The public is using the Internet to apply foradmission to Sacramento State in greater numbers thanever before, benefiting both the incoming students andthe university.

The trend at Sac State reflects what is happening inthe whole California State University system where,according to a recent report, online applications forfall 2002 have risen by 69 percent over the previousyear.

“I?m really proud of where we?re at,” Sac State?sDirector of Outreach Emiliano Diaz said of theincrease.

Prospective students can apply for admission to anyCSU through the CSU Mentor website, receive a responsewithin hours.

Fall 2001 online applications for Sac State totaledabout 4,700, but for the coming fall semester, thefigure stands at approximately 6,500, approxiamtely 60percent of all applications received.

School officials anticipate that the trend will likelycontinue.

Shirley Uplinger, vice-president of Student Affairs,said a “paper-less” process is easier to usetechnologically because it saves the university theexpense and error that manual data entry from formscreates.

“It?s the wave of the future, and it?s here,” shesaid.

Students who apply online have the advantage of aquick response from Sac State.

Rather than wait for the postal service to deliver apaper application, which then has to be processedbefore a reply can be returned via the postal service,Diaz said that with electronic application theresponse comes the same day.

Sac State administration officials would like to seeeven more students apply using the Internet.

“We are encouraging students to go that route,” Diazsaid. “The fact that it?s grown so much shows we?redoing a good job of promotion.”

Prospective students see the CSU Mentor web address,www.csumentor.edu, on virtually every piece ofinformation they receive from Sac State. It is alsoincluded with every presentation done by Sac StateOutreach counselors.

For those who are without web access, Diaz pointed outthat the paper process will always be there for them.