Additional Local-Area Freshmen to be Admitted
New funding will allow 852 people on the wait list to enroll at SDSU this spring.
In addition to transfer students, federal stimulus funds will enable San Diego State University to admit 852 freshmen from its wait list for spring 2011.
Previously, SDSU announced the $8.7 million in federal funding would allow the university to enroll approximately 1,700 new upper-division transfer students this spring. California State University policy dictates that qualified transfer students receive the highest enrollment priority.
However, based on new enrollment goals set today by the CSU Chancellor’s Office, SDSU will also be able to admit all freshmen remaining on its wait list for the fall 2010 enrollment cycle.
Permanent enrollment funding critical
“SDSU is pleased to offer admission to wait-listed local admission-area applicants who were previously not admitted due to state budget cuts,” said Stephen L. Weber, SDSU President.
“This is a unique situation using one-time stimulus funds from the federal government. So while these wait-list students will now get a chance to earn a degree from SDSU, it is imperative that our state representatives approve a budget that restores permanent enrollment funding so we can admit more qualified local applicants next fall.”
SDSU established a wait list for qualified local admission-area applicants for the first time in its history after unprecedented state budget cuts. SDSU’s local admissions area includes all high schools and community colleges in San Diego County south of SR-56 and all of Imperial County.
This spring, 1,747 qualified local applicants were offered the chance to put their names on a wait list for enrollment this fall—if additional funds became available. Of those, 934 added their names to the wait list and 82 were admitted (52 enrolled).
Each of the 852 applicants remaining on SDSU’s wait list will receive a letter in the next week inviting them to enroll in classes for SDSU’s spring 2011 semester, which begins Jan. 19. It is uncertain how many freshmen applicants will accept SDSU’s offer—since many may have enrolled at other universities and community colleges.
Admitted freshmen will also be required to submit updated application materials, take tests to clear their remediation requirements and attend a mandatory orientation.
Transfer students still receiving first priority
On July 28, SDSU notified upper-division transfer students it would accept applications for a spring 2011 enrollment cycle. Applications will be accepted until midnight tonight (Sept. 27). Transfer students from SDSU’s local admissions area will continue to receive first priority during the application process. Applications are accepted for all majors, except nursing.
This will be the first spring enrollment cycle since 2008. All transfer applicants are encouraged to visit the CSUMentor website and campus websites for additional information.
The additional one-time funding that facilitated a spring enrollment cycle consists of State Fiscal Stabilization Fund dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Approximately $106 million has been allocated to the CSU to be divided among the 23 universities including SDSU’s allocation of $8.7 million.
The one-time influx of federal funds comes on the heels of massive cuts in state support over the last two years, which forced the CSU to respond with employee furloughs and workforce reductions, enrollment cuts and increased student fees.
The governor's proposed budget includes the first restoration of state funding to the CSU since 2007 with $305 million to restore the state budget reduction and an additional $60.6 million to fund further enrollment expansion.
Fall 2011 admissions opens Oct. 1
Applications for the fall 2011 semester will open on Oct. 1, 2010 for all freshmen, upper-division transfer, credential and graduate students. SDSU has not yet determined how many new students it can admit for fall 2011 —that number will depend on the outcome of the state budget process.
SDSU remains committed to maintaining its traditional percentage of local students. SDSU’s current freshmen class, the smallest in 20 years, far exceeds the university’s traditional averages for diversity and local residency.
