The Empire Strikes Back...

Email of April 1 (boldface added) received after that nasty state audit:

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Dear Friend of UC,

I’m writing to share the good news that UC is on track to enroll an additional 5,000 California undergraduates in 2016 – and 5,000 more over the following two years.

Admissions offers to California high school seniors are up 15 percent over last year, according to preliminary results. The numbers show that UC’s efforts to boost enrollment of California students are working – efforts made possible, in part, because of additional funding provided by the State in last year’s budget.

Given the ongoing debate about nonresident students at UC, you may be surprised to learn that California students make up about 85% of our student body. Nonresidents – who pay three times as much in tuition and fees – are critical to our efforts to serve Californians. Last year, nonresident students contributed $800 million to the university’s overall budget, an amount equivalent to the entire budget for UC Riverside. Clearly, this level of funding allows UC to maintain access, affordability and excellence for California students.

While revenues from nonresident students remain an essential part of UC’s budget, UC has capped the level of nonresident students at UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego – the campuses with the most nonresident students. Moreover, it is important to understand thatUC admissions policies overwhelmingly favor Californians. Consistent with UC’s obligation in accordance with the California Master Plan for Higher Education, we continue to admit all of the top 12.5 percent of California public high school graduates who apply. UC has honored this commitment even in the leanest of budget years when the state didn’t fund enrollment for all eligible California students. Our admissions policies put California students first:

If eligible California students aren't admitted to their campus of choice, UC refers them to another UC campus. Nonresident students are never guaranteed admission to UC.

• California residents need only a 3.0 GPA to be considered for admission. Nonresidents are required to have at least a 3.4 GPA.
• All eligible California students that apply are guaranteed admission to the University.

You can read a comprehensive, data-driven report about our admissions and finances here:http://universityofcalifornia.edu/news/straight-talk-report.

The bottom line is that state funding is the determining factor in how many California residents UC can enroll. The university, in partnership with the state, has always been in service to California, and that is still true today:

• 55 percent of UC undergraduates have all systemwide tuition and fees covered by financial aid, grants and scholarships
• 42 percent are among the first in their families to earn a college degree
• 40 percent come from low-income households
• 30 percent are California Community College transfers

On Wednesday, April 6, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee will be hearing from the State Auditor about the report recently issued that is critical of UC’s admission of nonresident students. We believe that we have a very positive story to tell about our admissions policies and practices and accordingly, I would enlist your help by asking you to reach out to the Committee with communication supporting our efforts.

Thank you for your help with this important issue.

Yours very truly,

Nelson Peacock

Senior Vice President

Governmental Relations

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So - as we go into legislative hearings, keep this inspiration in mind: (Won't work in iPhone.)