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Remarks and Writings

Remarks and Addresses
May 16	2016	Wrapping up the Semester Dear colleagues, We were blessed with glorious weather for our Saturday and Sunday commencement ceremonies, and I want to thank everyone who helped to make the occasion so memorable for our graduates and their families. Now that commencement ceremonies...
Sep 05	2015	Op-Ed: Bringing UC to Merced was the right, best choice The Modesto Bee Dorothy Leland: Bringing UC to Merced was the right, best choice By Dorothy Leland If you visit the University of California’s newest campus, opened just a decade ago in Merced, you will see cows grazing in nearby fields –...

Messages to Campus
Apr 18	2016	Spring Campus Update Dear Faculty and Staff: With our second semester rapidly winding down and preparations already under way for our 11th Commencement, I’d like to take a moment to provide a brief update on what is proving to be a very productive year for...
Mar 24	2016	No Room for Hate Dear campus community, This morning, the UC Board of Regents approved the “Principles Against Intolerance,” which affirm the UC’s allegiance to academic freedom and free speech but also strongly affirm that intolerance and hate have no...
Mar 17	2016	Development regarding November 4th incident Dear campus community members, I want you to be the first to know the results of the FBI investigation into the tragic events that occurred on our beautiful campus on Nov. 4. I appreciate your patience and understanding as law enforcement completed...
Feb 12	2016	Visioning Summit Dear colleagues: Since its founding, UC Merced has been constantly evolving. Yet for many, the pace of change in recent years feels particularly accelerated. From Strategic Academic Focusing and the planned physical build-out by...
Feb 11	2016	LAO report on 2020 Project Dear colleagues, You may have heard about a report issued yesterday by the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office that raises some questions about our 2020 Project and other University of California matters. Among other...
Dec 14	2015	A message from Chancellor Leland Dear colleagues, As we head into the holiday season and winter break, I want to extend my deepest appreciation for your continued dedication to UC Merced. This year, we continued to make a difference in students' lives,...
Nov 19	2015	Video message: Historic campus milestone Dear students, faculty and staff: I invite you to watch my video message to campus about today’s historic development in our campus history: the UC Board of Regents’ approval of all essential provisions of the 2020 Project. As...
Nov 18	2015	Regents' action today on 2020 Project Dear students, faculty and staff: I am very pleased to report major progress in our efforts to secure approval from the UC Board of Regents for the 2020 Project, our proposal to double the size of campus facilities by 2020. Today, two key...
Nov 10	2015	An update from Chancellor Leland Dear Campus Community/UC Merced families, I am writing to share the latest developments in the investigation that were released today by the FBI and the steps that our community is taking to recover and heal. Our campus responded to the events...
Nov 07	2015	A message from Chancellor Leland Dear campus community: Yesterday, I sent out the message reminding members of our campus community that resources are available to help students, staff and faculty cope with recent events on campus. Throughout the weekend, counselors continue...
Nov 06	2015	Our Campus Community Dear students, faculty and staff, As many of you now know, additional information emerged last night from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office that suggests possible motivations for the tragic events that rattled our campus on Wednesday. This...
Nov 04	2015	A message from Chancellor Leland Dear members of the campus community, This is not a message any chancellor wants to deliver. But sadly, today’s events have shaken all of us. Incidents like this may happen at other places, but not at UC Merced. But it has. As shocking...
Oct 30	2015	A Campus Update from Chancellor Leland Dear colleagues, This fall, we held for the first time faculty and staff convocations at the opening of the academic year. During these events, I had the opportunity to discuss some “big picture” issues with you and to look back at some of...
Aug 31	2015	Welcome to UC Merced’s 11th Academic Year Dear faculty and staff, Welcome to a new academic year, one in which we celebrate the university’s many accomplishments while also sharpening our focus on what lies ahead. Ten years ago—on Sept. 5, 2005—UC Merced opened its doors with...

Announcements
Apr 15	2016	Chief of Staff Named Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that Ed Klotzbier will join UC Merced in June as Chief of Staff and Associate Chancellor. This is a new position, but with no new budget, created through attrition and restructuring in the Office of the...
Nov 05	2015	An update from Chancellor Leland, info on campus opening Dear campus community: I want to provide a quick update this morning on yesterday’s stabbing incident that injured four people and resulted in the death of the alleged student assailant. Thankfully, all four injured parties, including two...

Statements
Jan 19	2016	Our Commitments to Free Inquiry and Debate Dear members of the campus community, As your Chancellor and Provost, we are proud of the culture of tolerance and respect that defines UC Merced. We are equally proud to be part of a university culture committed to fostering an academic...
Nov 05	2015	Statement From Chancellor Leland on Yesterday’s Incident UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland issued the following message to the campus community in the wake of yesterday’s stabbing incident on the UC Merced campus: “We are in the preliminary stages of our inquiry, but based on the evidence...
Aug 26	2015	Response to Hechinger Report Article Dear Hechinger Report editor, Matt Krupnick’s recent article about UC Merced’s development since opening in 2005 (“ A new university whose debut probably could not have come at a worse time ,” August 24) correctly...