UC Berkeley

Commentary

Three cases show Becerra’s range of expertise in health policy

As California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra’s success in fighting for affordable health care highlights his understanding of health policy.

By Guest Commentary • January 25, 2021

Commentary

Students need Pell Grants to double

The Pell Grant program can make college a reality for more students like me, a third year student at UC Berkeley.

By Guest Commentary • January 22, 2021

College Beat

To spring break or not? California colleges weigh options as pandemic worsens

Updated 12/21/20 Carlos Acosta’s fall semester at the University of Southern California was a lot more grueling than he expected — and it wasn’t just because of the Zoom classes.  In an effort to minimize travel during the coronavirus pandemic, the university shortened the semester so it ended before Thanksgiving, and didn’t include any multi-day […]

By Meghan Bobrowsky, Emily Forschen and Matthew Reagan • December 10, 2020

Politics

Unmasked: Doctors’ association execs joined Newsom at lobbyist’s birthday bash

Two California Medical Association executives attended the Nov. 6 French Laundry dinner party with Gov. Gavin Newsom. The governor has since apologized.

By Laurel Rosenhall • November 18, 2020

College Beat

Ready for a ‘real’ college experience, transfer students find their hopes dashed

Kaylin Tran imagined her first year at UCLA after transferring from Pasadena City College as kind of like a coming of age movie: She’d join clubs, make lifelong friends and pore over books in the university’s iconic library. Instead, thanks to the pandemic, she’s sitting in front of a computer screen in her family’s San […]

By Omar Rashad • November 9, 2020

Elections

When will my ballot be counted? The perks of voting early

Flo Hodes is doing everything she can to avoid post-Election Day BS. A Democratic voter living in Oakland, she has watched with mounting concern President Donald Trump’s refusal to say whether he will abide by the reported election results, his continued efforts to undermine public confidence in voting by mail, and recent operational changes at […]

By Ben Christopher • October 21, 2020

WhatMatters

UC unfairly admitted well-connected students

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, September 23. State audit slams UC The debate surrounding admissions to California’s most prestigious university system just got a lot more heated. Four University of California campuses “unfairly admitted” 64 applicants, including 22 “falsely designated” athletes, between the 2013-14 and 2018-19 school years based on their connections to wealthy donors […]

By Emily Hoeven • September 23, 2020

Education

State auditor blasts UC for admitting unqualified students based on wealthy connections

The state auditor found a lot of holes in the way the University of California conducts its admissions process, from inappropriate donor influence to questionable student athlete decisions. The state audit also disagrees with the UC’s internal audit.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • September 22, 2020

Education

Coronavirus-induced student housing levels could cost UC a billion dollars per year

At the September UC Regents meeting, top UC officials said things likely won’t return to normal until at least fall 2021, student housing revenue losses could be a billion dollars per year, but enrollment seems stable.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • September 18, 2020

Education

How to make sense of affirmative action in UC admissions

Context is king in how foes and backers of affirmative action use statistics, and race would still not play as large a part in the admissions process as some fear.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • September 15, 2020