Ceremony marks ‘after spring break' opening of SDSU's Brawley campus, Imperial Valley Press
It seemed the doors would never open. First it was set for completion in January, then February. Now it's March and the San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus in Brawley is complete.

After college equestrian's death, questions about safety, Fresno Bee/AP
On a sunny afternoon last fall, three college freshmen saddled their horses and headed out for a ride. Shana Virginia Eriksson was in front, her pony tail bouncing beneath her black helmet. [Also ran in San Diego Union-Tribune]

Curricular Transformation,(pdf file) Change Magazine
Why we need it; how to support it [an article by President Peter Smith]

Cal Poly offers wine and viticulture degree, San Luis Obispo Tribune
Students at Cal Poly can now earn a degree in winemaking.

Award winner says it takes teamwork, Press-Enterprise
Richard Eberst may have been selected as the sole recipient of the 2004 Ernest A. Lynton Award for Professional Service and Academic Outreach, but the Cal State San Bernardino professor knows the recognition should include a whole list of names.

Ship ahoy!, Vallejo Times-Herald
The vessel once known as the TS Golden Bear - the second training ship to bear that name at the California Maritime Academy, across the Mare Island Strait - is docked at Berth 12 under a short-term lease.

New multicultural center celebrates diversity, tolerance, Ventura County Star
The center, run by students and supported by the student government, was officially opened after a brief ceremony and Chumash blessing Monday afternoon.

Chico State summer school to be student-funded again, Chico Enterprise-Record
Under the heading of dj vu all over again, Chico State University will be running a summer school program that will be funded entirely by student fees, just like it used to be.

Two admit to graffiti, deny being racist, Chico Enterprise-Record
Authorities said Monday that two young men admitted leaving racial graffiti at a Chico State University dormitory, but denied being racists themselves.

CSUB could turn away students, Bakersfield Californian
Governor seeks to cut freshman enrollment at state's public universities.

U.S. Patent Office Takes Step to Invalidate Patent Worth Millions to U. of California, Chronicle of Higher Education
In a severe setback for the University of California system and a private software company, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a preliminary ruling that invalidates a patent on Web-browser technology made popular by the Microsoft Corporation.

Study a tossup on race at UC, Sacramento Bee
Minority admissions don't show clear signs of favoritism, a probe concludes.

UC Officials Note Racial Disparity in Admissions, Los Angeles Times
Even though state law bans preferences for minorities, black and Latino high school seniors who applied to University of California campuses last year were accepted for admission in numbers somewhat higher than appear warranted, UC officials reported Monday.

Admission rates surprise UC leaders, San Jose Mercury-News
Study finds Blacks, Latinos get in at higher rates than Asians.

UCLA Police Prepared to Go It Alone on Body-Parts Case, Los Angeles Times
An agency more accustomed to handling loud parties and bike thefts declines to seek help on the high-profile investigation.

$704,600 Billed for Cadavers, Los Angeles Times
Invoices on UCLA letterhead show 496 corpses were sold to a middleman since 1998.

Lawsuit filed against UCLA for alleged illegal sale of human body parts, Bakersfield Californian/AP
Relatives of donors sued the university Monday, even as officials apologized and pledged to repair UCLA's cadaver program.

California schools to profit on unclaimed lottery ticket, Bakersfield Californian/AP
This was the 14th - and largest - unclaimed jackpot since the lottery started in 1985, according to lottery officials. All unclaimed money goes to the state's public schools.

Teachers who retire early could get perks, Ventura County Star
Districts offer incentives, hoping to save money.

Teens earn college degree, Stockton Record
Katie Descent looks forward to accomplishing a rare feat among those her age. In May, Descent, 18, will earn an associate's of science college degree even before she graduates from high school.

Affirmative Action Foes Seek Mich. Referendum, Washington Post
Only months after a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding affirmative action in higher education stemming from cases at the University of Michigan, this state has again become an epicenter in the fight over racial preferences.

In debt from Day One, Christian Science Monitor
For many student debtors, a career in public service is but a distant dream.

Congress Orders Thorough Study of Teacher Education Programs, Education Week
For the first time since 1933, Congress has mandated a wholesale cataloging of the work done by the nation's teacher-preparation programs, to understand better the academic content and field experiences provided to prospective teachers.

Students cook up various games to get into college, USA Today
How do I love thee? When it comes to students applying to colleges, some admissions officials count the ways. Very carefully.

Web School Lets Young Athletes Study and Play, Wall St. Journal
The school, University of Miami Online High School, offers an academic program for athletes who are too busy to attend bricks-and-mortar high schools.

Senate Weighs Budget Plan That Would Wipe Out $3.7-Billion Shortfall in Pell Grant Program, Chronicle of Higher Education
The U.S. Senate on Monday began considering a budget plan for the 2005 fiscal year that would make eliminating the multibillion-dollar shortfall in the Pell Grant program's budget a key legislative priority.

Recipients of Need-Based Student Aid Fare as Well as Other Students, Maryland Study Finds, Chronicle of Higher Education
Maryland students who receive need-based financial assistance are about as likely to stay in college and to graduate on time as students who did not receive this type of aid, according to a study released last week by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Plan to Punish Big Increases in Tuition Is Dropped, Chronicle of Higher Education
Republican sponsor says colleges are doing better at controlling costs.

Opinion: Keep college dream alive, Ventura County Star
Three months from now, California will produce record numbers of high school graduates, many of whom have their hearts set on attending college this fall. Sadly, however, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed sweeping cuts to higher education funding.

Daniel Weintraub: Guards pact, a fiscal time bomb, gets second look, Sacramento Bee
Buzzini brokered a five-year contract that might turn out to be the richest in state history. The first two years, per the governor's instructions, contained no pay raises.

Dan Walters: Can the new 'Collectinator' succeed where others have failed?, Sacramento Bee
One effect of California's symbiotic relationship with the federal government was a distinct imbalance in the disbursement of federal dollars.

Editorial: Foul plays, USA Today
How many points is a 3-point field goal worth?

Editorial: Safe, Smart School-Building, Los Angeles Times
With the narrow passage last week of Proposition 55, the state will have $12.3 billion in bond money to spend on building and fixing public schools. More than $16 billion in projects are approved for funding, so efficient use of the money at hand is imperative.

Opinion: Higher education a necessity, Ventura County Star
Higher education, once a luxury item reserved primarily for the sons and occasionally daughters of the wealthy, is now a necessity for people who hope to join the middle class, and for a state that depends on innovative graduates to boost its economy.

Governor's hard-nosed budget boss, San Jose Mercury-News
To her boss she is a genius and a ``machine.'' To her detractors she is a cool outsider who is out of touch with California.

Senate fiscal panel rejects program enrollment limits, Sacramento Bee
A state Senate panel voted Monday to reject enrollment limits on a range of health-care programs, an early signal that majority Democrats will fight Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts in social services.

Democrats hope Arnold may raise taxes, Los Angeles Daily News
Some Democrats have temporarily abandoned a long-standing demand for higher taxes as part of a state budget solution, waiting to see if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backs off his no-taxes pledge.

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

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