5. Academic courses should be funded by "contract hour"; 6. Programs, workshops, and institutes for training junior college teachers of the disadvantaged should be funded; 7. Rigorous evaluation studies of junior college programs are needed; 8. Junior College officials should seek their share of financial aid funds; 9. Credit for remedial courses should be given; 10. Remedial education should be encouraged. Tables provide data. (DB)