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Union Where You Are: Plans for 2020-21

Union Where You Are

We are preparing to welcome you back to Union, whether you will be on or near campus, or anywhere else in the world. Our plan is designed to meet the needs of our community and provide every student with an exceptional academic experience.

We are looking forward to a time when we can all be together again without the worries brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Union will look and feel different this fall, our community will continue to thrive with a comprehensive plan that allows for flexibility and options.

A Healthy Union Starts with U

For general questions email:
planning20-21@union.edu

We will continue to monitor federal and state guidance and update the information on this site regularly. All members of our campus community will be expected to adhere to our health and safety protocols.

First-year students

First-year students will be on campus to create community and be introduced to our exciting approach to learning. Students will live in one of our residence halls and take courses taught both in person and online. First-year students will be assigned single occupancy rooms, but they will have the opportunity to opt into a double occupancy room if interested. For those incoming students who are not able to join us residentially this year, we want to hear from you to better understand your situation. Please reach out to Kate Schurick, dean of first-year students, to discuss how you can successfully launch your Union academic experience and join our community remotely.

SophomoreS, juniorS and seniorS

In this unprecedented time, we know that your needs are unique. We have crafted options that let you choose the academic and residential experience that best suits your needs. Whether you will be with us in person, join us online or take advantage of one of our experiential education opportunities, we are looking forward to helping you thrive in your academic pursuits.

Traditional Union Courses

This fall, courses will be offered in person or online. Some courses may be offered in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online students. Students living on campus, students released to live off-campus and commuter students will be able to select any of the traditional courses being offered. Students living away from campus will have online access to any of the traditional courses being offered in that mode. By July 10, faculty will indicate the mode of instruction for their classes. Students will be sent a link to view this information when it is available.

Minervas Online

Exclusively for students living away from campus and taking all classes online

Our world has become more complex, and the big questions we face are increasingly difficult to answer. Union's world-class faculty from a variety of disciplines have created Minervas Online, a suite of interdisciplinary courses designed to help students understand the complexity of and develop solutions to large-scale societal challenges.

Learn more about Minervas Online

Experiential Education

Exclusively for students living away from campus and taking all classes online

Immerse yourself in a political campaign or work for social change. Students will have a selection of experiential opportunities from which to choose, or they can opt to create their own experience with a faculty sponsor and related course work. Union will provide a Robert J. Moser ’99 Experiential Learning Award ($2,000) to students pursuing an internship or experiential endeavor to help offset costs incurred.

Learn more about Experiential Education


Important dates and deadlines

7/1/20
First-year students: Housing selection begins and runs through July 15.

7/2/20
Union Where You Are: Answering Your Questions
Join us for a panel discussion about our residential and academic options for fall 2020.
Student Town Hall: 11 a.m. - noon; please register to attend
Parent Town Hall: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.; please register to attend

7/7/20
Union Where You Are: Exploring Your Academic Options
Student Town Hall: noon - 1 p.m.; please register to attend

7/8/20
First-year students: Deadline to opt into doubles

7/10/20
All students: Academic advising begins; course offerings updated with mode of instruction (in-person, online, hybrid) and new course offerings (Minervas Online and Experiential); link to be emailed to all students

Seniors: Deadline to apply to be released from campus housing

7/13/20
Residential Life information session; 1 - 2 p.m.
Zoom information will be sent in a separate email.

7/15/20
First-year students: Housing assignments released

7/16/20
Residential Life information session; 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Zoom information will be sent in a separate email.

7/17/20
Sophomores, juniors, seniors: Deadline for indicating plans to be in person or remote for fall term courses and last day to commit to on-campus housing

Seniors: Notifications of off-campus release

7/20/20
Returning students: Add/drop period begins

7/23/20
Apartment lottery

7/28/20
Minerva House lottery

All students: Billing date

7/30
General housing lottery

08/21/20
All students: Payment due date

9/2/20
Pre-orientation begins
Move-in will be staggered, and you will receive specific dates with your housing assignment. Please wait to book travel until after you receive further information.

9/5/20
First-year students: New Student Orientation begins
Move-in will be staggered, and you will receive specific dates with your housing assignment. Please wait to book travel until after you receive further information.

9/9/20
First day of classes