Campus spokeswoman Patti Waid Istas:
“It will allow us to compete with other research universities in the country for federal assistance in the means of scientific and laboratory equipment for example, renovation of instruction facilities, and certainly student support services.”
Merced joins Riverside as the second UC campus to get the designation, which goes to schools where Hispanics make up at least 25% of undergraduates.
Istas say UC Merced’s undergraduates are 32% Hispanic, 33% Asian, 22% Caucasian and 7% African American.