University of California System OK's Enrollment Cut

The University of California Board of Regents finalized its planned enrollment cut yesterday, announcing there would be 2,300 fewer freshmen across the system starting in 2009 compared with last year, the Daily Californian, the Daily Bruin, and the Daily Nexus report. That is a 6 percent reduction, and it also accompanies a systemwide salary freeze for senior management employees.

As flagship campuses, UCLA and UC-Berkeley will be left out of the enrollment decrease. The relatively new UC-Merced will also be spared.

In part because of decreased state funding, the University of California system is already overenrolled by 11,000 students, causing a $120 million deficit, UC President Mark Yudof said. "We are in a very difficult budget crisis," he added. "Everyone is going to be called upon to sacrifice." This year's reduction would result in $20 million in savings, and officials hope a gradual reduction in enrollment will help the system get in line with its budget.

In hopes to offset some of the problems created by reducing overall enrollment, the UC's plan also includes a provision to increase the number of transfer students from California community colleges by 500.