BERKELEY, Calif. (KNX) — Thousands of prospective UC Berkeley students were told they might have their admission rescinded for the 2022-2023 academic year after a court ordered the institution to maintain enrollment at 2020-2021 levels.
The order froze enrollment to a historically low year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The university announced Monday the cord order has forced it to reduce enrollment by 3,050 students, meaning it must rescind at least 5,100 offers of admission.
“Today, the university appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court of California,” Berkeley officials said in a statement. “If left intact, the court’s decision would have a devastating impact on prospective students, university admissions, campus operations, and the university’s ability to serve California students by meeting the enrollment targets set by the state of California.”
The order came as a result of a lawsuit filed against the university by a community group, Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods. The group sued UC Berkeley under the state’s Environmental Quality Act, alleging the university’s attempt to build housing for graduate and postdoctoral students would have a negative impact on the immediate vicinity.
The group argued that UC Berkeley should not be able to expand enrollment when there is a shortage of housing in the area.
The rescission is estimated to cost the school $57 million in tuition dollars.
The school has asked the state’s Supreme Court to issue an emergency stay on the ruling before it takes up the matter later this year.
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