Parents Ask the Dean of Students

Life on campus

How will my first-year get oriented to life on campus?

Fall Orientation is held over a four day period just before classes start in the fall. Your student will meet with his/her academic advisor and attend sessions about academic and social life at Union. He/she will also be assigned to a small group led by a student orientation advisor. This OA will spend time to help these students get acclimated to campus and provide them with important information that will make the transition to college a smooth one.

In addition there is an optional Outdoor Orientation Program that is designed to give students a chance to get together with other first-year students in a wilderness setting. Students as well as faculty, administrators and trained staff from Camp Chingachgook, in Lake George, NY spend two days in the Adirondack Mountains participating in various programs together. There is an additional fee for this program.

What should my son or daughter do if homesick?

There are several options available, one of the deans in the Dean of Students Office, a chaplain, someone in the counseling center, a residence hall mentor, or a faculty advisor come immediately to mind. In most cases homesickness passes quickly and it is often best to gently let the student know that he or she is going to be staying so they might as well throw themselves into their work and making new friends. However, sometimes homesickness is a label we erroneously place on some more serious concerns, so it is important to listen carefully to the student to find out what is really going on.

Whom should my student talk with if having roommate problems?

The best place to start is the Office of Residential Life and/or a residence hall staff member. Often these problems are questions of minor adjustments and can be resolved. Sometimes the differences are serious enough that a room change is the more practical solution. Room changes call for compromise as they inevitably mean one person stays and one goes. The College is loathe to require a person to move against his or her will simply because the other roommate has requested it. Normally a required move only comes as part of a disciplinary action for a person who has broken the rules. Assuming that the issue is simply incompatibility, then both roommates will need to assess the available openings and come to an agreement as to what scenario makes the most sense.

What should my child do if feeling left out?

The Office of Student Activities is a good place to find out about clubs, organizations, and events. Similarly a conversation with one of the deans can be helpful in assessing what opportunities are available.

What do students do to get involved and have fun on campus?

There are numerous clubs and organizations on campus and many, many opportunities for students to get out and have fun with other students. The Student Activities Office is a great place to go and find out what's happening on campus. The Student Forum sends a weekly e-mail of upcoming student events, the Office of Student Activities posts events calendars on the Web and on the wall at the east entry of the Reamer Campus Center, and the walls are awash with posters announcing opportunities. The Kenney Center is a place to go find out about service opportunities ranging from tutoring to home improvement projects in low income housing areas. The Athletics office distributes information about recreation classes and intramural programs.

Are there work opportunities for students?

Students who qualify for work-study jobs will receive notification from the Financial Aid Office about openings. Non work-study jobs on campus are more scarce, but the Dining Services and Campus Safety often have some openings. Many of our students find jobs in the local area waiting tables or helping out in an office. Job postings for part time work are often available in the Office of Human Resources. A good rule of thumb for gauging how much time to work is 10 hours per week. It is important not to let a job commitment interfere with academic success.

Are drugs and alcohol a problem on campus?

Union is not immune from the social problems that exist on most campuses and in the world at large. Any student who goes looking for alcohol or drugs on campus will probably find them. Our own internal surveys tell us that alcohol use is more prevalent than drug use and that most of our students do not abuse either. That said, the popularity of alcohol in particular has led us to a commitment to campaign against excessive alcohol use. Sensible, supportive discussions between parent and student on educational priorities and the culture of student life and can be very helpful. You can encourage your son or daughter to talk of their likes and dislikes about the social scene. If a student is found in violation of the College alcohol or drug policies he or she will face sanctions that will combine education with discipline. Students who are having problems with alcohol or substance abuse can make confidential inquiries at the Health Center, Counseling Center, or the Dean of Students Office.

How are vandalism damage costs billed out to students?

As vandalism occurs in residence halls, each incident is documented by the Residential Life Student Staff or Campus Safety. Continuous attempts are made to determine who is responsible for each act of vandalism. Whenever possible, vandalism costs are assigned to the individuals responsible. If it is not possible to determine which individuals are responsible, the costs for vandalism are divided among the residents of the building in or around which they occurred.

Students must encourage their fellow residents to be respectful in ensuring that property is not damaged or stolen. Students who are aware of any person responsible for specific damages are expected to contact a Residential Life Student Staff Member, Campus Safety, the Office of Residential Life, or the Dean of Student's Office.[Student Handbook, p. 52]

Damages are assessed at the end of each term, and are based on bills from the Facilities Department.

Academic life on campus


What should my son or daughter do if having academic problems?

The first person students should always talk with is their faculty advisor. If they need further advice they can proceed to the Dean of First-year Students (if the student is a first-year) or the Dean of Undergraduate Education (if an upperclassman). If the difficulty is in a specific subject area there are other sources of help. Talking to the course instructor is the best contact. Academic departments keep a list of available tutors and many departments (including math and physics) have regularly scheduled clinics for students to come in and get help with concepts and problem sets. In addition there is a writing center in the library where students can get help with written assignments.

What should my child do if he receives notification that he is on academic warning?

If your student falls below a 2.0 G.P.A. in any term, he will be put on academic warning or special academic warning. Your son or daughter will receive a letter, cc'd to you, from the Dean indicating the status, telling what he or she must do to get off warning, and a caution that if he or she does not make improvement that he or she may face academic suspension. The Dean of First-year Students will invite all first-year students who are placed on academic warning to come in and discuss their previous terms, work and to create a time management plan for the current term.

How can students get on the Dean's List at Union?

A student achieves Dean's List standing for an academic year, which is defined as the fall, winter and spring term, by meeting the following requirements:

1. An academic index of at least 3.50 for the year.

2. At least three regular courses in each of the three terms, with no fewer than seven courses included in the index.

3. No grades of 'D' or 'F'

What are the popular majors at Union?

The most popular majors at Union at this point in time seem to be Psychology, Political Science, Economics and Biology.

Does Union require students to purchase a computer and what kind of internet access is available on campus?

No. Students enrolling at Union are not required to purchase a laptop or any other type of computer. However, about 90% of students on campus own one.

In college-owned residence halls, all students have Ethernet-based access to the internet from their rooms. In addition, wireless internet access is available in several of the most popular campus buildings, including the Library and the Olin Center, which houses many of Union's state-of-the-art electronic classrooms.

How does the trimester calendar work?

The trimester calendar breaks the school year into three terms. School usually begins the week following Labor Day weekend and fall term lasts until mid-November. Finals are usually the week before Thanksgiving, and then break until January. This long break (the month of December) is an opportunity for research, traveling, or internships.

Winter term starts in January and finals begin mid-March. Spring break is generally a week long; Spring term starts at the beginning of April. The spring term ends in the first week of June. Each term lasts 10 weeks, and during each term, students take three classes. This is followed by a week of finals.

Union covers the same amount of material in ten weeks that other colleges and universities cover in 15 weeks.

Can my child have a car on campus?

Sorry, not as a first-year student. After the first year, your child may bring a car to school. However, there are likely to be several restrictions on parking. Make sure you are familiar with the parking policy. A campus van runs from Union to SUNY Albany to Crossgates Mall and back to Union several times a week. Also, public transportation in Schenectady (buses, taxis) can take you just about anywhere you want for a small fee. You'll find, though, that there is so much happening on campus, that your child will not need to leave the campus too often.

Who should I call for help?

Dean of Students Office 518/388-6116

Dean of Residential and Campus Life 518/388-6117

Dean of First-year Students 518/388-6116

Student Activities Office 518/388-6118

Parents Program Office 518/388-6601