More than 7,000 students have already signed up for 2005 summer classes at UCSB, continuing an upward trend in yearly enrollment that began when the university received state money to expand its summer course offerings.

Robert Mann, associate director of the summer session program, said UCSB projects a total of 8,400 students will sign up, bringing total enrollment this summer to nearly 50 percent of the undergraduate population. In 2004, 42 percent of UCSB students enrolled in summer classes, and in 2003, 27 percent of students enrolled, said Loy Lytle, dean of extended learning services. In 2000, UCSB was one of three UC schools to gain state funding for its summer school program, joined by UC Berkeley and UCLA.