UC Merced’s Partnership with
The Great Valley Center

With the ultimate goal of creating a sustainable future for California's Central Valley, the University of California, Merced and the Great Valley Center announced a strategic partnership on November 17, 2005 that leverages the complementary strengths of both institutions.

A natural extension of the organizations' shared commitments, the alliance joins UC Merced's mission to bring the UC tradition of excellence in teaching, research and public service to the Central Valley with the Great Valley Center's mission to promote the region's economic, social and environmental well-being.

The formalized affiliation combines the community networks and connections of the Great Valley Center with the intellectual resources and world-class research capacity of the new University of California campus to tackle tough issues and create new opportunities in the state's fastest-growing region. Partnering also allows the institutions to create a new model for civic engagement and regional focus.
As the alliance evolves, the nonprofit Great Valley Center will continue to provide regionally focused data and information, facilitate leadership development programs, assist with regional initiatives such as the recently formed California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and facilitate coordination of projects to address critical topics such as Highway 99.

UC Merced will draw upon the Great Valley Center's resources and network of community leaders, nonprofits, elected officials and businesses to help fulfill our educational mission. In turn, the Great Valley Center's work will be energized by collaborative opportunities for research with UC Merced's top faculty members and talented students.

Through cooperative efforts to improve the Central Valley's economy and educational attainment levels, the organizations also hope to help the region make positive, long-term public policy choices.

To learn more about the Great Valley Center, please visit www.greatvalley.org.