The severe dorm waiting list and class shortages that marred the start of the school year at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa two years ago will not repeat this year, university officials say.

A computerized class enrollment management system has allowed deans and academic units to add extra sections of high-demand courses as they fill up, preventing students from getting shut out of the courses they need, said Kelly Aune, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs.

As for the residence halls, 130 students are on the waiting list for a dorm room, a possible reflection of decreasing enrollment and more off-campus housing options available to students.

About 300 students were on the housing waiting list last year at this time and 1,200 students two years ago. UH-Manoa spokesman Jim Manke said the shorter waiting list could be attributed to "higher visibility of suitable alternatives" off-campus.

A slight decrease in enrollment may be a factor, too, Aune said. According to preliminary figures last week, enrollment was down about 2 percent, said Aune. That could change by the time a final tally is made a few weeks after school begins.

It was two years ago when a surge in enrollment pushed the Manoa student population to more than 21,000, leading to a number of problems.

"That 6 (percent) to 7 percent enrollment increase caught us completely off guard. We weren't ready for it in terms of housing or classes," Aune said.

This year marks the first of a step tuition increase that will more than double the cost of a year of undergraduate resident tuition by the year 2011. Beginning this semester, undergraduate students will pay $408 more per semester at UH-Manoa. Undergraduate tuition is expect to increase each year until 2011 — when it will be $8,400 a year, compared with $3,504 last year.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.