UC Looks To Expand Student Enrollment

The University of California plans to expand its undergraduate student body by 10,000 over the next three years, about 5 percent of the system's total.

UC President Janet Napolitano introduced a budget Thursday to begin that process. It would increase undergraduate enrollment by 5,000 next year.

UC Chief Financial Officer Nathan Brostrom says they’ll be spread across the system.

"We’re currently working with all of the campuses now," Brostrom told the UC Board of Regents. "I will say that it will be meaningful growth at every campus; no campus will be excluded. But we won’t have actual targets until closer to year-end."

The last state budget gave the UC system $25 million to fund half of this year’s expansion. The other $25 million necessary will come from phasing out tuition assistance for out-of-state students.

UC will also ask the Legislature for an additional $6 million to fund 600 new graduate students. The Regents want 2,000 more graduate students over the next three academic years.