Illustration: Golden Cosmos/The Chronicle

In statehouses around the country, bills claiming to combat critical race theory and “divisive concepts” in education are being signed into law.

Though many of the bills initially focused on public schools, more are taking aim at colleges. Many professors, students, and others fear that the measures will limit teaching and discussions about race.

Inside some University of California academic departments and colleges, an atypical idea is gaining steam: De-emphasize or even ditch the A-F grading system to help first-year students get acclimated to college.

Advocates argue that letter grades aren't a good measure of student learning and that pass/no pass grading in certain courses could be a better alternative.

After enduring the strangest college experience in modern history—Zoom seminars, dining hall takeout, masked dorm mates, nasal swabs in the student center—the classes of COVID are finally getting the on-campus graduation ceremonies they were denied.

Institutions from Loyola University Chicago to the University of Oregon are gearing up to celebrate the Classes of 2020 and sometimes 2021—as well as 2022—with carefully orchestrated commencement rituals, speeches, and innovative activities.