The purpose of this study was to determine specific knowledge and skills that students need to be successful in higher education in the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Education has created the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards which K-12 institutions must utilize as a foundation for their respective curricula. Students are required to take the High School Proficiency Assessment [HSPA] standardized test which measures their comprehension of standards-related material in order to obtain a diploma. A review of literature revealed that a gap exists between K-12 and higher education environments. A significant number of students who matriculate into New Jersey colleges and universities have to take remedial courses in order to address inadequacies in their K-12 education or fail to graduate. This Delphi study collected qualitative and quantitative data from higher education faculty in the form of electronic surveys. Faculty members were asked to articulate specific knowledge and skills that indicated students' preparedness for higher education in their academic area of instruction. The original intent was to provide the New Jersey Department of Education with a foundation for revising the Core Curriculum Content Standards scheduled to be revised in 2008. Although the research study was not completed prior to the revision of the state's standards, the findings serve to complement K-12 and higher education curricula within New Jersey. The findings of this study suggest that students are in need of reading and writing knowledge/competencies and skills to adequately prepare them for matriculation into higher education. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]