University of California President Robert Dynes, visiting UC Santa Cruz for the first time since taking office, said he would like to see a higher percentage of graduate students on campus.

His vision is in line with that of Chancellor M.R.C. Greenwood. Two years ago, she said her goal was to double the number of graduate students. Last fall, that number was 1,355, about 9 percent of enrollment.

Dynes, a physicist-turned-administrator who enjoys scuba diving, made Santa Cruz his fifth campus stop since October. He lunched Tuesday with faculty and talked with researchers at Long Marine Lab.

During his eight years as chancellor of UC San Diego, more than 300 companies were spun off from campus research.

"I believe we can do even better," he said, encouraging university leaders to take risks despite difficult financial times.

UCSC landed a $330 million NASA contract in September, resulting in 62 new positions at its facility in Mountain View. Greenwood said that contract enabled employees to retain university jobs despite the shrinking state budget.

A proposal in April for a merger with the Monterey Institute of International Studies, which has 700 graduate students, has not been approved. Greenwood said the financial aspects are under study.

Dynes said he hasn’t taken a position on the proposal.

Asked about the increasingly complicated process for high school graduates to gain admission to UC, Dynes conceded, "We haven’t clarified what it takes."

To be eligible for UC, he said, "It’s GPA, SAT, and A-G, period." (That means grade-point average, scores on college entrance exams and completion of UC’s prescribed list of courses.)

As for admission to specific campuses, "that’s more complicated," he said.

Greenwood recommended taking as many Advanced Placement courses as possible.

Dynes said he hopes voters support Proposition 55, a bond for K-12 and university facilities.

UCSC is counting on the bond money to pay for an expansion at McHenry Library and new buildings for digital arts and biosciences.