UC Merced

Big news for National Transfer Student Week! 🎓 UC Merced's new transfer pathway offers eligible community college students guaranteed admission, up to $8,000 in scholarships and a clearer path to a UC degree. Learn more: https://ucm.edu/20agw9

At just 19 years old, Areesha Tariq is preparing to graduate from UC Merced and already has research experience at Princeton University. 🔬🎓 Meet the future physician with big goals and a passion for giving back to the Central Valley. Read her story 🔗 https://ucm.edu/bk02zl

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the history and contributions of Indigenous peoples, including the Yokuts and Miwuk, who first inhabited the land where UC Merced stands. We encourage our campus community to visit Toloma Grove, a place of reflection and remembrance.

Sustainability is built into everything we do. 🌱 UC Merced is one of just 14 institutions nationwide, and the only four-year institution in California, to earn the new Carnegie Sustainability Classification. 🐾🌎 Read more: https://ucm.edu/mwdbhl

25 years after 9/11, we will never forget. UC Merced Police hosted a Memorial Stair Climb with the Merced Police Department, local law enforcement and the Bobcat community to honor every life lost and the first responders whose courage and sacrifice continue to inspire us. 🇺🇲

From UC Merced to the moon? 🚀 More than 30 Bobcats met with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to talk about the future of space exploration, careers at NASA and the projects they’re already working on, including UC Merced’s first nanosatellite, BOBSat-1. 🛰️ Read more 🔗 https://ucm.edu/hdfr7w

A record-breaking fundraising year 🐾💙💛 UC Merced raised more than $68 million in 2025-26, nearly doubling the university’s previous fundraising record. The milestone brings Boldly Forward: The Campaign for UC Merced to nearly $180 million. Read more 🔗 https://ucm.edu/6ebded

More than 9,600 Bobcats. A new all-time high! 📈🐾 Growing demand for UC Merced has fueled record enrollment, including an incoming class of more than 3,100 first-year and transfer students. Read more about this historic milestone 🔗 https://ucm.edu/8pmbw1

The biggest incoming class in UC Merced history! 💙💛 . Read more about the 2026 Scholars Bridge Crossing 🔗 https://ucm.edu/f39c6z

Using data collected from thousands of climate events, ASA member Paul D. Almeida @fast-reggae.bsky.social explores the origins, gains, and future of the climate movement, including links between climate justice and environmental justice @uofcalifornia.bsky.social

Proud to be ranked among the nation's best!🙌 UC Merced is once again featured in Money's 2026 Best Colleges in America report, which recognizes more than 700 institutions based on student outcomes, affordability, instructor access and economic mobility. Read more🔗 https://ucm.edu/vu9mck

Happy Fourth of July from UC Merced! 🇺🇸 This year, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the people, ideas, and communities that continue to move our nation forward. Our campus will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of the holiday.

From classrooms and campus research labs to some of the nation's most impactful scientific institutions 🔬🚀 🧬 Bobcats are turning opportunities into careers at the nation's leading national laboratories, including Lawrence Livermore and Sandia. Read more 🔗 https://ucm.edu/national-labs

The future of autonomous driving is being built at UC Merced. ⚡🚗 Supported by NVIDIA, researchers are working to bridge the gap between AI breakthroughs in the lab and the split-second decisions vehicles need to make on real roads. Read more 🔗 https://ucm.edu/j87slc

A train whistle. A jazz club. The hum of farm equipment.🎧 Those sounds and more come to life in "Soundscapes of Merced," a new exhibit by UC Merced Professor Patricia Vergara. The project preserves the stories and sounds that have connected generations across Merced County. 🔗 https://ucm.edu/2cetj1

For 25 years, CITRIS and the Banatao Institute have transformed bold ideas into solutions. From pioneering research to expanding opportunities, the partnership between CITRIS and UC Merced continues to drive innovation, inspire discovery and create lasting impact. 🔗 https://ucm.edu/wibtla

Here’s to the people behind the scenes and at the center of it all, our UC Merced staff! 💛💙 Thank you for the countless ways you support the Bobcat community every single day. We hope Staff Appreciation Week showed just how valued you are!

Flexible pathways. Meaningful degrees. Greater economic mobility. 🎓UC Merced’s Degree Completion Program has received a $550,000 grant to help adult learners return to the classroom, complete their degrees and pursue new opportunities. 🔗https://ucm.edu/scnd

This Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Campus is closed today in observance and will reopen Tuesday. We hope you take a moment to reflect on their courage and sacrifice 🇺🇸

Nearly 800 graduates were celebrated Sunday morning during the joint School of Engineering and School of Natural Sciences ceremony 🎓✨ We are so proud of you, Class of 2026! 💙

More than 850 graduates walked across the commencement stage Saturday at UC Merced's School of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities ceremony! 🎓 You did it, Bobcats! 💙💛

UC Merced and Reedley College are expanding transfer opportunities through the Merced Promise, helping students access a UC degree with clearer pathways, stronger support and guaranteed admission opportunities right here in the Central Valley. 🎓 Read more 🔗 https://ucm.edu/ruk6kp

At UC Merced, students are creating change beyond campus 🌎 Simone Samra is combining her public health studies with hands-on advocacy work. Through community-based efforts, she’s connecting underserved populations with resources and helping improve access to care. Read more 🔗 https://ucm.edu/l203kd

From Modesto to shaping major California projects! UC Merced alum Rahim Moulanazada is building more than structures. As an assistant engineer for Turner Construction Company and graduate student, he’s building a future and helping the next generation rise, too. 🔗 https://ucm.edu/alum-rahim

From Hughson to UC Merced, Jacqueline Garcia’s daily commute became part of her story. Now a civil engineering student, ASCE leader and Gallo intern, she’s found her community and her path forward. Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/dvcbk3

Nationally recognized for opening doors to the world 🌎 UC Merced has been named a Gilman Top Producing Institution, highlighting its strong support for students pursuing study abroad opportunities. Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/mrdt3n

Trust can change everything in healthcare. New UC Merced research highlights how community health workers are helping build stronger connections between patients and providers across the San Joaquin Valley. Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/gn41mc

The Turner Construction Company Foundation donated $5,000 to UC Merced’s ASCE student chapter, opening doors for future engineers to attend conferences, build networks and explore career pathways. Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/5ncpv8

From Delhi to UC Merced, Nayelyi Salazar took a leap of faith. Now a public health major, Honors student and peer navigator, she’s proving what’s possible. Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/wtyqla

Lace up and join us for the Toloma 5K on March 21. Celebrate Native heritage, community and connection to the land at this annual campus and community event. Register today to secure your spot and T-shirt. Learn more and register here 🔗 ucm.edu/baq5fu

90-degree days in March? 🥵 UC Merced experts explain why this early heat wave could hit harder than summer. Read more 🔗 ucm.edu/3xiquy Alt text: Palm trees silhouetted against a glowing sunset sky with intense sunlight, symbolizing heat.

A little St. Patrick’s Day magic at Little Lake. 🌈 Wishing our Bobcat community a lucky day!

New research indicates that industrial and consumer compounds are far more pervasive and persistent in the world’s oceans than scientists had realized. A new paper in Nature Geoscience, coauthored by Professor Michael Beman, details the team's findings. 🔗 ucm.edu/ocean-chem

On International Women’s Day, nearly 150 female high school student-athletes gathered at UC Merced for the Together We Will. 🔗 ucm.edu/dymb30 Alt text: Attendees wearing Together We Will shirts smile and clap during the Together We Will summit at UC Merced.

Three minutes. Big ideas. Ten UC Merced graduate students take on the challenge at this year’s Grad Slam. 🔗 ucm.edu/qplym8 Alt Text: A graduate student presents on stage during UC Merced’s Grad Slam while an audience watches from rows of seats.

UC Merced researchers solved how bacteria use circadian clocks to control gene activity over a 24-hour cycle. Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/rtfmh1 Alt Text: Laboratory flasks with bright green liquid sit on a lab bench, sealed with cotton plugs.

Two weeks. Real national lab challenges. Apply for the 2026 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Data Science Challenge for hands-on research, mentorship and a stipend. Deadline 3/6. 🔗 ucm.edu/kizl58 Alt text: Four students stand beside a large research poster in a classroom.

Former Gov. Gray Davis received the UC Merced Chancellor’s Medal, our highest honor, for his transformative leadership in bringing the 10th UC campus to the Central Valley. As we mark 20 years, we honor the bold vision that made UC Merced possible. 🔗 ucm.edu/iki4s9

Empathy leads the '26 Todo Cambia Human Rights Film Festival, March 2–6. Film and dialogue remind us that seeing one another can transform the world around us. 🔗 ucm.edu/scs4px Alt text: Two women prepare bread at a dining table as rainbow light fills the room.

On March 8, female high school student-athletes will gather at UC Merced for Together We Will — a one-day summit focused on leadership, confidence and mental wellness. 🔗 together.ucmerced.edu #TogetherWeWill

Beyond the familiar names, Black scholars and innovators reshaped disciplines and transformed American life — often in the face of resistance. UC Merced faculty reflect on the figures who shaped their fields. 🔗 ucm.edu/m4z4dr

What if writing is actually a resilience tool? UC Merced writing studies professor Emily Johnston explains how putting words on the page can help rewire the brain, process difficult emotions and strengthen our ability to bounce back. Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/dx3t08

In observance of Presidents’ Day, campus is closed today, February 16. 🇺🇸 With the rain falling today, it’s the perfect excuse to slow down, rest and recharge. Stay cozy and dry, Bobcats—we’ll see you tomorrow! 💛💙

UC Merced biochemist Andy LiWang is studying shape-shifting proteins that may help organisms adapt to temperature. Supported by a $1.2M Keck Foundation grant. 🔗 ucm.edu/fj85my

Three Merced painters, united in friendship and in their steadfast determination not to compromise their creative values, are serving as UC Merced’s first locally based artists-in-residence. Read our story about Ruben Aguilera Sanchez, Frank Ayala and Abel Corchado here 🔗 ucm.edu/gj9gpl

#BlackHistoryMonth recognizes the lasting contributions of Black scholars and leaders who have shaped academia. This month, UC Merced faculty reflect on the Black trailblazers who continue to inspire research on our campus.

Five UC Merced graduate students have been named 2025–26 ARCS Foundation Northern California Fellows, recognizing excellence in science, technology, engineering and math. Since 2022, ARCS has provided more than $200,000 in fellowship support to UC Merced scholars. 🔗 ucm.edu/kb90px

MLK Jr. Day of Service showed how service builds the beloved community Dr. King envisioned. Led by the Community Engagement Center, Bobcats marched downtown, served meals at the D Street Shelter and supported projects across Merced and Yosemite.

On Mon., Jan. 19, UC Merced will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Action, bringing our campus and community together in service. With campus closed that day, Bobcats are invited to serve across our community. 🔗 ucm.edu/n7lrai

As we wrap up 2025, we’re reflecting on the moments that shaped UC Merced. Explore our top news stories here 🔗 ucm.edu/news2025 UC Merced's social media is signing off for break & wishing you a joyful holiday season. See you in 2026, Bobcats!