FYE SUMMER NEWSLETTER EDITION 1: LET'S GET STARTED!
Hello again, Class of 2029!
We can’t wait to officially welcome you to campus this fall—congratulations on choosing Union!
Here is the first edition of our bi-weekly summer e-newsletter, designed to keep you connected, informed, and supported as you prepare to join the Union community. Each edition will highlight key deadlines and tasks, helpful resources, and tips to help make your transition smooth and meaningful. Think of it as your go-to guide for all the things you need to know or do this summer as you prepare to start at Union in the Fall.
If questions come up—about forms, housing, majors, or anything else—I’m here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, I also encourage you to check out a few other ways to stay in the know:
Charging Up Your First Year – Our podcast launches next week! Tune in to hear from students and staff about what to expect and how to prepare.
First-Year Website – Bookmark it for easy access to resources and updates.
Instagram: @UnionFirstYear – Follow along for tips, reminders, introductions and behind-the-scenes peeks from campus this summer.
If you haven’t already, start regularly checking your Union.edu email address and reviewing your Enrolling Student Checklist in your Applicant Portal—a few deadlines are already around the corner!
We’re here for you every step of the way, and I can’t wait to help you make the most of your first year at Union.
AILEEN SCHATZ
Director of the First-Year Experience
403E Reamer Campus Center
firstyearexperience@union.edu | schatza@union.edu | 518.388.6061
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We encourage you to check out our Charging Up Your First Year podcast series throughout the summer. New episodes will be released bi-weekly on Wednesdays. Our first episode will be released on May 21st. Throughout each episode, you will have the opportunity to learn about different topics and offices on campus and hear about what to expect when you arrive on campus. Our current students will even share some of their favorite things about Union and tips and tricks to help you with your transition to the College. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.
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A MESSAGE FROM SHARIF ROSEN, CLASS DEAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2029
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Dear Incoming Class of 2029,
Congratulations on your acceptance, and decision to come to Union College!
Your undergraduate experience, with its incredible possibilities for growth and learning, is a milestone of unique significance in your life. We're grateful that you have chosen to embark on this journey at Union.
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Even before you arrive, we are ready to help you prepare. Aileen and I are here to answer your questions on any aspect of student life at Union. Throughout summer, look out for our emails and media content sharing key information and insights. Upon arrival and move-in, you can expect a thorough multi-day orientation preparing you for your life and studies here – among hundreds of new friends and peers.
As someone relatively new to Union College myself, I’m confident that you’ll discover what I have since I arrived: this community is made up of deeply engaged and caring staff and faculty eager to help you thrive over the entirety of your time at Union.
We’re excited to welcome you to campus.
SHARIF ROSEN
Class Dean for the Class of '29
303 Reamer Campus Center
rosens2@union.edu | 518.388.8060
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TRANSFER STUDENTS
Welcome to Union College! All services described in this newsletter are available to transfer students. Please access your portal and complete all requirements. For questions related to the transfer process, visit our website for transfer students.
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ADMISSIONS
Please make sure high school counselors send final high school transcripts to the Union College Admissions Office by July 15. Some high schools send transcripts automatically while others require students to put in a request.
Questions? Email us.
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ACADEMICS
Michelle Osborn, Dean of Studies
All students can access the Advising and Course Registration Form through their applicant portal. This form is due by May 27th. The information you provide will help us pair you with an academic advisor and develop your fall term course schedule. If you have difficulty accessing the form, please call or email us. For more information on academic advising, first-year courses, and placement exams, please consult our New Student Academic Planning Guide.
Questions? Email or call (518) 388-6234.
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RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION AND HOUSING
Catie Straube, Director of Residential Education and Housing
Welcome to Union! It is an exciting time to be on campus and we can’t wait to welcome you in August. Check out our website for more information.
Students who plan on applying for commuter status should reach out to us at housing@union.edu to ensure the correct form is added to your housing portal.
Important Upcoming Dates:
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Housing registration and commuter exemption request forms will be available in your applicant portal soon.
- Housing Assignments will be sent out no later than August 1st.
- International Student Move In: August 27th
- First Year and Transfer Move In: August 29th
Questions? Email or call (518) 388-6117.
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SNEAK PEAK OF CAMPUS LIFE WITH CLUBS & ORGS
Emily Rocha, Director of Student Activities
Wondering what your experience might look like outside the classroom?
Get ready for a vibrant and active campus community filled with events, club meetings, and ways to get involved every day of the week.
Union is home to more than 100 student-run clubs and organizations—ranging from cultural and identity-based groups to academic, service, performance, and special interest clubs. Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, dance, robotics, debate, or community service, you’ll find your people here.
To see what kinds of events and activities happen throughout the year, check out Uengage.union.edu. This is our campus hub for student activities, where you can browse clubs, find upcoming events, and get involved.
Students, want a sneak peek of what your days might include? Sign up for our Daily Digest email, which gives you a daily snapshot of club-sponsored events happening that day and the next.
Spring term is packed with opportunities to connect, explore, and have fun—we can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself!
Questions about getting involved? Email getinvolved@union.edu or call (518) 388-6118.
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ACCOMMODATIVE SERVICES
Laura Galt, Director
If you are a student with a documented disability who will need accommodations for the upcoming school year, you will need to register with the Accommodative Services Office and upload your most recent documentation/psychoeducational evaluation. Please use this link to register: New Student Registration Portal
Applications for accommodations will be reviewed beginning in mid-June. Students are encouraged to begin the application process as early as possible so that accommodations can be in place when classes begin in September.
Once our office has reviewed your application, we will contact you if any information is missing or needs updating. Please see our documentation guidelines for more detailed information. Our director will contact you over the summer to discuss and finalize your accommodations once documentation is received.
If you wish to apply for special housing accommodations, please see the separate forms and guidance on our webpage: Special Housing Accommodations Request. Note that the deadline for housing accommodation requests is June 16.
Questions? Email or call (518) 388-8785.
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HEALTH FORMS
Angela Stefanatos, Director of the Health Center
Health portal forms, physicals and immunization forms from physicians should be uploaded to the health portal by June 13. See the health requirement checklist for details and form links. Please note, Health center staff will review each document for completeness before it shows as complete with a Green Check Mark in your applicant portal.
Questions? Email or call (518) 388-6120.
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BURSAR’S OFFICE
Student account access: The Bursar’s Office offers an online billing and payment system, accessible to students any time through Self Service. Students may grant their parents proxy access to Self Service, which provides convenient access to payment and billing information online. Without proxy access, parents are not able to view bills or communicate with the Bursar’s Office regarding the student account.
Billing: The Fall Term bill will be available July 11th with a due date of August 8th. Winter and Spring Term billing take place in November and February, respectively. For more information on payment options and due dates, please visit the Bursar’s website.
Student health insurance: Union College requires all students to have active health insurance that covers them while in Schenectady. For the 2025-2026 academic year, Union is offering coverage from MVP through Haylor, Freyer and Coon (HFC). Details of the insurance policy will be made available here. All students are automatically billed for the health insurance with the Fall Term bill.
Using the Haylor, Freyer and Coon portal, domestic students may request to waive the insurance by uploading an active insurance card to the portal as proof of coverage. This portal will be available in July. The fee for the insurance will remain on the student account until the waiver is submitted and approved by HFC. Please allow three to five business days to see the credit on the student account. Domestic students who waive the plan should confirm that their own health insurance provides coverage for the entire school year while in Schenectady. International students may not opt out or waive this insurance. The waiver form, applicable to U.S. citizens only, is required annually and must be completed by September 15, 2025.
International questions? Please contact the International Student Advising office at (518) 388-8003 or email internationaladvising@union.edu.
Other questions? Email, call (518) 388-6106 or visit the Bursar’s website.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
Fall Term tuition deadline: August 8, 2025
Complete health insurance waiver form: September 15, 2025
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Union has multiple locations with accessible computing facilities. Check out this website for a basic understanding of facility capabilities.
By now, students should have claimed Union email accounts to access College utilities (Student Self Service, housing, health portal, etc.) through the Admissions Portal. When logging into Union Gmail, use username@union.edu. For all other functions, only the username (not the @union.edu) is required.
As stated above, the Bursar’s Office offers an online billing and payment system, accessible to students anytime through Self Service. Specific instructions about how to use Self Service and how to grant access to parents are located on the ITS Help Desk site.
ITS cannot update a parent/guardian password. If it is forgotten or not working, use the Self
Service portal to re-grant access. Please note that parents/guardians will not have access to housing, class schedules, grades or other student-owned information.
Before coming to campus, make sure personal computers have all the latest security patches and updates, as well as current antivirus software. Devices that access the Union College network must be registered and the patches, updates and antivirus software are required during the registration process. Learn more here.
Questions? Call our Help Desk at (518) 388-6400, contact us via the client portal or submit a detailed request.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Robin Olinsky, Class Dean and International Student Advising
Incoming international students have received an email from the International Advising office with instructions for registering with our orientation software platform, Homebase, to complete the course, Union College F-1 Student: Your Journey Begins Here. Throughout the course, students will receive guidance on completing their I-20 Application form, to receive the immigration documents required for their visa interview.
We are anticipating increased scrutiny and vetting on visa applications, as well as limited interview appointments this year. We encourage students to complete their Homebase course and I-20 application as soon as possible, to give themselves plenty of time to obtain their F-1 student visa before arrival in August.
Questions? If you have concerns about immigration documents or your arrival at Union, please email or call (518) 388-8003.
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REGISTRAR
Welcome to Union! Please be sure to complete all information in the applicant portal, including the biographical form.
AP scores: These should be sent to Union College (NY) so they can be considered for college credit. Academic departments also use AP scores for placement in their courses. If students selected Union College as their first choice for receiving their test scores, there is no need to do anything. If not, please request scores from College Board.
Questions? Contact us via email or call (518) 388-6016.
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