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Remarks and Writings

Faculty Convocation Remarks

August 17, 2016
Good afternoon, and welcome to the 2016-2017 academic year. I know that many of you spent the summer working on research and writing projects, but I hope you also found time to relax and enjoy some non-work related activities.  UC Merced is 11 years old.  Some of you may have children who are about that age, and if you do you know that... Read More

2020 Project Approved by UC Board of Regents

July 21, 2016
Dear members of the UC Merced community, I am writing to share some wonderful news about the 2020 Project. This ambitious proposal will expand campus facilities dramatically over the next four years to accommodate future enrollment growth. At this morning’s meeting of the UC Board of Regents, the regents voted unanimously to approve the... Read More

Selection of 2020 Developer

June 15, 2016
Dear campus community, After months of eager anticipation and a lot of intense effort by many of you during a very challenging evaluation process, I take great pleasure this morning in announcing the winning proposal and sharing some striking artistic renderings for the next major phase of campus construction, known as the 2020 Project. Plenary... Read More

Wrapping up the Semester

May 16, 2016
Dear colleagues, We were blessed with glorious weather for our Saturday and Sunday commencement ceremonies, and I want to thank everyone who helped to make the occasion so memorable for our graduates and their families. Now that commencement ceremonies are over for the year, I look forward this week to our annual Staff Appreciation Week,... Read More

Spring Campus Update

April 18, 2016
Dear Faculty and Staff:   With our second semester rapidly winding down and preparations already under way for our 11th Commencement, I’d like to take a moment to provide a brief update on what is proving to be a very productive year for UC Merced. From our growing number of academic and research achievements to the enormous headway... Read More

Chief of Staff Named

April 15, 2016
Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that Ed Klotzbier will join UC Merced in June as Chief of Staff and Associate Chancellor. This is a new position, but with no new budget, created through attrition and restructuring in the Office of the Chancellor. Mr. Klotzbier will come to UC Merced from the College Board’s New England Division,... Read More

No Room for Hate

March 24, 2016
Dear campus community, This morning, the UC Board of Regents approved the “Principles Against Intolerance,” which affirm the UC’s allegiance to academic freedom and free speech but also strongly affirm that intolerance and hate have no place in the University of California. I applaud this statement and urge you to read it.... Read More

Development regarding November 4th incident

March 17, 2016
Dear campus community members, I want you to be the first to know the results of the FBI investigation into the tragic events that occurred on our beautiful campus on Nov. 4. I appreciate your patience and understanding as law enforcement completed its work. The FBI announced this afternoon that they found no evidence that the student... Read More

Visioning Summit

February 12, 2016
Dear colleagues:   Since its founding, UC Merced has been constantly evolving.   Yet for many, the pace of change in recent years feels particularly accelerated. From Strategic Academic Focusing and the planned physical build-out by 2020 (including the new Downtown Center by 2017) to performance management and other process... Read More

LAO report on 2020 Project

February 11, 2016
Dear colleagues,   You may have heard about a report issued yesterday by the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office that raises some questions about our 2020 Project and other University of California matters.   Among other things, the report calls for a legislative hearing on the project and raises a number of concerns... Read More

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