UC Merced Connect: National rankings point to growing reputation

UC Merced is rapidly rising among the nation’s top universities, as demonstrated by the campus’s growing number of appearances on national and statewide “best schools” lists.

Two recent accolades pertain to the practical value of a UC Merced education.

The nonprofit Educate to Career, which studies the correlation between educational attainment and career outcomes at more than 1,100 four-year institutions, ranked UC Merced 16th among all schools nationally. UC Merced trailed only UCLA and UC Irvine among UC campuses in the rankings.

UC Merced was named the 38th “best value” among California colleges and universities by bestvalueschools.com. Eight other UC campuses also made the Top 50 list.

Earlier this year, UC Merced was cited as the nation’s 12th most diverse university by bestcolleges.com. The school’s graduate programs in engineering and psychological sciences were ranked among the top 160 by U.S. News & World Report – the first appearance for UC Merced in the magazine’s closely watched and frequently referenced college rankings.

The campus has also appeared in numerous rankings of the “greenest” or most sustainable schools in the country.

“As access to and the value of a college education continue to make headlines, it’s gratifying to be recognized in these newest rankings for the excellent value we’re providing to our students,” said Charles Nies, interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “Coupled with other recent citations for academic excellence, diversity and sustainability, these honors begin to paint a compelling picture of what it means to get a UC Merced education.”

Nies noted that survey organizations typically don’t reveal exactly how their rankings are developed, which makes it difficult to judge how meaningful any one ranking truly is. Taken together, however, the rankings are a clear indication of UC Merced’s growing reputation.

“Just 10 years in, we’re already standing toe-to-toe with some of the nation’s leading institutions in certain key areas, and in some cases, we’re clearly among the leaders,” Nies said. “The recognition of our accomplishments is very encouraging.”

Professor to lead Education Abroad Programs

Professor Cristián Ricci won’t find himself in the classroom sharing his love of Spanish and Moroccan literature with UC Merced students this fall. That’s because he’ll be busy in his new role as director of the UC Education Abroad Program in Chile and Argentina.

Ricci, who is also serving as chair of the Academic Senate Division Council, is the first UCEAP director from UC Merced. It was a natural fit for the Buenos Aires native, who taught language and literature courses to American students in Argentina and Spain prior to joining UC Merced.

“My interest in becoming the director for the UCEAP in Chile and Argentina is an outgrowth of my continuous commitment to education abroad,” Ricci said. “I know firsthand how the university system works there because I studied two majors at two different institutions – economics at the University of Buenos Aires, and physical education at the Romero Brest Institute.”

UCEAP currently partners with 115 top universities in 42 countries worldwide. Ricci will oversee the program abroad and represent the UC to host universities in Chile and Argentina – a job that includes academic duties as well as administrative functions, such as oversight of student safety, security and conduct.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 2:55 PM with the headline "UC Merced Connect: National rankings point to growing reputation."