In fall 1985, a study was conducted by the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of community college assessment programs throughout the state. Each community college in the state randomly selected 100 students whose basic skills had been assessed and who had enrolled in fall 1985, and submitted information about the students' test scores, enrollment patterns, academic success, and persistence. Study findings included the following: (1) students who followed the advice given to them by counselors regarding mathematics, English, and reading course placement tended to succeed to a significantly higher degree than those who did not; (2) among students who followed counselors' advice, 64% succeeded in developmental mathematics, 76% succeeded in college math, 66% succeeded in pre-college English, and 82% succeeded in college-level English; (3) of the total number of cases examined, 73% followed counselors' advice and succeeded in the recommended courses; (4) 15% followed counselors' advice, but did not succeed; (5) 5.9% did not follow counselors' advice, and did not succeed; (6) 6.5% did not follow counselors' advice, but succeeded anyway; and (7) 78% of the students re-enrolled the following semester. Based on study findings, it was concluded that the current new-student assessment and advising programs were effective. (LAL)