FYE SUMMER NEWSLETTER EDITION 3!
It’s June, and that means campus is buzzing as we prepare to celebrate the Union College Class of 2026 at Commencement this weekend! At the same time, we’re continuing to cheer you on as many of you celebrate your own high school graduations! Congratulations again on all you’ve accomplished.
Don't forget we’re here to support you every step of the way as you prepare for your transition. Keep reading for important updates, reminders, and a few ways to stay connected this month!
As always, if you have any questions, reach out to me at firstyearexperience@union.edu. I’m here to help!
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!
June 12
Health Forms due
June 30
Housing Registration Due
July 10
Fall Term billing statements available
Roommate Requests must be submitted
July 15
Placement Exams due
Submit your Final High School Transcripts to Admissions
August 1
Submit your ID Card Picture
August 7
Fall Term Tuition Due
August 15
Academic Integrity Training 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 first few 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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HEALTH FORMS
As a reminder, Health portal forms, physicals and immunization forms from physicians should be uploaded to the health portal by this Friday, June 12. 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 uchealthcenter@union.edu or call (518) 388-6120.
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ACADEMICS
Thomas Jordan, Director of Academic Advising
By now, all students should have completed the Advising and Course Registration form on the applicant portal. The information you provided will help create your fall term schedule, which you will receive in August. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Tom Jordan, Director of Academic Advising and Enrichment, at academicadvising@union.edu or call (518) 388-7116.
In addition, all students must take the Mathematics Placement Exam.
Students interested in taking chemistry courses must take the Chemistry Placement Exam.
Students interested in taking physics courses must take the Physics Placement Exam. The deadline for all placement exams is July 15.
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RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION AND HOUSING
Catie Straube, Director of Residential Education and Housing
Don’t forget to complete your Housing Registration in your Union College student housing portal. The form is available through June 30th at 11:59 pm. Students who plan to commute must request the commuter exemption form by emailing us at housing@union.edu.
After completing your housing registration form, you can then begin to search and match with roommates in the roommate matching portion of your student housing portal. For a how-to video on matching with roommates, visit our Admitted and Prospective Students website page and scroll to the bottom of the page. The roommate matching portal will stay open through July 10th at 11:59 PM. To be placed with your preferred roommate, you must match with them fully in your student housing portal. Only students who have completed the housing registration will be able to search and select roommates
Don't want to match with a roommate ahead of time and want our team to match you with someone? No problem! Our team will match students based on lifestyle preferences and assign them together if they have not matched with a preferred roommate.
If you wish to apply for special housing accommodations, please see the separate forms and guidance on the Accommodative Services webpage: Special Housing Accommodations Request.
Note that the deadline for housing accommodation requests is June 15.
Questions? Visit the Residential Education webpage, email Housing@union.edu or call us at (518) 388-6117.
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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!
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What is the absolute first thing you want to figure out or locate
when you step onto campus for orientation?
(Think How to use my meal plan, where my actual classrooms are,
how to print things, how the gym works, etc).
Check each newsletter for your chance to earn more Orientation Bolt Points!
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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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Hi, I am Kassandra Smeltzer (Kassie), and I am a rising senior at Union on the Orientation Committee! Outside of orientation, I am involved with Student Forum, our student government on campus, as the Student Forum president. I am also a part of the orchestra, the Sustainability Office, and Greek Life. If you have any questions or want to reach out, feel free to email me at any time at smeltzek@union.edu!
Major: Chemistry
Best Piece of Advice for New Students: Union is a place where visions come to life. What you put into your classes, extracurriculars, and relationships is what you will get out!
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Fun Face About Me: I did preschool twice.
Favorite Union Tradition: I am a big fan of the Kenney Community Center's Goose Hill Clean-Up in the springtime for Earth Day!
What am I looking forward to? I am super excited for Club-Expo in September, where all clubs and organizations on campus come together to show off what they're all about!
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FIRST-YEAR PARKING REQUESTS
First-year students are permitted to apply to register a vehicle on campus as space is available. The fee for vehicle registration is $150. The First-Year Parking request form will open on July 7th. The link will be shared in the FYE newsletter sent out that day. Students must complete the form to request consideration for parking. The deadline to make a request for parking for the Fall term is August 5, 2026. Students will be asked a variety of questions about their vehicle usage. Commuter Students who plan to drive to campus must also complete the parking request form and indicate they are a commuter student.
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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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
As part of the Union community, you'll have access to Google Workspace for Education — a cloud-based suite of tools designed with students and educators in mind. From Google Mail and Google Docs to Google Gemini, these applications make it easy to stay connected, collaborate with classmates and colleagues, and keep your files organized and within reach. You can learn more in this article about Google Workspace for Education.
Using Okta Verify for Multi-Factor Security Authentication at Union College
Keeping your account safe is a priority at Union College, and Okta Verify makes it simple. As Union's Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) tool, Okta Verify adds an extra layer of protection to your login process by requiring a second form of verification — like a push notification or code from the app — alongside your password. The Okta Verify app offers the highest level of security, takes up very little space on your device, and is the most convenient option for MFA. This added protection helps ensure that only you can access your account, even if your password is compromised.
To learn how to download and set up Okta Verify, visit the following link: Enable Multi-Factor Authorization Using Okta
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Robin Olinsky, Class Dean and International Student Advising
Heidi Hodges, International Advising
International Advising will be holding 3 virtual drop-in advising sessions throughout the summer to connect with you by Zoom or answer any questions you may have. There is no requirement to attend. Virtual Drop-In Sessions will be: Wednesday, June 24th 8:00 am - 9:00 am, 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 date to join and bring your questions!
As a reminder, 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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FIRST-GEN VIRTUAL Q & A TONIGHT
Are you first in your family to go to college? If so, feel free to join us tonight, Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00 PM EST, for our virtual First-Gen Q&A Night! This casual, no-pressure Zoom session is the perfect place to meet our Bridges staff and student leaders, ask questions, and start building your community before move-in day. We will cover critical summer deadlines, required forms, and give you the inside scoop on what to expect during your first few days and term at Union.
To join us virtually tonight, please use this registration link.
Questions? Want to learn more? Reach out anytime, we’d love to hear from you, email Niamaya Canady at canadyn@union.edu or Aileen Schatz at schatza@union.edu.
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