Author: Michael Chwe

Uncategorized

UC Stand Up For Our Values
ByMichael Chwe September 14, 2025

On August 1, 2025, we released an open letter (please sign here) in response to the Trump administration’s suspension of roughly eight hundred federal research grants to UCLA scholars. This letter has received over 2400 signatures, including from over 1100 UC faculty, and has been covered in the national and international press. We demand that the UC Office of the President immediately challenge the Trump administration attacks in court and collaborate with Governor Newsom and the California state legislature to supplement this shortfall. We further ask that the university administration explore using a portion of the over $5 billion in unrestricted endowment funds to help keep our…

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Uncategorized

What should you do if an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent comes to campus?
ByMichael Chwe September 14, 2025

We have some guidelines to share.

Read More What should you do if an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent comes to campus?
academic freedom | Federal attacks | immigration

UCLA faculty and staff are vigorously protesting the attacks on our university.
ByMichael Chwe April 11, 2025August 11, 2025

On April 12, the UCLA Faculty Association held the “Hands Off Our Students” march to the ICE field offices in downtown Los Angeles, in cooperation with several southern California universities and community organizations, with roughly 150 people attending. On April 11, the UCLA Faculty Association held a rally to demand that UCLA protect students and faculty who have had their visas and immigration status illegally and arbitrarily revoked, with roughly 60 people attending.

Read More UCLA faculty and staff are vigorously protesting the attacks on our university.
Federal attacks | Funding cuts | Science

Roughly 250 Los Angeles scientists participated in the “Kill the Cuts” march.
ByMichael Chwe April 8, 2025August 11, 2025

On April 8, around 250 UCLA students, postdocs, and faculty participated in the “Kill the Cuts” march to the Westwood Federal Building, to protest federal funding cuts to higher education. This march was covered in the LA Times.

Read More Roughly 250 Los Angeles scientists participated in the “Kill the Cuts” march.
Federal attacks | immigration

The Council of University of California Faculty Associations (CUCFA) and UC-AFT calls upon UC to immediately address Student Visa Revocations.
ByMichael Chwe April 6, 2025August 11, 2025

On April 6, 2025, the Council of University of California Faculty Associations (CUCFA) and UC-AFT Local 1474, representing UC non-ladder faculty and librarians, called upon UC administrators with five demands: (1) UC should provide legal support to any member of our community whose visa has been revoked; (2) any student who is detained or deported must be able to complete their degrees remotely; (3) all fellowships, stipends, and salaries must be guaranteed even if a community member is deported; (4) any staff or faculty member who is detained or deported must be able to work remotely and receive their salary;…

Read More The Council of University of California Faculty Associations (CUCFA) and UC-AFT calls upon UC to immediately address Student Visa Revocations.
Child care

UCLA faculty are deeply concerned about the planned closing of the Fernald Childcare Center on campus.
ByMichael Chwe March 20, 2025August 11, 2025

On March 20, UCLA faculty and concerned parents issued a press release stating that “The UCLA community is uniting in defense of the Fernald Center, a beloved on-campus early childhood education facility, in light of its proposed closure.”

Read More UCLA faculty are deeply concerned about the planned closing of the Fernald Childcare Center on campus.
deportations | Federal attacks | Funding cuts

The UCLA Faculty Association joined our colleagues at all ten UC campuses to defend higher education and political freedom.
ByMichael Chwe March 19, 2025April 19, 2025

The Council of University of California Faculty Associations (CUCFA) called for an Emergency Day of Action on all ten UC campuses on March 19 to protest the Trump adminstration’s attacks on higher education. We call for the release of Mahmoud Khalil and Leqaa Kordia, protecting our campuses from DHS/ICE, protecting all of us regardless of immigration status, and a stop to federal and state funding cuts. Our rally was covered in the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Bruin.

Read More The UCLA Faculty Association joined our colleagues at all ten UC campuses to defend higher education and political freedom.
immigration

More than sixty Jewish faculty and staff at UCLA have signed the letter “Not In Our Name.”
ByMichael Chwe March 15, 2025August 11, 2025

In the letter, more than sixty Jewish faculty and staff at UCLA write “to express our unequivocal opposition to the arrest and detention of former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, and Columbia University’s subsequent expulsion, suspension, and diploma revocation of dozens of pro-Palestinian protestors, apparently in response to demands from the Trump administration. We are vehemently opposed to efforts by the federal government to arrest, deport, or pressure universities to discipline students, staff, or faculty at UCLA or at any university who are deemed politically unacceptable by virtue of their support of freedom for the Palestinian people.” The letter was covered…

Read More More than sixty Jewish faculty and staff at UCLA have signed the letter “Not In Our Name.”
Labor

AFSCME and UPTE are on strike from February 26 to February 28, 2025
ByMichael Chwe March 10, 2025March 10, 2025

AFSCME Local 3299, the union representing 37,000 Service and Patient Care workers at the UC, is conducting a statewide Unfair Labor Practices strike this week over bad faith bargaining and interference with workers’ free speech rights. UPTE-CWA Local 9119 (University Professional and Technical Employees), the union representing 20,000 UC employees including nurse case managers, mental health counselors, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, clinical researchers, IT analysts and animal health technicians, are on strike in response to repressive limitations the UC is placing on employee and union free speech. AFSCME and UPTE are asking all community members to not purchase products (including…

Read More AFSCME and UPTE are on strike from February 26 to February 28, 2025
Federal attacks | Funding cuts | Science

Hundreds of Los Angeles scientists rallied to Stand Up For Science.
ByMichael Chwe March 7, 2025August 11, 2025

On March 7, hundreds of faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and community members from UCLA, USC, and our entire community participated in the nationwide Stand Up For Science rallies. The rally was covered in the Los Angeles Times.

Read More Hundreds of Los Angeles scientists rallied to Stand Up For Science.

Author: Michael Chwe

UC Stand Up For Our Values

What should you do if an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent comes to campus?

UCLA faculty and staff are vigorously protesting the attacks on our university.

Roughly 250 Los Angeles scientists participated in the “Kill the Cuts” march.

The Council of University of California Faculty Associations (CUCFA) and UC-AFT calls upon UC to immediately address Student Visa Revocations.

UCLA faculty are deeply concerned about the planned closing of the Fernald Childcare Center on campus.

The UCLA Faculty Association joined our colleagues at all ten UC campuses to defend higher education and political freedom.

More than sixty Jewish faculty and staff at UCLA have signed the letter “Not In Our Name.”

AFSCME and UPTE are on strike from February 26 to February 28, 2025

Hundreds of Los Angeles scientists rallied to Stand Up For Science.

UC Faculty Associations

Higher Ed Policy

Labor and Advocacy

UC Faculty Associations

Higher Ed Policy

Labor and Advocacy

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