As fall approaches, UC Davis is making substantial progress in its preparations for a larger than anticipated freshman class, more transfer students than planned, and what is projected to be record enrollment overall.

The campus has already added courses and teaching facilities, increased the number of beds in residence halls, and is building capacity and considering innovative approaches for delivering student services.

The latest enrollment figures tell why: The campus has about 1,000 statements of intent to register (SIRs) beyond its initial targets for new freshman and transfer status. Total enrollment for fall is projected to be 31,040 — 4.7 percent greater than last year's 29,637 and almost 2.7 percent more than the peak of 30,229 in 2003.

As of July 12, the number of freshman applicants with statements of intent to register had dropped as part of the normal attrition process by 84, from the high of 5,953 at the May 1 SIR deadline to 5,869 — still 776 above the top range of the initial freshman enrollment target.

However, Pamela Burnett, director of Undergraduate Admissions, said her office is expecting the number to shrink by an additional 2 percent because of the usual summer "melt," as students' plans change or they fail to meet the conditions on which they were admitted.

Also, as of July 12, the campus had 2,034 statements of intent to register from students transferring from other colleges or universities. That number is 279, or almost 16 percent, above the enrollment target of 1,755.

Housing

Bob Smiggen, director of Student Housing, said demand for beds is lower than expected, so triple rooms will be established only in newer residence halls with larger rooms.

As of July 18, Student Housing was planning to provide beds for about 4,910 students. About 1,425 students will be accommodated in rooms converted to triples and in the larger plaza suites of the Segundo North and Tercero South residence halls.

Classes, facilities

John Meyer, vice chancellor of the Office of Resource Management and Planning, said the campus is investing more than $1 million in funding for additional instruction for the large class, primarily to hire instructors. Since May 1, the campus has added 107 classes with more than 3,600 seats for fall.

In adding courses, the undergraduate colleges said they are focusing on lower division and introductory courses that are prerequisites for other courses and gateways to majors.

In addition, with the opening of new vet school instructional facilities, two classrooms in Haring Hall and one in Surge III are being refurbished for general assignment use.

Fred Wood, interim vice provost for undergraduate studies, has been working with Sacramento City College to boost its offerings that satisfy UC Davis' entry-level writing requirement. The community college has not been able to add sections for the fall quarter. However, it has scheduled an additional 16 sections in winter and spring, and, for the first time, the Workload 57 is being offered over the summer.

Student services and financial aid

Janet Gong, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said work groups have identified three major needs related to the larger class, including the effects of increased numbers living in the residence halls; more parent inquiries; and greater demand for services in the areas of health and well-being, advising, tutoring and conduct.

Solutions being explored include:

• expanding the capacity and hours of operation for services ranging from tutoring and advising to psychological counseling;
• increasing the use of technology to deliver services;
• and providing additional programming and resources for parents.

To assist students with complex problems, Student Affairs is also considering the use of a caseworker model to provide a referral and follow-up hub as students access services

Meyer said he expects the campus will receive an additional $1.5 million for student financial aid through UC's University Student Aid Program, funded by registration fees.