A message from Aileen Schatz, Director of First-Year Experience
Summer is already flying by, the beginning of your college experience is just two months away, and we are already so excited to welcome you at Orientation. Our New Student Orientation was developed for our newest members of the Union community, to provide new students with a warm welcome and introduction to the tools, resources, and opportunities needed for a successful social and academic transition to Union.
For Fall 2024, Orientation programming will take place from September 1st through September 7th, which encompasses your first few days of classes, Club Expo (Sept. 6th), and John Calvin Toll Day of Community Engagement (Sept. 7th). All new students will move in by September 1 (August 29th for the students who opt to participate in Pre-O programs).
Throughout orientation, our Orientation Leaders (OLs) will facilitate conversations and connections among new students and serve as mentors and friends during the transition to Union. Be sure to follow our First Year Instagram, @UnionFirstYears, as we begin to introduce all of our Orientation and Pre-O students leaders there soon. A finalized orientation schedule will be posted here later this month.
All incoming students should check their Union email regularly -- a lot of important information is being sent here, details on housing and your class schedule will be shared there later this summer. We hope this newsletter, full of important deadlines and information – along with our Charging Up Your First Year podcast series (available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio) – help to ensure a smooth transition to life at Union.
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! Don't hesitate to reach out, feel free email or call 518-388-6061.
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Did you miss the June newsletter? Catch up on all of that information here.
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In the meantime, here are some important things to review:
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PRE-O EXPERIENCES
Union offers three innovative, optional Pre-O programs to give incoming students a jump-start on their college experience. Choose between our Community and Culture, Leadership, or Outdoor experiences. Pre-orientation programs run Aug. 29- Aug. 31.
These programs are a great way to get settled into campus a few days early and to make connections with new friends, student leaders and staff before orientation begins.
Registration for all Pre-O programs is available now in your applicant portal.
There is a $400 fee for each program that is added to the fall tuition bill. The deadline to withdraw from programs without incurring a charge is Aug. 14. After Aug. 14, all charges are non-refundable.
Questions? Email us or call (518) 388-606.
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ACADEMICS
Michelle Osborn, Dean of Studies
Fall classes will begin Sept. 4 and exams will end Nov. 19.
As a reminder, the information you provided in your advising and registration form on the applicant portal will help create your fall term schedule, which you will receive in August. If adjustments are needed, classes can be added or dropped during the last day of orientation.
All students must take the Mathematics Placement Exam. The deadline is July 15. Students interested in taking chemistry courses must take the Chemistry Placement Exam. The deadline is also July 15.
Questions? Email or call (518) 388-6234.
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REGISTRAR
Sarah Y. 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? Contact us via email or call (518) 388-6016.
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ID CARD PHOTOS
All members of the campus community are required to have a photo identification card. Multifunctional ID cards are digital keys to residence halls, athletic facilities and academic spaces. They allow transactions at the bookstore and in dining locations, and act as library cards. These cards also identify you as a member of the Union community.
First-year and transfer students should submit photos electronically for their ID cards through the applicant portal.
Photo requirements are as follows:
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Photo must be current
- There must be space visible above head
- Plain, light-colored neutral background
- Photo must be of you alone
- Shoulders squared toward the camera
- No hats or items that obscure your face
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Must be glare and red-eye free
- Minimum resolution 300 x 300 pixels
- JPG file between 20 KB and 1 MB, no smaller or larger
- There can be no borders on the photo
- Please do not submit senior portraits or other copyrighted photography
Students who submit photos that meet all requirements by August 1 will receive their ID cards during move-in with their room keys.
Students who do not submit photos, or submit photos that do not meet the above requirements, will be required to have their photos taken upon arrival. They can then pick up their ID cards during orientation.
Questions? Email the Card Access Office.
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HOUSING
Catie Straube, Director of Residential Education and Housing
Allie Krohn, Associate Director for Housing Operations, Office of Residential Education
Thank you to everyone who completed their first-year housing registration form or their commuter exemption form. Our office is diligently working to determine housing assignments for every student and expects to have these out by August 1, 2024. We are SO excited to welcome you all to campus. As you prepare your packing lists, we ask you to take a moment to review our prohibited items list on our website. To rent a microfridge, students should visit this site to complete the rental process.
Questions? Visit the Residential Education webpage, email or call (518) 388-6117
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MAILROOM & MAILING BELONGINGS
Our mailroom is quite small. If students need to mail their belongings to campus, please do so after Aug. 21.
Please address items sent to the College mailroom (located in Reamer Campus Center) as follows:
Union College
Student's Name
Students' Dorm Building Name, Room Number
807 Union Street
Schenectady, N.Y. 12308
A few helpful mailing tips:
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Although your dorm building name and room number are included in your mailing address, all mail and packages are delivered to and will need to be picked up from the Mailroom in Reamer Campus Center.
- Students will receive an email when they have mail or a package to pick up. Mail and/or packages must be picked up within two weeks.
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First-class mail (letters, bills, postcards) is forwarded over the summer to the address on record. No other mail is forwarded. FedEx or UPS packages cannot be forwarded and must be held or returned.
- If shipments require tracking, use either UPS or FedEx.
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The College is financially responsible only for insured incoming mail that requires a signature. Please be advised that a signature is not required for USPS delivery confirmation and priority mail.
The College mailroom offers a range of services. The “ship it home” program allows students to send belongings home easily. And while the mailroom is not a U.S. Post Office, it provides limited postal services (including UPS and FedEx shipments). The College is not responsible for outgoing packages or mail. For full-service postal needs, the Schenectady Post Office is located downtown on Jay Street, just a short walk from campus.
Questions? Email Paul Debiase, Mailroom Director.
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VECTOR ONLINE EDUCATION MODULES
As your Union education begins, we want to emphasize the importance of learning both in the classroom and beyond. We will soon begin sharing online curricula on a variety of important topics to be completed before you arrive on campus. By engaging with these courses, you will learn how to embody the values of Union College by treating yourself and your community with care and respect.
In the coming weeks, you should receive an email from Vector. This message will include information about how to login to access and complete online modules on mental well-being; sexual assault prevention; and substance misuse prevention. For those students participating in NCAA athletics, you will also be assigned the Prevention for College Athletics course. If you experience technical issues within the Vector platform, you can request assistance by reaching out to the Vector Solutions Customer Care Team.
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FINANCIAL AID
Students receiving need-based aid may have received a notification from our office requesting documents that would allow us to finalize your financial aid offer. If you received such a request and have not submitted the required information, please do so as soon as possible. Students can check the status of any outstanding documents through Self Service. The Financial Aid Office needs this to verify your financial aid eligibility. We are unable to disburse any need-based funds at the start of the Fall term without these verification items.
Now is the time to accept or reject student loans.
Federal Direct Student Loans
If you have been offered a Federal Direct student loan(s) as part of your financial aid package, please complete the following steps. For more detailed information about this process, please see our website.
1) Accept or Reject Loans - Log in to Self Service to accept or reject your loan(s). From the main checklist on the Financial Aid home screen, select ‘Review and Accept your Financial Aid Award Package’. Parents do not have access to accept or reject loans, this is a student-only function. If you are accepting the loan(s), please complete steps 2 and 3.
2) Log in to the studentaid.gov website (using your own student FSA ID) to sign a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note.
3) Complete the Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling session, also on the studentaid.gov website.
Union Loan
If you have been offered a Union College Loan as part of your financial aid offer you will be receiving an email from the Union College Loan servicer, ESCI. It will provide instructions on steps you must complete to use these funds.
If work-study was offered as part of the financial aid package, students interested in working on campus must create a profile on Handshake and apply to a maximum of 3 positions starting July 1. Learn how to apply on our website. and check out Episode Students should monitor the status of their application(s) in Handshake throughout the month and withdraw any pending applications once they have been hired. Our office will be sending emails prior to the start of classes indicating other employment details.
Questions? Email or call 518-388-6123.
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BURSAR’S OFFICE / BILLING
Student health insurance: Union College requires all students to have active health insurance that
covers them while in Schenectady. Union offers coverage with MVP through Haylor, Freyer and
Coon (HFC). Insurance is effective July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 for international students and
August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025 for domestic students. All students are automatically billed for health
insurance and will see the charge with their fall bill. International students may not opt out or waive
this insurance. Domestic students may enroll in the insurance or may request a waiver (with proof of
insurance that covers them in full while in Schenectady) and have the charge removed.
Using the Haylor, Freyer and Coon portal, domestic students may enroll in or apply
to waive the Union College insurance plan. Upon submission of proof of insurance and waiver form,
HFC will evaluate your policy to ensure it will cover you completely while in Schenectady. If your
policy meets this requirement, HFC will approve your waiver request and the charge will be removed from your account. Please allow three to five business days to see the credit on the student account. The waiver form, applicable to U.S. citizens only, is required annually and must be completed by September 20, 2024.
International questions? Please contact the International Student Services office at (518) 388-8003 or email internationaladvising@union.edu.
Other questions? Email, call (518) 388-6106 or visit the Bursar’s website.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Robin Olinsky, Class Dean and International Student Advising
We will be hosting an information session for all incoming international students and their families on Thursday, July 18 at 8am Eastern Time. We will be discussing arrival plans, banking, cell phones, and more! This will be a great opportunity to ask questions about immigration documents, travel and arrival plans, and how to prepare for your first-year at Union. Register for the session here.
International students should arrive on campus on Aug. 28 (from 4pm-10pm) or Aug. 29 (from 10am-10pm), with mandatory Global Orientation taking place on Aug. 30 - Aug. 31. No exceptions can be made to the arrival days, so students are encouraged to book their travel accordingly.
Please note that all international students have been automatically enrolled in the College’s health insurance plan.
Questions? If you have concerns about visas or need help with anything else, please email or call (518) 388-8003.
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TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students follow the same orientation schedule as first-year students and are placed into orientation groups with other transfer students. Transfer students are expected to attend all sessions, especially the first meeting with orientation leaders. Information provided during this meeting will be essential to navigating the first few weeks on campus.
Also, sophomore and junior transfer students wishing to keep a car on campus will need to register their vehicle with Campus Safety. First-year transfer students will need permission from Dean of First-Year Students Kate Schurick.
Finally, if you have not already completed your biographical information, please do so immediately. Missing information may affect your course registration.
Questions? Email, call (518) 388-6061 or visit our website.
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U JOURNEY
Ryan J. Keytack, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
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Welcome to your U Journey!
You might hear students and staff talk about The U Journey. And you might ask what exactly is it? Well, the team in Student Affairs has worked to align your entire out-of-classroom experience with opportunities to find your place and learn important life skills. We want your entire Union journey to be fun, productive, and memorable. We also want you to be able to take care of yourself, think before you act, engage differences, and understand what it means to be a Garnet Charger.
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The U Journey Ambassadors are busy planning for fall. Watch for more updates as the summer unfolds.
Questions? Email the U Journey or check out more by visiting our U Journey website.
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INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS / TERMS ABROAD
Lara Atkins, Director
Union’s robust study abroad program includes more than 40 full-term and mini-term programs in
30 countries, from Argentina to Vietnam. The programs are competitive, with students admitted
based on a combination of factors, including a written essay, GPA, faculty and administration
recommendations, and course of study. Here are a few things to help students plan and prepare
for potential study abroad:
- Begin your discovery your first year on campus. Talk with your academic adviser, class dean and International Programs Office staff about programs appropriate to your interests.
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Attend the Study Abroad Fair each fall. Meet with faculty and students who’ve been abroad and Union’s overseas representatives.
- Check out information sessions throughout the year. These events are well publicized at the beginning of each term.
- Keep an open mind about the varying possibilities and destinations.
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Become familiar with application cycles, which run two terms ahead of the planned term abroad.
- Apply early, apply often, and apply to more than one program.
The International Programs Office helps students and their families navigate every step of the process.
Questions? Visit the International Programs webpage, email or call (518) 388-6002.
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UNION PARENTS & FAMILY PROGRAM
Noelle Marchaj '05, Director of Parent and Family Philanthropy
Damond Heath '10, Senior Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, and Director of DEIB Initiatives
Before heading to campus this fall, we hope you'll join us for one of Union's Summer Welcome Receptions. These family events are hosted by alumni and current parents. Each event is a wonderful opportunity to meet other members of the Class of 2028 and their families, as well as Union leadership, current students, alumni and College staff.
You are welcome to attend any one of the events in your region or join the virtual program. Look for an email invitation or register by clicking the link below.
Register for the 2024 Welcome Receptions
- July 17: Albany, NY
- July 24: North Andover, MA
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July 29: Virtual Reception
- August 6: Old Saybrook, CT
- August 7: Armonk, NY
- September 1: Orientation Welcome Reception - on campus
Questions? Contact Noelle or visit the Parents and Families website to learn more about how you can create your connection to Union. We look forward to meeting you!
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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 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.
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.
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Please pay close attention to due dates and deadlines. If you have questions about any due date or deadline, please contact the associated office or program. Or reach out to Aileen Schatz by email.
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