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Dear Colleagues, |
This past weekend, we 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 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. Their words reminded us of the impact UC Merced has had, and continues to have, on individuals, families and communities across California and beyond. This event was made possible by our community at UC Merced who came together to create a special day for our graduates and their families and loved ones. Yesterday 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 grazing land near Lake Yosemite. That vote changed the trajectory of this region and laid the foundation for the extraordinary institution that we are building together. In the spirit of that bold decision, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank each of you for a year of remarkable achievements. This year, UC Merced reached several major milestones, including two from the Carnegie Classifications: we earned R1 classification and were added to their Student Access and Earnings designation list; we can count ourselves among just 21 institutions in the nation and only three in California to earn two such Carnegie Classifications. We were ranked #1 for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal and moved up several spots to #26 in the nation by US News and World Report. We also saw a significant increase in enrollment applications—an affirmation of the growing impact and reputation of our university. And through every challenge we faced, you continued to uphold our mission of research, teaching and public service with dedication and integrity. This week, as we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week , I hope you will take time to reflect on all we have accomplished. Your efforts have not only moved us forward, but they have also elevated our campus, our students and our community. On Sunday 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.” 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 how far we have come, 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! Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D. Chancellor |
