A message from VP of Student Affairs, Annette Diorio
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The end of the academic year is always a bit bittersweet. On the one hand, we are in a season of joyful celebration of our students’ accomplishments, especially our seniors. Steinmetz, Prize Day and other leadership celebrations remind us of our students’ significant accomplishments and the ways the Union education has shaped them. We know they are prepared for whatever comes next, and we hope Union will remain in their hearts for a very long time. Yet the end of the term also means saying goodbye to friends and the lively energy students bring to campus. For those of us who remain behind, this is a period of renewal. Our buildings will be cleaned and reset for students’ return and to welcome our newest community members. Our staff will engage in planning and preparation, but also, hopefully, spend some time in renewal and rejuvenation. We look forward to seeing students back on campus this fall and wish all our graduating seniors the best in their new adventures. We hope you will always feel at home when you return to Union.
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As the academic year concludes and students begin the process of vacating their residence halls, we would like to highlight an important sustainability initiative at Union College: the New2U Community Closet. The New2U Community Closet is a free resource for all Union students, providing access to essential items such as clothing, bedding, and kitchenware. Our mission is to support our student community while reducing environmental impact by diverting usable goods from landfills.
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As you assist your student with packing, we invite you to participate in our year-end collection efforts. We are currently seeking gently used items such as the following:
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- Apparel: Winter clothing and professional attire.
- Home & Dorm Essentials: Bedding, fans, mirrors, organizers, and furniture.
- Kitchenware: Gently used dishes, small appliances, and utensils.
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Personal Care & Cleaning: Sealed or more than half-full containers of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, cleaning products, and laundry detergents.
- Food: Sealed, non-perishable food items.
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Students can check Residence Hall bulletin boards and email notices for more information about donation locations and times for the Closet. Alternatively, any items may be placed in the marked donation bins located in each residence hall. While the Closet is currently situated in the basement of Webster Hall, we are pleased to note that it will be moving to a new location in West College for the upcoming year.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain this valuable resource and promoting a more sustainable campus environment.
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Updates from Campus Offices
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Union College’s spring sports have enjoyed a very successful final term on campus in 2026. Here are some of the highlights!
| - 119 Union College student-athletes earned spots on the Liberty League Spring All-Academic Teams.
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The women’s lacrosse team made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2015, and then proceeded to set program records for the most goals scored, fewest goals allowed, and largest margin of victory in an NCAA postseason game.
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The men’s crew team earned its best finish at the Liberty League Championships since 2018 with a third-place finish.
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The women’s crew team closed out an exciting campaign with a second-place finish in the DII/DIII Varsity 4+ race at the famous Dad Vail Regatta in New Jersey.
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The women’s golf team finished the season with the third-lowest single-season average in program history.
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The men’s lacrosse team battled through the 12th-toughest schedule in all of DIII men’s lacrosse to reach the conference championship game for the eighth time in program history.
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Two more All-Liberty League players for Union came from the softball team in senior Ellie Wintringer and sophomore Carra Cleaves. Wintringer finished her senior season with the 10th-most career home runs in program history and the fourth-most doubles. Cleaves led the league in strikeouts and also finished third on Union’s single-season strikeout list.
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Union’s tennis teams enjoyed very successful seasons as well, with the women’s tennis seniors graduating with a program-record 39 wins over their four years. On the men’s side, Union made the Liberty League Tennis Tournament for the first time in three years after setting the program’s single-season win record (11 wins). The 2025-26 men’s tennis squad made history as the winningest team in the 114-year history of the program with the first win over Rensselaer since 2011.
- The men’s outdoor track team placed sixth at the Liberty League Championships, and the women’s team placed seventh.
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Career Center at Becker Hall
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While a summer internship is one way for students to spend the summer break, a competitive market and hiring timelines mean that not every student has that opportunity. And that’s okay!
If your student is still looking for ways to gain experience this summer, encourage them to explore these impactful alternatives:
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Volunteer Opportunities: Suggest they check out Idealist, which lists thousands of positions that can help them gain experience while giving back.
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Local Employment: Roles in restaurants or retail are excellent for developing "soft skills" like communication, teamwork, and performing in fast-paced environments.
- Leadership Roles: Working as a summer camp counselor is a fantastic way to add demonstrated leadership and management experience to a resume.
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Shadowing: Tap into the local or Union alumni network to see if they can shadow a professional in their field of interest.
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Another way your student can spend their time off this summer is to work with the Career Center to ensure they are ready for the busy Fall recruiting season. Our office remains OPEN all summer, and students can schedule an appointment virtually or in person in Handshake. Encourage them to complete all 10 steps of the UReady Career Readiness Accelerator, which they can access through Nexus.
Finally, not knowing what comes next is stressful. If your student is a graduating senior who needs support figuring out their next steps, the Career Center is there to help them every step of the way! Encourage your student to schedule an appointment with our team. Even if they have never been in our office before, we are available to support them through this transition.
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We are delighted to welcome spring and the renewed energy it brings to campus. Our team has been hard at work enhancing the dining experience for all students, and we’re excited to share one of our newest initiatives focused on accessibility and inclusion.
Union Dining is proud to introduce an Allergen‑Friendly Pantry in the C‑Store. This newly designated space features allergen‑friendly options designed to better support students with food allergies or dietary restrictions. The pantry currently offers a variety of items, including sweet treats, snacks, macaroni and cheese, banana milk, GMO‑free products, and foods free from the top nine major allergens.
And this is just the beginning. We invite students to stop by, explore the new selection, and share their feedback. If there’s a product you’d like to see added, we welcome your suggestions as we continue to grow this offering.
We are also excited to expand our partnerships with local vendors. In keeping with Bon Appétit’s long‑standing commitment to supporting local businesses, we hope to feature products from Different Blend Bakery, a local provider of gluten‑free, in‑house‑made baked goods.
At Union Dining, we believe every student, including those with allergies or dietary restrictions, deserves access to food that is safe, delicious, and nourishing. Our goal is to ensure all students can enjoy desserts and snacks that support their well‑being and help fuel their academic success at Union College.
Thank you for helping us create a dining experience that works for everyone.
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Eppler-Wolff Counseling Center
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As the academic year comes to a close, our students are preparing to transition from the structure and pace of Union’s academic life back into your home environment. While summer break can bring excitement and relief, it can also come with emotional adjustments for both students and families. Students may return home feeling exhausted from a demanding year, uncertain about the future, or eager for increased independence. Families can support this transition by approaching the summer with flexibility, open communication about rules and expectations, and patience.
Union’s trimester system and the back-to-back Winter and Spring Terms are a long haul. Students often need time to decompress after months of academic pressure, social demands, and balancing responsibilities. Some may appear withdrawn, sleep more than usual, or need additional downtime during the first few weeks home. Encouraging rest, maintaining supportive conversations, and, if you feel they are dealing with more than just academic exhaustion, normalizing help-seeking can make a meaningful difference. Summer can also be an ideal time for students to reconnect with healthy routines, supportive relationships, hobbies, and, if needed, ongoing counseling or mental health services. All students have access to TimelyCare (Union’s telehealth partnership) from anywhere in the United States.
Returning home also presents an opportunity for families to redefine expectations and household rules. College students have spent the year making independent decisions, managing schedules, and navigating adult responsibilities. Rather than assuming previous household dynamics will automatically resume, families may benefit from discussing expectations around communication, curfews, shared responsibilities, finances, and privacy early in the transition. Collaborative conversations that balance independence with mutual respect often lead to fewer conflicts and a smoother summer experience for everyone involved.
Finally, while rest and recovery are important, summer can also be a valuable time for growth and exploration. Encouraging students to pursue part-time employment, internships, volunteer opportunities, or community involvement can help build confidence, develop professional skills, and strengthen their sense of purpose. These experiences do not need to be highly formal or career-defining to be meaningful. Whether students are working locally, volunteering with a community organization, or simply learning new life skills, summer experiences can help prepare them for the year ahead while also fostering resilience, connection, and personal development. Thank you for partnering with us in supporting your child’s growth, well-being, and success, and for trusting us to be part of their college journey.
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The Financial Aid Office is reviewing returning student financial aid applications for the 2026-27 academic year. Aid awards will be released on a rolling basis beginning late May/early June, provided your student’s financial aid application is complete (the deadline was April 15). Notifications will be sent via email to students’ Union email addresses. Parents who have been granted proxy access to Self Service can review the application status. If you do not have proxy access, please ask your student to check to make sure all requirements have been received – if anything is outstanding, submit the remaining requirements as soon as possible.
Questions?
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Office of Student Success
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The next couple of weeks will be very busy for your student. Careful planning and time management will be beneficial as they juggle multiple assignments, projects, and final exams. Encourage your students to begin slowly studying for final exams now. The earlier they begin, the easier it will be to move at their own pace. Most final exams are cumulative, so it is very important that they begin revisiting topics from earlier weeks now. If they are confused about certain topics – this is the time to ask questions, attend office hours, and visit the academic support centers.
I always encourage students to use weekends to their advantage. It is also a great time to actively practice and reinforce what they learned in the previous week. It is important for students to remember that studying is not just about memorizing. Active application is crucial for understanding! Knowing what to do with the information they are learning/memorizing is imperative for deeper understanding. Exam questions require deeper analysis that requires the student to have an in-depth understanding. The more they practice questions, problems, etc., the more familiar they will be with different types of questions on the day of the exam. Creating mock exams can be super helpful, especially if your student is worried that they may run out of time. The more they practice questions under a similar testing environment, the easier it will become for them to pace themselves accordingly on the day of the exam (empty classrooms are a great place to complete mock exams under similar exam conditions and/or rehearse presentations).
Lastly, please encourage your students to take breaks! It is very important for them to not skip any meals and hydrate regularly. The better they feel mentally and physically, the easier for them to focus and retain information.
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Residential Education & Housing
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Spring Term Move-Out Dates
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- Non-Graduating Students: Friday, June 12 by 12 p.m.
- Graduating Students: Monday, June 15 by 10 a.m.
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We ask that all students complete their move-out process by their designated deadline.
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Donations & Trash Disposal
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Students wishing to donate unwanted items are encouraged to place them in the designated donation bins located throughout campus before move-out.
Garbage dumpsters will also be placed near the residence hall buildings for any items students wish to discard prior to leaving campus.
All personal items, including personal furniture, must be removed from student spaces. This includes emptying all shared common spaces for suite and apartment style living.
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Room Inspections & Check-Out Fees
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Please note that our Residence Life team will inspect all rooms after move-out and document:
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- Damages to college property
- Excessive cleaning needs
- Personal belongings left behind
- Improper check-out procedures
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Any of the above may result in additional fees being charged to the student account. Fees can be assessed both at an individual, suite/apartment, and community level.
Students who have rented items with Bigger Beds need to arrange pick up prior to leaving campus, directly with the vendor, to avoid fees. Microfridges should be left inside the assigned room for pre-scheduled pick up on Saturday, June 16.
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All residence hall keys must be returned before move-out. Key drop boxes will be located across campus for students to complete their key return process.
Please be aware of the following replacement charges:
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Room Key Not Returned: $100 fee
- Front Door Key Not Returned: $150 fee
(This fee covers the cost of re-coring doors and changing locks for safety purposes.)
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Summer Housing Information
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All summer housing applications were due Friday, May 15.
Additional information regarding summer housing options is available on our housing website.
College Park Hall will be the only building utilized for summer housing assignments. This building offers:
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- Access to kitchens
- Laundry facilities
- Central air conditioning
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Students who have been approved to live on campus during the summer break will be expected to adhere to certain set dates for their move-in and move-out processes. These dates will be slightly different depending on whether the student is coming from an on-campus assignment in the Spring Term or not, and whether the student is transitioning into an on-campus assignment for the Fall Term. These dates are non-negotiable, and all students in summer housing must agree to them to be approved for summer housing.
Please review the summer housing information on our website.
Summer housing transition will begin on Thursday, June 18 for the students who select to transition from their spring housing assignment to their summer assignment. If students need additional time, they are permitted to move until Sunday, June 21.
There will be a similar process at the conclusion of summer housing for students transitioning from summer housing directly into their fall assignment.
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Commencement is Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. Please refer to our Commencement website for information we hope is helpful as you make your plans. This site will be updated as Commencement approaches. Encourage your student to check out our Commencement Student Checklist!
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Contact Information for Emergencies and Concerns
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In case of an emergency, parents and families are encouraged to call Union College’s Campus Safety Department at 518-388-6911. In addition to responding to emergencies, Campus Safety can also activate Union’s on-call system. The on-call system operates in the evenings, after College offices are closed, on weekends, holidays, and College breaks. The on-call system includes student and professional residential staff, the Counseling Center, Health Services, and other College administrators.
During regular business hours, parents and families should contact their student’s Class Dean, with questions or concerns about their student.
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Additional Campus Resources
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Find additional campus resources and helpful information for families below.
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