A record number of new students began the fall semester at California Lutheran University yesterday, Sept. 2.

About 200 new students have transferred to CLU from more than 70 other colleges and universities, 20 percent more than last year. Budget cuts at state institutions, the extension of the CLU Guarantee Scholarship: Private Education, Public Price to transfer students and increased outreach to community colleges all contributed to the increase.

The university received 30 percent more applications than last year and is expecting its largest freshman class to date, 490 students.

Nearly one-third of the freshmen and new transfer students are the first in their family to attend college. The new students come from throughout the United States and 16 foreign countries, including Austria, China and Trinidad and Tobago.

The total number of undergraduates will be about 2,250, including Adult Degree Evening Program participants. Another 1,300 students are enrolled in graduate programs.

The university is celebrating its 50th anniversary with growth in facilities and programs. Upperclass students are moving into new Trinity Hall; construction has begun on the Swenson Center for Academic Excellence for social and behavioral sciences, and the school is launching the CLU Center for Economic Research and Forecasting and a Master of Science in economics program.