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UC Berkeley
ponders strategies to handle projected student influx
By D. Lyn Hunter, Public Affairs To address
projected increases in enrollment at California's public colleges and
universities over the next 10 years, each UC campus has been asked to
evaluate the feasibility of adding additional students and consider strategies
to serve them. Berkeley's suggested target is 4,000 additional full-time
equivalents.
But how
could Berkeley, already bursting at the seams, accommodate this wave of
students?
To answer
this question, a study committee -- created by Executive Vice Chancellor
and Provost Carol T. Christ and James Hyatt, vice chancellor-resource
planning and budget -- was created to explore the issue and come up with
possible strategies. Their report was issued last fall.
"There are
a number of ways we can increase enrollment without increasing student
population on the main campus during the regular school year," said Christ,
citing the report's findings.
The committee
identified several constraints confronting the campus. First is the campus's
Long-Range Development Plan, which restricts and decreases the on-campus,
two-semester average headcount from 30,000 students in 1999-2000 to 29,450
in 2005-06. The plan also restricts the on-campus assignable square feet
for non-housing facilities. The campus is approaching both the enrollment
and square-feet ceilings.
Funding,
as it relates to long-range growth, is an additional constraint. Growth
for the Berkeley campus, as well as other UC campuses, will be not possible
in the absence of carefully negotiated changes in the long-range plans.
Insufficient funding from the state, of both the operational and capital
costs, would severely compromise quality, the committee found. Other significant
issues include student housing, financial aid and the physical infrastructure
related to the corresponding increases in faculty, staff and students.
The committee
still identified several options to accommodate growth. One option, according
to Christ, would be to consider increasing the minimum amount of units
a student takes. Fifteen units is considered a normal load, but many students
take as few as 12 units, often because of work, family and transportation
issues. This keeps students on campus for a longer time. Currently, 48
percent of entering freshman graduate in four years, and 86% in six years.
Increasing
the number of units a student must take creates a greater incentive for
graduation in four years, said Christ.
This possible
strategy also enables Berkeley to stay within the parameters defined in
the campus's Long Range Development Plan, a binding legal document with
the city of Berkeley that limits the number of day-time students on campus
during regular semesters.
Creating
additional off-campus education centers, such as distance learning and
study-abroad programs, is another option for consideration to increase
enrollment without adding bodies to the main campus, she said. UC Extension
offers several programs at various locations in the Bay Area. Another
promising site is the Richmond Field Station. Other potential off-campus
sites include joint programs with UC San Francisco, particularly at its
new Mission Bay campus, or other local colleges.
A third
potential solution is increasing summer enrollment. A variety of incentives,
such as financial aid and fee rebates, could be offered to encourage students
to participate.
However,
Christ is quick to point out that any decisions on Berkeley's course of
action will not be made until the Legislature resolves the issue of providing
additional state funding.
"This will
be an open discussion that includes voices from all areas of the university.
We want to use this moment of need on the part of the state to develop
a plan that will benefit all on campus," said Christ.
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