Ka Ching!

UCOP is promoting the economic returns of a UC degree. From a recent news release:

New data shows UC degrees deliver strong earnings and economic mobility amid rapidly changing economy

UC Office of the President, July 1, 2026

The University of California released new data today that shows a UC degree remains one of the best investments California students and families can make.* The data highlights UC’s affordability, return on investment and strong earnings for graduates. The findings come amid ongoing conversations about the value of higher education in an era defined by artificial intelligence, rising living costs and a rapidly evolving job market.

The newly released data reveals that UC graduates carry significantly less student debt than their peers, with average debt levels for an in-state student declining $11,400 over the past decade — giving UC graduates greater financial flexibility as they enter the job market. Within seven years of graduation, median earnings among UC degree-holders exceed the median for California bachelor’s degree recipients, a combination that makes a UC education one of the strongest financial investments a student can make.

“Many Americans are questioning the value of a college degree. We have a clear answer: A UC degree is not only worth it — it changes lives and entire communities for the better,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “This recent data affirms our efforts to expand affordability and accessibility to students from across California, demonstrating how a UC education is both attainable and transformative.”

A University of California analysis reveals that UC graduates recoup their educational investment in roughly six years after enrolling at the University. In addition, most Pell Grant graduates surpass their families’ earnings within three years — two years faster than reported in a 2021 analysis, reinforcing how UC drives social and economic mobility...

Full story at https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/new-data-shows-uc-degrees-deliver-strong-earnings-and-economic-mobility.

===

*https://www.ucop.edu/institutional-research-academic-planning/_files/updated-evidence-on-the-economic-benefits-of-a-uc-degree.pdf. This more detailed reference refers to data published in the Washington Post, an odd source. No link to the Washington Post article is provided. Poking around on the web, yours truly found a March 31 reference:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/31/graduate-degree-earnings-study/.

If you missed them

In a past posting, we noted the availability of two online programs for UC retirees and survivors. If you missed them, we have preserved the recordings at the links below:

Steps to take to get your affairs in order:

https://dn800202.us.archive.org/0/items/ucla-rehab-strength-training/Getting%20Your%20Affairs%20in%20Order%20UC%2010-6-2025.mp4

Information for survivors:

https://dn800202.us.archive.org/0/items/ucla-rehab-strength-training/UC%20retiree%20survivors%20III.mp4
 

Straws in the Wind - Part 390

From the Daily Pennsylvanian: [U of] Penn International Student and Scholar Services posted guidance for the University community last week regarding a federal court decision vacating United States immigration policies. The June 17 update, written by ISSS Executive Director Rodolfo Altamirano, comes after the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down policies that “suspended, delayed, or subjected certain immigration benefit applications.” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has indicated it will comply with the order while the federal government’s appeal is processed.

According to the ISSS update, affected individuals — primarily from the 39 countries facing restrictions on travel — may notice progress on some employment authorization applications, green card applications, and other USCIS benefit requests. In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, Altamirano wrote that the decision is “generally a positive development” for Penn “students, scholars, employees, and departments,” as it “may allow some previously delayed immigration benefit applications to move forward.”

“However, it is important to emphasize that the ruling does not automatically approve any pending applications, significant processing backlogs remain, and the appellate process is ongoing,” Altamirano added...

Full story at https://www.thedp.com/article/2026/06/penn-international-student-scholar-services-citizenship-policies-trump.

Yale deal?

As blog readers will know, the Trump administration has challenged med school admissions at UCLA and UC-San Diego.* It appears that Yale - the subject of a similar challenge - is seeking a deal. From the NY Times: 

The Trump administration is conducting a far-reaching investigation into whether Yale University’s admissions practices violate anti-discrimination laws, prompting one of the country’s most elite schools to pursue settlement talks with the government, according to three people briefed on the matter. The Justice Department... accused Yale’s medical school of giving illegal preferential treatment to Black and Hispanic applicants. But the department’s review is reaching beyond the medical school, the people said, encompassing undergraduate and law school admissions as well.

...Yale’s quick moves to try to reach an agreement with the government suggest it does not want a high-profile, drawn-out fight similar to the one involving Harvard University. The status of a potential agreement was unclear on Friday, but Yale recently offered a proposal to the government, according to the three people briefed on the matter. The people, who have ties to the Trump administration or to Yale, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. On Friday, Yale referred to a statement it issued last month that said its medical school was “confident in the rigorous admissions process” and admitted students showed “exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment.” The Justice Department and the White House did not respond to requests for comment...

...Yale has turned to McGuireWoods, a law firm that the University of Virginia used last year to negotiate a settlement with the Justice Department that included no financial penalties.

...At least in public, Yale has been something of an outlier among elite institutions in its relationship with the second Trump administration. It did not attract the type of research funding cuts that the administration used to pressure Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern and the University of Pennsylvania into settlements last year...

Full story at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/us/politics/yale-trump-administration-admissions-race.html.

===

*https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-26/trump-doj-investigation-alleged-racial-discrimination-admissions-uc-san-diego-stanford-medical-schools.

You have to read between the lines

University of California President James B. Milliken... issued the following statement on the 2026–27 final state budget:

I am grateful to Governor Newsom and the state legislature for their ongoing support of the University of California reflected in this budget. As the state continues to deal with a difficult financial environment, we share a fundamental belief with California leaders that our university is an engine for social and economic mobility, scientific and medical discovery, and patient care that serves every California community. 

The 7% increase from the state goes a long way toward fulfilling the compact and providing the funding necessary to educate and invest in our students. 

__________________________________

Translation: "Goes a long way toward fulfilling the compact" = Less than the "compact" promised.

__________________________________

This is especially important given the sustained attacks against UC and funding cuts by the federal government over the past 18 months. I want to specifically acknowledge and thank Governor Newsom for his unwavering support for the university throughout his tenure. His final budget again demonstrates his belief in the value of public higher education in California and in our hundreds of thousands of students, faculty, and staff.

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-statement-2026-27-final-state-budget.

Limited Hours and Service

Notice from the University Club (formerly Faculty Club):

To continue enhancing your dining experience and strengthening the overall quality of our operations, the Club will undergo servery upgrades, essential kitchen repairs, and the installation of new cooking equipment. These improvements will support better service, greater efficiency, and an upgraded dining program for all members.

The Club will be partially closed from July 6 through September 18, 2026. During this period, the Playa Café will be open to provide convenient access to refreshments, offering:

• Hot and cold beverages
• Pre‑packaged salads and sandwiches

The venue will also be available for catering events during this time. For assistance with event bookings, please contact catering@ha.ucla.edu

Members may continue to enjoy access to the following Club spaces:

• Library
• Garden Patio
• West Patio

Summer hours of operation: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Additionally, please note that restroom renovations have been rescheduled to begin in September 2026. More details will be shared as the project approaches.

Straws in the Wind - Part 389

From Inside Higher Ed: The already-small number of colleges with full-fledged, student-enforced honor codes is dwindling. After a three-year pilot of proctored exams, Stanford University student, faculty and administrative leaders decided in April that the university will allow proctoring for all in-person tests starting in September. Princeton University faculty approved a similar plan a month later. In making those decisions, both institutions grappled with students’ increasing use—sanctioned and not—of artificial intelligence.

AI is at the “forefront” of honor code reform, said JT Torres, director of the Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington and Lee University... A typical honor code asks students to adhere to a set of academic integrity and behavioral standards that prohibit acts like cheating, plagiarism, lying and stealing, and enlists students as the enforcers of those standards. The code only works as well as the students who enforce it, and success relies on students’ desire to adhere to social norms...

According to a 2025 Inside Higher Ed survey of more than 1,000 students, 85 percent had used generative AI to complete coursework. Over half—55 percent—said they used it for brainstorming ideas, 44 percent used it to edit or check their work, a quarter used AI to complete assignments or coding work, and 19 percent used it to write free responses or essays. What types of AI use constitute cheating vary by institution, professor, class and assignment, and that makes it difficult for students to parse what constitutes an honor code violation...

Full story at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty/learning-assessment/2026/06/22/can-and-should-honor-codes-survive-ai-age.

Grants' Tomb

As blog readers will know, federal research grants have been a major element in the post-World War II higher ed system. The volume and value of grants vary by field but they are especially important in the medical and scientific areas. As part of the current conflict with the feds, and despite court opinions, access to grant funding has declined. There is a proposed rule change involving the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would potentially upend procedures for grant review and restrict what funds could be used for. 

Before rule changes at OMB can go into effect, however, there is a mandatory public comment period. This period creates an opportunity potentially to block or modify proposed rule changes. The recording below contains details on the proposed changes and how to submit comments:

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV-mgw1-nA8. Note that any member of the public can comment. You don't have to be a grant recipient. The recording provides guidance on how to submit comments and what to avoid. Essentially, avoid form letters or copying of other comments. Comments should be personalized. They do not have to be lengthy. The deadline for submission is July 13th, according to the recording.

Will Harvard Continue to Lead the Charge? - Part 175

From the Harvard Crimson: Harvard College is raising its sticker price at a rate that now consistently outstrips inflation, following a recent stretch of increases that have grown larger each year. For the 2026-27 academic year, Harvard will raise its total cost of attendance by more than five percent to $91,634. The increase marks the latest in a five-year run of increasingly large dollar hikes — and the fourth straight year in which the percentage increase has accelerated.

A Crimson analysis using annual CPI averages found that Harvard’s cost would have reached about $88,300 next year if it had tracked inflation from the 2025-26 academic year. Instead, it will climb to about $91,600 — roughly $3,300 higher. Multiplied across Harvard College’s undergraduate enrollment, that gap amounts to roughly $22 million in additional listed costs before accounting for financial aid....

Full story at https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/6/29/harvard-sticker-price-inflation/.