Menu
Search the Union College website
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.

What's New?

We know you have a lot of questions about what Union will look like in the fall, and we are updating this site regularly. To help you locate the newest information, here is a short list of the most recent additions.

Health and Safety Protocols

Several topics in this area have been updated.

Academic Options

Minerva Courses - open to returning students
Experiential Education - open to returning students
Mode of instruction for each course

Life Outside the Classroom

Athletics
Campus dining
Events
Residential experience
Wellness

Important Dates and Deadlines

Newest dates and webinars (see below)

Community Updates

NY State Travel Advisory - 14-day Quarantine Options for Students

FAQ section

Athletics
Financial aid
Housing
International Students
14-Day Required Quarantine Options
Move-in and Quarantine

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.

See planned mode of delivery for all courses in the traditional fall curriculum.

Minervas 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

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.

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
Parent Town Hall: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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

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

Union Where You Are: Student Life
Student Town Hall: noon - 1 p.m.

7/10/20
Course offerings updated; see mode of instruction (in-person, online, hybrid); see new course offerings (Minervas Online and Experiential)

Returning students: Academic advising begins

Seniors: Deadline to apply to be released from campus housing

7/13/20
Returning Students: Residential Life information session; 1 - 2 p.m.
This session will cover the specifics of housing selection (how to pair up with a roommate and select housing). There will be a Q&A session to help with any questions regarding the housing selection processes (Apartment, Minerva and General lottery). Zoom registration has been sent to all returning students.

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

Experiential Education - Global Virtual Internship Information Session
International Programs, along with Dean of Studies Michele Angrist, CAPA, CET Academic Programs and campus b will be discussing these exciting opportunities for the fall term followed by individual Q&A sessions with each partner.
General Information Session: noon-12:30 p.m.; watch a recording of this session (available for a limited time)
CAPA Virtual Internship: 12:30 p.m.
campus b Virtual Internship: 12:30 p.m.
CET Virtual Internship: 12:30 p.m.

7/16/20
Returning Students: Residential Life information session; 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
This session will cover the specifics of housing selection (how to pair up with a roommate and select housing). There will be a Q&A session to help with any questions regarding the housing selection processes (Apartment, Minerva and General lottery). Zoom registration has been sent to all returning students.

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

7/27/20
Apartment lottery

7/28/20
Minerva House lottery

All students: Billing date

7/30
General housing lottery

08/21/20
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