Hello and congratulations! Welcome to the Union family and the Class of 2028.
I am excited to see you in September and introduce you to a place that you’ll never forget. If you need anything between now and then, please reach out. I am here to help.
This summer (June-August), you will receive monthly e-newsletters with information about housing, pre-orientation programs, classes and other aspects of life at Union.
Students, if you’re reading this in your Union.edu email, that’s great! If not, please activate your Union email. All summer correspondence will be sent to your Union email account.
I also encourage you to complete your health forms, advising and registration form, and housing registration on the applicant portal soon. Take a look at this printable checklist or visit the first-year website for a list of key dates and deadlines.
Don’t forget to check out our Charging Up Your First-Year podcast series throughout the summer. New episodes will be released weekly on Fridays. 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. You can submit any questions you'd like to hear answered on the podcast ahead of time via email or through our @UnionFirstyear Instagram.
You should also check out our exciting Pre-Orientation Experiences – optional programs full of opportunities for adventure, growth and learning. More information is available on the pre-o webpage. Pre-Orientation Experiences will also be highlighted on episode 4 of the Charging Up Your First-Year podcast, scheduled to release on May 17th. Pre-O registration opens June 3. As an optional program, Pre-O does carry an additional fee. If the fee is prohibitive and limits your participation, full or partial funding may be available through Union's Making U Possible (MUP) initiative.
International Students are required to attend Global Orientation on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, August 31st. F-1 Visa regulations require International Students to participate in this mandatory program, therefore International Students cannot also participate in a Pre-Orientation Program. Pre-season commitments for fall athletes conflict with Pre-O dates, therefore fall athletes are typically unable to participate in our Pre-Orientation Programs as well.
Additionally, we invite parents and families to participate in our many family-oriented programs, including Summer Welcome Receptions; the Parent & Family Welcome Reception (Sept. 1); and Homecoming & Family Weekend (Oct. 18-20). Maintaining a strong relationship with family is vital to a successful Union experience for all students. More details on these events will follow this summer.
I look forward to meeting you and cannot wait for you to begin your Union experience.
Sincerely,
AILEEN SCHATZ
Director of the First-Year Experience
403E Reamer Campus Center
firstyearexperience@union.edu | schatza@union.edu | 518.388.6061