[3] According to Deepa Rao, the open-door academic policy is one of the main ways in which adult learners become a part of university/college life.
[4] In the early 20th century, higher education institutions opened at a rapid clip in western countries, and acceptance rates were generally low.
[5] As time went on, colleges and universities lowered their admission standards and increasingly offered financial support to attract more students.
[6] Open-door academic policies have been credited with increasing enrollment in underserved communities facing adverse social or economic factors.
[7] Others have argued that the reduced revenue associated with open-door policies can lead to disinvestment in other aspects of higher education such as employee salaries and technology costs.