College Beat

People walk past an “End Overdose” outreach table with informational materials and QR codes set up in a public plaza.

This new California law will offer college students rehab before discipline for overdosing

College students who seek help for substance use after an overdose face disciplinary action by their campus. A new California law, written in part by students themselves, will require public universities to offer rehabilitation services to students rather than discipline.

Alina Ta

Small bottles of a product labeled “feel free,” advertised for mood lift, energy, and focus, are displayed for sale inside a convenience store. A sign indicates the product costs $8.99 and must be purchased by customers age 21 or older.

Once given out at USC, this banned, opioid-like product is still cropping up in California

A drinkable product called Feel Free was once marketed to USC students as a wellness tonic. It contains an addictive, opioid-like ingredient called kratom leaf, now banned for sale by the California Department of Public Health but still available in many stores. A new bill in the Legislature would make the ban permanent in California.

Phoebe Huss

A person wearing a white sweater with blue stripes on the arm and a blue UCLA shirt underneath stands in a field near an apartment building, with tree branches poking into the background.

How college students can earn $10,000 for making a difference in CA communities

The popular College Corps program pays students up to $10,000 for community service work including tutoring incarcerated youth, assisting at food banks and more. The program is expanding from 45 to 52 campuses, adding hundreds of more students.

Brittany Oceguera

An illustration in green, red, blue and yellow tones that shows a desktop computer screen with an open window tab that resembles a Pokemon battle scene. At one end of the screen is a pixelated student and at the other is a wolf that represents a chatbot. The illustration includes a bubble text that reads "where can students get free food on campus?" alongside other bubbles of text with red exclamation points.

California colleges spend millions on faulty AI systems: ‘The chatbot is outdated’

Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.

Martin Romero

People walking along the sidewalk on a college campus near white buildings and palm trees planted in the grass along the sidewalks.

Education

The cost of private colleges is high, yet many low-income students still choose them

Some students work multiple jobs and give up extracurricular activities to supplement their financial aid. Many say it’s worth it.

Katelyn Do

Emewodesh Eshete

and

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• January 29, 2025

Individuals are seen voting at private booths in a well-lit room, with one person seated at a nearby table, filling out paperwork. Some voters have backpacks and are focused on the process. The background includes vertical window blinds and a neutral interior setting.

Politics

How much did the youth vote shift to the right in California?

In November 2024, California voters made a small shift to the right. What part did young voters play in it? Experts say reasons could range from fewer young people turning out to vote to changes in ideology.

June Hsu

• January 24, 2025

People wearing face masks sort through piles of donated food at a pop-up donation center for residents affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.

Higher Education

LA colleges move classes online, offer services to students affected by fire

After the LA fires prompted several colleges and universities to close or move to remote operations last week, several are resuming from winter break this week with online instruction and resources for students, employees and surrounding communities.

and

• January 15, 2025

College Beat

College protests swept across California last year. Why have they stopped?

Campus administrators have been swift in enforcing their protest rules this fall, a marked change from last spring where protest encampments grew unchecked for days or weeks. Meanwhile, students are asking courts to weigh in on policies in court.

June Hsu

and

Lizzy Rager

• December 19, 2024

Students look toward the front of a classroom while a professor stands and lectures.

Education

Black California students want more support. A new law names colleges that serve them best

A new law taking effect Jan. 1 creates a Black-Serving Institution designation for colleges and universities in California that excel in supporting student success. Campus presidents say the designation will help them recruit Black students and give them an HBCU-like experience in their home state instead of having to leave California for college.

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna

and

Jasmin Shirazian

• December 4, 2024

Illustration of a young female basketball player hanging on a basketball hoop, surrounded by two crowds of people protesting; the left crowd is holding signs that have red unequal symbols and circles with a slash through it; the right crowd is holding signs with the trans and pride flags

Education

How California keeps transgender student athletes on the court as bans unfold across the country

California is becoming increasingly tangled in the nationwide fight over whether transgender college athletes should be allowed to compete on teams of their gender identity. Just how much can state laws and policies protect its players?

Desmond Meagley

and

Amy Elisabeth Moore

• November 19, 2024

A person is seated in a wheelchair-accessible voting booth with a blue privacy screen, their legs and hands visible as they hold a pen. In the foreground, another individual, wearing a mask and blurred in motion, walks by, partially obscuring the booth. The setup includes a touchscreen ballot marking device for accessibility, and a storage room door is visible in the background.

Elections

We talked to California college students about today’s election. Here’s what’s on their minds

California’s college students represent a wide array of ages, ethnicities, lived experiences and political beliefs. Eight voters who attend a California college shared their perspectives with CalMatters on the issues that matter to them as some vote in local, state and national elections for the first time.

and

• November 5, 2024

Education

California students want careers in AI. Here’s how colleges are meeting that demand

The governor’s recent deal with Nvidia will boost AI education at community colleges and open the door to similar deals for public four-year universities in California. Meanwhile, computer science programs are adding AI concentrations and majors to prepare students for a range of "blue collar" and technical AI jobs.

Delilah Brumer

and

Jeremy Garza

• October 29, 2024

A man with a brief case walking pass two young women sitting at a table talking at a college campus.

Education

Community college faculty often campus-hop. Newsom vetoed a plan to make their lives easier

A bill vetoed by the governor would have increased the number of classes part-time community college faculty can teach at a single campus. Part-timers often have to commute between multiple campuses to make ends meet. The governor cited potential costs for his veto.

Delilah Brumer

• September 30, 2024

The CSU Long Beach campus in Long Beach on April 24, 2024. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters

Education

As Cal State touts sex discrimination reforms, some students and employees question progress

The California State University Board of Trustees heard positive reports on Title IX reforms at its meeting this week, including new campus audits and data collection. However, some faculty and students say they have yet to see improvements.

Mercy Sosa

• September 27, 2024

College Beat

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