A Message from the VP for Student Affairs, Annette Diorio

Updates from Campus Offices

Athletics

It has been a successful winter for Union athletics teams so far! The women's basketball team won its first conference title in 22 years and is headed to the NCAA Tournament, while both basketball teams boast the conference Player of the Year in Jelena Perovic '26 and Jack Plesser '27. The women's hockey team saw success on two continents, as the Garnet Chargers knocked off #12 Clarkson in the first round of the ECAC Hockey Tournament, while Monja Wagner '27 came home from Milano-Cortina with a bronze medal as a member of the Swiss Olympic women's hockey team. On the track, Ashley Sheldon '27 earned a second conference championship in the high jump, while Troy Luley '29 earned a pair of All-League second-team honors in leading the men's swimming and diving team to its largest point increase in 12 years at the conference championship meet. And with spring sports getting underway, it promises to be another successful season coming up!

Career Center

Navigating the Trimesters and Internships 

Union’s trimester schedule can occasionally pose some timeline challenges for students seeking internships. A proactive approach goes a long way in resolving any potential scheduling conflicts. 

If your student has secured an internship with a start date before the end of the Spring Term, please make sure that they have either worked out a flexible academic schedule for the end of the term with their Spring Term professors or have agreed on a flexible work schedule with their employer to start their internship remotely. Note: Faculty are not obligated to provide flexibility, and proactive conversations are the key to securing a flexible end-of-term class schedule. 

Transparency in conversations with employers is also key. While many large organizations have strict timelines for their internship programs, mid-sized and smaller businesses often offer more flexibility in start dates. Encourage your student to work with the Career Center to navigate these conversations. 

Community Internship Funding

Many internships in non-profit organizations, small businesses, and start-ups are unpaid or low-paid. At Union, we’re committed to expanding the availability of awards for unpaid summer internships so that students don’t have to choose between taking a job they might not find fulfilling and accepting an internship in a field they are passionate about pursuing.

Through generous support from alumni, families, and friends of Union, the Career Center can offer awards to some students pursuing summer internships at community service non-profit organizations. Applications for funding open towards the start of the Spring Term, and the deadline is Late April (date tbd). If this might be of interest to your student, please encourage them to check the Handshake platform! More information about the funding program and process can be found on our website.

Class Deans

If you need to reach your student’s Class Dean, please reach out by phone or email. 

Class of 2029: Dean Sharif Rosen, rosens2@union.edu
Class of 2028: Dean Eun-sil Lee, leee4@union.edu
Class of 2027: Dean Robin Olinsky, olinskyr@union.edu
Class of 2026: Dean Robin Olinsky, olinskyr@union.edu

The Class Deans Office can also be reached by phone at (518) 388-8060.

Eppler-Wolff Counseling Center

Union’s trimester system means that there is only a short break between Winter and Spring Terms. This time should serve as a vital period of restoration for students. After the intensity of Winter Term (made worse by the cold weather and limited daylight), time away from academic responsibilities allows students to recover physically and mentally. Students often use this time to reconnect with family and friends, spend time outdoors, or simply step back from structured obligations. Rest during spring break helps reduce burnout, rebalance sleep patterns, and supports immune health, all of which are especially important coming into the Spring Term.

Equally important, this pause creates space for emotional and cognitive reset. Getting some rest and relaxation will allow students to return for Spring Term better able to concentrate, engage in coursework, and manage new material. Believe it or not, faculty and staff also benefit, gaining time to reflect, prepare thoughtfully for the upcoming term, and restore the energy needed to support students effectively. The transition break also allows for a fresh start. When the Spring Term begins, students will be taking new classes, have new professors, and new opportunities. The campus feels alive with energy, and there are many fun activities for students to participate in.

If your child has had a difficult academic term, taking time to reflect on what worked well and what obstacles made work difficult is essential for students’ well-being, motivation, and long-term success. Students can evaluate what strategies worked, what challenges emerged, and what support they may need moving forward. Looking at these strategies allows students to return with renewed focus, healthier coping, and improved academic performance in the term ahead. One of the benefits of Union College is that support is not far away. If your child had a difficult term, please help guide them to the resources on campus (e.g., Class Deans, Student Success, Writing Center, Counseling Center) that will help them have a great Spring Term.

Financial Aid

Now is the time for current students to reapply for need-based financial aid. Students can view and monitor their specific financial aid application requirements for 2026-27 in Self Service. Parents with Proxy access to Self Service can also view and monitor the required documents list. If you would like Proxy access, please refer to the Self Service Proxy instructions and ask your student to grant you access. 

The deadline to submit financial aid application materials is Wednesday, April 15, 2026 for need-based financial aid. Applications completed beyond the April 15 filing date may not receive full financial aid consideration. The Returning Students Page of the Union website lists the general need-based financial aid application requirements. All supporting documents can be submitted using our secure online dropbox or via fax to (518) 388-8052. We discourage emailing sensitive tax documents to our office.

Questions? Contact the Financial Aid Office at (518) 388-6123 or finaid@union.edu.

Office of Intercultural Affairs

Although there is still snow on the ground, spring will be here before we know it, and with it - Commencement Season! There will be many opportunities for students to honor their achievements at Commencement with different cords and stoles showcasing their achievements in honor societies, organizations, teams, etc., as well as identity-based cords and stoles highlighted below. 

The Unity Celebration is a pre-graduation ceremony honoring graduating seniors and the many backgrounds and communities represented within the class. Participating students are presented with cultural and identity-based graduation regalia, including country stoles and other honors, recognizing the experiences and connections that have shaped their time at Union. The celebration offers a space for students and campus community members to gather and acknowledge this important milestone together.

Stoles - a decorative, sash-like garment draped around the neck over a graduation gown.

Cords - colored ropes worn around the neck over a graduation gown.

Please urge your student to consider ordering applicable cords and stoles. Any graduating student that feels a connection to any of these cords and/or stoles is eligible to receive one during the Unity Celebration on Tuesday, June 2 or by reaching out to the office of intercultural affairs at oia@union.edu.

Office of Student Success

Happy almost end-of-the-term! The next two weeks can be overwhelming as your student may have just finished another round of midterm exams during week 9 in addition to finals two weeks later. Careful planning and time management will be very important. Encourage your student to begin planning and studying for final exams now. The earlier they begin, the easier it will be to move at a reasonable 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 use our academic support centers. If your student is taking a course that provides supplemental instruction (SI) sessions, the last week of SI sessions will be the week of March 9th (week 10).

Weekends can be a great time to catch up or get a head start on work for the upcoming week. It is also a great time to actively practice 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 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. 

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.

Residential Education & Housing

End-of-Term & Move-Out Information

As the end of the Winter Term approaches, we want to share important move-out information to help families and students plan ahead.

Students Not Returning for Spring Term (Including Study Abroad & Graduates)

Students who are not returning for the Spring Term must fully vacate their residence and remove all belongings by Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m.

Students remaining on campus for spring break do not need to complete any special application.

End-of-Year Spring Term Closing Dates

Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. – Non-graduating students
Monday, June 15 at 6 p.m. – Graduating students

Residence halls and apartments close during break periods, so please plan travel accordingly.

Move-Out Expectations

Students are expected to leave their rooms clean and in good condition. This includes:

Failure to properly clean may result in a $150 cleaning fee per resident. Large non-college furniture left behind will result in a $50 removal fee per item, per resident.

Maintenance & Damages

Students should submit maintenance requests for any concerns prior to move-out. If a student has caused damage, they are encouraged to proactively contact their Community Director or Residential Education to take responsibility.

We encourage families to discuss move-out plans early to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition at the end of the term. As always, our Residential Education team is here to support students throughout the process.

Undergraduate Research

The Steinmetz Symposium is our annual two-day celebration of student artistry, scholarship and research at Union College! This year's (36th) Steinmetz Symposium is Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, 2026. On Friday, we expect to have nearly 200 oral presentations, 100 poster presentations, several concerts, the Visual Arts Exhibition, and the Lothridge Festival of Dance. On Saturday, there will be a concert by the Jazz Ensemble and the Prize Day ceremony where students are awarded prizes recognizing their accomplishments at the College. Here are some highlights from last year's Symposium!

The wider campus community is invited to attend the Steinmetz Symposium and join the celebration, including family and friends! By late April, the full schedule of events will be available on the Steinmetz Symposium website.

This year, the deadline for students to submit an abstract for an individual presentation is Friday, March 13, 2026 (the last day of Week 10 of Winter Term). Presenting a senior project / thesis at the Steinmetz Symposium is a required component of receiving departmental honors for many majors.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

Visit Union’s Academic Calendar and Residential Education’s Dates and Deadlines for more details and upcoming dates.

Commencement 2026

100 Days to Commencement!

On Friday, March 6, the Class of 2026 celebrated 100 Days to Commencement. Students were joined by campus offices offering resources designed to support students through their final 100 days at Union.

Commencement Information

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!

Cap and Gown Orders

Students participating in the Commencement ceremony can order their cap and gown through Wednesday, April 8. The cost of the cap and gown are covered by the College. Students will have the option to purchase additional accessories and graduation announcements.

College Relations

On behalf of the Family Circle, we are wishing all your U's a great wrap up to Winter Term and a wonderful spring break. 

Also, start to look out for information on ADay4U, which will be held on Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16. ADay4U is our most ambitious giving event of the year. You will have the opportunity to join fellow families, alumni and friends to give back, fuel programs and celebrate the transformative power of a Union education. 

Families are always welcome to join the College Relations events. For a schedule and more information, please click here.

Contact Information for Emergencies and Concerns

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. 

Additional Campus Resources

Find additional campus resources and helpful information for families below.

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