Any effort by Kansas University to raise its admission requirements for Kansas residents is bound to cause an uproar.

Although the university can make a solid case that students who arrive at KU better prepared are more likely to successfully complete a degree, many Kansans think almost any Kansas high school graduate should be allowed to enroll at any state university. Even the minimal “qualified admissions” standards instituted in 2001 were controversial; additional requirements would surely be met with considerable criticism.

Everyone seems to know a student who was an academic late bloomer, someone who didn’t do well in class or on tests in high school but went on to a fabulous college career. Such exceptional cases certainly exist, which is why the qualified admissions policy allows universities to waive the requirements for a small percentage of students. But is Kansas doing those students who aren’t prepared for the rigors of the state’s flagship university any favors by throwing them into a situation in which they are unlikely to succeed?

Many observers are quick to contend it’s the state’s responsibility to provide its residents with opportunities for post-secondary education. That may be true, but is it necessary to allow any student to enter the state’s largest research universities?

California, as well as other states, are taking another look at the role of community colleges in their higher education systems. For many students, it seems to make more sense to begin their college careers at a two-year institution. Community colleges are less expensive and closer to home for many students. Unlike large research universities, their only priority is teaching. Classes are smaller and students who need personal attention are more likely to get it.

Students who want to continue their education at a state university can transfer there with some college credits and experience already under their belts. That experience can ease their transition to a larger university and improve their chances for success.

KU continues to have a reputation around the state as snobbish or elitist. An effort to increase admission requirements will undoubtedly be seen by some as an effort to attract only the state’s elite students as freshmen.

But additional admissions requirements are unlikely to seriously restrict the number of qualified Kansas students who enroll at KU. The goal of the requirements should be simply to eliminate the need to provide costly remedial instruction for students who aren’t prepared for KU academics.

Why not direct those students to a community college for a year or two? Rather than diminishing their opportunities, such a policy might actually increase their chances for personal and career success, as well as making a significant contribution to the state.