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For Immediate Release
July 30, 2003
Contact Information:
James Grant
Communications Director
UC Merced
(209) 724-4406 or (209) 658-4406
james.grant@ucop.edu
State budget calls
for UC Merced to delay full opening of campus to 2005 academic year
Construction, Faculty Hiring Proceeding
Merced -- The full opening of the University
of California, Merced -- previously planned to serve 1,000 students
in fall 2004 -- will be delayed as part of the budget accord reached
today by the California state legislature. The budget awaits signature
by Governor Gray Davis.
The fiscal ‘03/’04 budget calls for $17.3 million in
operational and one-time funds for UC Merced to continue creation
of the physical and academic infrastructure of the new campus. However,
this allocation is $4 million less than had been requested by the
Governor and $7.3 million less than requested by the University
in its annual budget request.
The budget language approved by the legislature includes the statement:
“It is the intent of the Legislature that the $4 million reduction
made to this item pursuant to the 2003 Budget Act be for the purpose
of delaying the opening of the UC Merced campus until 2005.”
UC Merced Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey today said: “We
thank the Legislature and the Governor for their support of the
UC Merced project. Although we are disappointed by the delay, we
are still moving forward to create the academic programs and student
services needed to serve students in fall 2005. We will be looking
to the Legislature to provide the resources in the next budget year
to allow us to continue our mission.”
Tomlinson-Keasey said that, given the delay, UC Merced will not
serve undergraduate students in fall 2004. The University has a
previous commitment to 120 transfer students participating in a
special concurrent admissions program with Modesto Junior College,
Merced College, and Fresno City College. The Chancellor said the
University would work individually with these students to assist
them in achieving their educational goals.
Regarding graduate students, Tomlinson-Keasey said that UC Merced
would accept graduate students in fall 2004, emulating UC San Diego,
which in the 1960s started with graduate students only. Most of
these students are doctoral candidates who will transfer as their
faculty mentors join the UC Merced faculty. Faculty recruitment
will continue this year toward the hiring of additional faculty
in 2004-05 and 2005-06, said Tomlinson-Keasey. Sixty full-time faculty
members must be on board by fall 2005 to serve the 1,000 students
anticipated to be on campus at opening.
Meanwhile, construction of the new campus -- the 10th of the UC
system -- is continuing, as the bulk of the $280 million capital
program was secured through lease revenue bond funding in 2001-02.
The construction will provide a much-needed economic stimulus to
the San Joaquin Valley Region. Standard state estimates of economic
activity indicate the project will create about 500 on-site construction
jobs, 500 construction supply and support positions, and 500 jobs
in the service industry.
“As we create the new campus, we will continue the tradition
of excellence of the other UC campuses,” said Tomlinson-Keasey.
“We are founding an academic institution that will serve generations
of future Californians, and enhance access to the UC system. In
addition, UC Merced will help transform the San Joaquin Valley.”
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