In an unprecedented show of unity, leaders from Merced City School District, Merced Union High School District, Merced College and UC Merced came together to discuss how continued collaboration can transform education and opportunities across the region.
Hosted at UC Merced and attended by local educators, community leaders and public officials, the State of Merced Education Summit provided an inspiring look at how each organization is addressing its students’ needs and outlined a shared vision: aligning programs, resources and innovation to ensure students in the region can thrive at every stage of their educational journeys.
UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz opened the summit by noting that, to the university’s knowledge, this gathering marked the first time leaders from all four institutions had gathered this way – a testament, he said, to a “new era of coordination and cooperation.”
“Each of you lead with dedication and skill,” Muñoz told the audience. “UC Merced is proud to be part of this endeavor of collaboration.”
During his opening remarks, he also mentioned an example of what’s possible when educators collaborate. The Promise Housing Project, a partnership with Merced College, will provide affordable housing for transfer students and serve as a physical extension of the Merced Promise, which already guarantees local college students a pathway to UC Merced.
“The goal today isn’t to solve all our challenges,” Muñoz said, “but to give you a glimpse of where things stand, from kindergarten through Ph.D., and to recognize that this community is uniquely positioned for success.”
Alan Peterson, superintendent of the Merced Union High School District, reflected on nearly a decade of progress since he first took the helm in 2015.
“Back then,” he said, “we asked ourselves what all students truly need during their time in one of our schools. The answer was that every student should walk off the graduation stage with a diploma in one hand, CTE certification in the other and college credit already on their transcript.”
That philosophy fueled the school district’s rapid growth of dual enrollment with Merced College, which increased from 277 students to more than 1,800 in a few short years. It also helped spark conversations with UC Merced about access and readiness that ultimately led to the Merced Automatic Admissions Program.
Peterson emphasized that this work isn’t just about education; it’s about economic development and community strength.
“When institutions collaborate,” he said, “the whole community wins.”
