Union College - Overview
The College
Chartered by the state of New York in 1795, Union College is one of the nation's oldest and most distinguished liberal arts colleges. A four-year, independent residential college serving approximately 2,100 undergraduate men and women, Union is known for its academic rigor, flexible programs, and close-knit community.
True to its 200-year tradition of innovation, the Union curriculum offers a multitude of academic and intellectual options. There is an increasing emphasis on interdepartmental and interdisciplinary programs that blend liberal arts with science and technology in a way that encourages students to think creatively, ethically, and entrepreneurially. Approximately half of Union students major in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, with an equal number majoring in the sciences and engineering.
Originally all-male, the College became coeducational in 1970; today, half of Union's students are women. The 2009--10 freshman class is the most diverse in Union history, with 21 percent multicultural students and 4 percent international students. Students come from thirty-nine states and thirty-five countries.
The international experience is a hallmark of a Union education, with more than 60 percent of students pursuing studies abroad. On campus, opportunities for leadership, discussion, and community abound in the Minerva system, offering residential, academic, and social programs. Every incoming student is assigned to one of seven Minerva Houses, which also involve faculty and staff.
There are about 100 student organizations, seventeen Greek organizations, and more than a dozen theme houses. Cultural events include concerts, theater, dance, film, and art exhibits at the Mandeville Gallery. About 90 percent of all students live in residence halls or college-owned houses, including traditional dorms, Minerva Houses, fraternity and sorority houses, townhouses, and College Park Hall, a renovated hotel. The Kenney Community Center connects students with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, tutoring programs, and civic projects.
Union's comprehensive athletics program offers twenty-five varsity intercollegiate sports, organized intramurals, club sports, and recreational and fitness activities. Union is a member of the NCAA, Liberty League, and ECAC Hockey. Men's and women's ice hockey compete in NCAA Division I programs; other teams are Division III.
The Becker Career Center helps students with career planning, internships, and the graduate school and job search. Recent trends show that about a third of graduating seniors go directly to graduate or professional schools, and Union has earned an excellent reputation for placing graduates in medical, law, and business schools. Union's more than 22,000 alumni include U.S. President Chester A. Arthur (Class of 1848); Nobel Prize, National Book Award, and MacArthur "genius" award winners; Olympic medalists; and pioneers in business, engineering, entertainment, journalism, and medicine.
Location
Union is set on 100 acres in Schenectady, an historic city of 62,000 founded by the Dutch. Union became the first unified campus in America in 1813 with a distinctive design by noted French architect Joseph Ramée. Its centerpiece is the sixteen-sided Nott Memorial, a National Historic Landmark used for study, symposia, exhibits, and special events. Union is part of Upstate New York's picturesque Capital-Saratoga Region, with nearly 1 million residents. The region has a burgeoning high-tech industry and rich cultural heritage. A 15-minute drive from Albany International Airport, the College is 3 hours by car from New York City and Boston, 4 hours from Montreal, and close to East Coast ski slopes and the Adirondack Mountains.
Majors and Degrees
Union offers thirty-six majors; double majors; combined majors and minors; interdepartmental and multidisciplinary concentrations; and area, ethnic, and cultural studies programs. The self-designed Organizing Theme Major is for the student with intellectual curiosity in a particular topic involving multiple disciplines. Most students take three courses in each of the three 10-week terms that comprise Union's trimester system. The average introductory class has 20 students; the average upper level class, 12.
Most of Union's newest majors'such as bioengineering, neuroscience, and religious studies--encourage learning at the intersection of the liberal arts and sciences. Among the courses that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries are The Illustrated Organism, a class for artists and scientists, and The Business of Visual Art and Contemporary Entrepreneurship, which explores the economics of the art market. Union's Internal Education Foundation provides funding for special, innovative projects.
Union offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees. Students may declare up to two minors. Union also offers a leadership in medicine program with Albany Medical College and Union Graduate College; the law and public policy program with Albany Law School; and five-year bachelor's/M.B.A. or bachelor's/M.A.T. programs with Union Graduate College. The fourteen academic honor societies include Phi Beta Kappa, the first chapter established in New York (1817).
Academic Programs
Nearly every academic department requires students to complete some form of research in their subject area, and students have opportunities to work one-on-one with their professors. They often coauthor publications and present at conferences, such as the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Many participate in internships at businesses, hospitals, and social service organizations. The Steinmetz Symposium showcases the work of hundreds of student researchers through oral, dance, music, art, and poster sessions each spring.
The Campus Wide Computation Initiative, part of a National Science Foundation grant, helps students integrate computation into various fields of study. Through the Michael Rapaport ('59) Ethics Across the Curriculum initiative, faculty members from different departments offer courses that provide extensive training in everyday ethics. Writing Across the Curriculum requires all students to take five designated courses from at least two divisions and one Senior Writing Experience. The Freshman Year Preceptorial (FYP), a mandatory interdisciplinary course for first-year students, emphasizes critical reading and analytic writing. The Sophomore Research Seminar (SRS), also required, promotes research and writing skills.
Off-Campus Programs
More than 60 percent of all Union students go abroad. Most programs are led by Union faculty. Many programs combine elements of entrepreneurship, research, or community service. There are also opportunities for extended terms, formal exchanges, research trips, and independent study. Three-week mini-terms, for 1 credit, are offered during winter break in various U.S. cities and countries. Many students get involved in continuing hurricane relief efforts in New Orleans. The new Civil Rights Public History Mini-Term explores the American Civil Rights Movement in key cities and states. Union's innovative Minerva Fellows program sends graduating seniors to developing countries to work with welfare and anti-poverty initiatives. All programs are central to Union's mission of educating engaged, ethical contributors to a global society.
Academic Facilities
Union's nearly 100 buildings include the F. W. Olin Center, which features interactive computerization capabilities that make the building adaptable for use by nearly every academic department. The Science and Engineering Center houses the Center for Bioengineering and Computational Biology. Here, students can use sophisticated research tools such as a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a Pelletron accelerator, a centrifuge, and a scanning electron microscope.
Schaffer Library has 600,000 volumes, 1,600 journals and 2 online databases that provide access to a quarter-million printed books, documents, and musical scores. Flanking the library are the Humanities and Social Sciences Buildings. The Arts Building, located in North Colonnade, includes the Burns Atrium, where work by students, faculty, and alumni is exhibited. The Taylor Music Center includes the Fred L. Emerson Auditorium, an all-Steinway performance and teaching space with state-of-the-art recording technology. The Yulman Theater is the College's major performance space.
Currently under construction is the $18-million Peter Irving Wold Science and Engineering Center, which will provide a home for interdisciplinary studies across departments. It is slated for completion in 2011.
Financial Aid
Union is committed to admitting an economically diverse student body and to meeting the full demonstrated need of all admitted students. The College offers more than $32 million annually in aid. The average Union need-based scholarship is $27,000; the average merit scholarship is $10,000. The average financial aid package for the 2009--10 freshman class exceeded $29,000. Those families who are unable to pay full tuition and fees are typically covered by a financial aid package consisting of a grant, loan, and work opportunity. About half of all applicants apply for financial aid; more than 60 percent of all students receive assistance.
Candidates for aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service's PROFILE form and mail them directly to the appropriate agencies by February 1. For more information, visit http://www.union.edu/Admissions/.
Faculty
Close student-faculty interaction and small classes are a hallmark of the Union experience. The close relationship between students and faculty motivates students to learn through inquiry and discourse. Excluding library staff, 96 percent of the faculty members hold the doctorate, first professional, or terminal degree. Class size is generally small, with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Many upper-level courses function as seminars.
Student Government
Students play an integral role in directing the present and future of Union. With full voting rights on the two councils that recommend changes to educational policy and student life, students are engaged and active leaders on campus. Students also participate in groups that advise the president on matters like budgetary planning and long-range needs. Each year, two students are elected to membership on the College's Board of Trustees. Opportunities for leadership also abound with the Minerva houses, theme houses, Kenney Community Center, and other clubs.
Admission Requirements
Some 5,000 applicants seek freshman class positions; about half are in the top 10 percent of their secondary school class. In evaluating each application, admissions counselors look at the prospective student's grades, rigor of courses taken, class rank, teacher recommendations, and extracurricular involvement. Typically, 16 units of secondary school preparation are required for admission. These should include credits in certain fundamental subjects, such as English, a foreign language, mathematics, social studies, and science. It is strongly recommended that students visit Union for an admission interview and a student-guided tour. Alumni interviews may be requested online.
A student can choose not to submit his or her SAT or ACT scores for review, except for accelerated programs. Those interested in accelerated programs must submit the SAT and two SAT Subject Tests.