UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ‘mdash; As it becomes more difficult for students to enter, and pay for, higher education, the University of California is encouraging students to consider community college. Although the UC system has historically offered priority consideration and streamlined the transer process with programs like UniversityLink and the Transfer Admissions Guarantee program, last month, the UC Board of Regents decided to expand 2009-10 transfer enrollment by 3 percent despite slashing freshman enrollment by 2,300 students. As admissions tighten and student loans and grants become harder to attain, the university will need to better promote more affordable options.
Athough community college has typically been considered a backup plan for high-school graduates who meet UC eligibility requirements, recent state proposals to cut Cal Grants and potential student-fee increases will lead many qualified students to reconsider the four-year system, continuing a very visible trend of community college enrollment leading to eventual UC transfer. This year, transfer applications increased by 17.8 percent for UCSD and 11.2 percent systemwide.
But while the UC system strives to provide exceptional education to any Californian who meets its standard minimum requirements, rising costs may deter many qualified students from applying in the future. According to Californiacolleges.edu, a year at UCSD surpasses $8,000 in fees while a California community college for a full-time student costs less than $500. The 14,000 California community college students who transfer to a UC campus annually receive the same degree as students who enroll as freshmen, but with substantial savings.
In addition to earning a cheaper UC education, transfer students also save the university money. Although students pay some fees, the average cost per undergraduate student in 2007-08 academic year was $17,390. For every student who decides to transfer from community college, the university could use those funds elsewhere.
And peformance statistics show that transfer students are just as qualified as students who entered the university immediately following high school. According to the 2008 undergraduate student profile released by Student Research and Information, undergraduate graduation rates show no drastic differences between those who entered after high school and those who transferred, 84 percent and 81 percent respectively. Additionally, the GPAs of incoming transfer students parallel those of incoming freshmen. With fairly similar graduation rates and GPAs, it’s clear that transfer students earn just as much academically from their UC degree as those who attend the system all four years.
Because many students decide to attend the University of California for its prestige, they may be hesitant to transfer from a community college because of concerns that it will affect them upon applying to graduate school. However, according to interim Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Affairs April Bjornsen, students who have attended community colleges are not considered less qualified or less valuable applicants. Simply put, a community college history does not taint a student’s academic record.
As lack of financial aid makes the decision to attend a university more difficult, the university needs to encourage community-college transfers. The UC system should communicate with high-school guidance offices across the state to ensure that students are aware of community college as a viable optio
n. Rather than simply reserving community college as a second-place finish, counselors should inform students about the many benefits of community colleges and contest the social stigma around them. Exploring academic interests in a more cost-effective environment will save these students both high tuition fees and travel and living expenses. Students will also benefit from smaller class sizes and access to professors who aren’t caught up in research.
With our current economic climate, the need for students to consider alternate options is increasingly necessary. Since community colleges adequately prepare students for the future and save money for cash-pressed families and the state, the University of California should emphasize their practicality as a viable choice after high school.
Readers can contact Michelle Chin at [email protected].