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Remarks and Writings

Post-Election Message from Chancellor Leland

November 7, 2012
Dear UC Merced Community, Thanks to our student leaders and the staff who supported them, UC Merced had a very successful get-out-the-vote effort yesterday. Many students, faculty and staff stopped by the campus polling site—2,000 at last count—to participate in an election with national and statewide import. On the state level,... Read More

Founders Day Remarks -- It Takes a Village: UC Merced from Vision to Reality

October 27, 2012
[As prepared for delivery] On behalf UC Merced students, faculty, and staff, I want to again thank the remarkable individuals recognized tonight with Founders Day medals. The “can do” spirit you’ve demonstrated over the years is woven deeply into the fabric of this campus. And this gives me great hope that we can continue to... Read More

Campus Update from Chancellor Leland

October 22, 2012
Dear Colleagues, With the 10th anniversary of Founders Day just around the corner, I want to take a few moments to provide you with an update on various matters. But first, allow me to say a few words about Founders Day. This is the name given to the historic campus groundbreaking in October 2002 and the investiture of UC Merced’s first... Read More

Urban Land Institute Campus Visit

September 17, 2012
Dear Colleagues: As you may recall, UC Merced recently retained the Urban Land Institute to help us determine the most cost-effective and programmatically viable alternatives for expanding our physical capacity during a period of ongoing financial uncertainty at the state level. (The ULI is a nonprofit land-use and planning organization.) We... Read More

Welcome to New Academic Year

August 23, 2012
Dear UC Merced Colleagues: It is a pleasure to welcome you back for the 2012-2013 academic year. I hope the summer months afforded you a chance to travel, explore, stretch your minds, spend time with family and friends or otherwise renew and reinvigorate the spirit that drives and sustains you. We begin the new year with some important... Read More

New Provost and EVC at UC Merced

August 15, 2012
Dear UC Merced Colleagues: Following an extensive nationwide search, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas W. Peterson, assistant director of the Engineering Directorate at the National Science Foundation and former dean of the University of Arizona College of Engineering, to the position of provost and executive vice chancellor... Read More

Campus Update from Chancellor Leland

July 31, 2012
Dear UC Merced Colleagues: The summer months are quickly drawing to their end. Although summer typically brings a smaller number of students to campus, the work we do to advance the mission of UC Merced continues full steam. I hope you have found some time for rest and relaxation nonetheless. We lost a wonderful colleague this summer to a tragic... Read More

Appointment of Interim Provost

June 22, 2012
Dear Colleagues: As I mentioned in my last update to the campus community, I have identified a strong, widely respected member of the UC Merced faculty to serve as interim provost upon the retirement June 30 of Keith Alley, who has served as executive vice chancellor and provost since 2006. Now that the UC Office of the President has approved my... Read More

New Campus Ombudsperson

June 19, 2012
Dear UC Merced Colleagues: I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Deidre "De" Acker as the campus ombudsperson, effective July 16, 2012. The position — a new one at our campus — will report to the Office of the Chancellor regarding administrative and budgetary matters. The position will serve as a resource, which... Read More

A Campus Update from Chancellor Leland

June 1, 2012
Dear Colleagues: The academic year is finally over, culminating in the annual commencement exercise that celebrates the academic achievements of our students. Over the years, each one of you contributed in a multitude of different ways to making that special moment possible for UC Merced students and families. Thank you! The summer months take... Read More

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