I spent yesterday visiting UC Merced – the state’s newest University of California campus, and the first in the San Joaquin Valley.  It’s small but quite impressive!  They have about 5,000 students, mostly undergraduates, and will grow into a larger university over time.  Here are a few shots of their modern buildings and grounds.  (The buildings are all LEED certified.  Check out the reflective panes attached to the walls of the library to reduce cooling costs, and the gravel parking spots that reduce runoff.)