SAN FRANCISCO--The day after the California State University system announced that it would cut back enrollment by 10,000 students next year due to lack of funding, the UC Board of Regents voted 8-2 today to announce an unspecified limit in next year's enrollment.

The regents approved a motion today to send a statement to state legislators, along with the proposed 2009-10 budget, saying that freshman enrollment would be curtailed if the university did not receive the necessary state funding.

The 2009-10 budget calls for an $815 million increase in revenue, an amount which Regent Judith Hopkinson, who proposed the motion, called unrealistic.

UC President Mark Yudof, who said he was very anxious to maintain access to the university, recommended against naming a specific number of students who would not be enrolled if funding was not met. However, he supported taking a hard line on requesting state funding.

"I think it's our job as regents to forcefully articulate our point of view as the University of California, and to make it clear what we need," Yudof said.

The statement is meant to illustrate the gravity of the budget situation if the university continues to receive inadequate state funding, regents said.

Regent Eddie Island voted against the proposal, saying that underrepresented minorities and poorer applicants would be most affected if enrollment is cut.

"I don't think we ought to, with the data we have now or the absence of data, target kids and their families whose dreams are tied to the University of California," Island said.

After the regents voted, UC Students Association President Lucero Chavez said she was disappointed by the motion's passage.

"I think the kind of students who are going to be affected ... were overlooked," Chavez said. "Don't make a statement on the backs of students and their families."

UC spokesperson Trey Davis said the statement sent a strong message to legislators.

"It is a statement to leaders of California and the people of California as to what UC needs to keep enrolling the kind of students that we have been and continuing to produce the level of service we have been," he said.

Check back today for ongoing updates of the UC Board of Regents meeting.

Tags: UC BOARD OF REGENTS, UC ADMISSIONS