High-school seniors and community-college students have applied to the University of California, Davis, in record numbers, for an all-time high of 30,248 applications for fall 2000. The figure represents a 12.2 percent increase over last year's applications. A total of 24,910 high-school seniors applied to UC Davis, up 12 percent from 1999, and 5,338 transfer students applied, an increase of 13.1 percent. A total of 22,852 California freshmen applied, up 10.4 percent, while 4,165 state community college students applied, an increase of 11.6 percent. Across the UC system, the number of unduplicated applications increased 3.5 percent; on average, students apply to 3.1 campuses. Applications from high-school seniors increased 4.4 percent and from transfer students, 0.2 percent. Those from California freshmen increased 2.5 percent. Applications from California students seeking to transfer from colleges and universities decreased 0.4 percent, while those from state community college students increased by 0.1 percent. UC Davis led all other UC campuses with the highest percentage gains in applications from California high-school seniors in the African-American, Chicano, and Filipino-American ethnic groups, at 20.6 percent, 27.6 percent, and 10.5 percent respectively. At 42 percent, UC Davis also had the highest percentage increase among transfer students in the Latino ethnic group. "Those strong increases give us confidence that our comprehensive outreach activities are reaching a more diverse group of students and families," says Gary Tudor, director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services. Applications increased in other ethnic groups by the following percentages: Asian American, 10.4; Latino, 10.8; and White, East Indian/Pakistani and other, 5.8. Applications from American Indians decreased by 8.4 percent. The number of California high-school seniors not identifying their ethnicity increased by 18.4 percent to 1,869. "Encouraging a greater number of groups and individuals to visit campus enabled us to introduce UC Davis to prospective students from throughout California and their families," Tudor says. During the past year, UC Davis invited more prospective applicants and their parents to tour campus, meet with faculty members and attend information sessions on topics ranging from financial aid to majors for specific careers. In some cases, the university provided bus or air transportation. More than 300 undergraduate students participated in outreach efforts by hosting prospective applicants during visits to campus, taking them to classes, talking with them by telephone or writing letters. And at college fairs throughout the state, a few hundred alumni talked about their experiences at UC Davis and how their studies prepared them for their career. With a long-term goal of increasing the number and diversity of students eligible for admission to the University of California, the Davis campus has recently expanded its formal partnerships with area schools and, in 1999, created the Office of School/University Partnerships. Working with 23 schools in five districts, the office coordinates services ranging from tutoring for individual students to helping teachers develop curricula to meet state standards. As well, the campus's Early Academic Outreach Program provides academic and family support services to about 6,000 students in 70 schools and 19 districts. UC Davis will begin mailing acceptances to about 14,800 prospective freshmen on March 1. In fall 1999, 25,092 students, including 19,460 undergraduates, enrolled at UC Davis.