TW: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.
UC continues plan to extend online language courses amid cuts to in-person resources
This year, the University of California (UC) system began implementing its online language program. Known as the UC Global Language Network (GLN), the program is being implemented in three phases and is focused on offering less commonly taught languages.
“The GLN initiative seeks to increase the number of UC undergraduates studying foreign languages,” the program description reads. “By expanding access and sustaining programs, GLN is opening doors to global citizenship, giving students a powerful linguistic skill set, deepening cultural understanding, and offering academic pathways that might otherwise remain out of reach.”
While the GLN is not meant to replace in-person programs, its final phase entails scaling the program to “support long-term systemwide goals.” In recent years, campuses across the UC have cut academic staff and courses within various language programs.
Developed by humanities deans across the UC, GLN courses are funded by individual campus language budgets, the UC Office of the President and UC Online. Language personnel from various campuses said they were not involved in the GLN’s development in interviews with the Daily Bruin.
According to the Daily Bruin, UCLA has cut language programs due to budget constraints in recent years. In the fall, UC Santa Cruz cut its German and Persian programs. Over the past year, UC Santa Barbara has decreased the number of French and Italian courses available and laid off lecturers.
Spring quarter marks phase II of the GLN, which expanded the list of languages offered to include some that weren’t previously available on UC Online.
UC and UAW reach contract agreement
UC administrators and the United Auto Workers (UAW) 4811 union reached contract agreements on March 14 for academic and staff employees. Since then, union members have voted to ratify the contracts.
UAW 4811 represents about 48,000 academic student employees and other academic staff. The agreements include a legal consultation fund for international workers, a unified pay scale for unified employees, raises and increased childcare reimbursements, among others.
“We are grateful to achieve agreements that mutually benefit the University’s academic student employees and new staff units,” Missy Matella, associate vice president for Systemwide Employee and Labor Relations for the UC Office of the President, said in a press release.
The agreement occurred a day after union members across the UC system held a “Last Chance” rally.
UCLA removes César E. Chávez from Chicana/o studies department name
The UCLA Chicana/o studies department voted to remove labor activist César E. Chávez’s from its name on March 18. The decision came after an investigation by The New York Times (NYT) found that Chavez reportedly sexually abused women and minors working alongside him.
Since then, Chavez’s name has been removed from the department’s website, according to the Daily Bruin.
“UCLA is aware of the serious allegations that have been reported and is deeply troubled by them,” a UCLA spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Bruin. “We stand with survivors of sexual assault.”
Chancellor Julio Frenk and UC President James Milliken must approve the name change for it to become official. The department is currently considering adding labor activist Dolores Huerta to its name. In the aftermath of the NYT investigation, Huerta revealed that she was also sexually abused by Chavez and had two children following the assaults.
A version of this article appeared on p.2 of the April 9, 2026 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
