Open Campus

We're an independent nonprofit covering higher education as a local story — embedding reporters in communities across America.

Right now

BRIEFINGS Workforce Pell

Practical intelligence for local leaders on the biggest change to financial aid in years.

Sign Up
DATA Certificate Earnings Explorer

See what people earned four years after getting a certificate at 5,600 different programs around the nation.

Explore the data

Journalism

  • Recent Reporting Independent coverage of higher ed across America
  • Community College Project Our new accountability reporting initiative focused on community colleges
  • Partner Newsrooms 20+ local newsrooms we collaborate with to strengthen coverage
  • Newsletters The Dispatch · College Inside · Mile Markers

For Partners and Readers

  • Become a Partner Newsroom Work with us to strengthen local higher ed coverage
  • News About Open Campus Updates on our newsroom, projects, hiring, and partnerships
  • Republish Our Work Guidelines for sharing Open Campus stories with your audience

About

  • About Open Campus Our mission, our model, our approach
  • Funding Our supporters
  • Editorial Independence How we keep coverage decisions separate from revenue
  • Team · Jobs · Contact
Donate
Skip to content
Open Campus

Open Campus

Higher ed is a local story

Donate

California

Partner Newsroom

CalMatters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom committed to explaining California policy and politics.

Local Reporter

Adam Echelman covers California community colleges. Email him at aechelman@calmatters.org.

More from California

Read recent coverage from across the state about the role of college in equity and the workforce.

We also partner with Berkeleyside.

Posted inBerkeley

Defying a nationwide trend, UC Berkeley enrolled more new international students this year 

By Felicia Mello, BerkeleysideJanuary 8, 2026January 8, 2026

The university also welcomed more California residents, enrolling its largest-ever student body.

Posted inBerkeley

Union asks UC for pot of money to defend international students from Trump administration

By Felicia Mello, BerkeleysideJanuary 7, 2026January 8, 2026

Teaching assistants and researchers want the University of California to set up a legal aid fund amid a crackdown on foreign visitors.

Posted inBerkeley

Opposition mounts to UC Berkeley’s suspension of lecturer for talking about Gaza in classroom

By Felicia Mello, BerkeleysideDecember 23, 2025January 5, 2026

Students circulated a petition to reinstate Peyrin Kao and a few have fasted in solidarity.

Posted inCalifornia

As job market tightens, more Californians are heading back to college

By Adam Echelman, CalMattersDecember 17, 2025December 17, 2025

Some community college districts in California say enrollment is up by more than 10%, though official numbers have yet to be released. Historically, college enrollment fluctuates depending on the strength of the economy.

Posted inBerkeley

UC Berkeley finds new developer to build affordable and supportive housing at People’s Park

By Felicia Mello, BerkeleysideDecember 11, 2025December 12, 2025

A previous developer backed out in 2023 amid the lengthy legal battle over the site. It’s unclear how many of the building’s 100 units will be supportive housing for formerly homeless people.

Posted inBerkeley

UC Berkeley suspends lecturer for sharing pro-Palestinian views in his classroom

By Felicia Mello, BerkeleysideDecember 10, 2025December 10, 2025

Peyrin Kao, who went on a hunger strike for Gaza, said he believes Cal “is capitulating to the demands of the Trump administration and using me as bait.” The university said it was responding to student complaints.

Posted inCalifornia

Misinformation spreads as Trump moves to cut aid for some California students

By Adam Echelman, CalMatters and Mikhail ZinshteynNovember 26, 2025December 1, 2025

The Trump administration is suing California, asking the state to end its policies allowing students without legal status to access in-state tuition and financial aid. But the administration’s legal argument is weak, according to top legal experts.

Posted inCalifornia

Up to 61,000 truck drivers in California could soon lose their licenses. Here’s why

By Adam Echelman, CalMattersNovember 20, 2025November 20, 2025

The Trump administration is cracking down on immigrants who drive trucks in California, creating new regulations and threatening to withhold millions in federal highway funding.

Posted inCalifornia

Half a million young Californians aren’t in school or work. Most are men

By Adam Echelman, CalMattersOctober 29, 2025October 29, 2025

Thousands of men in California are neither working nor in school. Gov. Gavin Newsom has called it a “crisis,” both for the labor market and for men’s mental health.

Posted inCalifornia

A scholarship for Black California students has to accept white applicants. Here’s why

By Adam Echelman, CalMattersOctober 22, 2025October 24, 2025

Students and a right-leaning nonprofit sued UC San Diego for allegedly supporting a scholarship fund for Black students.

Posts pagination

Newer posts 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 12 Older posts

A cooperative model for in-depth reporting

Open Campus partners with local newsrooms to deliver expert coverage of higher ed for communities.


Sign up to get our weekly newsletter


Latest local highlights

Cleveland State becomes latest Ohio university to offer state residents free tuition 
Ohio

Cleveland State becomes latest Ohio university to offer state residents free tuition 

UTA polling site’s absence raises voting access concerns in central Arlington
Fort Worth

UTA polling site’s absence raises voting access concerns in central Arlington

Scholarship delays hit recently expanded CUNY community college program
New York City

Scholarship delays hit recently expanded CUNY community college program

Open Campus

Empowering communities with independent information about higher ed.

Get The Dispatch →

Journalism

  • Recent Reporting
  • Local Network
  • Newsletters
  • News About Open Campus

Work With Us

  • Become a Partner Newsroom
  • Community College Project
  • Republish Our Work

Organization

  • About
  • Team
  • Funding
  • Editorial Independence
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2026 Open Campus Media. A nonprofit newsroom.

  • Privacy
  • Have a tip?