UC California Pres. addresses tuition and enrollment at Hartnell College in Salinas

While on her tour visiting community colleges and high schools across California, University of California president Janet Napolitano made a stop at Hartnell College in Salinas for the first time.

“The University of California is open,” said Napolitano. “Our gates are open for California’s best students and we want them to have the best experience that they can have.”

Napolitano held a roundtable discussion with MESA students who have already been admitted into UC schools. Students sought her advice on everything from transferring to tuition.

“It’s great to get her advice on the things that we have the most questions about,” said Hartnell student George Flores. “Something that is not on the website, it’s not expressed anywhere but here. It was a really great experience.”

While the University of California is on a mission to boost enrollment by 5000 in-state undergrads this fall, the UC system is currently under fire for admitting too many out of state students, some not as qualified as in-state students.

“It’s the wrong conclusion to draw,” said Napolitano.

An audit found that in-state enrollment went up 10% over the last decade, while the number of out of state students increased by 400 percent, they pay thousands of dollars more in tuition.

“With the state reducing the amount it gives to the university by so much and such a short period of time, in order for us to continue to admit the same number of California students, we need to add some out of state students,” said Napolitano.

Napolitano said the out of state enrollment also has to do with increasing diversity on campus.

“Since I’m in state I’ll be able to see individuals from other states and have more of a feel for what it’s like to actually be out there in the field with different individuals,” said Hartnell student Alexis Munoz.

Unlike Munoz, other students were not so forgiving.

“I believe that’s wrong,” said Hartnell sophomore Alicia Cruz. “They should admit more of the local students because you would think that if they end up getting a degree they would help your community.”

Napolitano told KION they only admit 15 percent of out of state students, while other universities accept nearly triple that.