San Jose, Calif. ? The University of California-Berkeley, facing intense criticism that it overreacted to the potential health risks of SARS, announced during the weekend that it would allow about 80 students from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to attend summer classes.

Nearly 30 students, most of whom attend the Chinese University of Hong Kong, are scheduled to arrive by May 27, when the first summer session begins. University officials in Hong Kong will monitor the health of the students before they leave Asia. After arriving in Berkeley, the students will be in close contact with campus health officials.

Last week, UC-Berkeley became the first university in the country to cancel summer programs for students from the countries hardest hit by SARS. Nearly 600 Asian students — many more than the campus anticipated — had enrolled in either summer courses or English language classes through UC Berkeley Extension.

Campus officials worried that they could not safely meet the health needs of the students if there were a SARS outbreak, but Asian-American advocacy groups cried foul, and San Francisco’s Asian Law Caucus called the policy racial profiling.

The changes were made because the university created special housing for any student who may be infected with SARS. And by limiting the number of students enrolled — with the idea that 80 is far more manageable than 600 — the university feels it can manage potential risks.

The 80 students who are enrolled in summer courses may attend classes as planned, but at least 500 students who wanted to take English language classes must wait and hope that UC-Berkeley makes further revisions to its policy.

Chancellor Robert Berdahl stressed that the university was not reversing its decision but modifying it, and he said the policy had been in constant flux because new information about SARS surfaces daily. But he acknowledged that the original policy created the impression that UC-Berkeley was “banning” students.

“We are very concerned that our decision to limit enrollment in our summer programs has created the impression here and abroad that UC-Berkeley was actually banning students from here, or was not welcoming Asian students at all,” said Berdahl at a Saturday morning news conference. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Berdahl said that he has been in close contact with Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health and education officials. The university has now set aside rooms at the Clark Kerr campus that could serve as isolation rooms or quarantine facilities if a student shows signs of SARS after arriving at Berkeley.

Berdahl said the university was now e-mailing the 80 students to let them know that they can come to the campus as planned.

“We’re contacting each student directly now,” Berdahl said. “This thing is changing almost daily. We pushed very hard to get isolation facilities ready. I hope this is not interpreted as a reversal. It is a modification of the policy.”

Peter Dietrich, director of the University Health Services, said that finding and creating a set of isolation rooms took time. Each room has to have its own bathroom and adequate ventilation, which meant that many regular dorm rooms would not qualify.

“We know who is coming, and we want to make sure that they know what the signs and symptoms of SARS are,” said Dietrich. “But it’s not like they have to go through an exam upon arrival. We want to make sure that we can accommodate students if any symptoms develop.”