Colleges and Universities
Higher education.
8 stories · Sep 9, 2026 – Nov 2, 2026
Stories
USF to Replace Don Mascot With Wolf, Retain Nickname Following Backlash
The University of San Francisco will retire the Don mascot after 90 years and introduce a wolf starting with the spring 2027 semester, the school announced Friday, the Chronicle reports. Students had objected that the figure, modeled on the first mayor of Yerba Buena, carried associations with Spanish colonization.
San Francisco City College has had 15 chancellors in 18 years
City College of San Francisco has had 15 chancellors in 18 years, more than any other California community college, Sing Tao reports, summarizing a Chronicle feature. Chancellor Kimberlee Messina has been on administrative leave since Oct. 6 while an investigation into financial impropriety proceeds, and acting chancellor David Yee has taken over a balanced $626 million budget projected to run a $24 million deficit by 2029.
City College board candidate Jeremy Lee calls for more Cantonese teachers and larger enrollment
Jeremy Lee, one of eight candidates for three four-year seats on the City College of San Francisco board, says he would push to hire more Cantonese teachers and expand enrollment, Sing Tao reports. Lee, 37, a third-generation San Franciscan, works in housing finance at a community organization and heads an Asian American association, the paper says.
SF City College Leader Put on Paid Leave During Investigation Into Alleged Misuse of Funds
The City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees placed Chancellor Kimberlee Messina on paid leave while an independent investigator reviews allegations about her handling of district funds, according to the Chronicle. Vice Chancellor David Yee was appointed temporary acting chancellor, and trustees were scheduled to consider hiring an acting chancellor at a special meeting Thursday. Board President Aliya Chisti said the leave is not a finding against Messina.
Golden Gate University in talks to buy downtown landmark after vacating campus
Golden Gate University has held talks about buying the Contemporary Jewish Museum's building downtown, after the business college gave up its own campus. The museum building comes with restrictions on how it can be used.
No grades, no tests, no degree: Andreessen Horowitz launching SF academy for ‘builders’
The venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is starting a for-profit school in San Francisco as an alternative to traditional college, the Standard reports. The program will not give grades, tests or degrees.
San Francisco State president Lynn Mahoney to step down next summer
San Francisco State University president Lynn Mahoney announced she will leave the job next summer after eight years, the first woman to lead the campus. Enrollment fell from nearly 30,000 students when she took office in 2019 to 20,563 this year, and the university cut nearly 600 courses and more than 2,000 other programs during her tenure. Mahoney said this fall brought signs of improvement, with about 400 more first-year students and 530 more transfer students than last year.
Golden Gate University sells Mission Street campus for $31.6M and moves out
Golden Gate University has moved out of its longtime downtown campus after selling 536 Mission St. to a developer on Friday. The sale, reported at $31.6 million, will settle part of the university's debts. The developer plans one of San Francisco's first new skyscrapers since the pandemic.