2008 Woodie Awards
Transfer to four-year schools difficulty at highest peak
Jonathan Montalvo
Issue date: 5/12/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 3 next >
Citrus College student Marcelo Araujo was prepared to transfer to CSU Fullerton in January 2004. However, during a visit to the Citrus College Career/Transfer Center, Araujo was informed that his transfer plans were most likely going to be delayed.
Araujo, 23, was told that due to Fullerton's "impacted" status, he needed to take an additional course- one that had not been previously required- to assure that he would be accepted.
"I was told that it was unlikely that I would be admitted in the spring," Araujo said.
And that is exactly what happened. Although he had completed all the previous transfer requirements, Araujo received a letter informing him that he was denied acceptance for spring 2004.
Araujo did take and pass the additional course, and has been accepted for the fall 2004 semester. But his story is becoming more common as the task of transferring from the community college system to the University of California or the California State University system becomes increasingly difficult.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's May budget revision for 2004-2005 is expected to fund about 2.5 percent enrollment growth at UC or CSU. The budget imposes substantial cuts to both systems - 7 percent for UC and 8 percent for CSU.
It does not restore admission to thousands of applicants who were qualified to attend UC or CSU schools this year but who are being redirected to community colleges instead.
The classification of UC and CSU campuses as impacted is one f the problems facing transfer-ready community college students.
An undergraduate major, program or campus can be designated as impacted when the number of applications received during the initial filing period exceeds the number of available spaces.
When such majors, programs or campuses are impacted, they are authorized to use additional criteria above those specified in the Master Plan to screen applicants wishing to transfer.
This was the problem that Araujo faced: he is a communications major, and the communications division at Fullerton is impacted.
Araujo, 23, was told that due to Fullerton's "impacted" status, he needed to take an additional course- one that had not been previously required- to assure that he would be accepted.
"I was told that it was unlikely that I would be admitted in the spring," Araujo said.
And that is exactly what happened. Although he had completed all the previous transfer requirements, Araujo received a letter informing him that he was denied acceptance for spring 2004.
Araujo did take and pass the additional course, and has been accepted for the fall 2004 semester. But his story is becoming more common as the task of transferring from the community college system to the University of California or the California State University system becomes increasingly difficult.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's May budget revision for 2004-2005 is expected to fund about 2.5 percent enrollment growth at UC or CSU. The budget imposes substantial cuts to both systems - 7 percent for UC and 8 percent for CSU.
It does not restore admission to thousands of applicants who were qualified to attend UC or CSU schools this year but who are being redirected to community colleges instead.
The classification of UC and CSU campuses as impacted is one f the problems facing transfer-ready community college students.
An undergraduate major, program or campus can be designated as impacted when the number of applications received during the initial filing period exceeds the number of available spaces.
When such majors, programs or campuses are impacted, they are authorized to use additional criteria above those specified in the Master Plan to screen applicants wishing to transfer.
This was the problem that Araujo faced: he is a communications major, and the communications division at Fullerton is impacted.