A message from Kate Schurick, dean of first-year students
I am delighted to welcome you to the Union College community. Over the next few months, my colleagues and I will be emailing you regularly to help make everything as easy as possible for you and your student.
Your student should have already received a newsletter with a list of important deadlines. Please remind your son or daughter to check their Union email so they have enough time to complete the tasks outlined in that communication. An abbreviated version of these tasks is included in this newsletter as well.
Requests to students, sent through our applicant portal, have also been made for biographical information, choice of major (if known) and previous college-level work. Please encourage your student to set up their Union email account in this portal. They were also asked to review our health requirements. Please urge them to get all of that material to us as soon as possible.
My colleagues and I will also be asking students for additional information that they will need to provide before the summer break. The bulk of this material is due by June 1, 8 and 15. For a checklist of all upcoming deadlines and important dates, visit my website.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Kate Schurick, Dean of First-Year Students
306 Reamer Campus Center
E-mail: schurick@union.edu
Phone: 518-388-6061/6116
union.edu/firstyear
Follow me on Twitter @KateSchurick
UNION PARENTS AND FAMILY PROGRAM
From Marna Redding, director of alumni and parent engagement
We hope that you received your official Union College decal and are displaying it with pride. As a parent of a Union student, you are now a member of an exclusive club – the Union College Parent Association. Membership is free and benefits include regular electronic newsletters, a quarterly magazine and invitations to special events like Homecoming & Family Weekend (Oct. 21 – 23). We also offer a range of networking opportunities. One of the biggest is our First-Year Family reception, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 3:45 p.m.
And if you’re interested in taking a more active role in connecting with the Union community, join our parent volunteers group to get involved in a range of ways – from hosting networking receptions in your home to sharing career and professional expertise. For details, email us.
Check out our website for more information.
Questions? reddingm@union.edu or gattos@union.edu
ACADEMICS
From Mark Wunderlich, dean of studies
The Union academic experience offers an enormous variety of opportunities. To explore their options, students are encouraged to complete a pre-registration survey so we can help assist with two key first-year experiences: the First Year Preceptorial (FYP) course and the first term course schedule. The deadline to complete the survey is June 1. Survey responses – particularly those linked to FYP courses – are connected to housing selection. The survey questionnaire also links to our Honor Code tutorial. Students will need to complete the tutorial as part of the pre-registration process.
All students must take the Mathematics Placement Exam. Exam deadline: July 15
Students interested in taking chemistry courses at Union must take the Chemistry Placement Exam as well. Exam deadline: July 15.
Transfer students should review their deposit confirmation letters for additional information regarding their academic advisor and credit evaluation.
Questions? Email or 518-388-6234
FINANCIAL AID
From Linda Parker, director of financial aid
If your student is receiving need-based aid, your family will get a letter from our office if we need additional income verification documents. International students will receive this request via email with specific instructions on what documents to submit and the next steps in finalizing their aid award.
For those required to submit federal tax return transcripts, log back in to your FAFSA and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) under the student and/or parent income section. This tool allows you to view and transfer your tax return information directly into your FAFSA. Not all individuals will be eligible to use the DRT on the FAFSA. In such cases, please request a copy of your federal tax return transcript from the IRS. Additional information related to this process is available on the Financial Aid website.
We cannot finalize the financial aid award until we receive and review these documents. Once income verification is complete, we will follow up with information on loans and work study. To ensure that a financial aid award is confirmed prior to our billing cycle in early July, forward the required forms to the Financial Aid Office by June 8.
Questions? Email or 518-388-6123
HOUSING
From Amanda Bingel, director of residential life
Living on campus is a key part of the Union experience. We can’t wait to help your student take advantage of all of the benefits of being only minutes from dining halls, the library and the student center. Visit our site to read more about living on campus.
Students have received instruction on how to complete their housing profile. The deadline for this information is June 8. If your student plans on commuting from home and we have not been informed, please email that information.
Questions? Email or 518-388-6117
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
From Judy Manchester, senior director of financial services
The Student Account Office provides billing and payment support to students and families through Web Advising. Parents can also use this billing tool if they are given access by their student. After setting up a parent account, you will be able to view and respond to student billing and financial aid requirements. You will also receive information via e-mail about payment due dates and be able to view prior billing information. The fall, winter and spring terms are billed in July, November and February. A second billing occurs 2 -3 weeks after the start of each term.
Union requires that all students have health and accident coverage. All students are billed in July and are required to enroll or waive the coverage. The charge can only be removed for U.S. citizens if the student or parent completes the online waiver identifying alternate coverage. Find a link to Gallagher Student Health in Web Advising to complete the enrollment or waiver. The deadline for the waiver is Aug. 12.
CDPHP is the student health insurance provider. Coverage for 2016-17 year is effective Sept. 1, 2016, through to Aug. 31, 2017. Students who wish to be covered by the student health plan, or would like to enroll for a period earlier than indicated above, should select the annual “2016-17 plus August 2016 coverage” when they sign-up.
International students are automatically enrolled in the health insurance provided by HTH Worldwide. For more information on international health insurance, visit here.
Questions? Contact the Office of International Advising via email or 518-388-8785.
For more information, visit the Student Accounts website or consult the packet that we mailed to you.
Questions? Email or 518-388-6106
PRE-ORIENTATION EXPERIENCES
Union offers three innovative, optional programs to give incoming students a jump-start on their College experience before the school year begins. Students can choose between experiences that offer community engagement, leadership development and exposure to the wilderness.
The community experience is designed to help students develop their passion for community engagement, city life and volunteerism. Students work together in groups in a variety of community service settings and learn more about Schenectady by visiting local restaurants and other attractions in the area. Cost: $250. Questions? Janet Sweeney at sweeneyj@union.edu or 518-388-6609.
The leadership experience provides workshops and activities related to building important key strengths in areas like personal leadership, communication and conflict management. Attendees will be put through their paces in a range of team-building activities and participate in a community service project. Cost: $350. Questions? Matt Milless or Karoline Chrzanowksi-Sears at fun@union.edu or 518-388-6118.
The outdoor experience is an adventure-based program with two different levels of wilderness exposure: Into the Wild, which offers a range of activities such as swimming, paddleboarding and hiking; and Iron Man, a camping and canoeing intensive program. Cost: $350. Questions? Contact Laura Munkres at munkresl@union.edu or 518-388-8752.
Programs run from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 and fill up quickly. Registration for all programs opens June 1 on a first-come, first-served basis. Students whose financial situation limits their participation may contact Kate Schurick. Limited funding is available.
International Student Orientation will be held Aug. 31 – Sept. 2. First-year international students who have signed up for the community, leadership or outdoor experience will still be able to attend part of the international orientation.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
From Trish Williams, senior associate dean of students
Union College is happy to be your student’s new home. For questions related to the transfer process or for additional information, please feel free to email me or 518-388-6116.
IMPORTANT REMINDER AND DEADLINES:
Applicant Portal: June 1
Complete all information requests, as outlined above. Questions? Email or 518-388-6109
Health Requirements: Aug. 5
Review health requirements early to ensure that all insurance information and other medical forms are complete.
International Move-In Day: Aug. 29- 30
International Orientation: Aug. 31 – Sept. 2
Pre-Orientation Experiences: Community, Leadership, Outdoor
Aug. 31 – Sept. 3
Move-in day for participants Aug. 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Move-in Day: Sept. 4
First-Year Family Reception: Sept. 4 at 3:45 p.m.
Orientation for All First-Year Students: Sept. 4-6
Opening Convocation: Sept. 6 at 4:30 p.m.
Followed by: Campus barbecue and First-Year Fest
Classes begin Sept. 7
|
|
