UC Berkeley

Students walk past the Doe Memorial Library on the University of California, Berkeley campus on Feb. 3, 2022. Thalia Juarez for CalMatters

Reader Reactions

Cutting enrollment at Berkeley would be detrimental on several levels

We call on lawmakers and the courts to avoid a dramatic reduction in the number of UC Berkeley students enrolled for this fall.

By

Guest Commentary

• March 4, 2022

WhatMatters

Is California souring on CEQA?

Democrats may carve out another exemption to CEQA, the landmark California environmental law, after a ruling on UC Berkeley enrollment.

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 4, 2022

Higher Education

If UC Berkeley must cut 3,000 students, should it spare Californians?

If UC Berkeley loses its fight to block a judge’s enrollment cap order, UC Berkeley said it’ll have to deny slots to a third of its incoming class. One key lawmaker thinks the university should give priority to Californians. It’s a coda to ongoing tension over how many nonresident students the UCs should enroll.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• February 18, 2022

Commentary

Without political will, affordable housing will remain a California dream

Before a homebuilder puts a backhoe to work, he or she has permit fees to pay, and other costs that can amount to more than $100,000 per house, not including land cost. Housing won’t be affordable in California until legislators address the permit and fee structure and the high cost of land.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 25, 2021

CSU Student Trustees Juan F. Garcia and Maryana Khames visit Fresno State University for a Cal State Student Association meeting in November 2019. The three higher education governing boards in California are moving to expand voting power for student representatives. Photo courtesy of California State Student Association

College Beat

Lawmakers aim to boost student voting power on UC, community college boards

If a bill pending in the California Legislature passes, all three of the state's higher education governing boards will have two voting student members. Advocates say the student representatives provide an important firsthand perspective on issues like campus safety and basic needs.

By

Matthew Reagan

• July 29, 2021

Lock on the converging point on a circuit. California schools are increasingly the target of ransomware attacks — and even if they pay, experts say they are unlikely to recover all their lost data. Image via iStock.

Education

How California schools are fighting ransomware attacks

As ransomware attacks target them, some California schools are scrambling to respond while others have done little to protect themselves.

By

Zayna Syed

• July 20, 2021

Students sit outside of Royce Hall at UCLA — among the University of California campuses that could experience tuition hikes every year under a pending proposal. File photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Higher Education

UC tuition hike: Regents to vote on ‘forever’ increase

Thursday’s vote could allow UC campuses to raise tuition every year, indefinitely — despite receiving extra state cash. Student groups are outraged and key lawmakers oppose the move, but UC says it needs more money and that financial aid will blunt the hit to students.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• July 19, 2021

Education

Under attack: California schools face ransomware threat

A ransomware attack — where cybercriminals hold online systems hostage until victims pay a ransom — can have devastating consequences for schools. Experts say the number of attacks against schools in California and across the country are rising as educators try to figure out whether cybersecurity should be a priority.

By

Zayna Syed

• July 14, 2021

Marco Villanueva preps meals for low-income seniors as part of his program with Hospitality Training Academy at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 14, 2021. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Politics

Will California investment in new job training programs pay off?

A state effort to create green jobs after the Great Recession fell short. Will new California job training programs do any better coming out of the pandemic?

By

Sameea Kamal

• June 17, 2021

Commentary

California’s electric-vehicle push should support American workers

Assembly Bill 794 strips away language requiring essential manufacturing and assembly to be done in the United States.

By

Guest Commentary

• June 16, 2021