With deadlines for accepting admission offers passed and numbers crunched, the University of California, Davis, has won significant gains among prospective domestic freshman and transfer students from historically underrepresented groups.

The number of prospective domestic freshmen accepting offers of admission for fall 2001 climbed 3.9 percent this year, and the number of students from underrepresented ethnic groups intending to enroll increased by 12.6 percent. Students from these groups account for 14.4 percent of those intending to register this fall, compared to 13.3 percent in 2000.

Among prospective domestic transfer students, the number accepting offers of admission increased 9.6 percent this year, and the number of students from underrepresented ethnic groups intending to enroll increased by 29.2 percent. Those from the underrepresented groups comprise 15.5 percent of those intending to register, compared to 13.2 percent in 2000.

For both freshmen and transfer students intending to register, there are increases among all underrepresented groups: the increases for freshmen range up to 40 percent for American Indians and for transfers, up to 43 percent for Chicanos.

These numbers are based on admissions data as of Monday, June 11.

"As a campus, we're gratified to see such major increases among underrepresented groups intending to register with us as freshmen and transfer students, and among transfer students overall," says Gary Tudor, director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services.

Freshmen
This year, a record 27,165 domestic freshmen applications were reviewed. Of the 17,344 applicants offered admission, 4,616 indicated by the May 1 deadline that they intend to register next fall.

Students from historically underrepresented groups -- African American, American Indian, Chicano and Latino -- increased in this year's freshmen admit pool (14.6 percent compared to last year's 13.1 percent).

Students accepting admission offers who identified themselves as members of historically underrepresented groups numbered 663, compared to 589 in 2000 (an increase of 12.6 percent). Increases were registered for African Americans, from 117 (in 2000) to 120 (in 2001) or 2.6 percent; for American Indians, from 30 to 42 or 40 percent; for Chicanos, from 338 to 388 or 14.8 percent; and for Latinos, from 104 to 113 or 8.7 percent.

Students identifying themselves as Asian American increased by 13.2 percent this year, from 1,619 to 1,833. Caucasian students decreased by 5.9 percent, from 1,811 to 1,704. Students identifying themselves as other ethnicities remained at 84.

The number of students declining to state their ethnicity decreased this year by 2.6 percent, from 341 to 332.

Tudor says a series of presentations held in five locations in Southern California and the Bay Area this spring, were effective in helping students with their decisions to enroll at UC Davis. At sessions sponsored by the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, admitted students were able to discuss academic opportunities and campus life at UC Davis with faculty members, alumni and current students.

Transfer Students
A total of 5,808 domestic transfer student applications were reviewed this year. Of the 4,294 applicants offered admission, 1,857 indicated by the June 1 deadline that they intend to register next fall.

The number of prospective transfer students accepting offers of admission climbed 9.6 percent this year, and the number of students from underrepresented ethnic groups intending to enroll increased by 29.2 percent.

Students from historically underrepresented groups increased in this year's admit pool (15.1 percent compared to last year's 13.4 percent).

Transfer students accepting admission offers who identified themselves as members of historically underrepresented groups numbered 288, compared to 223 in 2000. Increases were registered for African Americans, from 45 (in 2000) to 54 (in 2001) or 20 percent; for American Indians, from 16 to 19 or 18.8 percent; for Chicanos, from 114 to 163 or 43 percent; and for Latinos, from 48 to 52 or 8.3 percent.

Students intending to register and identifying themselves as Asian American increased by 3.5 percent this year, from 459 to 475. Caucasian students increased by 3.4 percent, from 857 to 886. Students identified as other ethnicities increased from 38 to 51 or 34.2 percent.

The number of students declining to state their ethnicity increased this year by 33.1 percent from 118 to 157.

Michael Dang, an associate director of undergraduate admissions with responsibility for transfer students, says the increases among transfer students are in part the result of expansions of both the Transfer Opportunity and the Transfer Admissions Agreement programs.

The opportunity program, which places a UC Davis admissions officer on the campus of participating community colleges once a week or once every two weeks, expanded this year. It grew from nine colleges along the Interstate-80 corridor (from Sacramento to Oakland) to include five colleges on the San Francisco peninsula and three others in Woodland, Yuba City and Stockton.

"In a personal way, our counselors demystify the transfer process and provide prospective students with great insights about the campus," says Dang.

Under the opportunity program, students may also be eligible to participate in a transfer agreement that provides a guarantee of admission on the condition they complete certain courses and maintain a specified grade point average. UC Davis also offers informational workshops at the participating college and sponsors visits to the Davis campus.

For the fall 2001 admissions cycle, the agreement program also expanded to include five Southern California colleges, for a total of 61 community colleges in the state.

Some new activities are also thought to have contributed to the higher rate of admitted transfer students now planning to register. They include mailing a CD-ROM about the campus to all applicants, mailing the view book and a brochure with basic facts about the campus to all admitted students, and having UC Davis students personally call admitted students to share their experiences.

Enrollment Estimates
When the new academic year gets under way in September, the freshman class is expected to settle in at approximately 4,500 and transfer students, at 1,800. Overall campus enrollment is anticipated to increase by 4.9 percent, from 26,094 to 27,372.