UCLA has once again secured the top spot as the nation's leading public university in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report "Best Colleges" rankings, marking its eighth consecutive year at the pinnacle of the annual rankings. Over the years, UCLA has consistently demonstrated academic quality, high graduation rates, and remarkable social mobility for diverse student populations, solidifying its position as a beacon of opportunity and an essential economic driver for the state of California.
As we kick off the new academic year, Interim Chancellor Hunt welcomes the Bruin community, expressing a commitment to inclusivity — guided by our Four-Point Plan for a Safer, Stronger UCLA. He shares pride in UCLA's recognition as the nation's top public university, and highlights diverse achievements and initiatives, including upcoming events at UCLA.
Read the full statement here.
In a recent op-ed, Darnell Hunt, UCLA’s interim chancellor, and Michael Russell, executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association, extend a warm welcome to incoming and returning students, emphasizing the vibrant opportunities available in Westwood and Los Angeles. They highlight the diverse cultural offerings, including a thriving arts scene and a variety of local events, such as UCLA First Thursdays and UCLA Volunteer Day, while also emphasizing the importance of civic engagement, including voting in local elections. Overall, they underscore the unique experience of being part of UCLA and the broader Los Angeles community.
Julio Frenk, UCLA's incoming chancellor, has been recognized as one of Time magazine's top Latino leaders for 2024. In an interview with the magazine, Dr. Frenk, who will become UCLA’s seventh chancellor when he takes the helm in January, emphasized the importance of promoting diversity, inclusion, equity, and a sense of belonging within universities as a way to set an example for broader society. The full list and stories about the winners can be found on Time magazine's
website in both Spanish and English.
A recent study by the UCLA Center for Scholars & Storytellers revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris' nomination has motivated a significant number of Gen Z and Millennial voters to consider voting for her in the 2024 presidential election. The study found that media consumption, particularly through social media, has influenced young people's political views and motivation to vote, with those staying informed about the news showing higher interest in voting for Harris. A majority of respondents, including Black Gen Zers, expressed confidence in the political system to serve their interests.
BruinsVote endeavors to make it easier for students and other members of the UCLA community to vote and engage in politics. The non-partisan coalition at UCLA aims to cultivate a politically engaged campus community by ensuring that all voices are well-informed and represented in the democratic process. The mission includes advancing civic education and democratic participation through voter registration, education, and mobilization efforts. For voters seeking information and resources related to Election Day in California, BruinsVote provides support and guidance.
The Hammer Museum and the UCLA School of Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project are collaborating to host a series of public forums
addressing voters' concerns about the upcoming November election. The series, moderated by election law expert Rick Hasen, sets out to provide people with the tools to understand the risks to democracy and what is being done to ensure fair elections in the United States. This collaboration brings together individuals from various disciplines and ideological backgrounds to discuss elections, with the goal of fostering voter engagement in the Los Angeles area and making the democratic process more accessible.
UCLA has entered into an agreement with OpenAI to introduce ChatGPT Enterprise, making it the first university in California to incorporate this advanced AI technology. The initiative aims to foster innovation and drive efficiencies in diverse applications across academic, administrative, and research communities. UCLA students, faculty, and staff will have access to ChatGPT to support creativity and innovation in teaching, learning, and research. This move comes at a crucial moment as experts evaluate the potential of AI technology in higher education, particularly in areas such as scheduling, learning experiences, and research assistance. UCLA community members are already embracing AI in innovative ways, exploring its potential to
positively impact education and research.
The Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the UCLA School of Law has launched a new initiative to advance the transition to clean energy and draw attention to the importance of energy law. Project Director Denise Grab leads the initiative, called the Emmett Clean Energy Law and Leadership Project (E-CELL). E-CELL will prioritize energy affordability and rate reform, ownership of energy resources, and gas transition. The project will train energy policy leaders and engage with policymakers to transform the energy system and legal regimes, and help other jurisdictions learn from California’s example. It will also work to develop law and policy innovations. E-CELL will serve as a resource, providing opportunities to engage in dockets at
the California Public Utilities Commission and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and offering expertise and support for navigating the transformative changes occurring in the energy sector.
The economic output of Latinos in the U.S. reached $3.7 trillion in 2022, marking remarkable growth and positioning the U.S. Latino GDP as the fifth largest GDP in the world. That finding is at the heart of the latest U.S. Latino GDP report, an annual study produced by researchers from UCLA and California Lutheran University. Despite initial concerns about the pandemic's impact on Latino economic gains, the report shows a continued upward trend in economic performance, with Latinos responsible for a substantial percentage of the growth in real U.S. GDP. Additionally, the report illustrates the resilience of the Latino community, as evidenced by the rebound of the "Latino healthy lifestyle advantage." This year’s report
also represents the group’s first look at Latinas as a distinct segment of the community’s vital impact on the U.S. economy.
The Los Angeles Dodgers recently observed Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by hosting a special event at Dodger Stadium for pediatric cancer survivors. This event included an art workshop for the kids, where they drew portraits of players, which were then displayed on the big screen during the game. UCLA Health pediatric oncology patients participated in the event, part of the collaboration between the Dodgers and UCLA Health to raise awareness about pediatric cancer. During the event, children were recognized as "an inspiration to us all." The children also had the opportunity to run the bases, high-five players, and participate in on-field activities.
On September 6, at UCLA's Royce Hall, first-year medical students received their white coats, a symbol of the trust, compassion and professionalism they are expected to uphold in their work. For three of them -- Andy Garcia, Erika Venegas, and Andrea Guevara-Castro – the moment had special significance. They are part of the PRIME program, which focuses on training socially conscious doctors to work in under-resourced communities. Andy is driven by his mother's battle with cancer and aims to serve his Spanish-speaking hometown as an internal medicine specialist. Erika, motivated by her experiences in a mixed-status family in a border community, hopes to address health disparities. Andrea is setting out to provide comprehensive care
by addressing systemic barriers and connecting under-resourced patients to proper resources alongside her clinical work.
UCLA Health has opened a walk-in orthopedic clinic in the main UCLA Health Santa Monica Medical Center. The clinic provides specialized care for unexpected, acute orthopedic injuries such as fractures, pulled muscles, and sprains without the long wait times typically associated with emergency room or urgent care visits. Open on weekdays from 11 am to 7 pm, the clinic is staffed by orthopedic and sports medicine physicians who offer expert treatment for bone, muscle, and joint injuries. Services include onsite imaging, diagnostic tests, treatment such as casting and splinting, and follow-up appointments.
