SDSU Set to Start Limiting Freshman Enrollment in ’89

Beginning in the fall of 1989, San Diego State University will limit the number of freshmen on the campus in order to ease crowding and improve education for all students there, SDSU President Thomas B. Day said Tuesday.

Under the new policy, the university will take under consideration all freshmen applications for admission for the 1989 fall semester during a one-month period in November, 1988. After determining the campus’s maximum capacity, administrators will then approve for admission on a first-come, first-serve basis those applicants who meet California State University admissions standards.

Those applicants who cannot be considered because of capacity problems will be redirected to other state university campuses based on the preferences they will be asked to indicate.

14,000 First-Time Freshmen Applicants

Administrators said about 14,000 first-time freshmen are expected to apply during the November filing period this year. The university will probably accept 12,000 for admission on the expectation that about 4,000 will eventually enroll. Using those figures as guides, as many as 2,000 students could be redirected to other campuses for fall, 1989, administrators said.

Day said the university will continue to recognize special programs for California veterans as well as to minorities.

“This is the simplest way to achieve our goal of reducing the number of students to the level supported by state funding,” Day said. The campus enrolled 35,945 students last fall in all programs, including 4,581 freshmen. The state translates the 35,945 total into the equivalent of 26,606 full-time students for funding purposes. Even with that computation, the state only funds the campus for 25,800 students, almost 1,000 fewer than computed.