Dear friends and colleagues,
As I reflect on another year at UC Merced, I am continually heartened by the sense of community that makes this such a wonderful place to work, live and learn. I am also amazed at all we have accomplished. Our campus continues to grow, our faculty continue to break new ground and blaze new trails in critically important areas of research, and our reputation is growing nationwide.
This year we opened the first three buildings of our ambitious 2020 Project, on time and on budget. We were named University of the Year by Education Dive, recognizing the top innovators and disruptors in higher education. And U.S. News & World Report ranked us #2 for outperforming graduate rate expectations, #15 for social mobility, #17 for Best Undergraduate Teaching, and #67 among all public universities.
Please take a few moments to review some of the many highlights of 2018 in “A Year at a Glance,” a beautiful new publication from our External Relations division, and share with your friends, colleagues and loved ones.
This wonderful year was capped off with what has become one of my favorite new traditions at UC Merced — our second annual Beginnings Lighting, which included a Holiday Food Drive benefiting the Bobcat Pantry.
It can be hard to find time in our busy schedules to come together and celebrate. Fortunately, my good friend Rufus took it upon himself to bring holiday joy to the campus community and remind them what the holidays really mean. Take a look:
This time of year is all about the joy of sharing and the hope for peace. To all of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, friends and family, I offer my warmest wishes to you during this holiday season and in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Leland
Chancellor
