Valley pride reflected in new name for UC Merced student housing and dining complex

For Immediate Release
November 19, 2003

Contact Information:
Patti Waid Istas
Office of Communications
(209) 724-4483 or (209) 658-4483
pistas@ucmerced.edu

Valley pride reflected in new name for UC Merced student housing and dining complex

Merced – The first University of California campus to be built in 40 years will announce the official name of its student housing and dining commons today at the campus construction site at 11:00 a.m.

“These new names have been chosen to reflect the many counties served by UC Merced throughout the San Joaquin Valley,” said Valery Oehler, UC Merced Student Life Director.

The community name of Valley Terraces will encompass the Valley Commons dining hall, the Terrace Community Center, and nine housing units named Calaveras Hall, Fresno Hall, Kern Hall, Kings Hall, Madera Hall, Merced Hall, San Joaquin Hall, Stanislaus Hall and Tulare Hall.

Student affairs staff will provide an overview of future residence life and speak about the importance of the out-of-class experience for student growth and learning. An official naming ceremony will immediately follow along with a poster-signing activity for all attendees.

The housing portion of the project will serve approximately 600 students and staff members with a total of 603 beds in nine units. A combination of undergraduate and graduate students will be housed in one or more suite configurations. In addition to residences, the project will provide associated community and dining space and a 340-space surface parking lot.

UC Merced, the 10th campus of the UC system and the first major research university to be built in the United States during the 21st century, is scheduled to open in fall 2005 with 1,000 students, ultimately growing to a student population of 25,000. The university has a special mission to serve the educational needs of San Joaquin Valley residents, and is already serving area students through a concurrent admissions program at three community colleges and by offering UC summer session courses in Fresno, Bakersfield and Atwater.

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Editors/Reporters: To obtain access to the campus site for this event, please call Patti Istas at (209) 658-4483. She will meet you out in front of the main gate and accompany you to the naming ceremony site. Access will be provided ONLY between 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The campus site is a hard-hat construction area, and all reporters and photographers must wear hard-soled, low-heeled, closed-toe shoes. Hard hats will be provided.