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October 23, 2002
ORANGE COUNTY
UCI Enrollment at Record Level
Biggest jump is in graduate students, lured by recruiters, grants and
greater opportunities.
By Jeff Gottlieb, Times Staff Writer
Enrollment at UC Irvine has hit record levels this fall, jumping by the
largest number of students since the university opened in 1965.
The increase was propelled by an 11.7% gain in graduate students over
last year, the result, in part, of efforts by campus officials to raise
their numbers and the trend for people to seek advanced degrees when the
job market is tight.
Total UCI enrollment increased 8.7%, to 23,779, university officials
announced Tuesday. Undergraduate numbers rose 8.6%, to 19,401.
UCI's increase ranks it third in rate of growth among University of
California campuses generally regarded as expecting the greatest
expansion in the next few years as the number of college students grows.
UC Riverside enrolled 10.4% more students this fall than last, and UC
San Diego grew 9.1%.
UCI has been projected to gain about 1,000 students a year until 2010,
when enrollment is expected to hit 30,000. UC Riverside is planned to grow
from its current enrollment of almost 16,000 to 21,000.
Adding graduate students has been a goal of all UC campuses. A
commission appointed by UC President Richard Atkinson and the regents last
year said the system needed to add 11,000 graduate students and to spend
an additional $215 million annually to remain competitive with major
research campuses around the nation.
UCSD increased its graduate student population by 10.7%.
UCI's 11.7% marks the second year of substantial growth in graduate
students; last fall saw an 8% increase.
"Actions of the last couple of years are beginning to pay off," said
William Parker, UCI dean of graduate studies.
He also credited expanding graduate opportunities, such as a new
program in biomedical engineering and increased recruiting.
Another key, he said, was adding $7.5 million for teaching and
researching assistantships and for fellowships, helping the school lure
promising students away from other institutions. This is in addition to
$4.5 million added last year.
The number of graduate students at UCLA also increased this year, but
the numbers were unavailable Tuesday. Jim Turner, UCLA's assistant vice
chancellor for graduate studies, said that the number of applicants
increased 22% and that he expected 150 to 200 more students than last
year.
UCI's increase in students is the highest percentage since 1973, when
the then-8-year-old campus increased its student body 13.3%.
This year's enrollment growth surprised UCI officials, who expected a
gain of 5% to 6%, said Manuel Gomez, vice chancellor of student affairs.
Some of the undergraduate gain came from an increase in community
college transfers, nearly 9% more than the previous year. The university
has long had partnerships with local community colleges, guaranteeing
acceptance to students who completed their first two years at the two-year
schools. |
