Union College
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This article contains promotional material. (July 2023) ) |
David R. Harris | |
Academic staff | 211[3] |
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Undergraduates | 2,200 [3] |
Location | , U.S. 42°49′02″N 73°55′48″W / 42.81722°N 73.93000°W |
Campus | Urban: 120 acres (49 ha), including 8 acres (3.2 ha) of formal gardens |
Colors | Union garnet[4] |
Nickname | Garnet Chargers |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Div I – ECAC Hockey Div III – Liberty League |
Website | www |
Union College is a
History
Founding
Chartered in 1795,
From 1636 to 1769, only nine institutions of higher education were founded permanently in
Only Columbia University, founded in 1754 as King's College,[11] had preceded Union in New York. Twenty-five years later impetus for another institution grew.[12] As democratic cultural changes rose and began to become dominant,[13] old ways, in particular the old purposes and structure of higher education, began to be challenged.[14]
The Schenectady Academy was established in 1785 as the city's first organized school.[18] It immediately flourished, reaching an enrollment of about 100 within a year. By at least 1792 it offered a full four-year college course, as well as one of elementary and practical subjects taught mainly to girls.[19] Attempts to charter the academy as a college with the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York were initially rejected,[15] but in 1794 the school reapplied as "Union College", a name chosen to reflect the resolution of its founders that the school should be free of any specific religious affiliation.[20] The resulting institution was awarded its charter on February 25, 1795 – still celebrated by the college as "Founders' Day".[21]
Nineteenth century
In 1836, the year of its founding, the Union College Anti-Slavery Society claimed 51 members. It published its Constitution and Preamble, with an address to students—not just those of Union—calling on them to join the abolitionist cause.[22]
Union College was sometimes called Schenectady College in this period.[23]
Seals, mottos, and nickname
Union chose the modern language French—France was then the most revolutionary of countries—rather than Latin for its motto. The resulting tone of the entire seal is both historically aware and distinctly modern in outlook.[24]
The head of the
Minerva was originally patroness of the arts and crafts,[27] but had over time evolved to become an icon of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. By the late 18th century she had indeed come to represent all of those qualities that might be wished for in a rational, virtuous, prudent, wise, and "scientific" man.[28]
In 2023, the college changed the school's nickname from "Dutchmen" and "Dutchwomen" to "Garnet Chargers" as part of a branding update. Garnet has been the school's official color for 150 years, and the name "chargers" is a reference to "Schenectady’s legacy as a leader in electrical technologies."[29]
Presidents
Union College has had nineteen presidents since its founding in 1795. The school has the distinction of having had the longest serving
The current president is
Development of the curriculum
During the first half of the 19th century, students in American colleges would have encountered a very similar course of study, a curriculum with sturdy foundations in the traditional liberal arts.[33] But by the 1820s all of this began to change.[34]
Although
One approach to modernization was the so-called "parallel course of study" in scientific and "literary" subjects.[36] This offered a scientific curriculum in parallel to the classical curriculum, for those students wishing a more modern treatment of modern languages, mathematics, and science, equal in dignity to the traditional course of study.[37]
Union College commenced a parallel scientific curriculum in 1828. Its civil engineering program, introduced in 1845,[38] was the first of its kind at an American liberal arts college.[39] So successful were Union's reform efforts that by 1839 the college had one of the largest faculties in American higher education and an enrollment surpassed only by Yale.[40]
Campus
Design
After Union College received its charter in 1795 the college began conducting classes on the upper floor, while a grammar school continued to be conducted on the lower.[41] It soon became clear that this space would prove inadequate for the growing college. Construction soon began on a three-story building, possibly influenced by Princeton's Nassau Hall,[42] that was occupied in 1804. Two dormitories were constructed nearby.
Eliphalet Nott became college president that year,[43] and envisioned an expanding campus to accommodate a growing school. In 1806 a large tract of land was acquired to the east of the Downtown Schenectady, on a slope up from the Mohawk River and facing nearly due west. In 1812 French architect Joseph-Jacques Ramée was then hired to draw up a comprehensive plan for the new campus.[44] Construction of two of the college buildings proceeded quickly enough to permit occupation in 1814.[45] The Union College campus became the first comprehensively planned college campus in the United States.[46]
Landmarks
North and South College: The first college buildings using Ramée's plans, the pair were started in 1812 and occupied in 1814. Serving as dormitories, both buildings included faculty residences at each end until well into the 20th century.[50]
Memorial Chapel: Memorial Chapel was constructed between 1924 and 1925 to serve as the central college chapel and to honor Union graduates who lost their lives serving during wartime. The names of Union alumni who died in World War I and World War II appear on its south wall, flanked by portraits of college presidents.[51]
Jackson's Garden: Begun in the 1830s by Professor Isaac Jackson of the Mathematics Department, Jackson's Garden comprises 8 acres (3.2 ha) of formal gardens and woodlands. Sited where Ramee's original plans called for a garden, it initially featured a mix of vegetables, shrubs, and flowers – some of which were grown from seeds sent by botanists and botanical enthusiasts from around the world. As early as 1844 it drew the admiration of visitors such as John James Audubon, and evolved into a sweeping retreat for both students and faculty.[53]
Organization and administration
Board of trustees
"The Trustees of Union College", a corporate body, has owned the college and been the college's designated legal representative throughout its history.[54] The Board consists of alumni, faculty, students, the president of the college, and others. The governor of the state of New York is also an ex officio member. The Board appoints the president of the college upon vacancy of the position.[55]
The Student Forum
The Student Forum represents the principal form of student government at Union College. The purpose of the Student Forum is to formulate policies in areas involving the student body. The student body is represented by a president, vice-president of administration, vice-president of finance, vice-president of academics, vice-president of campus life, and vice-president for multicultural affairs. The entire Student Forum includes these officers together with two student trustees and 12 class representatives.[56]
Memberships and affiliations
Union College belongs to the
Student media
The Union College radio station, WRUC 89.7, dates from a student project in the fall of 1910, but did not become "live" until 1912.[59] The Union College radio station was among the first wireless transmitters in the country to broadcast regularly scheduled programs.[60] The weekly Concordiensis, the principal newspaper of Union College since 1877, is the thirteenth oldest student newspaper in the United States and the oldest continuously published newspaper in Schenectady.[61]
Academics
Most undergraduates are required to complete a minimum of 36 term courses in all programs except engineering, which may require up to 40 courses (in two-degree programs, nine courses beyond the requirements for the professional degrees), and students in the Leadership in Medicine program, which requires around 45–50 courses.[62] The most popular majors, by number out of 488 graduates in 2022, were:[63]
- Economics (82)
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences (46)
- Mechanical Engineering (40)
- Political Science and Government (40)
- Research and Experimental Psychology (36)
- Neuroscience (31)
Admissions
GPA) was 3.40.[68]
Undergraduate researchUndergraduate research at Union College had its origin in the first third of the 20th century when chemistry professor Charles Hurd began involving students in his colloid chemistry investigations. Since then, undergraduate research has taken hold in all disciplines at the college, making this endeavor what has been termed "the linchpin" of the Union education. By the mid-1960s several disciplines at Union had established a senior research thesis requirement, and in 1978 the college began funding faculty-mentored student research in all disciplines. This was followed by the creation of funded summer research opportunities, again in all disciplines at the college, in 1986.[69]
Study abroad programsUnion College makes available a variety of opportunities for formal study outside the United States, the most popular of which are the Terms Abroad Programs.[70] Currently, Terms Abroad are offered for residence and study on nearly every continent, some in cooperation with Hobart and William Smith Colleges. In the 2009–2010 school year, programs were offered in 22 countries or regions around the world.[71] Every year Union College also offers a variety of mini-terms (three-week programs during the winter break or at the beginning of the summer vacation). In the 2009–2010 school year, mini-terms were offered in 11 regions or countries (including the United States).[72] Schaffer LibraryOpened in 1961, Schaffer Library currently makes available onsite about 750,000 books in print as well as electronic formats. The two largest historical, electronic collections are Early English Books Online (EEBO) and Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO). The library's print and rare book collections are especially strong in 18th and 19th-century literature, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. Of particular note is the almost complete preservation of the college's first library, acquired between 1795 and 1799.[73] Union College belongs to several regional and national consortia that improve access to materials not owned by the college.[74] Student lifeFraternity and sorority lifeThe modern fraternity system at American colleges and universities is generally determined as beginning at Union College with the founding of Kappa Alpha (1825), Sigma Phi (1827), and Delta Phi (1827).[75][76][77][78][79] Three other surviving national fraternities – Psi Upsilon (1833), Chi Psi (1841), and Theta Delta Chi (1847) – were founded at Union in the next two decades.[80][81][82][83] On account of this fecundity, Union was called "The Mother of Fraternities".[6][7][84] In the fall of 2021, 33% of the college's female students belonged to a sorority and 24% of its male students belonged to a fraternity.[85] In 2010, some 50% of Union's sophomores, junior, and seniors were a member of its twelve Greek letter organizations.[84] The eight current fraternities at Union are members of the National Panhellenic Council (NPC) is the parent organization.[86] There are four CPC sororities at Union: Delta Phi Epsilon, Gamma Phi Beta, Sigma Delta Tau, and Alpha Delta Lambda.[87][83][91] The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) is the governing body for organizations under the supervision of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), or for any local organizations that fall under the category.[86] These organizations are Alpha Phi Alpha, Phi Iota Alpha, Iota Phi Theta, Lambda Pi Chi, and Omega Phi Beta.[87][92][83] Minerva systemBefore 2004, in an effort to provide an alternative social environment to that offered by the Greek organizations, the Union College administration began recovering occupancy of independent fraternity houses.[76][84] This initiative was, and remains, a controversial step by the college.[93] A non-residential "house system" was created and funded, establishing buildings to serve as intellectual, social, and cultural centers for resident and non-resident members. All incoming students are randomly assigned to one of the seven Minerva Houses. An Office of Minerva Programs was created to coordinate and supervise Minerva activities.[94] Arts and cultureMandeville GalleryThe Mandeville Gallery presents an annual Art Installation Series in partnership with the Schaffer Library.[95] The Art Installation Series features contemporary artists who visit campus and create a site-specific installation piece for the library's Learning Commons.[96] The Wikoff Student Gallery, on the third floor of the Nott Memorial, is dedicated to showing work by current, full-time Union College students.[97] The college owns over 3,000 works of art and artifacts which comprise its Permanent Collection, most of which are available for use by faculty and students in support of teaching and research.[98] Yulman TheaterThe Department of Music sponsors lectures, performances, recitals, and workshops by visiting artists at numerous campus venues, including the Taylor Music Center and Memorial Chapel. Union College jazz, choral and orchestral groups, a taiko ensemble, and three student a cappella groups perform regularly. The college's chamber music series performs at the Memorial Chapel.[99] The Department of Theater and Dance offers several major theatrical productions as well as staged readings, student performances, guest appearances, and other shows throughout the school year.[100] AthleticsThe college insists that athletics be kept in harmony with the essential educational purpose of Union. Its athletes, like those engaged in all extracurricular activities, must function effectively as students.[101] Intercollegiate competition is offered in 26 sports; for men, in Division III level.[101]
All club sports are administered through the student activities office. The most active and popular clubs are baseball, bowling, fencing, golf, ice hockey, karate, rugby, skiing, and volleyball. An extensive intramural program is offered in a wide range of sports along with noncredit physical education classes as part of the wellness program.[101] Facilities include the Frank L. Messa Rink at the Achilles Center, the David Breazzano Fitness Center, the Travis J. Clark Strength Training Facility, the David A. Viniar Athletic Center, and Frank Bailey Field.[101] Union has hosted the two longest games in NCAA Men's Hockey History, losing both by identical 3-2 scores: The longest game in NCAA hockey history was played on March 12, 2010. Quinnipiac University defeated Union College, 3–2, in the ECAC Hockey League Quarter-Finals after 90:22 of overtime. Greg Holt scored the winning goal just after 1:00 am local time. The second-longest game in NCAA hockey history was played on March 5, 2006. Yale University defeated Union College, 3–2, in the ECAC Hockey League first-round playoff game after 81:35 of overtime. David Meckler scored the winning goal with Yale shorthanded.[102] The Union football team went undefeated during the 1989 regular season, going 10–0. They lost to Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the NCAA Division III Football Championship, 17–7.[103]
Notable alumni
See also
Notesa b References
Bibliography
Further reading
External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Union College.
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