UC Merced at 20: The Dream is Real

Dear Bobcat Community,

Earlier this week, I had the honor of delivering the annual State of the University address to our faculty and staff as we mark a historic moment, UC Merced’s 20th anniversary, and begin our 21st year of instruction. For those who could not attend, I want to share highlights from that gathering and reflect together on the extraordinary progress we have made, together.

Twenty years ago, this campus began as an idea that world-class education and research belonged in the heart of California’s Central Valley. As I shared during my remarks, the dream is real.

UC Merced is now recognized among the nation’s top universities, ranked No. 25 among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report. Even more remarkable is how quickly we have climbed: when we first appeared in the U.S. News rankings nine years ago, we were 152nd. In just nine years, we have risen 95 positions in the rankings of the best universities in the country.

This excellence is powered by purpose. We are now both an R1 research institution and one of the nation’s “Opportunity Universities,” a reflection of our commitment to access and impact. Among all R1 universities, UC Merced ranks second nationwide in the percentage of Pell Grant–eligible undergraduates, a testament to our promise of social mobility. We are also one of only 21 universities nationally, and three in California, that are classified as both R1 and Opportunity.

But the story of UC Merced cannot be told by rankings alone. We are driving economic transformation for the Valley and the State. Preliminary results from a new study by Beacon Economics show that UC Merced generates $1 billion annually in economic impact each year in Merced County and nearly $1.4 billion annually statewide, supporting 1 in every 15 jobs in Merced County and more than 8,600 jobs across California.

Our research enterprise is also expanding its reach and relevance. Research at UC Merced generates $158 million in output statewide each year and supports more than 700 jobs—doubling each research dollar into $2 of total economic activity. Every lab, every undergraduate project, and every faculty breakthrough helps deliver real solutions to California and beyond.

Our progress is fueled by people: by donors, champions and lifelong believers in this university. During the address, I was proud to recognize founding Vice Chancellor and former Provost Keith Alley and his wife Jill, whose leadership helped shape UC Merced in its earliest days. Their endowment with ongoing funding and a pledge of up to $2 million in support of undergraduate research reinforces Keith’s powerful belief that UC Merced was created to be a student-centered research institution—and will continue to be for generations.

Our future is also being built in real time, through new facilities and programs that expand opportunity:

• Construction continues on the Medical Education Building, home to the SJV Prime+ pathway that will educate the next generation of Valley physicians.
• The Promise Housing project will open in 2026, creating new living-learning communities for transfer students.
• The Agricultural Experimentation Station is expanding as a hub of ag-tech innovation, empowering local growers with AI and precision agriculture.

Bobcat Athletics entered a new era with full-time competition in NCAA Division II—a milestone that brings more opportunities for our student-athletes, more exciting action for Bobcat fans and more statewide visibility for the university. Looking ahead, our momentum continues: thanks to the generosity of the Campos Foundation, UC Merced will soon have its first on-campus track and field facility, along with scholarship endowments for STEM students and scholar-athletes through a $5 million gift.

In 2021, we introduced a campuswide strategic plan to guide UC Merced’s growth through 2031. A select team has begun updating the plan to reflect both our extraordinary progress and the external challenges shaping our path forward. This recalibration will help us determine how our goals should evolve to meet this moment. The campus community will have meaningful opportunities to offer input throughout the process, and we look forward to sharing more information with you in the months ahead.

Even in uncertain times, whether driven by financial pressures in Sacramento or political debates in Washington, we push forward together. Our mission remains clear: to educate, to discover and to uplift the Central Valley, California, and the nation.

Thank you for all you do to elevate UC Merced and expand our impact. As I said during my address, these accolades are a celebration of the things you have accomplished. Our first 20 years have built something extraordinary, and our next 20 will define us as a university that changes lives, communities, and futures.

Go ‘Cats,

Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.

Chancellor