UC plans to expand enrollment with more online, summer programs and transfer students

EdSource

Michael Burke

July 19, 2022

The University of California is seeking to add more than 20,000 students by 2030 and plans to get there by expanding online and summer programs and by concentrating growth at certain campuses, including Merced and Riverside.

Those details are included in UC’s 2030 Capacity Plan, which will be presented this week to the university’s Board of Regents.

Also during this week’s meeting, UC officials will present recommendations to improve the transfer pipeline between California’s community colleges and UC campuses. The recommendations include increasing the number of those students who apply and ultimately enroll at UC. Improving the transfer process is a key piece to expanding enrollment at UC campuses including Riverside and Merced, which plan to increase transfer recruitment efforts at nearby community colleges.

UC’s long-term goals for expanding enrollment come as the system of nine undergraduate campuses faces surging demand from California students but not enough spots to accommodate all of the state’s qualified applicants.

“The University has a responsibility to train the next generation of doctors and nurses, judges and lawyers, business leaders, elected officials, researchers, and faculty — ones that reflect California. We recognize the demand for a UC education is great,” wrote Michael Drake, UC’s systemwide president, and the chancellors of UC’s campuses in a letter included in the report.

UC says the proposed growth would be the equivalent of adding another campus, but without taking on the costs to build a new campus.

California lawmakers have also recognized the need to expand capacity at UC campuses. This year’s budget deal, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last month, included $98.8 million to increase the enrollment of California resident undergraduates.

Overall, the proposed growth in the 2030 plan would be 23,055 students by 2030, a figure that includes both undergraduate and graduate students. UC projects it would seek about $324 million in state funding to add that many students. UC separately projected an “aspirational plan” for enrollment growth that would see the system add 33,260 students by 2030. That plan would require an additional $114 million.

Continue Reading