The next meeting of the University of California regents doesn’t start until tomorrow, but Berkeley’s activists are starting the protests early.

The regents are expected to impose a new eight percent fee hike at this week’s meeting, and other proposals on the agenda are meeting with student resistance as well. Students will be coming in to protest the meeting from all over the state, and we’ll be covering that story as it develops.

This morning, though, at six-thirty, activists at Berkeley gathered at California Hall, UCB’s administration building. It’s now 7:45 am on the West Coast, and according to reports on Twitter, all entrances to the building have been blocked.

Follow @reclaimuc and @callie_hoo for updates on Twitter, and check back here for more news as I get it.

8 am California time | As I posted last night, actions are reportedly in the works this morning at UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz as well.

9 am | The action is still going on. The blog Occupy California has a photo from the scene, and a report that the UCPD have managed to secure one entrance to the building, with the others still blockaded.

9:45 am | Another Berkeley activist blog — The University Belongs to Those Who Use It — has posted a report and a photo. They note that UCPD has received reinforcements from the Alameda County Sheriff.

10:20 am | Here’s the Facebook event page for the planned UC Santa Cruz action, scheduled to start at noon.

1:30 pm | Continuing coverage of events at Berkeley, Davis, and Santa Cruz today can be found here.