The University of California and California State University have extended the deadline for students to accept admission offers for fall 2024 due to delays in completing the new FAFSA form, affecting tens of thousands of California students. The delays and glitches in the FAFSA process have created challenges for high school students, particularly those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. The U.S. Department of Education has acknowledged the problems and pledged additional resources to help schools and students complete the new FAFSA. Both UC and CSU are encouraging students not to give up on the financial aid process and are providing flexibility in response to the FAFSA delays.
The California State University faculty union reached a tentative agreement with the university system, ending a planned five-day strike after one day. The agreement includes higher salary floors for the lowest-paid workers, safer workplaces, and an expansion of parental leave. Faculty are expected to resume teaching, and the agreement must be ratified by union members. The strike, which culminated months of tension, was the latest in a series of walkouts in higher education and TK-12 school districts in California. Students experienced confusion as classes were canceled, temporarily moved online, or held as scheduled.
The union representing 29,000 faculty members at California State University went on a five-day strike, demanding a 12% wage increase and other benefits, disrupting the first week of the spring semester for tens of thousands of students. The strike, the first ever across all of CSU’s 23 campuses, is a result of eight months of negotiations that failed to reach an agreement on pay and other improvements. The turmoil will be a major test for the new chancellor, who is recognized for raising achievement among Latino students and improving graduation rates. The strike is expected to add to the frenzy of the first days of classes, and campuses will remain open during the strike.
The California State University system and the Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract, averting a strike by 1,110 skilled trades employees. However, negotiations are ongoing with the California Faculty Association, and if a deal is not reached, professors are expected to go on strike for better pay, health and safety improvements, and expanded parental leave.
California State University faculty have gone on strike, demanding 12 percent raises and claiming that the CSU system has the funds to meet their demands without negatively affecting students.
Ahead of the annual Border War game between Colorado State University (CSU) and the University of Wyoming (UW), a pair of bronze rams on the CSU campus were painted with a "UW" symbol on their backsides. The rivalry between the two schools has a long history of pranks and memorable incidents, with the game being played for bragging rights for the next year. CSU holds an overall edge in the series, but there is disagreement over the official scorecard due to a forfeit in the first game. The rivalry is known for its intensity and has seen incidents such as a benches-clearing brawl and mascot fights.
Markus Söder, the dominant figure in Bavaria's conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), has been the state premier for five years. Despite the CSU's declining popularity, Söder maintains a strong presence through his entertaining and lighthearted style, often using social media to engage with voters. He has ambitions for higher office, but his chances of becoming the CDU/CSU's chancellor candidate seem doubtful, as he faces competition within his own party and the rising power of rival parties. Söder's political future depends on the success of Bavaria and the CSU.
The California State University (CSU) board has approved a 6% annual tuition hike for the next five years, starting in 2024, generating an additional $148 million for the system. The proposal was met with opposition from students who held protests outside the meeting. The board rejected a student representative's proposal to limit the plan to four years. The tuition increase aims to address a $1.5 billion budget shortfall, but critics argue it will create financial hardship for students. Financial aid will also increase by $49 million.
Colorado State University (CSU) is set to establish a unique bat research facility with the aim of studying how bats respond to viruses and its implications for human health. The National Institutes of Health has granted CSU $6.7 million for the 14,000-square-foot facility, which will be completed in 2025. However, the plans have faced controversy, with conservative pundits and politicians spreading misinformation and drawing parallels to the Wuhan virology lab. CSU researchers are working to educate the public about the importance of the facility and the safety measures in place. The facility will not conduct gain-of-function research or work with high-risk viruses.
The California State University Board of Trustees is considering a proposal to increase tuition over the next five years, starting in fall 2024, at a rate of 6% per year. The first tuition hike would be $342 for full-time undergraduate students, with the price of tuition increasing by almost $2,000 by 2029. The proposal aims to provide tuition stability for students and support those in need of financial aid, generating an estimated $148 million in revenue in the first year. The tuition increase would not affect 60% of students already covered by grants and waivers. CSU officials argue that the hike is necessary to address a nearly $1.5 billion budget gap.
