SAN DIEGO COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : College Education Threatened

Until very recently, UC Irvine was one of a few University of California campuses that accepted virtually all student transfers. But this year’s budget crunch has changed that, and now UCI cannot accommodate about 4,000 students wanting to transfer.

Many students had been operating under the assumption that, if they completed their first two years at a local community college with a minimum grade of C-plus, they would be certain of transferring to the Ivine campus.

In December, UCI raised that minimum to 3.0, or a B average. Understandably, there’s some deep disappointment and even some apprehension about what the change will mean for community colleges.

In the Cal State system, San Diego State University President Tom Day has been arguing for some time for a campuswide cap on enrollment. Such a cap would allow the university to raise entrance requirements and reject otherwise qualified applicants.

Also, at many campuses, five years to graduate has become the norm. Now, with classes being canceled, even five years is starting to look optimistic.

The fiscal crisis, which is behind all this turmoil is changing some very basic assumptions about public higher education.

The idea that all who want to can go to college is no longer necessarily a given. This constitutes a disturbing erosion of the California dream. Eventually, it will put more pressure on students, faculty, parents and employers.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to plan a long-range strategy for coping when it is not clear what lies ahead on the budgetary horizon. But belt-tightening, and adapting to changes, as is already being done on these campuses, is the great challenge of the new academic year.

They will continue to do that, of course, but this autumn especially, something seems to have eroded in the equation that has made California special.

Unfortunately, as the new academic year unfolds, it is not on an entirely auspicious note.