In a last-minute shift, the community colleges that were championing these bills came out to formally oppose them after the lawmakers substantially revised the measures.
The new law will shift the response to student overdoses toward support services. Supporters say the change could make students more likely to seek lifesaving help without fearing academic consequences.
California’s free online community college is growing quickly after years of scrutiny and failed efforts to shut it down. Even so, lawmakers and faculty groups continue to question Calbright’s cost, effectiveness and whether it is serving the students it was created to reach.
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.
