Illustration by Jamie Morton

With 40,000 undergraduate applicants for the upcoming fall quarter, UC Santa Cruz broke its own application records and saw a 17.2 percent increase in freshman applications. UCSC is now second only to UCLA in application figures.

The diversity of applicants to UCSC also rose sharply, with wide variances in socioeconomic background, ethnicity, and country of origin. African-American, Chicano and Asian-American applications rose 17 percent, 22.3 percent, and 15.6 percent, respectively.

“UCSC is committed to attracting, admitting and enrolling students who are truly reflective of the diversity of the state of California,” said UCSC director of admissions Michael McCawley in a Jan. 12 press release.

SUA chair Amanda Buchanan said this speaks to the efficacy of UCSC’s outreach programs.

“An applicant profile like this goes to show how important our Student-Initiated Outreach programs are,” Buchanan said. “Specifically, Destination Higher Education, Orale and A Step Forward did amazing work this past spring in bringing in students from African-American, Chicano and Asian-American communities to see what life is like on our campus.”

Buchanan has some reservations about the campus’s shaky financial situation and how it will affect these new students.

“As we present opportunities to our students, we need to make sure that the campus is prepared to offer any resources they may need,” Buchanan said. “This becomes increasingly difficult in times of budget reductions. We need to make it clear to campus administration that prioritizing the needs of students outside of academics is equally as important for retention and quality.”

The university needs to preserve institutions that serve students from varying backgrounds, she said.

“Our Ethnic Resource Centers need to be reinvested in to preserve the amazing work that they do,” she said.

Applications from Chicano and Latino students amounted to 29.6 percent of the total, bringing UCSC closer to being a Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS). To be considered a Hispanic Serving Institution, the university’s undergraduate population must be at least 25 percent Latino. This designation provides schools with grants and support services.

“It’s a source of revenue that would be very, very helpful,” said Patricia Zavella, professor of Latin American and Latino studies (LALS) and department chair, about the HIS distinction, in a 2011 interview.

Jonathan Fox, department chair of UCSC’s Latin American and Latino studies program, said these statistics demonstrate the success of campus admissions policy.

“In fall 2005, 75 percent of incoming frosh came from households where only English was spoken,” he said. “In fall 2011, only 54 percent of UCSC frosh came from households where only English was spoken. These changes were not driven by demographics alone. Our campus admissions policies take into account a wide range of indicators for understanding students’ achievement and potential.”

In addition, out-of-state and international student applications saw similar spikes, both in numbers and percentage. McCawley said UCSC’s recent recognition by Times Higher Education as a world-class research school is at least partially responsible for this jump.

“Recognitions like these speak to students around the world about the important role our faculty play on an international stage,” McCawley said in reference to UCSC’s current ranking as third-best worldwide in terms of research impact, behind only MIT and Princeton.

With all of these numbers in mind, one thing may be true: This fall, UCSC may begin to reflect the diversity of its home state even more.

“Our student body is looking more like California,” Fox said.

---- (C) 2011 City on a Hill Press. All Rights Reserved. View online at Fall Applicants Break Records

This is the second year in a row UCSC has seen unprecedented numbers, and Michelle Whittingham, the associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, says the trend is indicative of further overall growth.

“We are definitely continuing our upward trajectory,” Whittingham said of the school’s overall reputability.

This year 34,630 students applied to UCSC, marking a 5.4 percent growth from last year’s 32,847 applicants.

UCSC’s target enrollment is 3,200 new freshmen, which is a number similar to last year’s frosh enrollment of 3,214. With a larger pool of applicants and the same number of spots available, an even more selective year is on the horizon for UCSC.

UCSC’s admission percentage — that is, the percentage of applicants who were accepted — went from 83 percent in 2007, to 74 percent in 2008, to only 63 percent last year.

The growth can be seen most dramatically in the 25-percent increase of transfer applicants. Last year, 5,616 applicants were prospective transfers, comprising 17 percent of the total applicants. This year the number rose to 7,007, accounting for 20 percent of the total applicants.

“We had hoped for an increase, but this was remarkable,” Whittingham said.

This trend is reflected across the state, as the UC saw an overall 17 percent increase in transfer applicants systemwide. Considering the dismal forecast for the state budget, this may be a lasting effect as more students begin their education at less-expensive community colleges.

“I think this is a trend we will see for years to come,” Whittingham said.

Also notable in the overall increase of freshman applicants is the increased presence of underrepresented ethnic groups. The number of African-American applicants swelled from 986 last year to 1,105 this year, a 12.1 percent increase. Similarly, Chicano/Latino applicants rose from 5,366 last year to 5,843 this year, an 8.9 percent increase; and applications from American Indian students rose from 207 last year to 267 this year, a 29 percent increase. The number of Asian-American applicants also rose.

“What you see is the applicant population reflecting the high school graduate population,” Whittingham said. “Demographics having been changing in the state of California, and you can see those changes in both sets of data.”

To Rosalee Cabrera, director of the Chicano/Latino Resource Center and interim director of the American Indian Resource Center, these changing demographics are a positive movement for the university.

“It is important, because we exist in California in broader numbers than are showing up on the campus,” Cabrera said. “I feel that it is critical for a university to represent its people.”

While the economy and societal demand for higher education explain the statewide trend, they do not explain why the increase in transfer applicants was so much more noticeable at UCSC in particular. Whittingham attributes the dramatic increase to outreach efforts.

“We have worked really hard to reach out to students and help them achieve their dream of a UC education right here in Santa Cruz,” Whittingham said.

Budgetary restrictions have limited outreach, which previously involved a more extensive physical presence at campuses statewide. But according to Ebony Lewis, outreach coordinator and regional representative for UCSC, this has allowed the university’s outreach efforts to embrace the changing technological climate.

This year, UCSC was one of several UC campuses to host “University of California Day,” a virtual college fair where students could live- or text-chat with Lewis and other members of the admissions staff.

“Because of the budget we cannot travel as much, and this is something new and different,” Lewis said of UC Day. “We’re trying to find ways to connect with students, and you have to go where they are.”

---- (C) 2011 City on a Hill Press. All Rights Reserved. View online at Record Number of Students Apply to UCSC

From a UCOP post at the UC Newsroom site:

For the past two evenings, the University of California online application system has experienced a slowdown that has prevented some students from submitting their applications. Due to these unforeseen circumstances, we are extending the application period through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 2

“Unforseen circumstances.” Suuuure….

Anyways, for those that are still working to submit their app, UCOP will be operating a help line for applicants on Dec. 1st and 2nd from 1pm to midnight. You can reach them at (800) 914-8820 (in California) or (925) 808-2150 (outside California).

Just a friendly tip for our future slugs: you may not want to wait until 11:58pm on the 2nd to submit your application. You know, like everyone else.

---- (C) 2011 City on a Hill Press. All Rights Reserved. View online at UCOP Extends App Deadline to Dec. 2nd