UC regents approve plan to add 10,000 in-state undergraduate students by 2018

UC President Janet Napolitano's plan for enrollment increases is in part a response to criticism from legislators and parents that UC had added too many students from other states and nations for the higher tuition those students pay. Above, at UCLA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) — UC President Janet Napolitano’s plan for enrollment increases is in part a response to criticism from legislators and parents that UC had added too many students from other states and nations for the higher tuition those students pay. Above, at UCLA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

By Larry Gordon

UC regents on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to increase enrollment of California undergraduates at UC by 5,000 next fall and an additional 5,000 by 2018, despite concerns over whether the university will be able to hire enough professors and provide enough dorm space.

UC officials said they feel certain that the student growth can be accommodated without too many problems, even if that means hiring more temporary lecturers while permanent new faculty are vetted and that more students may be placed in triple dorm rooms.

Some of the hiring of what may be about 500 faculty over the next two years “is well underway,” said Nathan Brostrom, UC executive vice president and chief financial officer. But while he acknowledged that “a lot of work is ahead,” particularly with adding classrooms and housing, he said he thought it could be managed.

Several regents said they were worried about possible overcrowding in classes and housing and insufficient services such as mental health counseling. Student regent Abraham “Avi” Oved, a UCLA student, said he feared “an erosion of educational opportunities” in the short run, particularly next year.

“Where are we going to put them?” he asked about the extra students.

Yet Oved joined all other regents in supporting the plan, he said, as a symbolic vote of confidence that UC President Janet Napolitano and other officials would do their best to manage the growth.

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[Source]: LA Times