News

It’s Official: UC Merced to Compete in NCAA Division II Athletics

July 11, 2024

UC Merced will begin Division II competition after official acceptance Thursday by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). The university will begin NCAA Division II competition in the 2025-26 academic year and will be fully eligible for postseason in 2026-27. Nine of the Bobcats’ 12...

UC Merced Researcher Dives with the Big Sharks on Shark Week

July 3, 2024

UC Merced's resident shark expert, Professor Sora Kim, will be featured on the prime-time, premiere-night episode of Discovery’s Shark Week discussing an enormous, legendary sea creature that takes on different forms in different cultures but has a basis in science. At 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, audiences...

From Bakersfield to a ‘Peaceful’ Place to Pursue Science, Medicine

July 2, 2024

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester. San Joaquin Valley native Anmol Kaur is well on her way to making a splash in the worlds of science and medicine. The Bakersfield resident, coming to UC Merced as a first-year student, parlayed...

UC Merced Chef Santiago Wins International Food Service Award

June 21, 2024

An international organization recognized UC Merced Executive Sous Chef Jonathan Gutierrez Santiago for his commitment to innovative and sustainable use of fresh produce for the university’s Dining Services. Santiago won the 2024 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award for Colleges and Universities...

UC Merced Engineering School, Programs Rise in U.S. News Grad Rankings

June 18, 2024

The vision of the School of Engineering at UC Merced is to be a leader in research, education and innovation. Based on U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 edition of Best Graduate Schools rankings released today (June 18), the school is doing just that. The School of Engineering climbed 18...

Study Offers Steps to Speed Up Research Money to Community Partners

June 12, 2024

A study of fast-tracked government funds for relief during the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered bottlenecks at federal, university and community levels that undermined partnerships. Researchers, including UC Merced Professor Nancy Burke , made several recommendations to strengthen financial...

New Dean of SSHA Arriving with the Fall Semester

June 11, 2024

Professor Leonardo R. Arriola from UC Berkeley has been named dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (SSHA) as of Aug. 1. Vice Chancellor and Provost Betsy Dumont made the announcement today, saying Arriola was chosen after a nationwide search that produced a diverse array of...

Major Gift to Reimagine Humanities Research, Community-engaged Projects

June 6, 2024

Humanities education has been under fire on college campuses over the past decade. “There’s a lot of concern nationally about graduate education in the humanities. We’re producing plenty of Ph.D.s but are there enough jobs for them upon graduation?” said anthropology and heritage studies Professor...

How Scientific Research Can Inform Visitor and Environmental Management at National Parks

June 5, 2024

National Parks are magnificent landscapes where the public can go for sightseeing and recreation. They also are research labs - gorgeous, awe-inspiring and wild research labs, to be sure. And the science conducted there can help ensure that the parks' natural beauty will be available for...

Lighting the Path: Thank You and Farewell to Charles Nies

May 27, 2024

It’s spring break 2009 and Jane Lawrence is rushing across campus, the words from the phone call still ringing in her ear. The unimaginable is happening and she must tell Charles Nies, First Lady Michelle Obama is coming to UC Merced as commencement speaker. Lawrence, the vice chancellor for...