University Of California

WhatMatters

How big will Newsom go on California housing change?

From CalMatters’ housing reporter Ben Christopher: Ever since a California court ruled earlier this year that UC Berkeley violated the state’s premier environmental protection law by failing to account for “student-generated noise” at a proposed housing development, we knew this was coming. In response to that ruling, Gov. Gavin Newsom called the state’s environmental review […]

By Lynn La • May 19, 2023

Commentary

California higher education has enough barriers. Transferring shouldn’t be one of them

Just 2.5% of California community college students successfully transfer to a university within two years. Fully implementing a 2021 law aiming to reform the transfer system and clean up its convoluted processes could help students shorten their timeline and avoid unnecessary costs.

By Momina Nadeem • April 12, 2023

Higher Education

‘Super disappointed’: Lawmakers want UC to enroll more Californians sooner

Enrollment is down at the University of California and the Cal State, which has frustrated lawmakers who gave both systems more money to increase their number of students.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • March 30, 2023

WhatMatters

Should teachers in high-poverty California schools get more pay?

It’s difficult to exaggerate just how much impact a great teacher can have on a student’s life. Experienced and qualified educators can increase their students’ lifetime earnings and reduce their chances of incarceration. But in California, schools serving more students living in poverty generally have fewer experienced teachers. In the first in a series of […]

By Lynn La • March 30, 2023

Education

UC housing problem persists for graduate students

The recent agreement between striking graduate student workers in the UC system did little to solve their housing woes.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • January 17, 2023

Higher Education

Six takeaways for Californians after the UC graduate student worker strike

While the graduate student workers that went on strike from the UC system for six weeks won concessions like increased pay, a substantial portion of the workers are still dissatisfied and the contracts are relatively short, so tough negotiations may resume again in 2024.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • January 6, 2023

College Beat

California campuses try to lower college costs with free transit

Transit expenses are one part of the high cost of college that is pushing many low-income students out of the state’s higher education systems. Some campuses have partnered with local transit agencies to reduce or waive all fares for students, but recent efforts to create more partnerships with state funding have failed.

By Carmen González • January 5, 2023

WhatMatters

UC strike could stretch on despite tentative deal

A dispatch from CalMatters higher education reporter Mikhail Zinshteyn: UC striking workers are facing a high-stakes game of Deal or No Deal. Friday evening, the University of California and the negotiating team representing 36,000  striking academic workers approved a tentative agreement to end the five-week work stoppage — thought to be the largest-ever labor action […]

By Emily Hoeven • December 19, 2022

Commentary

Nuclear fusion breakthrough should instill immense pride in California

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory fusion breakthrough illuminates a new path for clean energy. It also cements California's role as a world leader in cutting-edge science and technology.

By Guest Commentary • December 16, 2022

Higher Education

As UC strike enters second month, grad workers risk arrest pushing for raises

Teams of striking UC graduate student workers are willingly getting arrested in acts of civil disobedience. They view the strategy as a way to escalate their work stoppage, now in its fifth week.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • December 15, 2022