The UC system announced the launch of the UC Dual Admission pilot program Sept. 16, introducing a new transfer pathway for California high school students beginning next spring.
The three-year pilot program emerged as a result of Assembly Bill 132 in 2021, which grants first-year applicants conditional admission to six university campuses participating in the Transfer Admission Guarantee Program. Their admission would be contingent upon the completion of academic credits at a California community college, according to UC Office of the President spokesperson Stett Holbrook.
“The Dual Admission Program is intended to increase access to the university for students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, experiencing limitations in high school curriculum offered, geographical constraints, or financial challenges, preventing an otherwise strong student from being eligible for UC freshman admission,” Holbrook said in an email.
Holbrook noted that the university anticipates inviting 3,700 students to join the program for the fall 2023 admission cycle.
Eligible applicants must be state residents who are graduating from a California high school and applying for university admission in fall 2023, 2024 or 2025, according to the university website.
Additional requirements include having a 3.0 GPA at the time of application and missing one or more A-G subject requirements at the time of the applicant’s high school graduation.
“There are many paths to UC, and transfer is an excellent path with opportunities for guaranteed admission, and lots of support along the way,” said Robert Penman, UC Davis executive director of undergraduate admissions, in an email.
Despite the involvement of other university campuses, UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego will not be providing guaranteed admission to transfer students due to ongoing enrollment capacity concerns, the university website notes.
Thomas Rizza, Berkeley City College spokesperson, said in an email strengthening partnerships with the university is critical to student success.
“Community colleges have long been a place where students can explore their academic goals in a low-cost and equitable manner,” Rizza said in an email. “We hope this program incentivizes more students to take advantage of the quality, low cost education that exists in their local community colleges.”
While students can directly transfer to a UC campus from a California community college without enrolling in the Dual Admission Program, Holbrook noted that the program provides additional academic advising and support to first-year applicants who need assistance with the transfer process.
Assuming a sufficient applicant pool of “qualified” transfers, the university plans to enroll one California transfer student for every two California high school students, Holbrook added.
“It’s one of the ways that UC is putting out the welcome mat to as many California students as possible,” said Han Mi Yoon-Wu, the university executive director of undergraduate admissions, in a university press release. “Transfer is a great path to a life-changing UC education.”
