The importance of diagnostic testing for appropriate student placement at open door colleges is discussed, along with approaches to upgrade teacher skills. It is suggested that colleges typically select students who are skilled and motivated enough to acquire knowledge by the approaches currently offered, and that colleges thus act as screeners rather than educational institutions. After identifying skills in which students are deficient and effective learning modes for each student, the next step is to prescribe a study program to help a student achieve a specified skill level. To promote proper student placement, detailed information about course content and prerequisite skills should be provided to academic advisers. Workshops for advisers should acquaint them with available resources as well as techniques for using detailed diagnostic information in planning students' programs. Also essential is a mandatory and ongoing program to upgrade the teaching skills of faculty through the use of trained evaluators. Outstanding teachers in each department could be identified and provided training and release time for ongoing teacher improvement activities within their department. Teaching improvement activities should be coordinated by a central office that provides training and resource information. (SW)