The University of California saw a record number of
applications for Fall Quarter 2008, but in the shadow of Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s proposed $109-million cut to the university’s budget this
year, the accommodation of all eligible applicants remains a pressing
challenge.

Overall, 121,005 students applied to the 10 UC undergraduate
campuses this year, signifying a 9-percent increase over last year’s 110,994
applicants. In addition, there was an 8.5-percent increase in transfer student
applications, compensating for what Assistant Vice Chancellor of Admissions and
Registration Mae W. Brown considered to be a disappointing decline in the
demographic in 2007.

UCSD’s applicant pool showed 6.1-percent growth overall,
with 57,116 applicants, compared to 53,845 last year. This year’s total of
47,366 freshman applicants represents a 5.1-percent increase from the previous
year’s 45,054, and transfer student applications rose to 9,750 this year from
8,791 in 2007, marking a 10.9-percent growth.

UC Director of Admissions and Ethnic Media Communications
Ricardo Vazquez said that in addition to record-setting totals — which he
attributed to increased high school graduation rates, a growing number of
students meeting the university’s eligibility requirements and the university’s
new programs and facilities — the rise in black and Latino applicants at both
the freshman and transfer levels is promising. Reflecting systemwide trends,
the number of black applicants at UCSD increased by 2.2 percent from last year,
and the number of Latino applicants showed a 7.7-percent increase.

Vazquez said this year’s application statistics are
overwhelmingly positive, but he said the university is frustrated that the
success comes at a time when it faces such daunting financial circumstances.

“We are delighted to see such strong interest,” he said.
“But these application numbers, while very positive and very welcomed,
illustrate the difficult budget situation we are in today. Just as the demand
reaches an all-time high, the university’s budget gets cut by over $100 million.”

The governor’s 2008-09 budget proposal includes a 7-percent
increase to the educational fee, a 10-percent increase to the registration fee
and a 10-percent reduction in administrative spending.

However, the remainder of the reduction — which falls $400
million below the UC Board of Regents’ request — is left to the university’s
discretion.

Vazquez said Schwarzenegger suggested a 5,000-student
increase in UC admission offers with the goal of increased collection of
tuition revenue. While this appears to be a reasonable solution on the surface,
it is crucial that the university closely examine the potential impacts of
accepting more students than it can afford, Vazquez added.

“Our goal is to try to offer a place for every eligible
student, but we have to look very soberly at our options,” he said. “Taking
students without adequate funding will force us to cut funding in programs,
which will end up hurting the very students we are trying to support.”

Vazquez said that although the university is wary of
reducing admission rates — and ultimately, existing programs — in order to ease
financial burdens, the option is currently under discussion.

He said the university plans to make a decision within the
next couple of weeks regarding the number of students it can realistically
support.