The number of prospective first-time freshmen accepting offers of admission from UC Davis for fall 2000 climbed 13.3 percent this year, and the number of students from underrepresented ethnic groups intending to enroll increased by 18 percent.

Students from historically underrepresented groups -- African American, American Indian, Chicano and Latino -- held relatively steady in this year’s admit pool (13 percent compared to last year’s 12.5 percent).

With 90 more than last year indicating they’ll enroll this fall, underrepresented students comprise 13.1 percent of those intending to register, compared to 12.6 percent in 1999.

"The involvement of UC Davis students from all ethnic groups was an enormous asset to our success this year," says Gary Tudor, director of undergraduate admissions and outreach services at UC Davis. Current students telephoned admitted students, visited hometown high schools and community colleges, spoke at recruitment events and hosted visitors to campus.

Changes in numbers

Students accepting admission offers who identified themselves as members of historically underrepresented groups numbered 588, compared to 498 in 1999 (an increase of 18 percent). Increases were registered for African Americans, from 92 (in 1999) to 112 (in 2000) or 21.7 percent; for American Indians, from 28 to 31 or 10.7 percent; for Chicanos, from 277 to 336 or 21.3 percent; and for Latinos, from 101 to 109 or 7.9 percent.

Students identifying themselves as Asian American increased by 14.7 percent this year, from 1,148 to 1,317. Caucasian students increased by 12.1 percent, from 1,619 to 1,815. Students identified as other ethnicities increased by 9.3 percent, from 75 to 82.

The number of students not claiming an ethnicity increased this year by 24.2 percent from 281 to 349.

Tudor says record numbers of prospective students and their families learned more about UC Davis by visiting campus, attending seven statewide recruitment programs and participating in a college fair held on campus.

Recruitment process

This year, a record 24,463 domestic applications were reviewed. Of the 15,598 applicants offered admission, 4,485 indicated by the May 1 deadline that they intend to register next fall. When the new academic year gets under way in September, the freshman class is expected to settle in at approximately 4,300, with overall campus enrollment anticipated to increase by 4 percent, from 25,092 to 26,103.

"We are planning for increases in undergraduate enrollments that will allow us to provide access for more students," Tudor says.