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.

By 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.

By 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.

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California colleges spend millions on faulty AI systems: ‘The chatbot is outdated’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

By Martin Romero

Students stand behind barricades on the left, facing a row of UC Berkeley campus police holding batons on the right.

Education

Turning Point tour ends with fights and arrests at UC Berkeley. Our student reporters were there

While protesters chanted against the conservative ideals of Turning Point USA, event attendees laughed and danced inside the hall of one of the most liberal universities in the nation.

By Ella Carter-Klauschie and Chrissa Olson • November 11, 2025

Two people — one wearing a light blue suit and the other wearing a gray blazer and orange blouse — sit in front of a blue table while smiling into the crowd.

Education

As tuition keeps increasing, UC students want a bigger say on the Board of Regents

Of the 26 UC Regents, one student position has voting power. A second student seat is a non-voting “designate.” To increase student representation, UC student leaders are pushing for the second seat to also have voting power.

By Khadeejah Khan and Phoebe Huss • November 11, 2025

A person wearing a white shirt points to a cheering crowd while holding red "Make American Great Again" hats with his other hand.

Education

How UC Berkeley is preparing for Turning Point’s final tour stop after Charlie Kirk’s death

UC Berkeley officials won’t divulge security plans but say they are prepared to host the conservative organization Turning Point USA on Nov. 10 after its founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated nearly two months ago at Utah Valley University.

By Ella Carter-Klauschie and Martin Romero • November 3, 2025

Volunteers sort through boxes of golden potatoes from a nearby conveyor belt.

Economy

‘I don’t know what we’re going to do.’ Californians fear loss of food aid as shutdown drags on

More than five million low-income Californians are expected to lose their CalFresh food assistance benefits starting Saturday. States are suing the Trump administration to reinstate aid.

By Ana B. Ibarra, Deborah Brennan, Phoebe Huss and Chrissa Olson • October 31, 2025

A sign at a farmers market reads “Double Your CalFresh Dollars / Duplique su dólares de CalFresh – Get More Fruits & Vegetables / Obtenga más frutas y verduras,” next to an image of a Golden State Advantage card. In the background, shoppers stand at a vendor’s booth under a white canopy.

Economy

The feds want to know more about the people on food stamps. How Newsom responded

The governor has signed a law that will walk back data sharing meant to increase CalFresh recipients. The new limitations are in response to the federal government’s attempts to collect private data.

By Phoebe Huss • October 17, 2025

A person stands at a podium in a classroom, speaking to students seated at desks with laptops. A projection screen is visible to the side, displaying presentation slides.

Education

California colleges lost millions in humanities purge. Their projects might not recover

Nineteen California campuses are still missing over $5.2 million in canceled humanities grants. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is issuing millions of dollars in new grants, many of which are in celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s founding.

By Lylah Schmedel-Permanna • September 25, 2025

People walk by a building with a mural painted on it featuring gear wheels to depict mechanics.

Education

Does another education bond stand a chance with voters? California colleges hope so

Lawmakers are considering putting a bond measure before voters in 2026 to fund billions of dollars in building repairs and student housing projects for California’s colleges and universities.

By Mercy Sosa • September 24, 2025

Education

Free AI training comes to California colleges — but at what cost?

Google, Microsoft, Adobe and IBM will offer AI-related tools to California's schools and universities in an effort to prepare the state’s students for a changing economy.

By Adam Echelman • August 11, 2025

A person wearing glasses, a dark blue button-up shirt, and black pants leans against an office chair in a workspace, looking slightly to the side. Behind them is a desk with a large computer monitor, a coffee mug, framed photos, and various papers and decorations, including posters and newspaper clippings pinned to the wall.

Education

Fearing deportation, international students go silent at California’s universities

After hundreds of international students lost their status this spring, then regained it following lawsuits, the uncertainty of it happening again has created fear. Some students say they’ve changed the routes they take on campus, the topics they research, and what they post on social media.

By Emewodesh Eshete • August 8, 2025

FAFSA fact sheets at College Information Day at UC Berkeley in Berkeley on Oct. 14, 2023. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters

Education

Why these families are willing to risk deportation for college financial aid

Despite fears the federal government will use personal information from financial aid applications to identify immigrant parents who lack legal status, the number of high school senior applicants from mixed-status families has not decreased as much as some thought it would, according to the California Student Aid Commission.

By Mercy Sosa • July 21, 2025

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