The result of both discussions and individual papers by members of the Intersegmental Committee on Writing Skills of the California Postsecondary Education Commission, this position paper proposes a possible, intersegmental solution to the problem of the inadequacy of student writing skills. After presenting background information on the problem, the paper states its position--that it is both desirable and possible to establish a statewide minimum standard for college level writing, which should be used as a prerequisite to freshman composition courses--and presents its rationale for this position. It then proposes possible solutions to three problems involved in establishing such a standard: setting an agreed-upon standard of writing proficiency, designing or selecting an examination for measuring student performance against the standard, and securing agreement about how and when to administer the examination. It concludes by discussing state responsibility for financing remedial programs for students who fail to meet the standard. Three statements outlining writing proficiency skills desirable for college entrants are attached. (GT)