This story is a collaboration between San José Spotlight and Open Campus. Genesis Smith is spread thin. There aren’t enough social workers in Silicon Valley, leaving her to juggle tense encounters with parents whose children have been placed in protective custody with hour-long drives as far as Merced to check on foster placements. “If you...
State senator pushes bill for San Jose State law school
A Silicon Valley politician wants to create California State University’s first public law school and is eyeing San Jose. State Sen. Dave Cortese’s Senate Bill 550 proposes establishing a law school at San Jose State University by integrating it with state-accredited, nonprofit Lincoln Law School of San Jose. If approved, it would be San Jose’s...
Commuting San Jose State students struggle amid VTA strike
A local university is trying to help its students caught in the ongoing VTA strike find transportation. The union worker strike started March 10 and has left San Jose State University students stranded at the BART Berryessa station and elsewhere. While VTA is offering $5 vouchers for Uber rides for two rides per day between stations, taking...
San Jose State could help manage Google journalism investment
A coalition of California colleges including San Jose State University could manage a landmark investment by Google and the state to fund local newsrooms. The director of San Jose State’s journalism school signed onto an informal proposal submitted last month by department leaders across several other CSU campuses. The idea could place the Cal State...
San Jose State plans major campus redesign
San Jose State University wants to renovate its main and south campuses to make way for a projected enrollment increase of 8,000 students through 2040. The San Jose State University Campus Master Plan has several facets. It will include 2 million square feet of academic space and student support services. More than 1 million square feet...
San Jose State transgender athletes in jeopardy after federal ruling
The Biden administration’s efforts to expand Title IX policies have been struck down, resulting in a loss of protections for LGBTQ+ students. The court ruling made by U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves in State of Tennessee v. Cardona erases the Department of Education’s attempt to increase protections for sex discrimination in schools as it applies...
San Jose State students tackle academic shortcomings with AI
When a team of San Jose State University business students recognized the path toward academic counseling and course curriculum was complicated and messy, they turned to AI for a solution. Gabriel Castaneda, co-founder of CollegeBot.AI, said the students launched the artificial intelligence platform as a startup company to help students navigate through their class requirements...
San Jose university students still battling homelessness
Homeless San Jose State University students are struggling to find housing — and worry where they’re going to sleep at night as they stress over school work and passing grades. The Student Homeless Alliance, which advocates for unhoused SJSU students, is pushing to expand the number of emergency beds available and for seven safe parking...
Former San Jose hotel houses 700 college students
Hundreds of college students will soon be able to call downtown San Jose home, thanks to the quick renovations of a historic hotel. Spartan Village on the Paseo, formerly the south tower of the Signia by Hilton hotel, will house roughly 700 San Jose State University students beginning this fall semester. About 120 beds will...
San Jose State students stage protest and call for divestment
San Jose State University students have set up a dozen tents on a lawn in front of Clark Hall, calling for the school to acknowledge the death toll in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war. The student encampment began Monday, which was the last day of classes at SJSU. University administrators put up a sign telling...