Described in this paper is a proposal concerning the responsibility of the California community colleges in providing remediation services and programs. The first part of the paper concerns the proposal itself. After a brief statement of the major issues under consideration, the conditions under which student success can be ensured in open access colleges are defined, stressing the need for mandatory assessment and placement in appropriate reading, writing, and mathematics courses; required enrollment in appropriate remedial courses the first semester of registration; specification of recommended competency skills levels for all courses; concurrent enrollment in college-level courses; support services; articulation activities with feeder high schools; and monitoring of student progress. Following this, the assumptions underlying the proposal are explained, including: (1) random self-placement of students into classes is not sound policy; (2) assessment, placement, and follow-up will increase the institution's ability to respond effectively to students; (3) assessment/placement is supported by students; and (4) campus-selected and locally normed tests reflect the specific needs of the communities served. The second part of the paper discusses three issues supporting the remediation proposal: the revision of academic standards in all segments of higher education; the scope of remediation; and constraints in determining a student's potential for success. (A 28-item bibliography is included.) (EJV)