UC Merced

From the Merced Sun-Star comes a reminder of Willie Sutton who said he robbed banks because “that’s where the money is.” University of California at Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland came to learn, not lecture, this week on Capitol Hill. It’s crucial terrain, after all, that could prove critical to her success with the 6-year-old university. “This is not a visit in which I’ve come with a specific request,” Leland said Wednesday, amid the hubbub of the Longworth House Office Building cafeteria. “It’s important for me to form relationships.” …The first UC Merced chancellor, the late Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, regularly traveled to…

UC Merced chief finds support for med school Jul. 21, 2011 / Yesenia Amaro / Merced Sun-star There’s overwhelming support for a medical school at University of California at Merced, the school’s chancellor said Thursday during an editorial board meeting with the Sun-Star and The Modesto Bee. In the 20 days that Dorothy Leland has been on the job as leader of the university, she has been meeting with people with a stake in the campus. “Medical education, that’s probably the first thing out of everybody’s mouth … ‘How’s the medical school coming?’” … Full article at http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/21/2473185/uc-merced-chief-finds-support.html (Not sure…

UC Merced picks 5 students for medical training (excerpts) Jul. 19, 2011, Yesenia Amaro / Merced Sun-star The doctor is not quite in. But he’s on the way. University of California at Merced on Tuesday announced its first group of five students in its medical program set to begin this fall. The new program to train doctors is intended to address the lack of physicians and health gaps in the San Joaquin Valley… The UC Merced San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (PRIME) was born out of a partnership program between UC Davis and the UCSF’s Fresno facility. Students…

UC Merced to start work on building Yesenia Amaro, March 24, 2011, Merced Sun-Star University of California at Merced officials say students will soon have more space to exercise and hold meetings… The university recently received approval to move forward with its Recreation Center North project, an estimated 20,000-square-foot recreation building. Jane Lawrence, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the university received an $8.5 million loan from the UC Office of the President to pay for the construction. The university will repay the loan with an existing student fee. No new student fees will be charged. The project consists of…

If only we could get the LA-area unemployment rate up higher, maybe UCLA could get some of those bonds. See below: UC Merced turns to federal bonds (excerpt) Jamie Oppenheim, November 23, 2010, Modesto Bee MERCED — Merced County’s recent classification as an economic recovery zone has been a boon to the University of California at Merced — making its future expansion more affordable. That could mean lots more construction jobs and a positive trickle-down impact on the area’s economy. Merced County supervisors recently gave the OK for UC Merced to use low-interest recovery zone bonds, designated for areas with…

Still expanding in Hard Times, UC-Merced needs a new chancellor. From a UCOP press release of 10/15/10: University of California President Mark G. Yudof has named a committee of university faculty, staff, students, alumni and community representatives to advise him in the national search for the next chancellor of UC Merced. Russell S. Gould, chairman of the UC Board of Regents and a member of the committee, appointed five regents to serve. Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang, who has been chancellor of UC Merced since March 2007, announced in September that he plans to step down on June 30, 2011. He will…

From the Merced Sun-Star, Saturday, Oct. 09, 2010 Strong funding for UC Merced included in state budget UC Merced has praised the state for allotting more than $100 million to support the school. The funding entails $81 million for construction of the Science and Engineering II building, $10 million in base funding for operations, $6.5 million for continued site development and infrastructure at UC Merced and $5 million in supplemental operating funds, according to UC Merced officials. “We are very pleased that the approved state budget reflects the critical importance of higher education to the people of California,” said UC…