FYE SUMMER NEWSLETTER EDITION 5!
Summer might be flying by, but that just means we are one step closer to you arriving on campus and the official start of your Union College journey. Right now, campus is beautiful, quiet, and honestly just waiting for all of you to arrive and bring it full of life.
Whether you’re currently figuring out what to pack, getting excited about your first college classes, or just trying to soak up every last bit of break, we’ve got your back. Today’s issue is packed with the key updates, reminders, and deadlines you need to keep you on track and stress-free as you prepare to move to Schenectady.
And, don't forget that your Shared Experience ranking form is now available on your enrolling student checklist in your applicant portal! Be sure to complete that within the next week so you're placed in an orientation experience you are interested and excited about. Shared Experience Day (September 6th) is a great time to meet other new students with similar interests!
As always, we are just an email or phone call away if you have questions about anything. We’re happy to help and are looking forward to meeting you in person soon (maybe at one of the summer visit opportunities listed below)! Don't hesitate to reach out—feel free to email firstyearexperience@union.edu or call 518-388-6061.
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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KEY DATES, TASKS AND UPCOMING DUE DATES!
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Many of the tasks below can be found on the Enrolling Student Checklist on your Applicant Portal!
July 7
First-Year Parking Request form opens
July 10
Fall Term billing statements available
Roommate Requests must be submitted
July 14
Orientation Shared Experience Ranking Form Due
July 15
Placement Exams due
Submit your Final High School Transcripts to Admissions
July 16
Virtual Career Kickback
July 17
Summer Visit Day
July 21
Ready to Launch - Virtual Conversation for Parents/Supporters
July 23
Summer Research In Action Day
August 1
Submit your ID Card Picture
August 4
First-Year Parking Request deadline
August 7
Summer Visit Day
Fall Term Tuition Due
September 4
First-Year Move-In Day
September 15
Health Insurance Waiver Deadline
*Additional tasks, keys dates and deadlines will be added here throughout the Summer!
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If you missed our previous newsletters, no worries! You can find them on the First-Year Experience website, toward the bottom of the page, under Class of 2030 Summer Communications. All newsletters will be posted there as they go out. |
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FIRST-YEAR PARKING REQUEST FORM NOW OPEN
First-year students are permitted to apply to register a vehicle on campus as space is available. The fee for vehicle registration is $150. Students must complete the form linked here to request consideration for parking. The request form is open now and the deadline to make a request to be reviewed before the start of the Fall term is August 4, 2026. Students will be asked a variety of questions about their vehicle usage.
Once all upper-level students have registered their vehicles, the remaining student spaces will be utilized for members of the incoming class. There is no guarantee of parking for any student, and it is critically important that students do not bring a car to campus until they receive written confirmation of the ability to register the vehicle. Students must park in designated lots; Vehicles parked on city streets or in unauthorized lots will be ticketed and/or towed, and parking privileges will be revoked.
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PLACEMENT EXAMS
As a reminder, Math, Chemistry, and Physics placement exams must be completed by July 15th.
Math Placement Exam: All students are required to complete the Math Placement Exam.
Chemistry Placement Exam: All students contemplating a science major, a pre-health track major, or a mechanical engineering or biomedical engineering major – as well as students in the LIM program – must take the Chemistry Placement Exam.
Physics Placement Exam: All students contemplating an engineering major, a science major, or a pre-health track major must take the Physics Placement Exam.
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RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION AND HOUSING
Catie Straube, Director of Residential Education and Housing
Thank you to everyone who completed their first-year housing registration form or commuter exemption application. There are only a few days remaining to match with a preferred roommate. As a reminder, the roommate matching portion of your housing portal closes on July 10th, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Our office is diligently working to review all completed commuter exemption applications and submitted registrations to determine housing assignments for you. We expect these assignments to be available no later than August 1, 2026. As you prepare your packing lists, we ask you to take a moment to review our packing list and prohibited items list.
Microfridges
You may rent a Microfridge unit by contacting Refridgerator Leasing Company, our preferred microfridge vendor. This unit combines a refrigerator, freezer, and microwave that operates on the low amperage required in the residence halls. Only one (1)'Microfridge' may be rented per room or two per suite. The refrigerator/freezer can also be rented without the microwave. RLC is the only microfridge vendor that is permitted to work with our office to will deliver units directly to a student's room prior to their arrival.
Please note that the Microfridge is the only acceptable microwave for our residence hall rooms. You may also bring in your own small refrigerator, as long as it is no larger than 5.0 cubic feet.
Students arriving early for fall sports should order their microfridge through the vendor website prior to August 1st to ensure on time delivery for your early move in date. More information can be found here: https://www.mymicrofridge.com/order-now.
Questions? Visit the Residential Education webpage, email Housing@union.edu or call us at (518) 388-6117.
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READY TO LAUNCH: A CONVERSATION FOR NEW UNION PARENTS
Parents and family supporters, don't forget to join us on July 21st at 7pm EST for Ready to Launch: A Conversation for New Union Parents, a supportive and informative webinar designed to help parents and family supporters feel more prepared for the journey ahead.
This webinar will offer candid advice, thoughtful perspectives, and helpful guidance for navigating the first-year experience alongside your student. We’ll talk about what to expect, how to support your student from afar, and how to navigate some of the important aspects of this transition, both for your student and for you. If you’d like to join us for this live webinar, please register here.
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REGISTRAR
Sarah Farsad, Registrar
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. You can learn more about these rights and what they include here.
Questions? Email registrar@union.edu or call (518) 388-6016.
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MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE ORIENTATION COMMITTEE!
Each edition of our summer newsletter will introduce you to one of the six student leaders on our Orientation Committee (OC). These dedicated upper-class students work closely with the Office of First-Year Experience to help plan Orientation and support your transition to Union. They’ve been in your shoes and are here to make sure you feel welcomed, supported, and excited for what’s ahead!
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MEET TALYA!
Hi! My name is Talya, and I am a rising Senior on the Orientation Committee. I am a double major in Political Science and Sociology, with an English minor. Outside of the OC, I am a member of Student Forum, Greek Life, and a tour guide. I am so excited to see you all on campus so soon! If you have any questions, feel free to email me at hambergt@union.edu.
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Best Piece of Advice for New Students: Make Union yours! Join the clubs that interest you, connect with people who make you feel good, find classes that interest you, and create a strong network of faculty that you can turn to for advice. My favorite part of Union is how strong of a community it is, but also how unique everybody’s experience is. With the amazing people and opportunities here, you can try new things and grow!
Favorite Union Tradition: All-night Breakfast!!!! At the end of Fall Term, every year Student Forum takes over the dining hall, and all students come to enjoy their favorite breakfast foods for a fun study break.
Fun Fact About Me: My favorite board game is Code Names!
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UNION SUMMER VISIT OPPORTUNITIES
Looking to visit (or re-visit) campus this summer and get to know the people and places that will be a part of your Union experience?
The summer visit opportunities below are a great way to begin building connections before move-in. Alongside our visiting prospective students and families, incoming students will have tailored opportunities throughout the day to explore campus from a new perspective—and maybe even meet new friends!
Plus, you'll earn 10 Orientation Bolt Points for attending any of the three events below, which gets you closer to prizes like Union swag, Starbucks vouchers and more.
Summer Visit Days | Friday, July 17 & Friday, Aug. 7
At either program, you'll join an overview of academic and student life, followed by a campus tour designed specifically for enrolled students highlighting spaces you may not have seen before. Next, you'll get unscripted advice from current students and get to know your future classmates over casual bites. At the end of the program, optional engineering and athletic facilities tours are also available.
Summer Research In Action | Thursday, July 23
At this program, you'll hop on the specialized enrolled student tour, get unscripted advice from current students and get to know your future classmates over casual bites, and attend the Summer Research Poster Presentations to see what it's really like to do hands-on research at Union.
Click here to explore options and register!
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CAREER CENTER IN BECKER HALL
Virtual Career Kickback
You are invited to join us for the Virtual First-Year Career Kickback on Thursday, July 16, at 1pm EST. You'll get to meet the Career Center team, see our space, and learn about our resources in a laid back virtual space. Plus, you'll earn 10 Orientation Bolt Points for attending virtually!
Join us on zoom on Thursday, July 16, at 1pm EST!
Questions? Email careercenter@union.edu.
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FINANCIAL AID
Meredith Tower, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid
Students who are receiving need-based financial aid should have received notification from our
office requesting additional information to verify income and finalize the financial aid offer.
To ensure that the financial aid award is confirmed prior to our first billing cycle on July 10th,
forward the required information to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible.
If work-study was offered as part of the financial aid package, students should apply for 2-3
positions before August 1st! Students can review open positions on our Student Careers site and learn how to apply on our website. Our office will be sending emails prior to the start of classes
indicating other employment details.
Questions? Email finaid@union.edu or call (518) 388- 6123.
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STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
We are thrilled to announce an exciting change! Accommodative Services is now Student Accessibility Services. This change represents our continued dedication to supporting students with disabilities at Union College. We are excited to carry on our mission under a banner that better communicates our purpose and values. We look forward to serving you as Student Accessibility Services and continuing to build a more accessible and inclusive campus community together.
As we mentioned in our previous newsletters, if you are a student with a documented disability who will need accommodations for the upcoming school year, you will need to register with Student Accessibility Services and upload your supporting documentation for our review. Please use this link to register: New Student Registration Portal. Details on this process and timeline can be found on our Student Accessibility Services Website. 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 note that 504 plans and IEPs, while providing helpful information, do not automatically transfer to post-secondary settings. See our eligibility and documentation guidelines for more detailed information. Our director will contact you over the summer to discuss and finalize your accommodations once documentation is received.
Student Accessibility Services will host a brief orientation session for incoming students registered with their office on First-Year Move-In Day, September 4 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Questions? Email sas@union.edu or call 518-388-8785.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Robin Olinsky, Class Dean and International Student Advising
Heidi Hodges, International Advising
International Advising will be holding virtual drop-in advising sessions throughout the summer to connect with you face to face or answer any questions you may have. There is no requirement to attend. Virtual Drop-In Sessions will be: Wednesday, July 22, 8:00 am - 9:00 am, and Wednesday, August 19, 8:00 - 9:00 am Eastern Standard Time. These are casual sessions and not mandatory. Please click the respective date’s link to join and bring your questions!
International students are permitted to arrive on campus September 2, 2026. We cannot allow earlier move-in dates, so please plan your travel accordingly. International student athletes can expect to receive specific instructions regarding arrival times from their respective coaches.
Be sure to check out this helpful Visa Interview Prep Hub by our Homebase partners to help you prepare for your visa appointment!
Questions? Please check your Union email account for important communications from International Advising. If you’d like to connect further about immigration documents, your visa process, or your arrival at Union, please email internationaladvising@union.edu or call (518) 388-8003.
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STUDENTS, EARN YOUR ORIENTATION BOLT POINTS NOW
Click the button below to complete this week's question to earn 10 Orientation Bolt Points now!
Want to help set the vibe for Move-In Day and orientation?
Submit your favorite song or song of the summer
to help us build the orientation playlist for the Class of 2030!
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