Supporting and Strengthening Faculty
Since its founding, Union has had a tradition of great teaching. Indeed, every alumnus can name a professor who had a profound influence on his or her life. Our goal is to continue this tradition in the face of strong competition for the best faculty members. And, once these outstanding teachers join our faculty, we must support them by offering competitive research, sabbatical, and teaching opportunities. Union must provide a teaching environment of the highest quality, a diverse curriculum, increased student research, strong faculty scholarship, and faculty involvement outside the classroom.
Faculty: $33.5 million
- Increase the number of permanent faculty by 6 and endow 15 current positions.
- Reduce the student-faculty ratio to enhance Union's educational experience.
- Create a Speakers Fund endowment.
Attracting Exceptional STUDENTS
The Union Scholars Program has demonstrated the power of excellent students to enhance the intellectual tone of the institution. Increasing and strengthening such programs will allow us to attract and retain greater numbers of top students, who can become a force in changing the academic ethos of the College. Since almost all colleges use merit aid, we need to supplement our Scholars Program with merit aid to attract these top students.
Students: $39.14 million
- Enrich the the Union Scholars Program to attract a growing percentage of top-caliber students.
- Develop a competitive merit scholarship program to attract an increased number of academically talented students and to continue to reach out to underserved students.
Promoting UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Student involvement in creative and scholarly activity comes in several ways in addition to classroom and laboratory work-the thesis in the liberal arts and senior design projects in engineering, independent study, summer research, and internships. The overwhelming majority of our faculty feel that such activity encourages students to see and think differently, broadening their horizons and ultimately preparing them for life beyond college. Union is at the forefront of this important national trend, and we must encourage and enable more of our students to participate in this highly-positive activity.
Undergraduate research: $8 million
- Increase opportunities for summer campus research.
- Increase opportunities for students to present their work with faculty at professional meetings.
Expanding INTERNATIONAL STUDY
One of the distinguishing pillars of a Union education, international study is perhaps the most broadening experience that most Union students enjoy outside of the classroom. Students report that study abroad motivates curiosity, enhances independence of mind, and contributes to their maturity. Furthermore, students who have been abroad make important contributions to the intellectual and cultural life on campus upon their return. We must continue to prepare students' abilities to thrive in a diverse world.
International study: $11 million
- Support current and add new terms abroad.
Creating unique opportunities in CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES
One of Union's defining characteristics is the presence of engineering within a liberal arts curriculum. This distinctive strength presents numerous opportunities for a unique program that will continue to attract top students who value and benefit from a broad education. We have made a significant start in such areas as bioengineering, mechatronics, and nanotechnology. Still, there is much more to do to ensure that our students are ready for a technologically-sophisticated world, and to provide faculty with appropriate technology to enhance their teaching.
Converging technologies: $24.9 million
- Continue to expand a program whose excellence derives from its unique position in a liberal arts college.
- Renovate the engineering complex and create an endowment to keep the facilities current.
- Increase the number of electronic classrooms that provide state-of-the-art Internet connections, audio and video capabilities, projection systems, satellite feeds, cable access, and other technological advances.
Fostering a commitment to COMMUNITY
Each year during orientation, first-year students give hundreds of hours to community improvement projects. For many students, community service continues through their years at Union, an invaluable part of the process of becoming responsible citizens.
Community: $2.06 million
- Expand Kenney Community Center opportunities for students to be involved in service activities.
- Create a pre-orientation service program for incoming first-year students.
- Establish service programs during the summer and winter breaks that provide students with a stipend similar to summer research grants.
Expanding the ARTS
To become a more balanced college, Union must provide the opportunity for students to take a broader spectrum of courses in dance, music, the studio arts, and film, and we should explore the ever-increasing links between technology and the arts. Opportunities in the arts, both for study in the classroom and participation outside the classroom, appeal to a diverse student population and have an important positive impact on the life of the campus.
The arts: $5.7 million
- Renovate North Colonnade to create an expanded performing and visual arts facility.
- Create an endowment fund to keep the arts complex current.
- Expand the dance program.
Supporting a 21st century LIBRARY
The recent renovation and expansion of Schaffer Library have done much to enhance our students' ability to do first-rate course work and research. However, the library acquisitions budget, a significant statistic in the rankings of national liberal arts colleges, continues to lag. To bring our acquisition of books, microfilm, periodicals, and electronic resources into the top quartile of our comparison group means increasing the library budget by $1 million annually.
Library acquisitions endowment: $4.6 million
Expanding undergraduate ADVISING
A key attribute of the small college is the close relationship that can develop between student and mentor. Advising is also a important tool in increasing our retention rate and raising our success rate in admissions to graduate and professional schools, winning graduate honors and fellowships, and job placement. A variety of studies has indicated that Union's advising system must be restructured.
Undergraduate advising: $900,000
- Make the existing advising and registration systems technologically current and effective.
- Double the number of corporations recruiting at Union.
Reinvigorating RESIDENTIAL LIFE
The College must ensure that our residential and social life experiences contribute vigorously to the intellectual and personal development of our students. As a residential college, this commitment is a defining aspect of our style of undergraduate education, and students find that their intellectual life is more directly enhanced by the provision of a wide variety of smaller housing options with their own community and social space. The new Minerva House system is designed to promote community, living/learning opportunities, and faculty interaction in residential life.
Residential life: $33.5 million
- Continue to enhance the Minerva House System to promote community and offer a range of living and learning opportunities.
- Systemically improve student residences.
- Renovate and expand the West College and Reamer Campus Center dining facilities.
- Create College Park Hall.
Energizing ATHLETICS AND FITNESS
From varsity athletic programs to recreational and fitness activities, our students place a heavy demand on our athletic facilities-so much so that even those considered “new” are rapidly showing their age. Since one-third of our students are engaged in intercollegiate athletics, and almost all students want fitness opportunities, we need to address this issue.
Athletics and fitness: $11.7 million
- Enhance, expand, renovate, or replace aging facilities, including Memorial Field House, Achilles Rink, playing fields, and fitness facilities.
- Create an endowment fund to keep facilities current.
The Union fund
Each year, alumni and friends provide invaluable support for ongoing programs through their support of the Union Fund.
Union Fund: $25 million