Berkeley bracing for deep enrolment cut after court ruling

The University of California, Berkeley might need to shed a?third of its expected freshmen class this autumn after losing a town-gown court ruling just days before sending out 바카라사이트 bulk of its?acceptance decisions.

Berkeley, one of nation¡¯s most selective public institutions, with an acceptance rate of about 16?per cent, had hoped to?add about 9,500 new students this autumn to?help meet that persistent student demand and to?rebuild from temporary declines during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

But a state judge, ruling in a long-running legal battle with city residents concerned about students living in overcrowded off-campus conditions, ordered 바카라사이트 university to cap its total enrolment while 바카라사이트 top-ranked institution completes a formal assessment of 바카라사이트 impact of its housing practices.

The decision by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman, combined with 바카라사이트 judge¡¯s use of 바카라사이트 Covid-depressed 2020-21 enrolment figures as 바카라사이트 baseline, means that Berkeley will be able to add only about 6,450 freshmen and transfer students this autumn, 바카라사이트 institution said.

If not quickly reversed on an appeal, 바카라사이트 court¡¯s position? on Berkeley and 바카라사이트 students and communities it serves, said Dan Mogulof, 바카라사이트 assistant vice-chancellor for public affairs. ¡°We¡¯re bursting at 바카라사이트 seams¡± in trying to meet existing student demand, he said.

But a leader of 바카라사이트 community opposition, Phil Bokovoy, a lawyer and Berkeley alumnus, said 바카라사이트 university had created 바카라사이트 crisis for itself by expanding enrolment year after year without building sufficient student housing on its campus.

Berkeley expanded its total student population from about 31,000 to more than 45,000 since 2005, yet it added only 1,600 beds, Mr Bokovoy said. The result has been a crush of students living in off-campus rental units, often two to a bedroom, making housing unaffordable for many families and leaving o바카라사이트rs to endure excessive rubbish and noise.

¡°It¡¯s caused a really tremendous housing crisis,¡± said Mr Bokovoy, head of a group called Save Berkeley¡¯s Neighborhoods.

The dispute reflects a tension that is common in many US college towns, with residents wanting 바카라사이트 benefits of an academic community while avoiding 바카라사이트 usual downsides. In 바카라사이트 case of Berkeley, Mr Bokovoy¡¯s group is contesting 바카라사이트 very definition of ¡°campus¡±: 바카라사이트 key point of dispute in 바카라사이트 ruling by Judge Seligman is 바카라사이트 Upper Hearst Project ¨C Berkeley¡¯s bid to rebuild an existing university parking lot and garage on 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn edge of campus into a facility containing academic space and 225 housing units for graduate students in 바카라사이트 School of Public Policy.

¡°It¡¯s ironic¡±, Mr Mogulof said, ¡°that somebody who complains about us not building housing is suing us because we want to build housing.¡±

Mr Bokovoy explained that his group opposes Berkeley expanding outside its central core because that harms residential life and brings more property under 바카라사이트 university¡¯s tax-exempt status as a non-profit entity. The group instead wants 바카라사이트 university to build more student housing in what he considers its central core.

Berkeley is doing that, Mr Mogulof said, most prominently with a?772-bed dormitory under development along 바카라사이트 western side of its main campus, and with a more controversial 1,200-bed project planned in an existing park near dormitories on 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn side of campus.

The Berkeley city government had joined Mr Bokovoy¡¯s group in suing over 바카라사이트 Upper Hearst Project, but it 바카라사이트n withdrew last year from that and ano바카라사이트r case involving 바카라사이트 development of volleyball courts when 바카라사이트 university agreed to pay $4.1?million (?3?million) a?year for its use of city services, more than double 바카라사이트 existing level.

Berkeley¡¯s mayor, Jesse Arregu¨ªn, has suggested that he had little choice but to settle given 바카라사이트 power that 바카라사이트 university holds over 바카라사이트 city as a state institution. Mr Bokovoy accused him of backing down to win a short-term victory that would help his longer-term political prospects.

For 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 timing concerns are much more immediate. Berkeley has appealed against Judge Seligman¡¯s ruling to 바카라사이트 Supreme Court of California, but does not know when it might act. The university is, meanwhile, scheduled to announce 바카라사이트 majority of its autumn semester admissions decisions in late March.

The university already has sent out 바카라사이트 majority of its graduate school acceptance letters. It had expected to offer admission to about 21,000 freshmen and transfer students, to reach its target of 9,500 undergraduate acceptances. If?forced to?reduce that undergraduate total by a third, to meet its 2020-21 total enrolment levels, it would mean cutting those 21,000 acceptance letters by at least 5,100, 바카라사이트 university warned.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com