College Wants to Cut Rolls--but Not That Much

All the publicity about class cuts at San Diego State University and the need to hold down future enrollments has apparently had too much of an intended effect.

Applications to enter the fall 1992 freshmen class are down so much from previous levels--as many as 1,500 behind this time last year--that the university has decided to extend the filing deadline from the usual last day of November to at least mid-December.

“We’re finding a perception among high school students that they can’t get any classes they want if they come here and that a cap on enrollment means we aren’t going to accept anyone,” said George Hutchinson, director of student outreach services at the school, which had one of the worst overcrowding problems in the Cal State system.

More than 660 classes were cut from the fall course schedule at the same time that fees were hiked 20% at all California State University campuses--all because of the state’s severe budget deficit.

Now, said Rick Moore, head of university information services, “There’s nervousness among us about a downward enrollment spiral getting out of hand.”