1)Stop the university level remedial courses. Demand that students enter four year colleges and universities fully prepared.
2) Insist that all students take the basic courses demanded of those who are majoring in the field. For instance, if an engineering student must take English literature 101 with the English majors and American History with the history majors, then the reverse should be true. The English, history, psychology, and pottery majors should be required to take the **same** Calculus and Chemistry courses sitting side by side with the science majors. That alone would weed out those who were not in the top 10%.
If a student flunks out in the first semester it is a lot less expensive for that student than taking a year or more of remedial courses. Simply failing to pass would eliminate those not capable of succeeding.
As for remedial courses: If a student needs them, he would likely need them for training in the trades as well, therefore, I do support their use on the community college level. They are far less expensive for the student in this setting for any student needing them for the trades or for admission to a four year university.
We won't see this though because higher education is **NOT** about educating students necessarily. It is a jobs program for professors.
Very interesting suggestions—thanks for your response.