HAYWARD -- Cal State Hayward may not be at the top of the list of area high school seniors looking for a college. It may not be the most prestigious of the 23 schools in the California State University system.

But the university has one thing to offer that many of the other CSU campuses don't -- space for incoming freshmen.

In a time when colleges throughout the system are imposing restrictions on new admissions and transfer students, officials at Cal State Hayward said Wednesday that the university will guarantee admissions to high school seniors or transfer students who can demonstrate that they have met academic guidelines through the Early Decision Program.

"By making us their No. 1 choice, they will have a seat in a class at CSUH this fall," said Barry Zepel, a spokesman for the university.

This is no minor development.

Throughout the state, college-bound students are jockeying for one of the few spaces available at universities in the CSU system. It hasn't helped their cause that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed redirecting 10 percent of University of California and CSU applicants to community colleges throughout the state to offset anticipated budget cuts.

But Cal State Hayward's Early Decision recruitment drive, which ends March 1, is a dramatic departure from enrollment limitations being implemented at colleges throughout California.

"It is true the system has been instructed to reduce enrollment," said Jeff Cook, executive director of Enrollment Services. "And even Cal State Hayward is looking at a number of possible enrollment controls. We have a particular interest, however, in promoting the concept of a college experience to high school students.

"We have a great interest in high school students continuing their college experience with us. This is an advantage for first-time freshmen and transfer students."

Through the program, current high school seniors or college students interested in transferring can have their transcripts reviewed by a counselor in the university's admis-sions department. Prospective students must either pay a $55 application fee or request a fee waiver at the time they submit their transcripts.

Once it is determined that the applicant has fulfilled admission requirements, he or she will be admitted "on the spot," Cook said.

"The advantage to students is they can conclude their college search process early," he said. Routinely, Cook said applicants have to wait until late March at the earliest before being informed whether they have been admitted.

This is not to suggest that Cal State Hayward has unlimited space. Cook didn't know how many incoming freshmen or transfer students the campus is able to accommodate, but he's sure those who meet the admission standards and apply before the March 1 deadline will have little trouble securing a space for the fall quarter.

"We don't want to offer more spots than we have available," Cook said. "We want to make the Early Decision Program available to those who make CSUH their first choice so they can lock in their classes before we can make enrollment controls."

The Early Decision Program is one of a number of efforts the university is making to increase the presence of first-time freshmen on the campus. As of fall 2003, first-time freshmen enrolled at the campus were just 693 of the estimated 13,000 students at the campus.

Cal State Hayward is trying to overcome the perception that it is the region's pre-eminent campus for working students or those seeking graduate degrees. Officials believe it's critical to the long-term future of the university that it becomes a more attractive option for high school seniors.

Another concession the school is making to lure more first-time freshmen is guaranteeing that housing will be made available to them for the four years they're enrolled at the campus.

Students interested in the Early Decision Program can apply during Cal State Hayward's open house from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The open house will include information sessions on admissions and financial aid, and an information fair of the academic offerings at the university.