To the happy surprise of some officials, thousands of California students may benefit from the expansion of federal Pell grants into summer sessions. The extra funding is expected to help speed up the time to graduation for low-income students.
The governor's May budget revision reverses his plan to reduce Cal Grants used at private colleges. He enters the controversy over a critical audit of UC by withholding $50 million until the university system shows that it better controls spending and improves management.
With nearly 40 percent of incoming freshmen needing remediation in English or math, CSU is planning ways to make sure those students earn college credit from the start. Many details remain to be figured out, officials said.
Students from low-income and immigrant families may face particularly difficult decisions in weighing colleges' financial aid offers. Some families are very resistant to loans.
As result of an 11-8 trustees vote, undergraduate tuition for a full-time student from California would rise to $5,742 a year, not including campus fees, housing and books. But officials say that increased grants will fully cover the increase for many students at CSU's 23 campuses.
A move from noncredit remedial courses to specially designed credit classes will offer extra tutoring and support to thousands of CSU students. Nearly 40 percent of last fall’s CSU freshmen were found to need remediation in English or math, and 14 percent needed remediation in both subjects.
With only a week before the application deadline, the number of California Dream Act applications remains well behind last year's. The Trump administration's plans to deport undocumented people is heightening fears of Dreamer students, despite state pledges to protect their identities.
At some CSU campuses, even passing the system’s math placement test or completing remedial requirements won’t ensure that students avoid remedial math.
Even though this year's application period is much longer, the number of applications for college grants under the California Dream Act is lagging behind last year's. Officials say some immigrant families are afraid to disclose personal information even though the state pledges to protect it.
California attracts the most international students of any state, and so its universities are especially concerned about the new Trump administration's restrictions on immigration and visits.
A national report projects a drop in numbers of high school graduates. But in California, higher education officials are focusing on other trends, such as increasing Latino college attendance.
The College Futures Foundation calls for more long-term budget plans and a hard look at how pension costs limit university spending on student support services.
