June 15, 2021
Re: A Record-Breaking Gift
To: All faculty and staff
June 15, 2021
Dear Colleagues,
This has been a record-breaking year in so many ways.
Despite the pandemic, we have the largest enrollment in our history and the largest number of first-year applications for fall, the integration of the magnificent Project 2020 facilities, and soon we will formalize our first-ever comprehensive strategic plan. We were ranked one of US News’ top 100 national research universities last fall, and more than 10% of our ladder-rank faculty have been honored with National Science Foundation CAREER Awards, honoring their research and leadership.
We are growing and rising, and we are doing so as a community— faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends
This week, in the most significant act of generosity in the 16-year history of our campus, philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett, announced the donation of $20 million to UC Merced.
Any words of thanks from us would be utterly inadequate to express our full gratitude, humility and sense of responsibility to serve as careful stewards of this gift. We pledge to continue to do the work that made UC Merced deserving of this magnificent investment in our students, faculty and staff.
This gift and the affirmation it provides will further support our continued commitment to inclusive excellence and determined path toward R1 status. We were already on track for another banner year of fundraising to support student success, research, and growth initiatives. This donation makes it a historic year.
Ms. Scott announced the gift in a blog post . In all, the couple donated $2.74 billion to 286 organizations. UC Merced is the only University of California campus to receive a gift in the couple’s generous giving history.
“Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity,” Ms. Scott wrote in announcing her philanthropic donations.
We are honored that Ms. Scott and Mr. Jewett recognized UC Merced’s mission and history of success. It is indeed a special time to be a part of the proud Bobcat community.
Sincerely,
Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Remarks and Addresses
Academic Year:
