First-Year

First-Year

Director of First-Year Experience

Aileen Schatz, Director of the First-Year Experience, helps ensure students enjoy a successful and meaningful transition to college life. She coordinates programming that increases a sense of belonging, promotes academic achievement and encourages the development of strong friendships and mentorships. The First-Year Experience at Union goes beyond traditional orientation. It continually provides engaging opportunities throughout the entire first year to give students the best possible foundation on which to build their undergraduate experience.

Dean of First-Year Students

Incoming students have an important resource in Kate Schurick, Dean of First-Year Students. Part of a supportive and welcoming campus community that promotes growth, responsibility and leadership, Kate works with first-year students and their families to navigate social, academic and personal challenges. She collaborates closely with colleagues in all departments and offices to help students thrive during their first year and beyond.

New Student Orientation

Our New Student Orientation was developed for our newest members of the Union Family, 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.

Fall 2023

  • Move-in

    September 3, 2023 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    August 30, 2023 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (For students participating in Pre-O)

    For Pre-O move-in on August 30th, check in for the residence halls starts at 1 p.m. For Move-in on Sunday, September 3rd, check in for the residence halls starts at 9 a.m. Please be sure to sign up for your arrival time in your housing portal.

    Move-in

    Please plan to arrive in the half hour time block you select. When you arrive, you will enter campus at Payne Gate, the main gate entrance at 807 Union Street, and travel down Library Lane. For those moving into Fox House, someone will direct you to turn right onto Huntley Lane then left onto South Lane and you will check in and pick up your key while on South Lane, directly in line with the Nott Memorial building. For those moving into all other buildings, you will continue straight down Library Lane to check in and pick up your key in Old Chapel Circle.

    You will be able to stay in your vehicle while you check in and pick up your key from us. We will provide instructions on where to go to unload. You will be able to park near your residence hall and unload your vehicle, and then should be prepared to move your vehicle so others can have easy access to unload.

    Student Leaders and Student Athletes will be on hand to assist with the move-in process. We encourage you to label all of your belongings with your name, building and room number; masking tape is fine. Labeling will assist our move in volunteers in getting your items where they need to go.

  • Orientation - September 3 - 5
  • First Day of Classes - September 6, 2023

    Fall classes will begin September 6 and exams will end November 21.

What to Expect at Orientation:

  • Connect with Peers

    During our three-day Orientation Program, students will have an opportunity to connect with their peers. They will interact with other members of their class and student leaders through their Orientation Groups led by our friendly and welcoming Orientation Leaders (OL). Students will meet with their Orientation Group each day of the program. They will have an opportunity to meet and interact with current student leaders involved in various aspects of campus life including Student Forum, Minervas, and our many clubs and organizations.

  • Learn about campus resources and culture

    During the program new students will meet and hear from administrators from the Dean of Students Office, Residence Life, Community Standards, Campus Safety, Intercultural Affairs, Title IX, Wicker Wellness, the Kenney Center, and more, as they share important information, policies and insight into the Union College campus culture. These interactive presentations serve to teach new students how to navigate the many resources available to them as part of the Union Community.

  • Prepare for academic success

    Orientation is the first step for students as they begin their academic journey at Union. During our Orientation Program, students will receive their fall term schedule, meet with their academic advisor, meet and talk with professors about major and minor requirements during our Majors Fair lunch. Our OLs will even provide new students with a customized tour of campus pointing out where their classes will take place.

  • Have fun!

    Orientation is a great way for students to get comfortable on campus. Each night students will have an opportunity to engage in a different social event like Bingo, Minervolympics, and First-Year Fest. During orientation, students will learn a lot, be introduced to many of the available resources to them, make new friends, meet new mentors, and most importantly, have fun!

  • Parent and family information

    Parents and families are invited to join their students during the move-in process. We will have many student leaders onsite during both our Pre-O move in on August 30th and our New Student move in on September 3rd to assist students with getting their belongings into their rooms.

    On August 30th, parents and families are invited to join us at 4:00pm for our Pre-O Student and Family Welcome from College Leadership in our College Park Hall Ballroom.

    On September 3rd, parents and families are invited to join us at any of the following events:

    • Mini Resource Fair, 11:00am - 1:00pm, Nott Memorial
    • Class of 2027 Welcome Lunch, 11:30am - 2:00pm, Library Plaza
    • Parent & Family Q & A, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Olin Auditorium - Room 115
    • Orientation Kick-Off and Time for Goodbyes, 4:00pm, Frank Bailey Field (required for all students)
    • Union's Parent & Family Orientation Welcome Reception, directly following Kick-Off & Goodbyes, Alumni Gym Patio - Hosted by Alumni and Parent Engagement

    Once our Pre-Orientation and Orientation programs begin, we kindly ask that parents and families head back home that evening so our students can be fully present in our programing.

First-Gen Experience

The "First-Gen Experience" will take place on August 28-30, 2023 and is designed to help this particular student demographic get settled in and learn more about Union's campus and what it has to offer. With a good mix of fun activities and informational sessions, the incoming First Generation students should leave this experience with a sense of belonging and a wealth of knowledge of what resources are at their disposal during their first year and beyond. All participants of the "First-Gen Experience" are also required to participate in one of our Pre-Orientation Experiences from August 30 - September 2, 2023 free of charge. First-generation, first-year students will receive more information about this program via email. Click here for more information on First-Generation Student Services.

Tuesday with Union Recordings

We seem to be having technical difficulty with the recording of the session on August 8 (Parent & Family Orientation - Part 1). We are hoping to get this figured out and posted soon. We apologize for the inconvenience.