12 p.m. Tuesday
Open session began with more than 120 people signing up to speak during public comment. The regents said they did not have time to hear comments from everyone, and public comment ended after about 30 minutes.
Livestream of meeting is above.
7 a.m. Tuesday
It’s going to be a busy week at UC Merced, with the University of California’s Board of Regents set to meet at the campus from today until Thursday. It’s the first time the governing body of the 10-campus system has met in Merced.
The meeting kicks off at noon Tuesday, with hearings by the board’s investments committee and special meeting on athletics, according to the agenda.
Amid the regents meeting, UC Merced is also celebrating a significant milestone with the groundbreaking of the campus’ medical education building.
The new building is a big deal for the San Joaquin Valley, where the need for doctors is acute. According to the California Health Care Foundation, the Valley has only 47 primary care physicians for every 100,000 residents.
Talk of a medical school program in the Valley goes as far back as 2005, when UC Merced first opened. Back then, UC Merced’s first chancellor, the late Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, said establishing a medical program in the Valley was critical for the region.
The building will have four stories and more than 203,000 square feet, which will house instructional classrooms, common areas, academic offices, and research space.
The project costs $300 million from state general fund, the campus budget and gifts from donors, according to the university.
Sheriff closes nearby Lake Yosemite
Local officials are anticipating protests at UC Merced amid this week’s regents meeting.
An encampment to protest the war in Gaza was set up at the campus Sunday just after commencement ceremonies took place.
Thus far, the protest has been small in comparison with those at other campuses in recent weeks. Around 20 people were chanting and camping out at UC Merced on Sunday.
The protesters have laid out a list of demands, such as asking the UC system to divest from companies supporting Israel’s military.
At last check, no police or physical altercations were observed and the demonstration has been peaceful.
Alyssa Johanson, spokesperson for UC Merced, sent a statement from the university, saying the institution is committed to ensuring that all persons can exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression and assembly.
“The university also has an obligation to balance these considerations with the responsibilities and rights of all members of the university community,” the statement said.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office on Monday decided to close nearby Lake Yosemite, ahead of the meeting at UC Merced.
Sheriff Vern Warnke told ABC 30 the closure of the lake was related to the protest. “I’m gonna keep that lake area closed and as soon as this situation resolves itself that UC Merced then will reopen and hopefully carry on business as usual,” Warnke said.
Local student serving on board
UC Merced has a special tie-in with the Board of Regents. The current student regent designate is UC Merced doctoral student Josiah Beharry. He has been a non-voting member of the board since July 2023, and his full term as student regent begins on July 1.
The regents are the governing trustees for the 10-campus University of California system. Eighteen members are appointed by the governor to serve 12-year terms.
One is a student appointed to serve a one-year term, seven are ex-officio members (the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the Assembly, superintendent of public instruction, president and vice presidents of the Alumni Associations of UC and the UC president, according to the regents’ website).
