MERCED, Calif. — The University of California, Merced, will report at the White House today (Dec. 4) on progress the campus is making in its efforts to support undocumented students, create career pathways to the Silicon Valley and advance other initiatives to help underserved students prepare for and succeed in college.

From understanding how groups of atoms behave at ultra-low temperatures to modeling how flocks of birds organize, UC Merced's Physics group is helping solve many of the world's mysteries and using the knowledge to improve technology, ranging from computing to solar energy conversion.

Lorraine Sturdevant always wanted to explore other countries, but finances were always an obstacle.

Jefferson Kuoch-Seng is now the official voice for the University of California’s roughly 240,000 students — the first UC Merced student ever to serve in that role.

Most UC Merced students have the desire to help shape the university — whether it’s the culture or the curriculum. Rocco Bowman was no different.

The University of California, Merced, has directly invested more than $1.1 billion into the San Joaquin Valley economy since the newest UC campus began start-up operations in July 2000, according to the campus’s Division of Business and Administrative Services.

The investment total represents an increase of $155 million over the past 12 months, the university reported. It includes the cumulative value of all wages and benefits paid, construction contracts awarded, and goods and services purchased within the San Joaquin Valley through August 2014.

Eleventh and 12^th graders and their parents filled the gymnasium bleachers at McLane High School in Fresno on Thursday (Oct. 9) eager to find out what it takes — academically and financially — to access higher education.

With psychiatrists in short supply throughout the community, UC Merced is leveraging modern technology to expand that service to students.

Viola Gregg Liuzzo, a civil rights activist who was killed by the Ku Klux Klan while driving another activist home from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in March 1965, has been named the 2014 recipient of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance.

UC Merced today launched a redesigned website that features a responsive layout that looks great on phones, tablets and laptops, new and expanded information, a new color palette and wide photo rotators that showcase the campus.

"UC Merced's new website reflects the campus's dynamic and welcoming environment," Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications Patti Waid said. "Most people's first impressions of UC Merced come from its Web presence, and that presence shines even brighter today."