University’s Strength Lies in Opportunities for Social Mobility, Chancellor Says

October 10, 2024

UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said the university "is growing stronger year after year."

UC Merced is being recognized from coast to coast as an institution that "redefines academic excellence, Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said Wednesday in the annual State of the University address.

"As chancellor of this magnificent institution, I tell you that the state of our university is strong, and growing stronger year after year," Muñoz said.

Speaking before an audience of faculty, staff, benefactors, Bobcat student athletes, and members of the university's Board of Trustees, Muñoz said the University of California's youngest campus is more than fulfilling its mission of research, teaching and community service.

"Academic excellence is about exceeding the national average in student graduation rates and minimizing the costs of education. It is about enrolling and graduating a large proportion of students from lower-income families," Munoz said.

Muñoz noted that:

• The Wall Street Journal ranked the university No. 1 for social mobility - how well colleges and universities attract students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and help them complete degrees and graduate into promising careers. "As someone who was a member of that economically disadvantaged community, what an amazing legacy for this campus," Muñoz said. "And let me tell you, it's nice to be number one."

• UC Merced enrolled more than 2,300 first-year or transfer students for the fall semester, bringing the total student body to more than 9,100.

Several UC Merced studernt-athletes attended the event.

• Nearly all the first-year class comes from California, including 32 percent from the Central Valley, 29 percent from Southern California and 26 percent from the San Francisco Bay Area.

• The university's athletics program is transitioning from an NAIA affiliation to NCAA Division II, generating more visibility for UC Merced and more opportunities for student-athletes.

• The second group of students in UC Merced's B.S. to M.D. pathway started classes this fall. The 15 students, all from Central Valley communities, are in the SJV PRIME+ program, designed to develop medical professionals who will start their careers in the Valley. The original cohort of 15 began its academic journey in fall 2023.

• Construction is underway on a Medical Education Building that will house the B.S. to M.D. pathway, along with the public health and psychology departments and the Health Sciences Research Institute.

• Researchers at UC Merced received nearly $80 million in grants and other funding for their groundbreaking work while spending a university-record $62 million in pursuit of knowledge that raises the bar for the Valley, California and beyond.

• Boldy Forward, the university's fundraising campaign, reported more than $102 million from nearly 7,800 unique donors. The campaign has a goal of $200 million by 2030.

Fresno developer Ed Kashian accepts the Chancellor's Medal.

Wednesday's gathering also featured a presentation of the Chancellor's Medal, UC Merced's highest recognition. This year's recipient was Fresno real estate developer Ed Kashian, who, with wife Jeanne, is a major supporter of UC Merced.

"Mr. Kashian has been instrumental to the growth of our university since its earliest days," Munoz said.

"I simply want to say," Kashian said after receiving the medal, "I am very proud of the service you have given to all of the people of the Valley."

Jody Murray