In his inaugural State of the Campus address, Chancellor Julio Frenk said great universities are built on deep connections, shared purpose and a willingness to be bold in the face of challenges. Announcing several new policies and strategies aimed at addressing financial and other strains on the university, Frenk also showcased the significant achievements and progress UCLA has continued to make in the shadow of pressure and uncertainty.
The Spring 2026 issue of UCLA’s Blueprint magazine, now available in print and online, explores the Trump Administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, its impact in Los Angeles and across the nation, and the complex debates surrounding immigration policy. This issue presents compelling research and insights from contributors examining the human, economic, and political consequences of the raids. As the nation confronts questions about its identity as a melting pot, the urgency for informed, evidence-based dialogue on immigration has never been greater.
Raul Ruiz is the son of farmworkers who grew up to be a medical doctor. He’s now the Congressional representative for California’s 25 District. And he’s mad. Molly Selvin profiles Ruiz.
Ten years ago, Blueprint, a new magazine, and Marqueece Harris-Dawson, a new city council member, looked at the state of L.A. Now they look back at that time and ahead to the challenges facing the city today.
The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, in partnership with Broadcom, Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries, Meta, and Synopsys, has launched a $125-million semiconductor hub to enhance research and workforce development in AI-powered chip technologies. The initiative includes a five-year commitment of philanthropic gifts and in-kind support, focusing on chip design, software, manufacturing, and advanced materials. The hub seeks to foster collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation in semiconductor technology and support advancements in connectivity, computing, and intelligent systems.
The 10th annual UCLAxFilmFest screened 21 films created by UCLA students and alumni from Extension’s Entertainment Studies Program during the weeklong festival. The event culminated with a May 9 awards ceremony at the Los Angeles Theater, highlighting achievements in filmmaking across multiple categories and reinforcing UCLA’s ongoing support for the local film industry through hands-on training and creative development.
Staub, who joined UCLA in 2018 to help make community-engaged learning a cornerstone of the student experience, will retire in June. His leadership helped secure national recognition for faculty work in community-engaged scholarship. Staub also led implementation of Strategic Plan Goal 1 to deepen UCLA’s engagement with Los Angeles, an effort now central to the UCLA Connects initiative. His work has strengthened partnerships between the university, students, and local communities.
UCLA and California Lutheran University researchers report that the U.S. Latino GDP reached $4.4 trillion in 2024, surpassing Japan’s economy and ranking as the world’s fourth largest. The study shows Latino economic output continues to grow faster than many major economies, driven by strong labor force participation, natural population increase, and rising educational attainment.
Alex Hall, professor and director of both the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge and Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, warned that Southern California’s extended dry spring and warm temperatures have created high-risk wildfire conditions. As strong Santa Ana winds swept the region in late May, Hall noted that these conditions mirror those that fueled the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in January 2025. Hall recommended creation of a severity rating system for Santa Ana events similar to hurricane categories, to improve preparedness and ignition prevention.
In May, UCLA participated in The Science Coalition’s “Science of Transportation” event, which brought together more than 100 attendees from Congress, federal agencies, industry, and leading research universities to discuss the future of American transportation infrastructure in Washington, D.C.
At the event, UCLA Professor Eric Bescher engaged directly with congressional staff and members of Congress, including House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rep. Rick Larsen, to discuss the importance of sustained federal investment in university research, infrastructure innovation, and transportation resilience. Exhibits at the showcase illustrated how federal investments in basic science fuel discovery and strengthen the nation’s economy. The event communicated a clear message: when policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders work together in support of ongoing federal funding for basic research, they contribute to a stronger and more competitive America, where universities drive substantial innovation.
Bescher, who teaches at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, highlighted UCLA-developed low-carbon concrete technologies designed to support rapid, durable infrastructure repair and deployment, including advanced cement systems capable of reaching 4,000 PSI in just four hours. The event also featured participation from peer research universities, industry leaders, and transportation stakeholders, including Seval Oz, nominee for Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
California voters this week are choosing candidates for governor, all 80 Assembly seats, 20 Senate seats, and 12 state executive offices. Los Angeles residents will vote on Measure ER, which proposes a temporary L.A. County sales tax increase, and for mayor, with incumbent Karen Bass seeking reelection against 13 challengers. All U.S. House seats are up for election as well.
Vote Centersat UCLA:
Pauley Pavilion
Voting period: May 23 to June 2
Vote Center hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
UCLA De Neve Plaza
Voting period: May 30 to June 2
Vote Center hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hammer Museum
Voting period: May 30 to June 2
Vote Center hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Ackerman Union - Bruin Reception Room (2nd Floor)
Voting period: May 30 to June 2
Vote Center hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
June 2 (Election Day) hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
UC is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 895, a critical effort to sustain world-changing research that supports the quality of life for all Californians and fuels the state’s economy. Learn how you can help.
Partnering with local nonprofits and government entities for a sustainable move-out event, allowing students to donate items and responsibly discard waste.
Residence Halls & North Village
Thursday, June 11
11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In the latest episode, UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Darnell Hunt discusses his journey from journalism student to creator of the Hollywood Diversity Report. He explains how data on representation influences industry decisions and the economic importance of inclusive storytelling. Hunt also shares insights from his current role leading UCLA’s five-year strategic plan.
UCLA Health
UCLA Health expands fitness and wellness resources
UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind recently celebrated the opening of two new school fitness centers at Jackson Middle School and Paramount Park Middle School in the Paramount Unified School District. Paramount Mayor Brenda Olmos attended Jackson’s ceremony in support of the initiative.
The new fitness centers are part of a multi-year, $300,000-grant project in partnership with LA Care Health Plan aimed at expanding fitness and wellness resources to enhance physical education programs. The funding supports six schools, including Pacoima Middle School and Hart Preparatory Middle School in LAUSD, and Bunche Middle School in Compton Unified, which held grand opening ceremonies earlier this year. Mann UCLA Community School will serve as the sixth and final site in the project, with its fitness center opening scheduled for fall 2026.
The new high-resolution scanners save critical time during transport to the hospital, enabling detailed imaging typically found only in hospitals and significantly improving prehospital stroke diagnostics.
The new center is a 14,000-square-foot FDA-compliant manufacturing facility that nearly doubles UCLA's capacity to produce cell and gene therapies for patients enrolled in clinical trials for cancer, genetic disorders and other serious diseases. Supported by the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the facility is designed to manufacture a broad range of personalized treatments, including cancer vaccines and stem cell gene therapies. Its proximity to UCLA’s hospitals and clinics allows researchers to move therapies from the manufacturing suite directly to patients’ bedsides on the same day, facilitating swift progress in clinical trials.
Supporting Communities: UCLA's Impact
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles throughUCLA Community Partnerships.
