SAN FRANCISCO – A proposal by the governor to cut costs while easing the impact of severe enrollment reductions at the University of California next year has several skeptics among UC's governing board of regents.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed in his budget last week that 10 percent of freshmen accepted to the UC and California State University systems this fall be redirected to community colleges. After spending two years at a community college, they would be guaranteed admission to a UC or CSU campus. The plan would apply to 3,200 UC-eligible students and 4,200 CSU-eligible students.

Several regents meeting here yesterday said they doubt that bright students accepted to UC would forgo attending four-year institutions in favor of enrolling in community colleges.

"The smartest kids, the best qualified students who are not offered direct admission to UC are not going to go to community colleges," Regent Chairman John Moores said.

The shift in students allowed Schwarzenegger to trim nearly $46 million from UC and CSU's budgets. The state pays far more to educate students at UC and CSU than at community colleges. According to the Legislative Analyst's Office, the state spends about $14,300 annually on each UC student, $7,200 per CSU student and $4,100 per community college student.

Despite the possible savings, UC administrators doubt that 3,200 students will take advantage of the option. A similar program at UC – in which students apply to UC with the intention of attending a community college first – netted an estimated 490 applicants this year.

UC President Robert Dynes said he also is concerned that students who don't spend their freshman and sophomore year at UC miss out on educational experiences.

"I'm a little worried that that's not being seriously enough considered," Dynes said.