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Community Engagement

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.

See our Goals and Objectives.

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 & Culture Experience Pre-Orientation for incoming First Year students, introducing them to Schenectady through community exploration and service
  • Collaborate with Union student clubs and organizations involved in community outreach

Annual Events

  • Community Experience Pre-Orientation

    Community Engagement offers a community service themed Pre-Orientation Experience for incoming students. Learn more.

  • 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.

  • Earth Day Service Event

    Community Engagement chooses a service project each year to benefit the local community and honor Earth Day.

  • 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!

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.