Remarks and Writings

The Promise of a New Academic Year

September 13, 2023
Re: The Promise of a New Academic Year To: Faculty and staff To the campus community, We have embarked upon another academic year with hope, success, and the promise of transformation and innovation. Our student enrollment remains the highest in UC Merced history — a history now reaching, by one metric, its 20th year:... Read More

Welcome to the Fall Semester

August 23, 2023
Re: Welcome to the Fall Semester To: All campus Dear campus community, Welcome to an exciting new academic year at UC Merced, one in which our momentum and reputation will continue to increase and our light to shine more brightly for more students and their families. We begin the semester today with the largest first-year... Read More

Excessive Heat

July 14, 2023
Re: Excessive Heat To: Faculty and staff   The heat wave gripping the western United States— expected to last through next week — is great cause for concern and for caution. As the Central Valley faces triple-digit temperatures, I trust campus managers and supervisors will exercise every opportunity to keep our community... Read More

Affirming Diversity, Access and Inclusion at UC Merced

June 29, 2023
To: All campus June 29, 2023   Diversity, access, and inclusion remain top priorities of UC Merced and of the entire University of California, as President Drake affirmed today. While our campus was founded long after California voters forbade affirmative action programs, as an institution and as a community UC Merced has achieved... Read More

Juneteenth

June 14, 2023
Re: Juneteenth To: All campus     Dear Campus Community,   As we approach the annual Juneteenth holiday, I want to take a moment to reflect upon this important event in American history and highlight its significance for our campus community.   The origins of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, can be... Read More

Pride

June 5, 2023
Re: Pride To: All campus     UC Merced celebrates Pride Month, even as American political discourse about diversity and inclusivity has become harsher and, in many cases, simply irrational.   Universities have a special responsibility not only to foster civil discourse leading to intellectual advancement and,... Read More

One for the Books

May 17, 2023
Re: One for the Books To: All campus     Colleagues,   UC Merced has held another outstanding commencement weekend, with three ceremonies to mark the accomplishment of nearly 1,500 scholars.   Thank you to all who worked hard to ensure these momentous occasions showed off the best of this university... Read More

Thank you!

April 27, 2023
Re: Thank you! To: All campus April 24, 2023   To the UC Merced community, Along with all of you who volunteered on Bobcat Day, April 22, I was elated by the record-high number of attendees and their deep interest in all that UC Merced has to offer them and their futures. Thousands... Read More

Bobcat Day, Commencement and You

April 19, 2023
To the UC Merced community, The excitement is growing. UC Merced drew thousands of prospective students and their relatives and friends to admissions events in Santa Clara, Sacramento, Anaheim and Los Angeles over the past few weeks. Families are clearly deeply invested in... Read More

Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

April 11, 2023
Re: Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost To: All campus   Dear campus colleagues,   I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Marjorie Zatz as Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (EVC/P), effective June 1. Dr. Zatz will remain in the Interim EVC/P role until a national search has been completed and... Read More

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