A new report shows that more eligible students are applying to the University of California and California State University campuses than those colleges can admit.

The lack of capacity means that fewer qualified Latino and Black students are applying to these universities. It also means that the state is still projecting a shortfall of workers with bachelor’s degrees.

Photo: Steven Vargas

Back to normal college life—sort of. After months of studying virtually from childhood bedrooms and other remote locations, students could once again ask questions of professors face to face and socialize with their peers this fall.

The transition didn’t always go smoothly. Students from California colleges talk about their experiences of returning to campus—the highs, the lows, and the just plain weird.

Low morale of professors and college leaders is turning out to be one of the biggest topics in higher education this year.

While the pandemic is a part of the story, many say that the underlying issues predate the global health crisis. Kevin McClure of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington sheds light on building a community-wide reorientation around what it means to work in higher education.