Julia Barajas
What I cover
My reporting encompasses everything from research universities to community colleges, with an emphasis on students who’ve been historically excluded from higher education. I focus on issues that could affect students’ learning conditions and post-grad opportunities. This includes new programs and teaching methods; the spread of generative AI; labor disputes; disciplinary proceedings; and access to financial aid. I also highlight campus resources and events that are open to the broader community.
My background
Up until 12th grade, I was never assigned anything written by a person of Mexican descent, despite growing up in L.A. County, where Latinos make up nearly half of the population. So when a brochure for East Los Angeles College appeared in the mailbox, I tried out dual enrollment and took an introductory Chicano Literature course. Our class read everything from Tomás Rivera’s “... And the Earth Did Not Devour Him” to Bernice Zamora’s “Notes from a Chicana ‘COED.’” And what I learned there — about writing, about history and about myself — stayed with me. It informed my decision to major in literature and Latin American studies when I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, and it continues to shape the work I do now.
My goals
I aim to help all college students chart a course of success for themselves, guided by their own curiosities and ambitions.
Best way to reach me
If you’re worried or excited about something related to SoCal higher ed, I’d love to hear about it. You can reach out by email at jbarajas@laist.com. If you have a tip you'd like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is jbarajas.68. You can follow this link to reach me there or type my username in the search bar after starting a new chat.
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Critics say the cash-strapped system misspent millions of dollars getting upgraded accounts for all students. CSU leaders insist they're needed to meet a changing economy. -
Gov. Newsom, Cal State and the California Community Colleges system signed multiple agreements with California's tech giants. -
Million dollar settlements to regain federal funding? Rising tuition, but layoffs and course cuts? We're here to help. -
Public health experts say sustained exposure to ethylene oxide increases the risk of various cancers. -
Indiscriminate raids. Removal of U.S. citizens. Pressure to leave the country. For UC Irvine professor and evolutionary biologist Adriana Darielle Mejía Briscoe, the answer is yes. -
Most schools are relying on existing policies that allow for individual accommodations. But some are also tapping into lessons from the pandemic. -
The activists took on a range of issues, from LGBTQ healthcare to immigrants’ rights. -
Video footage can be used to keep government employees accountable. -
Most community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, but few manage to transfer. -
The state offers multiple pathways toward completing its requirements, but many students who enter the teaching profession still risk getting into debt, even before accounting for cost of living.
