Posted on Aug 15, 2005

The Union College Academy for Lifelong Learning, a membership-based program for adult learners, is accepting registrations for their fall program.

Fall 2005 course offerings are:

World Economics 2005: Issues and Problems    

• The Life and Legacy of Albert Einstein


• Iran/Persia: A Culture and its People


• Eternal Emerson


• Great Conductors in Opera


• French and Indian War (1756-1763)

UCALL is open to any adult who wishes to continue learning in an intellectually stimulating environment. Courses cover a wide range of topics and are developed and presented by its members, Union College professors or external speakers.  UCALL courses are non-credit and require no exams or pre-requisites. Classes are held during the day in the fall and spring on the Union College Campus.  Fall classes begin October 4.

Special Events provide members with social activities such as cultural excursions, luncheons and special lectures. Upcoming special events include a Member Reception and a bus trip to the Metropolitan Opera production of “Carmen.”

For more information or to be placed on the mailing list call the UCALL office at 388-6072 or visit the web site at www.union.edu/Academics/UCALL/

Posted on Aug 9, 2005

The Union College admissions office welcomed 375 high school students to campus Friday, August 12, for their annual summer open house. College administrators say that this is the largest group of registered participants that they've had for an admissions event.

The day consisted of many programs and activities to inform students and parents about what Union College has to offer. Interim college president Jim Underwood greeted the group in the morning at registration before tours of the college begin.

A high school senior, who visited the campus last week said, “On the car ride home, my dad and I talked about how our tour guide gave the best campus tour we had experienced thus far.  Union totally blew me away.”

“Nothing can substitute the see-for-yourself experience of a campus visit,” said Dan Lundquist, Dean of Admissions. “And Union excels in this regard.”

Participants were encouraged to take advantage of all programs. A panel of current Union College students offered open discussion on “Learn what college is really like.”  Admissions counselors will give tips on interviewing and writing memorable essays. Cherice Traver, Dean of Engineering, hosted the program “Is Math or Science your interest?”

Charlotte Borst, Dean of Arts and Sciences, discussed Union's Leadership in Medicine program, an 8-year, combined degree program with the Graduate College of Union University and Albany Medical Center. A highly selective program for students interested in careers in medicine, the goal is to produce the next generation of medical leaders, who can comprehend complex financial, political, and scientific issues.

At the end of the day, Union College admissions counselors were on hand to answer any questions prospective students and parents may have. For a full schedule of the day's events, go to http://www.union.edu/Admissions/Events/openhouse.php?season=summer.

This past year, the college received their biggest applicant pool in history, with a record 4,230 applications. The incoming class of 2009 is expected to be one of the largest ever to attend Union. 

Posted on Aug 9, 2005

A growing business innovation center at the Watervliet Arsenal has a new ally: Union College.

Gov. George Pataki announced Monday that Union was awarded a $692,000 grant to establish partnerships that will help start-up companies as they develop defense-related technology in the arsenal's business incubator.

The funding will allow companies, such as Applied NanoWorks, to use Union faculty, students and labs as they develop homeland security-related technology. Applied NanoWorks became the Watervliet Innovation Center's first tenant in February and is researching coating for lighting materials that will make them more resilient.

“This is a really good example of how you can align the mission of a college with industry,” said Union spokesman Bill Schwarz.

Union was one of nine New York colleges and universities that were awarded grants through the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research. More than $5.22 million in NYSTAR funds was awarded – $1.9 million of which will go to Capital Region schools.

The Center for Economic Growth in December completed a feasibility study examining whether the arsenal could support a homeland security technology incubator. The U.S. Army provided $450,000 for the study, accepted the CEG's proposal for the Watervliet Innovation Center and allocated 9,000 square feet for it. The incubator may expand to 25,000 square feet over five years.

The announcement about the NYSTAR funding came two months after the Army said it will supply $560,683 for the construction of modular offices and other work for the arsenal incubator directed by the CEG.

“We're really in a nutshell because we're offering resources that many companies might not have access to,” said Schwarz.

U-Start, a technology focused business incubator affiliated with Union, will use MBA and undergraduate business students to help identify defense-related technologies that could be developed at the arsenal. U-Start will also develop commercial business strategies for the companies.

Posted on Aug 8, 2005

Local colleges and universities will share in more than $2.5 million in state funding to conduct research in high tech fields in parternship with local businesses, Gov. George Pataki's office announced on Monday.

The funding is being provided under the technology transfer incentive program through the New York state Office of Science Technology and Academic Research.

The state University at Albany was awarded $750,000 to work with Breonics Inc. on technology related to organ transplants, as well as $692,000 to work with Plug Power Inc. of Latham on fuel cell technology and nanothechnology.

Union College was awarded $692,000 to develop a homeland security incubator at the Watervliet Innovation Center. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is to receive $500,000 to partner with Polyset Co. commercialize a nanotechnology application.

Posted on Aug 5, 2005

Got the EDGE? These girls do

The Olin rotunda was a colorful array of posters, toys and electronic devices – ranging from an interactive Braille alphabet-singing caterpillar to a light-up baby mat – as high school girls with aspirations of careers in engineering showed off the fruits of their labor in Union's popular EDGE (Educating Girls as Engineers) Workshop.

Working in small groups, these young women re-engineered toys for children with disabilities they had visited at Schenectady's Northwoods at Hilltop brain injury rehabilitation center at the start of the program.  

“They were incredible,” said Linda Almstead, a computer science lecturer and EDGE teacher, of the 21 juniors and seniors from across the country who participated. “They learned how to program; they learned microprocessors and circuits. It was exciting to see them take such a passionate interest in the field.”

Addressing the group at a farewell banquet and graduation at Orange House on the workshop's final day was Maria Klawe, dean of engineering and applied sciences and a professor of computer science at Princeton University. Klawe encouraged the girls to pursue careers in engineering, noting that engineering is an ideal field for those who love math and science and who want to be challenged, solve difficult problems, and make a real difference in people's lives. 

Kathy Sauers, Manager, Foundation and Corporate Citizenship at the Northrop Grumman Corporation, also addressed the Workshop participants. EDGE is funded by Northrop Grumman.