The following commentary, which does not necessarily reflect the views of The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board, appeared Friday in the Yakima Herald-Republic.

State officials in general — and legislators and a new governor in particular — need to take a close look at just what kind of commitment is going to be made on a sustained basis for higher education in this state.

Many of our bright young people are being denied access to post-secondary education through no fault of their own.

Yakima Valley Community College has been over-enrolled so long now it has become second nature. The much-ballyhooed “open door” policy of yesteryear, by which the two-year institutions were allowed to take just about everyone to at least give people entry-level exposure to higher education, is becoming a thing of the past.

Now comes the disturbing news that Central Washington University, for the first time since 1987, had to close undergraduate admissions at the Ellensburg campus last month. The college is full to the brim, and then some.

To put this development in perspective, the last time CWU closed fall quarter undergraduate admissions was 1987 — the year when some of those who will be college freshmen this fall were born.

There are no easy answers to aligning demand with accommodation at the state’s public institutions. More money is always good as far as the institutions are concerned, but it’s not that simple. There is always concern that higher education can be a bit hidebound and top heavy.

Efficient delivery systems — the old most-bang-for-the-buck thing — should be part of an in-depth legislative probe of defining the mission, capabilities and funding of higher education for the future. For example, about 13 percent of Central students attend innovative classes at six “university centers” on community college campuses that stretch from Yakima to Lynnwood. That greatly enhances the offering potential of the university.

The time to find some answers is now. They’re bulging at the seams in Yakima, Ellensburg and throughout the state.