Michael Burke
Michael covers higher education, including California’s community colleges and the University of California. Since joining EdSource in 2019, he has covered major stories including the steep enrollment declines at community colleges; the elimination of standardized tests in university admissions; efforts to improve California’s community college transfer system; and more. He graduated from Syracuse University in 2018, where he studied journalism and political science. He lives in Los Angeles.
All articles by Michael Burke
Key decisions await next California Community Colleges chancellor as search winds down
California's community colleges will soon have a new chancellor, who will have to decide how to wield limited power as the colleges try to build back from dramatic enrollment declines.
Michael Burke
January 26, 2023
University of California planning to expand outreach at 65 California community colleges
The University of California wants to enroll more community college transfers and now plans to expand outreach at more than half of the state's community colleges.
Michael Burke
January 20, 2023
University of California behind schedule in growing enrollment of in-state students
Despite lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom asking UC to add thousands of California resident undergraduates, the system enrolled fewer of those students this year.
Michael Burke
January 13, 2023
Newsom’s higher education budget includes promised increases to UC and CSU
Despite revenues being down in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom kept his promise to increase funding at the state's public university systems.
Michael Burke And Ashley A. Smith
January 10, 2023
In California, U.S. Education Secretary Cardona calls for states to up funding, lays out student debt relief case
As federal relief dollars for schools run out, states should respond by increasing funding for education, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in an interview.
Michael Burke
January 10, 2023
UC regents permit UCLA teams to move to Big Ten
After months of deliberations, UC's board of regents voted Wednesday to allow UCLA to move most of its athletic programs to the Big Ten, but with caveats.
Michael Burke
December 14, 2022
Students fear losing aid as grades are withheld during strike
UC faculty have pledged to withhold more than 30,000 grades this fall in solidarity with striking graduate workers. That could have implications for undergraduates who need certain grade point averages to keep their financial aid.
Michael Burke
December 7, 2022
As tensions mount over final grades, academic researchers and scholars reach tentative agreement with UC
Agreement covers 12,000 of the 48,000 strikers while faculty across the University of California pledged not to submit grades until striking academic workers' demands are met.
Michael Burke And Ashley A. Smith
November 28, 2022
California community colleges eye a different future amid pandemic disruption
The record pandemic-fueled loss in enrollment has put California Community Colleges at a turning point amid student demands for flexible classes, jobs training and easier paths to universities.
Michael Burke, Daniel J. Willis, EdSource; Debbie Truong, Los Angeles Times
November 18, 2022
Supreme Court conservative majority signals opposition to affirmative action
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in two affirmative action cases. The six conservative members signaled they may overturn decades of precedent and rule that race-conscious admissions are unlawful.
Michael Burke
October 31, 2022
As Supreme Court considers affirmative action case, University of California offers cautionary tale
Unable to consider race in admissions, the University of California has tried and failed to increase diversity through race-neutral policies. Eliminating standardized test scores from admissions could be the latest effort to fail.
Michael Burke
October 14, 2022
How should California address college student housing crisis?
Tens of thousands of college students in California are homeless or without stable housing. During an EdSource roundtable, panelists said more dorms will help but called for other solutions too.
Michael Burke
September 30, 2022
How California is responding to dire student housing shortage
Rising costs have exacerbated California's student housing crisis. The state is responding with plans for more on-campus dorms, and a new bill could make it easier for colleges to expand housing. Some campuses turned to short-term solutions.
Michael Burke, Ashley A. Smith, Betty Márquez Rosales, And Ashleigh Panoo
September 28, 2022
New program to give ineligible University of California applicants a path to admission
Each year, many students apply to the University of California but didn't take all the high school classes required for admission. A new program will give them the chance to still get a spot in the system.
Michael Burke
September 23, 2022
Dozens of community colleges offer remedial classes; bill to ban them awaits Newsom’s signature
Five years after California adopted a law transforming remedial education, some colleges still have remedial classes. New legislation would make it difficult to keep them.