When Ivan Carrillo transferred from a local community college to study at UC Davis, he doubted his ability to make the grade and he had trouble making friends.

Since then, the Elk Grove resident has led the student body government, earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and been named the top male graduate of his 2009 class.

As broader efforts are made to increase the number of California community college students who, like Carrillo, go on to earn a four-year degree, the campus is taking major steps to recruit transfer students and support their graduation.

UC Davis is offering guaranteed housing for transfer students for the first time in many years; partnering with three area colleges to reach out to college-bound high school seniors; and proposing to spend $30,000 for a transfer student center.

"Transfer shock is the biggest issue many transfer students face," said Phil Knox, assistant director of Advising Services.

Student Housing set aside spaces for 300 students in residence halls and has leased about 280 apartment units. "A guarantee of housing," said Emily Galindo of Student Housing, "assists these students who otherwise would have to navigate the Davis housing market when many apartments are already leased to continuing students."

UC Davis and three Los Rios community colleges will conduct joint admission activities and offer other services to promote community college attendance and university transfer. The University of California is providing $90,000 in annual funding.

"We are more systematically reaching into the 10 largest high schools in the area to really broadcast the message that students can be very successful transfer students," said Michael Dang of Undergraduate Admissions.

UC Davis is also considering a $30,000 proposal for a center for students who transfer to UC Davis, resume their education as older students or are military veterans. The proposal includes increased peer counseling and support for skills workshops and other events. "It's really important to provide transitional support," Knox said.

Transfer students must quickly adjust to UC Davis' fast-paced quarter system and transition to more rigorous upper-division courses, Knox said. They do better the more quickly they become involved in the life of the campus, he added.

The campus is also trying to break down misconceptions that overestimate admissions requirements for transfer students and underestimate their success. An otherwise qualified transfer applicant is highly admissible with a 2.9 grade point average from community college; the average high school GPA of admitted freshmen is 4.0.

A total of 2,135 transfer students account for 30 percent of 7,110 new undergraduates at UC Davis this academic year.