The assistance of a ULI Advisory Services Panel was requested to assess the effectiveness of the UC Merced long-range development plan in order to achieve the university’s vision and goals for the campus and the associated University community. In addition, the Panel was asked to think about how the campus could play an important long-term role in regional economic diversification, provide a model for long-term planning that prevents urban sprawl and conserves important natural resources and farmland, and ensure that the development adheres to regional conservation goals and mitigation programs to protect natural resources.