SAN FRANCISCO — One day after the California State University system announced an enrollment cut of 10,000 students next fall, the University of California Board of Regents said it would be forced to limit UC undergraduate enrollment as well if they did not receive needed state funding.
The regents’ finance committee voted 8-2 at Wednesday’s UC San Francisco meeting to send a statement to state legislators, warning that freshman enrollment would be curtailed if the gap in state funding continues. The statement will be sent along with the 2009-10 budget, which calls for an $815 million increase in revenue.
The statement did not specify by what amount enrollment would have to be reduced. Regents said the statement is meant to impress upon legislators the gravity of the budget situation if the university continues to receive inadequate state funding.
Despite the potential enrollment reduction, UC President Mark Yudof said he was committed to maintaining access to the university, adding that he supported taking a hard line on calling for funding from the state.
“I think it’s our job as regents to forcefully articulate our point of view as the University of California and to make it clear what we need,” he said.
Regent Eddie Island voted against the proposal during the meeting, saying underrepresented minorities and poorer applicants would be most affected if enrollment is cut.
“I don’t think we ought to, with the data we have now, or the absence of data, target kids and their families whose dreams are tied to the University of California,” Island said.
“It would be bringing the reality that we are confronting directly to the legislature,” said UC spokesperson Trey Davis.
For students in attendance, the statement came as a disappointment, especially in light of proposed student fee increases for the 2009-10 school year.
“I think the kind of students who are going to be affected ... were overlooked,” said UC Student Association President Lucero Chavez. “Don’t make a statement on the backs of students and their families.”
