University of California at Merced, the most recent university approved for ARCS Foundation collaboration, has been officially designated an R1 University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The "R1" classification, also known as "Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity," is the highest tier of research universities in the United States. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education uses a threshold of $50 million in total research spending and 70 research doctorates. 

According to Marci Gordon, Executive Director of Institutional Giving at UC Merced, “Less than 10% of the nation’s eligible public and private colleges and universities claim the R1 designation,” she said. “This accomplishment further solidifies UC Merced’s role as a driving force for innovation, progress and prosperity. Moving forward, this milestone will unlock new opportunities for cutting-edge research and elevate our academic programs.”

UC Merced is the only R1 university in the Central Valley of California. Gordon says “it’s a distinction that couldn’t have been achieved without the support of partners like ARCS.”

ARCS Foundation National approved UC Merced for funding of ARCS scholars, and it became one of the seven universities supported by the Northern California ARCS Chapter. 

The departments at UC Merced approved for ARCS awards are:

• Chemistry & Biochemistry
• Cognitive & Information Sciences
• Environmental Systems
• Physics

Nine scholars have received ARCS Scholar Awards to date.

ARCS member Leslie Van Houten says, after observing UC Merced’s tremendous progress over several years, the Chapter spent a thoughtful year learning about UC Merced, working with University Relations on procedures and working toward unanimous support from the Chapter’s board. The vote from the membership was overwhelmingly in support of UC Merced, as was the National Board’s approval.

“In the end, the vote to approve it was clear. The R1 rating proves our faith in UC Merced.”

Members of the Northern California chapter visited the UC Merced campus in December 2024 for an annual, in-person update with the approved departments.

UC Merced is the newest campus in the University of California system, established in 2005 as a public land grant research university. It was approved by the state legislature in 1988 to address the higher education needs of the state's fastest-growing region — the San Joaquin Valley, with a population of four million residents — and increase access to the UC system.

UC Merced says it continues to experience demand from throughout the state, with 99.6 percent of undergraduate students hailing from California. UC Merced also states that it leads the UC system in the percentage of students from underrepresented ethnic groups, low-income families and families whose parents did not attend college.

The Northern California Chapter of ARCS was established in 1970 and has funded more than 3,100 Scholar Awards totaling over $27 million.