Dear Campus Community,
Welcome to 2017, and a new spring semester!
As you know, UC Merced is truly a special place. Our talented students represent the very best of California, and many are the first in their family to attend college. Our faculty and staff are committed to enriching the lives of our students while supporting our institution’s aspirations of academic distinction, research excellence and the success of all our students. I have never been more proud to be a member of our UC Merced community.
I know that many members of our community are feeling uneasy. I want to reaffirm UC Merced’s Principles of Community, which protect the rights of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations and identities that comprise our diverse and vibrant Bobcat family. We are a campus that celebrates diversity and values open-minded inquiry, continual learning, and discovery in everything we do.
The start of the year and other events will cause a range of emotions for many. For those requiring any assistance, resources are available on campus, including Counseling and Psychological Services for students and INSIGHT, our employee assistance program.
As we prepare for the start of the semester and another very busy year, I ask you to embrace the future — and to shape it. I want you to know that regardless of what unfolds over the next few years, I am fighting for you, our students, our faculty, and our staff every step of the way. The new year brings new challenges, but also new opportunities for academic and personal growth, and I look forward to encouraging you along this exciting journey of learning and discovery.
Wishing you a great semester!
Dorothy Leland
Chancellor
