Strategic Planning
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED
Chancellor's Vision Statement
September 2007
UC Merced has a very rare opportunity to become an extraordinary institution. It is the first new University of California campus in 40 years and the first new American research university of the 21st century. It is also the first UC campus ever to be situated in the fast-growing but historically underserved San Joaquin Valley, where college-going rates fall well below the state average.
Backed by the rich, 140-year heritage of the world’s preeminent public university system, UC Merced will replicate the system’s renowned research and educational standards, and generate substantial economic and community benefits, in an increasingly important region of the state. At the same time, the 10th UC campus will fashion its own identity as a cutting-edge institution with a distinct, innovative character. It will offer a well-balanced blend of academic and professional disciplines, as well as specialized entrepreneurial programs and capabilities, grounded in the social, environmental, cultural, economic, health, quality-of-life and diversity issues of the Valley, which will serve as its living laboratory.
With these issues rapidly becoming global priorities, UC Merced will emerge as a world-class research and knowledge center of relevance and significance at a time when society is searching for new directions and solutions. This in turn will attract leading faculty, visiting scholars, top graduate students, a highly capable and motivated undergraduate student body, dedicated staff, visionary administrators and external supporters, providing the strongest possible platform for sustainable development and intellectual growth.
The faculty, staff, administrators and students of UC Merced have been drawn by the challenge of building this type of world-class institution from the ground up. The collective energy, enthusiasm and determination of these spirited pioneers have enabled UC Merced to overcome major obstacles and forge ahead with the opportunity of a lifetime.
AREAS OF STRATEGIC EMPHASIS
Looking ahead, the university leadership team has defined seven areas of strategic emphasis to guide the university in the disciplined pursuit of its mission:
• Deep engagement in student success, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels
• World-class interdisciplinary research and education, with an emphasis on programs that take advantage of UC Merced’s unique location and faculty
• Excellent educational offerings and outstanding research in core disciplines, both undergraduate and graduate
• Cutting-edge professional educational offerings, both undergraduate and graduate
• Commitment to supporting a diverse community of students, faculty and staff and to ensuring a high quality of workplace for all constituents
• Vital research and education in a global context
• Robust relationship with the region to promote economic development and to engage the university in the community.
In all of these endeavors, UC Merced will aim high, learn deeply, link broadly and deliver on a timely basis. The campus community will strive to achieve the highest quality in everything we do with mutual respect and collegiality. Top-level schools in Natural Sciences; Engineering; Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts; Management and Medicine will be key to broadly linked, sustainable academic programs that will prepare UC Merced students to become leaders in the complex and diverse world they will engage. A universal commitment to on-time delivery and disciplined, strategic resource management will make this vision of the next great American research university a reality – and will establish UC Merced as one of the brightest lights in the UC system. Fiat Lux.