About 400 fewer students are expected to register next week at the University of California, Davis, than did last fall. The reduced enrollments are the result of careful planning after several years of higher-than-desired enrollments and after recent budgetary shortfalls. "Nearly a year ago we deliberately set out to slow our rate of growth," said UC Davis Chancellor Theodore L. Hullar. "Though responding to the growing number of qualified students desiring a UC education, we found we were taxing our programs and facilities and too rapidly approaching our enrollment target of 26,850 students by the year 2005. That reality, exacerbated by the state's fiscal difficulties this past year, has proven our efforts to reduce enrollments to be quite prudent. We still face the challenge of inadequate resources this year, but early planning has helped mitigate these difficulties." Here's a snapshot of what this fall's expected student body of nearly 23,500 students will find when they arrive next week: -- Course availability. Because of the high priority given to undergraduate education, course offerings will be down just 3 percent (or 110 primary lecture sections), despite budget cuts and the loss of more than 100 faculty members to early retirement. To help prevent bottlenecks this spring, a number of seats in some high-demand courses have been reserved for graduating seniors. Departments also are being encouraged to broaden the range of elective courses that will satisfy graduation requirements. On average, more than 77 percent of undergraduates requesting 12 or more credits received them, compared to 73 percent last year. Those few receiving fewer than 6 credits are being called by staff and offered assistance in completing their schedules. Open course listings will be available in many campus buildings and broadcast on Davis Community Cable Channel 22. -- Classrooms. To expand classroom space, courses will be scheduled for the first time in the Main Theatre and Wyatt Pavilion. More primary lecture sections also are being offered between 6 and 10 p.m. -- 66 this fall, compared to 44 last fall. Next summer renovation of Wellman and Olson Halls is expected to begin, creating additional classrooms. -- Financial aid. About 21,000 applications from current and prospective students have been filed to date, about 1,000 more than last year. About half of those applying will share the $40 million aid fund -- nearly 10,000 students, compared to last year's 8,500. About 6,000 students are expected to take advantage of the university's new fee grant program, which partially or fully covers this year's $650 fee increase, depending on need. A streamlined loan program offers funds within 24-48 hours. -- Building renovations. The basement of the Book Store will be open for textbook sales while renovation of the building continues. The basement more than triples the amount of textbook space previously provided. Space for trade and reference books will be quadrupled when the store's renovation is completed this spring. Students can shop the expanded hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, through Oct. 2. The MU and Silo have been expanded and renovated, offering new food services, meeting rooms and conference space, and more than doubling indoor and outdoor seating for patrons. Renovation of the new Cross-Cultural Center will get under way shortly and be completed by mid-February. -- Housing. On-campus student family housing is full but more than 800 vacancies exist in undergraduate residence halls due to the planned enrollment cutback. To keep housing rates as low as possible, these vacancies are being condensed, permitting the entire Primero complex to be closed. Long-term plans include possible replacement of these residence halls with apartments. Off-campus apartments are plentiful. At this time last year, 94 of 7,474 apartments in Davis were still available for rent. Currently, 399 of 7,568 units are available. -- Parking. Off-campus parking will be tougher in residential areas north and west of campus because of new restrictions approved this summer by the Davis City Council. Brodie Hamilton, transportation and parking manager, believes the campus can absorb those commuter cars displaced from neighborhoods north of campus. Lot 43, west of the Silo, is back in service, with 93 spaces. Perimeter lots, with expanded shuttle service, are also available. Ground will be broken for a Quad-area parking structure in March and for Lot 55 north of the medical sciences complex this spring, bringing more than 1,300 spaces on line. And an alternative transportation program continues to encourage such alternatives as cycling, walking, the UNITRANS bus service, shuttles and carpooling. Both the city and the campus have advised students affected by the new West Davis parking restrictions to leave personal vehicles at home and to use alternative means of transportation. A joint city-campus study of the management of transportation systems is expected to be completed this academic year, with the goal of reducing congestion and parking demand and promoting cleaner air. Bicycle paths have also been improved, with a new circle created on the west side of campus. A redesigned Memorial Union bike parking area now accommodates 400 bicycles. "We have tried our very best to ensure that our students have all the necessary support as they begin or continue their studies here," Hullar said. "And we've managed very well, thanks to the efforts of many faculty and staff working very hard in a time of limited resources."