Sustainability

Professor and Environmental Champion Bales Retires, But Research and Advocacy Continue

November 10, 2025

Professors Roger Bales and Martha Conklin arrived in Merced in 2003, the first non-administrative faculty members at UC Merced. They came with a vision: to create a research university that would serve California’s future. Now, after more than 22 years of building institutions, mentoring...

University Receives AASHE Campus Sustainability Award for Bobcat Eats Program

One of UC Merced’s core values is sustainability and that extends to food waste. Since its inception last year, the Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program has saved more...

UC Merced has risen 61 spots in the overall U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings in the past two years.

UC Merced Takes Another Giant Leap in U.S. News Rankings

The fastest-growing public research university in the nation is the fastest-rising university in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. The University of California Merced,...

University is No. 1 for Sustainable Buildings, Research in AASHE Rankings

UC Merced has been recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as having the most sustainable buildings in higher education throughout the world...

UC Merced jumped 44 spots from its previous high on the Sierra Club's "Cool Schools" list and is ranked No. 6 in the nation for 2019.

University Vaults to No. 6 in ‘Cool Schools’ Rankings

UC Merced has made its way into another top 10 in national rankings, this time jumping up to No. 6 in the Sierra Club’s 2019 “Cool Schools” list. The university jumped 44...

New Project Works to Ensure No Food is Left Behind

As UC Merced’s mission of food rescue continues to expand in the community, a new program will make sure food isn’t wasted on campus as well. The No Food Left Behind initiative aims to...

Outgoing Chancellor Dorothy Leland cut the ribbon to signify the opening of the second phase of the Merced 2020 Project.

UC Merced Unveils Second Phase of Merced 2020 Project, Says Thank You to Leland

Two simple words, “Leland Legacy,” captured the significance of Wednesday’s opening event for the second phase of the Merced 2020 Project, an event that doubled as a goodbye and...

Grant Helps University Ramp Up Food Rescue Efforts

UC Merced’s desire to fight food insecurity in Merced County and on campus got a big boost recently after being awarded a $492,000 grant from CalRecycle. The university — along with...

Campus Wins Four Awards at Annual Sustainability Conference

UC Merced continues to earn recognition and awards for its sustainability efforts. Last week, the university won four awards at the 16th annual Higher Education Energy Efficiency and...

The Sustainability Research and Engineering Building will house the university's first Center of Excellence.

Campus Preparing to Launch Merced 2020 Project’s Second Phase

The growing UC Merced campus is nearly ready to debut the second phase of the innovative Merced 2020 Project, a multiyear plan to add 1.2 million gross square feet of classroom, office, research...