Liberal Arts dean takes new job at Northridge, San Luis Obispo Tribune
The dean of Cal Poly's College of Liberal Arts will become the No. 2 administrator at CSU Northridge.

Students to foot bill for CSU degrees, Long Beach Press-Telegram
Hit hard by the shrinking state budget, Ventura County's new university is adding two new graduate degrees business and education with a hitch: Students must pay the entire tab.

Poly not set on uprooting tree, San Luis Obispo Tribune
One extension plan for California Boulevard would keep historic valley oak in its place.

University students form MEChA group, Ventura County Star
Chapter promotes Latino history, rights.

Bill for biotech center moves forward, Oakland Tribune
Facility at Cal State Hayward envisioned as a catalyst for industry growth in the Bay Area.

Chico State students being asked to do more for the environment, Chico Enterprise-Record
With the arrival of April and the beginning of "Earth Month," students at Chico State University are being asked to pressure the statewide university system to be more "green."

Students urge peers to party smart' despite challenges, Chico Enterprise-Record
Three Chico State University students are working hard to spread a message many of their fellow students may not want to hear.

Berkeley officials vow to stem drinking, Oakland Tribune
Residents urged to participate in Alcohol-Free Weekend as community mourns death.

UCD grad school cracks the top 30, Sacramento Bee
The Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis, cracked the threshold of the top 30 business schools in the nation for the first time, tying for 29th in the closely watched U.S. News & World Report survey released today.

UC Merced forced to work on backup plans, Modesto Bee
For years, University of California at Merced officials resisted the notion of a contingency plan in the event the first campus buildings were not ready on time.

Western gaveled down in appeal to ABA, Orange County Register
Oldest law school in county says it will keep fighting for accreditation from national bar.

State Center charts success, Fresno Bee
The State Center Community College District has adopted the glossy, ambitious, can-do "Vision for Success," a strategic plan through 2007 to meet and overcome economic and other challenges.

State's required payment to CalPERS soars 18-fold, San Diego Union-Tribune
Falling stocks, rising benefits compound the budget crunch.

Students' double lives?, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
African-American women who attend the University of La Verne often feel like they lead double lives to fit in.

Students paying less for college-credit exams, North County Times
When hundreds of seniors at Oceanside and El Camino high schools sit down next month to take advanced-placement exams for college credit, they can thank the community for some financial backing.

Occidental Suspends Student Government, Los Angeles Times
The college president says ugliness in campus politics got 'out of hand.' Civil libertarians object.

Community comes to the rescue, Contra Costa Times
Despite budgetary cutbacks across California, a performing arts renaissance is occurring on some high school campuses, thanks to a combination of determined educators, motivated students and an infusion of community dollars and know-how.

Sad chapter for university presses, Christian Science Monitor
When Northeastern University Press prints the final books on its 2004 list later this year, the titles will have a dubious distinction: They will be the last ones bearing the university imprint.

Bill denies defense funding to colleges, CNN/AP
The House moved Tuesday to deny defense-related funding to universities that don't provide ROTC programs and military recruiters equal access to their campuses. Opponents said the bill was an assault on university policies banning gay discrimination.

Military schools producing army of solid performance, USA Today
Defense Department schools inspire fierce devotion, and with good reason. Students at the schools consistently rank near the top on federal reading, writing and math tests.

Southern U. implicates 541 in money-for-grades scandal, USA Today/AP
An investigation into a money-for-grades scandal at Southern University has implicated 541 current and former students and could lead to the revocation of some degrees, the school says.

The Price of Admission, Wall St. Journal
When Martin Quiñones was starting high school, he and his parents looked at several Boston-area private schools before settling on Phillips Academy. It was one of the most expensive schools they considered, with annual tuition of $23,400, not including room, board and other fees.

Bush's Proposal to Give Community Colleges $250-Million Runs Into Trouble at House Hearing, Chronicle of Higher Education
President Bush's plan to give $250-million in federal funds to community colleges for job training received a chilly reception on Thursday by some Republicans on a key Congressional panel.

PeopleSoft sued over faulty installation, Computer Weekly
Ohio's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against PeopleSoft, seeking $510m in damages stemming from an allegedly faulty installation of the company's ERP and student administration applications at Cleveland State University.

Letters to the editor: Fees for college, Sacramento Bee
Re "The annual community college protest march loses some oomph," March 16: I can agree with most of what columnist Dan Walters referred to as the improved budget for community colleges proposed by the governor.

Dan Walters: Politicians fume about trivia while neglecting fundamental duties, Sacramento Bee
California legislators squander time on relatively trivial matters about which they can do nothing other than generate television sound bites and newspaper headlines.

Editorial: A promise to abandon, Sacramento Bee
Yes, taxes are part of budget solution.

Editorial: Our View: Money's there to go to college, North County Times
These are exciting times for high school seniors. Acceptance letters ---- and rejections ---- from colleges and universities are arriving every day in the mail. It's worse than a shame that thousands of teenagers may miss out on a college education for lack of money, while millions of dollars in scholarships are going unclaimed.

Opinion: Nursing shortage, San Bernardino Sun
It was amazing that an article on nursing shortages would focus on who wasn't contributing to the solution, while never mentioning the institutions that have stepped up their commitments and their very great costs to help solve the problem. [President Karnig]

Jill Stewart: Seeking 'efficiencies' distracts from California's real budget problems, San Francisco Chronicle
Did you hear the one about how Sacramento buys $36,000 wheelchairs for the disabled when less expensive wheelchairs work fine?

Job cuts eroding state services, Sacramento Bee
Cuts in the state work force have resulted in less scrutiny of unscrupulous businesses, food-processing plants and nursing homes, and caused longer waits on highways and in government offices.

NOTE: For additional political coverage, visit the Rough & Tumble website.

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