UC Davis has issued an apology to 6,000 admitted students who received an erroneous e-mail Monday morning indicating they were awarded a prestigious scholarship.

The e-mail incorrectly indicated that the students had been awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend UC Davis in the fall of 2004. The mistake was quickly identified, and within three hours a second e-mail was issued correcting the error and congratulating the students on being admitted to UC Davis, but without the scholarship.

"We take this unfortunate mistake very seriously and deeply apologize for the error," said Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef, who issued a personal letter of apology to the students and their families. "We are examining our procedures to ensure that this doesn't happen again. We feel very badly for students who received this incorrect communication, and we hope they will still give consideration to attending UC Davis."

An additional 800 students were correctly notified Monday that they had been admitted and selected to receive the Regents Scholarship, an award based on high academic achievement, offering students $7,500 a year toward college costs. It is the highest honor awarded by all of the campuses in the UC system. UC Davis is sending a confirmation notice to actual Regents Scholars.

UC Davis began issuing electronic offers of admission to prospective students on Monday, sending e-mails to the first one-third of approximately 21,000 students who will be admitted for fall 2004. UC Davis is offering admission to about 53 percent of those who applied.

The campus began sending formal admissions offer letters by U.S. mail on Monday. Those letters contained the correct information.

The electronic admissions process, which refers prospective students to a Web site to verify their status, was designed to simplify the process for students and their families, and to reduce costs for printing and processing the high volumes of paper involved in accepting and enrolling new students. Monday was the first time UC Davis had issued Regents Scholarship awards via e-mail.

"Many of us are parents, and we know that the mistake made is distressing," said Judy Sakaki, vice chancellor for student affairs. "We sincerely regret any confusion or disappointment that may have resulted."

UC Davis has immediately strengthened procedures in the campus office that handles electronic mail, to put more checks and balances in place and ensure that errors are not repeated.