UC Merced Community:

We are proud to share with you the five-year recalibration of the University of California, Merced’s comprehensive strategic plan. This document represents the next stage of our collective journey—one that reflects both the tremendous progress we have made since the plan’s adoption in 2021 and the extraordinary changes in the environment in which we operate.

This recalibration stays true to our plan’s goals and objectives, and acknowledges the volatility and dynamism of higher education and the broader world. Guided by an environmental scan, success metrics are defined in terms of absolute targets and our progress relative to our peers and aspirational peers, ensuring that our goals remain ambitious, relevant, and attainable in real time.

Our recommitment is anchored in two enduring principles:

• Delivering world-class research with global and local relevance, advancing knowledge that addresses urgent challenges of our time.
• Honoring our origins and mission in the Central Valley, by expanding health, economic, and educational opportunities for the region that called UC Merced into being.

Since 2020, we have achieved more than we dared to imagine: reaching R1 designation in record time, joining the ranks of the nation’s top research universities; earning recognition among the top 25 public universities nationally; and delivering transformative outcomes for students. We continue this work with a focus on both access and rigor: we provide access to UC quality research university education to talented, ambitious students from all backgrounds, including those historically underserved by top research universities. Our Faccomplishments are a testament to our faculty’s extraordinary caliber, our staff’s dedication, and our students’ talent and resilience.

Looking ahead, our goals for the next five years are simple yet ambitious: continue our upward trajectory, pursue the bold targets outlined in this recalibrated plan, and remain nimble in the face of change. We will treat this plan as a living document, updating targets annually through shared governance processes and through community consultation, and focusing resources on the areas that matter most to our community.

To guide us, we introduce a strategic plan scorecard built on objectives in our original plan, populated with 23 key metrics and targets to assess our progress. This framework will ground our aspirations in data, ensure accountability, and help us measure impact in meaningful ways.

UC Merced continues on its journey—first, further, forward, with bold research that is relevant for the world. Together, we will shape the future of higher education, science, and opportunity from right here in California’s heartland. We thank the strategic plan update team for their work and are excited to continue the incredible journey that is UC Merced.

Fiat Lux,