Our Mission
Union College Community Engagement offers volunteer opportunities to connect Union students with local partners in Schenectady, enabling them to serve the community while gaining awareness of local issues and building leadership skills.
What We Do
- Serve as a liaison between the Union College community and Schenectady schools/organizations
- Plan one-time activities and ongoing programs, allowing student volunteers to get involved at varying levels of commitment
- Host annual service events on and off campus
- Lead Community Experience Pre-Orientation for incoming First Year students, introducing them to Schenectady through community service
- Collaborate with Union student clubs and organizations involved in community outreach
Want to Volunteer?
- Check out current Community Service Opportunities
- Join the UVolunteer Network. We'll notify you of volunteer opportunities that match your interests.
- Visit Community Service Clubs and Organizations to learn about other service opportunities on campus.
Upcoming Events
Acts of Kindness Week - February 11-17, 2024
Additional information coming soon!
To find out how you can get involved, email volunteer@union.edu.
Annual Events
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Community Experience Pre-Orientation
Community Engagement offers a community service themed Pre-Orientation Experience for incoming students. Learn more.
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John Calvin Toll Day of Service
John Calvin Toll Day is Union’s annual day of service. Every fall hundreds of students volunteer at local sites. This is the single biggest day of volunteering at Union College.
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Earth Day Service Event
Community Engagement chooses a service project each year to benefit the local community and honor Earth Day.
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Get Connected Week
During Get Connected Week, student volunteers organize a wide variety of efforts to spread kindness on campus and in the surrounding community. Activities vary from year to year but often include writing thank you cards, posting positive messages around campus, delivering candy bars to City Mission, a free raffle for students, and much more!
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Community Carnival
Community Outreach hosts a free annual Community Carnival for local kids and families in Schenectady. Hundreds of community members come to campus to enjoy free games, crafts, food, and fun!
Ongoing Programs
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Discovery Academy
Discovery Academy is a program run by Schenectady ARC that takes place on Union College campus. Young adults with developmental disabilities come to Union to have a college life experience.
Students, clubs, and organizations volunteer in a variety of ways - socializing and sharing meals, conducting brief lessons or activities, inviting the group to participate in campus events, and more.
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ESL Tutoring
The Kenney Community Center partners with the Salvation Army in Schenectady to match Union ESL tutors with adult English language learners. Volunteers with varying levels of Spanish skills help to tutor on a weekly basis.
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Junior Science
Junior Science is a hands-on STEM program for students in elementary school. Student volunteers plan and teach a variety of experiments to help kids learn about science and technology.
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Pen Pals
Union students are paired with elementary students from Zoller School in Schenectady. Pen pals write weekly emails to one another, and in-person pen pal visits are planned once or twice a year.
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Union STEP Tutoring
The Union Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) provides tutoring and mentoring to middle and high school students in the Schenectady City School District. In-person and online tutoring options are available.