California colleges and universities are still missing over $5 million worth of humanities grants, despite one federal district court order to return funds to University of California campuses. Campuses must now scramble for limited, alternative funding.
As they face high-cost fixes, lawmakers have introduced a bond bill that ambitiously intends to fund both the modernization of academic facilities and the addition of affordable student housing throughout the state.
California saw a sharp rise in federal financial aid applications this year, with nearly three-quarters of public high school seniors applying—evidence the state’s push is paying off.
California is partnering with Google, Microsoft, Adobe and IBM to provide free AI tools and training to colleges, aiming to prepare students for a changing job market. Supporters see a boost to “AI literacy,” while critics warn the benefits remain unproven.
The number of high school senior applicants with at least one parent lacking legal status has nearly rebounded to the 2023 number after the revised financial aid form last year kept them from being able to apply without parental Social Security numbers for several months.
A pilot program by the Los Angeles Community College District pays $1,200 a month to students pursuing health fields. By helping with living expenses, the district hopes the guaranteed income will help more students complete their health care workforce development programs.
To combat widespread food insecurity, California colleges are expanding beyond pantries with free meals, food lockers and point-based grocery programs. Their shared goal is to boost student success by ensuring access to consistent, nutritious food.
The plan lays out the state’s approach to job training and education programs, but critics have said the proposals are unclear. At the same time, some for-profit career colleges and trade schools face issues with licensing or other violations.
Now in the program’s first year, Cal State joins other public universities across the country in a growing national movement to automatically admit eligible students. Last fall, more than 17,400 high school seniors got the good news of their acceptance.
As President Trump starts his second term with a border emergency and mass deportation pledge, California colleges are partnering with legal nonprofits to help undocumented students stay in school.
A new law taking effect Jan. 1, enacted as SB 1348, creates the first official Black-Serving Institution designation in the country. The designation will be given to qualifying colleges that vow to take a more aggressive approach to address California’s systemic obstacles that have kept Black students at the lowest college-going and graduation rates.
In numerous lawsuits, conservative professors and students allege that California’s community colleges are hindering their right to free speech under the First Amendment.
Many students start community college with the hope of getting an associate degree and then transferring to a four-year institution, such as a California...
