March 16, 1998 Contact: Elizabeth M. Irwin 408-459-2495/emirwin@cats.ucsc.edu
NEWS ADVISORY
UC SANTA CRUZ INCREASES DIVERSITY AMONG FRESHMEN ADMITTED FOR 1998 CLASS
Focus is on outreach efforts to ensure top academic quality and ethnic diversity in post-Prop. 209 era
WHAT
The University of California, Santa Cruz, has announced the release of letters of admission to freshmen applying to enter UCSC in fall 1998. Issuance of letters of admission is an early step in the process leading to actual enrollments of students next September. Among UC-eligible freshman applicants admitted to Santa Cruz, there is an increase of underrepresented students (8.4%/148). Moreover, these admitted students reflect higher levels of academic achievement in SAT scores and GPA compared to those admitted last year. (See next page for summary of admitted students by ethnicity.)
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMENT
"We had projected a downturn of 109 underrepresented minorities for this entering class, due to the implementation of the UC Regents' SP1 and Prop. 209," noted Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management/Director of Admissions J. Michael Thompson. "Now, we anticipate at least maintaining the same numbers of underrepresented students when the fall class is finalized-- and that fact underscores the effective and creative effort of the entire campus to continue our traditions of excellence and inclusion. "
YIELD EFFORTS
Among specific outreach activities to prospective freshmen are the following:
Phone-a-thon--Chancellor M.R.C. Greenwood joined students and faculty in phoning prospective students during the week of March 9. The purpose of the calls was to answer questions about UCSC and to personalize the invitation to enroll at the campus.
Scholars' Day--Nearly 200 students (and more than 500 participants, including family members) attended an information fair and presentations by faculty on Saturday, March 14. The third annual event to bring the top 7% of freshman applicants to the campus, this year's Scholars' Day welcomed students with an average GPA of 4.17 and average SAT scores of 1404. In addition to many California students, attendees included applicants from Canada, Alaska, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Arizona and Washington.
Banana Slug Spring Fair--Scheduled for Saturday, April 18, this annual campus open house is an opportunity for prospective students and their families to visit the campus, meet faculty, staff and other students and learn more about UCSC's programs and services.
GENERAL BACKGROUND
Calendar of UC Admissions Process
(Note: Final actual enrollment figures are available only at the end of the following five-step process. Although there may be benchmark indicators at the various steps, the most significant number--the actual enrollment--results from the final matriculation in fall of each year.)
1) Students apply by November 30; many students apply to multiple campuses.
2) Individual campuses notify admitted students during March.
3) Campuses engage in "yield" efforts during March and April to encourage students to select from among the campuses to which they have been admitted.
4) Students file Statements of Intent to Register by May 1 at the UC campus at which they plan to enroll.
5) Students complete matriculation processes within the first three weeks of the fall academic period.
SUMMARY OF ETHNICITY OF UC-ELIGIBLE ADMITTED STUDENTS FOR FALL 1998
Population 1998 1993 Percentage Change
African American/Black 219 223 <1.8>
Chicano/Mexican-American 898 826 8.7
Filipino/Filipino-American 347 295 17.6
American Indian/Alaska Native 96 82 17.1
Latino/Other Spanish-American 347 333 4.2
Euro-American 4,448 4,915 <9.5>
Asian/Asian-American/Pacific 2,169 2,021 7.3
Islander
Decline to State 1,709 562 204.1
Press Releases Home | Search Press Releases | Press Release Archive | Services for Journalists
Maintained by:pioweb@cats.ucsc.edu