Office of the Chancellor

A woman wearing a lab coat conducts an experiment.

UC Merced Among the Top 100 Public Universities

In just its 14th academic year, UC Merced made a giant leap in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, rising to No. 67 among national public universities.

Chancellor Dorothy Leland, mascot Rufus Bobcat and the campus's cheer team lead students across Scholars Lane Bridge.

Campus Welcomes New Students

This year, 7,900 undergraduate students are calling UC Merced home. Classes began for all students and faculty members on Aug. 22.

Fraternity and Sorority Council

Student organizations lead through community involvement, creativity and innovation.

Calling on Congress

Writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, Chancellor Dorothy Leland urges Congress to take action to protect students currently living and working under DACA.

The Journey Begins

Chancellor Dorothy Leland leads the way as approximately 2,300 first-year and transfer students participate in the campus’s annual Scholars Lane Bridge Crossing.

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Welcome to UC Merced - The University of California's newest campus

Dorothy Leland
UC Merced Chancellor

Without exception, University of California campuses have distinguished themselves as powerhouses of invention, discovery and knowledge creation, generating the kinds of intellectual contributions that spawn entire industries, creating rewarding jobs, advance human knowledge and fundamentally change how we live our lives. With its growing and impressive research portfolio, UC Merced is destined to continue this proud tradition. Through its discoveries in the fields ranging from alternative energy to water resource management and health and cognitive sciences, UC Merced is poised to contribute greatly to the economic recovery of California and the nation through important scientific breakthroughs, discoveries and inventions.

The 2020 Project

The 2020 Project is a public-private partnership that will provide the physical capacity needed to grow to 10,000 students. At a time of increasing budget constraints on public university systems and growing financial demands for limited state resources, it is fitting that the first American research university of the 21st century is carrying out this project through an alternative delivery strategy. By leveraging private-sector expertise and combining the pricing of lifecycle design, construction, financing, operations and maintenance costs, the 2020 Project will enable UC Merced to advance its teaching, research and public-service mission in the most cost-effective and rapid way possible.

Disponible en español.

Featured News

Leafhopper Insects Enlighten Researchers About Complex Bacterial Relationships

December 5, 2018

All complex life evolves in alliance with, in defense of or in reaction to bacteria. A new paper by UC Merced Professor Gordon Bennett demonstrates one of the novel ways the relationship can evolve...

Environmental Engineers Devising Plan to Save Humanity

December 3, 2018

The Earth is changing, and humans face major challenges if they hope to adapt, survive and preserve any semblance of the world as it is now. Humans will need to create sustainable food, water and...

UC Merced has been selected as Education Dive's University of the Year

UC Merced recognized as University of the Year by Education Dive

December 3, 2018

UC Merced is no stranger to innovation and disrupting traditional modes in higher education. Whether it is funding the university’s Merced 2020 Project through an unprecedented, award-winning public...