This past weekend, UC Merced gathered as a community to celebrate one of our most meaningful traditions, commencement. It was a joyous occasion, made even more special by the presence of alumna and Merced County Director of Public Health Kristynn Sullivan, President and CEO of College Track Shirley Collado, and UC President and UC Merced Champion Michael V. Drake who joined us as keynote speakers to honor the accomplishments of our graduating students.
We also recently marked another momentous occasion in the story of UC Merced: the 30th anniversary of the UC Regents’ historic vote to make Merced the site of the 10th campus of the University of California.
On May 18, 1995, following years of passionate advocacy and a visionary belief in the transformative power of public higher education, the Regents selected a plot of land adjacent to Lake Yosemite as the future home of the UC’s next campus.
UC Merced was selected for several reasons, but in reading the news articles from that week, one stands out to me. The article points to the countless letters and postcards received by the committee members from Mercedians demonstrating the passion and commitment to the success of the university.
In the spirit of that bold decision, I want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come. This year alone, UC Merced reached several major milestones including Carnegie R1 status – the highest classification for research universities – and recognition by Carnegie as an “Opportunity” university as part of its new Student Access and Earnings designation list. UC Merced is one of just 21 institutions in the nation and only three in California to earn two such Carnegie Classifications.
Last fall, UC Merced was ranked #1 in the entire nation for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal and moved up several spots to #26 in US News and World Report’s annual list of the country’s best colleges. The university’s athletic program made the most of its final year in the NAIA, winning multiple championships as it prepares to make the leap to NCAA DII.
UC Merced also saw a significant increase in enrollment applications this spring — an affirmation of the growing impact and reputation of our university. And while the past year wasn’t without its hurdles, I can proudly state that with every challenge faced, we continued to uphold our mission of research, teaching and public service with dedication and integrity.
At Commencement, President Drake shared his thoughts about the growth of UC Merced, saying “it’s no longer just a bold vision – it’s an inspiring reality – a success story for our entire country that you are all now a part of.” That bold vision came 30 years ago from the people of Merced who believed in what a university could contribute to their community.
Looking ahead, the momentum continues. In the fall, we will come together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of UC Merced’s opening, a milestone that reminds us of our journey, what all of you have helped to accomplish and how much promise yet lies ahead. I encourage all of us to carry this spirit into the next chapter as we continue our forward momentum toward an even brighter future.
Go ‘Cats!
Thank you Merced!
Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.
Chancellor, UC Merced