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Yusra Farzan
What I cover
I report on issues affecting students (prospective and current), their families and communities. Some big questions I am pondering on this beat: who are higher education institutions set up to serve? Who determines who has access to these institutions? How is changing technology affecting higher education? Is access to higher education a ticket to a different trajectory in life?
My background
I didn’t think about university up until I graduated high school. Neither of my grandparents nor parents had completed college. We were residents in the UAE and that residency was dependent on my dad holding down his job. A college degree was a nice to have, not a need to have in my family. And it was only thanks to a combination of luck (Sri Lanka’s civil war ended), grit (I balanced 3 freelance jobs and a paid internship) and sheer determination (I dodged countless marriage proposals) that I graduated with a degree.
And it’s these forces that led me to complete my master’s in race and social justice reporting from USC almost a decade later. (Add a 2-year-old to the mix and grieving the sudden death of my mother.)
I previously covered Orange County for LAist.
My goals
I want to find what works and expose what doesn't, and help students and their families find solutions to their problems.
Best way to reach me
Covering Southern California’s universities and community colleges can be a lot, so I need your help in being my eyes and ears on the ground. If you have a tip, you can email me at yfarzan@laist.com or on Signal at username: @yusramf.25
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The UC system currently does not have a single systemwide AI product or mandatory AI protocols in place.
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DHS says they have put universities "on notice" that they could be in violation of federal rules that dictate work opportunities for international students.
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Parents have taken to social media, created petitions and are proposing a bond measure in order to address sweltering classrooms.
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Homes have been red tagged and high tides have caused severe erosion.
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Landslides typically aren't covered by insurance plans and residents in the city have had to dip into savings to pay for damages.
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High surf advisory continues until Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service
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The college says it has taken measures to address the budget shortfalls through layoffs, salary freezes, and contract non-renewals.
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Professors and students who use the subsidized programs will now have to compete in a tough, competitive market.
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The California State University 2025 Systemwide Housing plan said there’s a need for about 500 beds at the campus. But we found many existing beds aren't being used.
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For the first time, starting this fall, 56 East L.A. College students will use student housing at Cal State L.A. in an effort to address housing insecurity.
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The University of California system also announced a record high number of transfers from California community colleges.
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The new visa limits they say will reduce flexibility they have to find a job.
