Students who have sent in their Statements of Intent to Register (SIRs) for UC Santa Barbara’s fall 2007 entering freshman class include more members of underrepresented minority groups than ever in campus history. In addition to its diversity, the entering class continues to raise the bar on academic quality.

The campus has received deposits and SIRs from 4,602 of the 22,205 applicants who were admitted. Expectations are for an enrollment of between 4,300 and 4,400 freshmen this fall, said Christine Van Gieson, director of admissions.

Of all domestic respondents expected to register who indicated their racial or ethnic backgrounds, 42 percent, or 1,934, are members of minority groups. The 1,166 members of underrepresented minority groups—African Americans, American Indians, and Chicanos and Latinos—account for 25.3 percent of the entering class.

The SAT examination was changed substantially for students applying to enroll in fall 2006 or later. Applicants now must take the SAT Reasoning Test, which is made up of three sections: reading, mathematics, and writing (as opposed to two sections, math and verbal, in the past). The average total on the SATR Test of the applicants to UCSB was 1776 out of a possible 2400.

The average high school grade point average was 3.82. Last year’s average for students who submitted SIRs was 3.79, although the average of those who actually enrolled last fall was 3.74.

Chancellor Henry T. Yang said UCSB’s success in attracting an outstanding applicant pool was the product of “the concerted efforts of my colleagues in every department on our campus.”

Said Van Gieson: “Each year, I marvel again at the accomplishments and ability of our incoming students. We’re proud to welcome them into our community as they pursue their educational goals.”

Statistics on incoming transfer students are not yet available, but Van Gieson said that UCSB had admitted 5,544 transfer applicants and expected to enroll 1,475, or about 25 more than last year.