Dear Union alumni,
Greetings from Schenectady, where the campus trees are just starting to turn, hinting at autumnal glories to come.
The fall term got off to a wonderful start as we welcomed the Class of 2030 as well as our new transfer students. Our new students hail from 16 countries and 37 U.S. states, and we were especially pleased, in this challenging enrollment climate, that our first-year class came in slightly larger than last year’s.
We had a splendid opening convocation ceremony highlighted by Shayne Gostisbehere ’15, who received the Eliphalet Nott Medal for career distinction in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as a hockey player: an NCAA national championship with Union, a World Cup Gold Medal with Team North America, and a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. Shayne spoke beautifully about the value of his Union education, and there was nary a dry eye in Memorial Chapel as he paid tribute to his wife Gina, Class of 2016.
During orientation, our first-years were introduced to a diverse array of regional attractions through 18 small-group day trips, from Adirondack hikes and rail trails to Broadway shows and a Mets game, from Hudson Valley outdoor art museums to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, and many more. The class also enjoyed “Chargers on the Harbor,” a beautiful late summer evening sampling food from Schenectady restaurants at Mohawk Harbor.
Both first-years and returning students participated in two signature events of the fall term, with 600 students joining the John Calvin Toll Days of Service volunteering with local non-profits and 400 attending a highly successful Career Fair featuring a record number of employers and graduate schools. We also held a moving 25th anniversary commemoration remembering the four Union alumni who died in the 9/11 attacks: Thomas Duffy ’71, Don Kauth ’74, Andrew Fredericks ’83, and Alexander Steinman ’91.
The new academic year brought several welcome changes to campus. The bookstore got a superb makeover, going from dark and dingy to flooded with natural light, complete with views of the Nott, thanks to a summer renovation project by the College’s facilities team. We are launching free career-focused microcredential courses and a public health major this year, and welcoming women’s flag football to our roster of varsity sports. And our men’s and women’s soccer teams were thrilled to try out their new turf field.
This will be a consequential year for Union as we receive and implement the recommendations from the market positioning study conducted over the past year by the Art & Science group with the College’s inquirers, admitted students, and current and withdrawn students. The good news is that, while the study underscored the significant enrollment challenges Union has been navigating, it also provided us with a data-informed path to dramatically improve our market position.
We are now embarking on an exciting process of innovation and change to elevate the Union student experience and make us stand out from the competition, with a goal of going public by March 2027. I look forward to sharing details with our alumni community over the coming months, and to seeking your partnership as we build a stronger and more financially sustainable Union.
Homecoming and Family Weekend is coming up on October 23-25. It is a beautiful time of year on campus, and weekend highlights will include home games for football, women’s ice hockey and volleyball as well as the fall philharmonic concert. I hope to see you there!
Warmly,
Elizabeth
