UC president blasts harsh state audit

UPDATE 3/29/2016 10:15 PM: There are 10 University of California campuses from Davis to Santa Cruz, giving students in the Golden State a lot of choices.

But in a new report, a state auditor says UC decisions have put California students at a disadvantage. Admitting so many out-of-state applicants, some not as qualified as in-state students.

“We think it’s wrong. It’s state funding that determines the number of California residents that UC enrolls,” said Claire Doan, media relations specialist for the University of California Office of the President.

The audit found that California resident enrollment increased by 10 percent over the last 10 years, while out-of-state students grew by more than 400 percent.

But the UC President’s Office fired back, saying the admission policy clearly favors residents.

“For example, non-residents must have a 3.4 GPA to be admitted versus just a 3.0 GPA for residents,” said Doan.

But the state audit said the university admitted 16,000 out-of-state students with lower average academic scores than their California counterparts.

Still, students already in the system at UC Santa Cruz said they like the diversity it brings.

“I feel like we can connect more with others from the United States, rather than always having to see people from California,” said student Anthony Medina.

A California native, Medina said he and his friend Bryce Borden both have roommates from out of state.

“I think that letting more out-of-state people to come here is a good thing because it lets in more of a variety,” said Borden.

And the president’s office said those students also allow an overall larger student population.

“The $23,000 in additional tuition that nonresident students pay actually helps UC enroll thousands more California students than the system could otherwise afford,” said Doan.

PREVIOUS STORY: The president of the University of California is blasting a state audit, calling it unfair and misleading.

The audit says UC is admitting an increasing number of out-of-state students, some of whom are not as qualified as in-state students.

Out-of-state students pay more tuition, and auditor Elaine Howle says those admissions undermine California students who are supposed to benefit from the public university system.

KION’s Monica Jacquez will have more on this story tonight.