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| UC Merced Enters 5th Academic Year with 26% Growth in Students Over Last Year |
MERCED, CA — October 5, 2009 — If the University of California, Merced, campus seems busier this fall, that's because it is. The school, which began its fifth year of operation Aug. 25, announced today (Oct. 5) that total student enrollment has increased 26 percent over last year.
There are 3,414 students enrolled this fall, up from 2,718 in the fall of 2008 and 875 in the university's inaugural year of 2005. The current total includes 1,128 freshmen, 145 new transfer students and 71 new graduate students. There are 108 international students who hail from about 30 countries also enrolled this term. Last year, UC Merced had 925 freshmen, 139 new transfers and 66 new graduate students. Based upon admissions numbers and traditional yield rates, UC Merced officials expected 3,200 students on campus this semester.
This puts the campus on track to achieve a total enrollment of 5,000 students by fall 2013.
"UC Merced is fortunate to experience strong growth despite cutbacks in many other parts of the University of California," said Chancellor Steve Kang. "This shows that the UC Office of the President and our sister campuses are committed to our mission and our continued success."
That mission is one of excellence in research, education and service - and maintaining access to the UC system for all eligible California high school graduates.
"The UC system was built to provide a challenging educational experience for the top performers at every California high school," said Kevin Browne, assistant vice chancellor of enrollment management. "If a student meets eligibility requirements, he or she deserves a UC education and the opportunity to earn a UC degree. At UC Merced, we're committed to making that a reality."
With an emphasis on interdisciplinary academics, UC Merced offers its students the ability to explore multiple facets of their majors.
Christa Caneda, a freshman from Sacramento, is one of those students. Caneda was accepted to UC campuses in Davis, Los Angeles, Irvine and Santa Cruz, but UC Merced's academic structure was something she couldn't pass up.
"The flexibility of the majors here, especially with all the different emphases, was almost too good to be true," she said. "There is so much diversity here. I think it's easier to make friends, and you really do get to have close interaction with your professors."
A Look at the Class of 2013 — UC Merced Freshmen Up Close
Junior Michael Swain of Danville is an expert on the Class of 2013. He spent all summer meeting freshmen as an orientation leader, formally introducing new students to UC Merced and getting them acclimated to the campus before classes began in August.
"It was an absolute blast," said the cognitive science major, who came to UC Merced as a freshman in 2006. "I really like this class of freshmen. They have great energy and are really friendly. They add so much to the diversity of our campus. Everyone comes from a different background and has something unique to contribute to the university and community."
Caneda, a Monterey Trail High School graduate, is indicative of her class in many ways. Like 52 percent of her peers, neither of her parents have degrees, making her a first-generation college student. She also lives on campus, along with 75 percent of the freshman class.
There are about 1,200 students total living on campus this semester, which has prompted the university to build its third phase of residence halls. The four-story residential building, with another 300 beds, is expected to be completed by fall 2010.
"Living on campus is such a great experience," Caneda said. "It's both comfortable and convenient. Everything I need is right here."
UC Merced's largest-ever incoming class of freshmen comes from throughout the state and is reflective of California's highly diverse population. Geographic and ethnic backgrounds are as follows:
Freshman enrollment by region as % of freshman total*
| Region | 2009-2010 | 2008-2009 | 2007-2008 |
| San Joaquin Valley | 31.8 | 29.5 | 30.7 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 27.8 | 30.1 | 26.9 |
| Los Angeles County | 18.4 | 18.7 | 19.1 |
*This represents the top three geographic areas from where UC Merced freshmen hail. For complete regional data, visit the Office of Institutional Planning & Analysis' Web site.
Freshman enrollment by ethnicity as % of freshman total
| Ethnicity | 2009-2010 | 2008-2009 | 2007-2008 |
| Hispanic | 35.2 | 32.1 | 32.7 |
| Asian | 33.6 | 32.5 | 31.8 |
| Caucasian | 18.2 | 22.5 | 22.1 |
| Black | 8.4 | 7.2 | 6.7 |
| Other/Unknown | 2.8 | 3.8 | 4.8 |
| Non-resident alien | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| American Indian | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
This year's freshman class is science-minded with 35 percent enrolled in majors within the School of Natural Sciences. About 25 percent of those students have declared biological sciences as a major. About 28 percent are enrolled in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, and 17 percent have declared majors in the School of Engineering. Close to 20 percent of the class has not yet declared a major.
Financial Aid
According to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, 2,230 students have received a total of $28,216,197 in grants and scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year. These awards represent money that does not need to be repaid.
"UC Merced continues to make attending college affordable to eligible students," said Browne, who manages that office, in addition to admissions and the registrar's office. "Concern over expenses is the worst possible reason not to attend a UC. We have been able to offer competitive gift-aid packages to almost 75 percent of our enrolled students."
Gift aid comes from both public and private entities. It can be used to pay a variety of school-related expenses, depending on the requirements set forth by the agency offering the scholarship or grant.
Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities for Students
Research conducted by undergraduates in substantial projects is one of UC Merced's hallmarks. Of the juniors who completed the 2007-08 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES), 63 percent were involved in at least one independent research course, 68 percent assisted faculty with research or creative activity, and 41 percent participated in an internship - compared with 49 percent, 53 percent and 38 percent of similar students throughout the UC system in the equivalent categories.
Varied and rich research opportunities aren't something only undergraduates experience. Graduate students, like Stephanie Huette of Iowa, recognize the opportunity to be part of something different here as well. The second-year graduate student says she came to UC Merced because its social and cognitive sciences program offered research opportunities unlike any other university in the nation.
A National Science Foundation grant awarded to cognitive scientist Teenie Matlock and computer scientist Marcelo Kallman will fund Huette's research for the next three years.
"There is no other university that would provide the opportunity for a cognitive scientist to work with engineers," Huette said. "That's important for me as a graduate researcher. Engineers ask different questions and have access to different resources. This is a rare opportunity for me that will make me highly marketable when I finish my graduate work."
Committed to a Sustainable Future
Touted as the "greenest" campus in the nation, UC Merced is proud of the strides it's made in being a good steward of the environment. Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that the campus won California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor — the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) — for its 2009 Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP).
UC Merced's LRDP, adopted by the UC Regents last March, sets industry-leading policies, including a "Triple Zero Commitment" to produce as much energy as is used from renewable sources, eliminate landfill waste and produce zero net greenhouse gas emissions, all by 2020.
Part of that vision has been achieved by constructing energy-efficient buildings. Six of UC Merced's seven buildings have earned Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable building practices under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) program.
Planning Now for a Bright Future
As it begins its fifth year of full operation, UC Merced has its eye on the future and how it will fulfill its goals of advancing research and stimulating economic growth throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Developments in recent weeks have laid a strong foundation for academics and research at the thriving campus.
Most recently, the university secured funding to create a center that would research health disparities in ethnic underserved populations and train students interested in health-related careers.
The Center of Excellence for the Study of Health Disparities in Rural and Ethnic Underserved Populations will increase the number of UC Merced students who are knowledgeable about disparities in health care and health outcomes. It will also develop a community of students who are nationally competitive candidates for medical school entrance, as well as for other health professions.
Additionally, the center will foster expansion of the breadth and depth of health sciences research at UC Merced, which is critical to investigating the complex challenges posed by health disparities in the San Joaquin Valley region, and include a community engagement component that enables students to gain hands-on knowledge and experience.
Open House for Fall 2010 Applicants
Prospective students interested in seeing UC Merced live and in person are invited to bring their families to Preview Day on Oct. 17. The campus' fall open house is a great opportunity for high school and community college students to check out the campus before the UC priority filing period begins Nov. 1. Register online for Preview Day.
The priority filing period for fall 2010 applicants is from Nov. 1 through 30, but students can begin the application process now online.
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