Dear Union Parents and Families,
Well, here we are. The Fall term will be wrapping up very soon, and students will begin their finals in just a few short weeks. During the break, our students will have the opportunity to take advantage of internships, mini-terms as well as visit with family and friends.
Homecoming and Family Weekend was glorious – over 1800 parents, grandparents, alumni and friends converged on campus! The weather turned Friday afternoon leaving the remainder of the weekend sunny – it was the perfect fall weekend. Not to mention all the wonderful events parents could participate in: visit a class; attend the President’s Welcome Reception as well as the Parents Association meeting, and receptions, and panel discussions, and athletic events… and more! At our Parents Association meeting Saturday morning, we heard from many of the administrators and deans who work directly with our students. Interestingly, almost half the parent population was first year parents, followed by sophomore parents, senior parents and – surprisingly – the fewest, from junior class parents. Here are some interesting statistics from the weekend: we had 13 parents from outside the United States (Canada, Bermuda, France, England and Ecuador), and domestically, the farthest traveling parents came all the way from Washington State! Bravo Union!
By now, you should have received either a letter, a phone call from our student affiliates, or both, asking you to make a gift to our Parents Fund. On behalf of Vivian Falco, our Parents Fund Chairperson, I sincerely hope that you will take this opportunity to participate in the Fund! This is a simple gesture that says that you are feeling good about the Union experience that your daughter or son is having. We thank you in advance for being a part of this.
And now News from the Campus…
President’s Office
“A little more than a year ago, in the early days of my presidency at Union, I challenged all of us to re-cultivate our sense of social-connectedness and civic commitment. I recounted the remarkable tale of one of Union’s most emblematic characters, William Seward, who understood the value of community and the self-sacrifice that sometimes comes with committing to the common good.
We have a unique opportunity that I believe will allow us to make a difference in our community. The College recently transferred ownership of one of its properties to Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County. As most of you know, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational housing organization. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in some 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
While it is common for colleges to have a student-run chapter of Habitat for Humanity on their campus that provide volunteer work crews to the local organization, very few colleges in the country have given land or property to Habitat for Humanity and taken the lead in refurbishing the home.
That is precisely the opportunity that is now before us. I invite the Union community – students, faculty, staff and alumni – to join together in renovating a house on Barrett Street that we have recently donated to Habitat for Humanity. It does not matter what skills you possess; there are tasks for everyone to contribute. The fruits of our collective labor will allow a family in need of a home to move in this spring; it will also help us adhere to the vision laid out in our strategic plan and to continue the rich history we have enjoyed with Schenectady since our founding 213 years ago.
In the coming days and weeks, there will be information on how to participate. I encourage you to take part in this worthy cause. Working together on this Habitat house, we have a chance to make a difference in people’s lives and demonstrate our commitment to the community beyond our campus and in which we live.”
We have created a Web site, http://www.union.edu/habitat, which provides instructions on how to volunteer. You can help in two critical areas. The first is working at the house on Wednesdays and Saturdays anytime from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. We need between seven and 10 volunteers each day. Volunteers are also needed to provide lunch to the workers. You can track the progress of the project, including photos, through the Web site.
Health Services:
Our annual flu clinic will be Nov.1st and Nov.8th from 11am-3pm in Old Chapel. The cost of the vaccine is $27.00 and can be paid by cash, check or bill tuition. Students under 18 years old must have parental consent. No appointments necessary – just walk in.
Becker Career Center
Bob Soules, the new Director of the Becker Career Center brings passion and energy to his job. Please take a moment to read his letter of introduction and vision for the future of the Career Center.
http://www.union.edu/N/DS/s.php?s=7506
Dining Services
Minerva Programs
“I would like to call your attention to a pilot program that we are launching through the efforts of Professor Hal Fried of the Economics Department.
Known as the Minerva Fellows Program, Union will send seven graduating seniors to developing countries to use their skills, energy and passion in helping the poor. They will depart for their destinations following Commencement and return to Union during the Spring Term of the following year, for a period of one month to share their experiences with the Union community.
This program is supported in part by the Minervas and through grants and donations that Hal has procured. More information follows, and we will be announcing the program and information sessions for seniors within the next day. Please encourage any students who you feel might be good candidates for this experience to attend the information sessions and / or direct them to me for more in formation. If you have any questions, please be in touch.
Mission
To instill in some recent graduates of Union College an entrepreneurial approach to social problems and a lasting commitment to the poor in developing countries with an important spillover impact on current students.
The Program
All students and faculty members at Union College belong to one of seven Minerva Houses that serve students’ social and academic interests. The Minervas will select seven graduating seniors per year to receive a scholarship to devote eleven months to working with a social entrepreneurial organization in a developing country and to educating Union College students upon their return.
The students will apply in the early winter, be selected in the late winter, take a social entrepreneurship course in the spring, graduate in the middle of June and report to work in the middle of July. The students will return to Union on May 1 of the following year and live in their Minerva House for one month. During the month of May, the students will participate in an ongoing course on social entrepreneurship, which will focus on international examples for the final four weeks. In addition, the students will informally interact with their former student colleagues (many of whom will be friends), give presentations at Minerva Houses and to classes.
Based upon the demonstrated success of the one-year pilot, the College is committed to sustain the effort with a combination of undergraduates and newly graduated students. The Minerva Council voted to contribute $10,000 per year to the program.
The Goals
It is important for the College to make a commitment to alleviating poverty in developing countries and to make a commitment to its students after they graduate beyond asking for their support as alums. Perhaps globalization will pull up the destitute eventually, but in the meantime, this program exposes young people to the human side of poverty and provides them with the opportunity to have a positive impact.
The social entrepreneurship course that students take in their final term at Union will open their minds to the possibilities for managing social initiatives better. The entrepreneurial perspective will establish an inquisitive, creative, questioning, skeptical and ambitious mindset. Students will provide a critical analysis of their experiences when they revisit the social entrepreneurship course upon their return.
Many students care deeply about the less fortunate, but know little about opportunities to help. This program provides an opportunity. The program will probably have a larger impact on participating volunteers than on participating communities; the volunteers will be changed for life. Most will undoubtedly return to a conventional career path, but they will be sensitized to the ravages of disease and poverty and will support its eradication. It is even possible that some will become social entrepreneurs, devoting their careers to finding innovative ways to improve the world.
Effective programs leverage the benefits. This program directly impacts seven students and indirectly impacts many more. The students will return to Union College immediately after their time abroad to share their experiences with their colleagues before it dissipates with time. Other students will rethink their career plans and values as a result.
Collaborating Partners
Discussions are underway with the organizations below who will sponsor the Minerva Fellows. To varying degrees, these organizations are willing to provide accommodation and food. One to two Minerva Fellows will be assigned to a sponsor.
PRELIMINARY DESTINATIONS:
| Organization | Location | Mission |
| BRAC | Bangladesh | Alleviation of poverty and empowerment of the poor |
| National Child Protection Service | Mumbai, India | Street children |
| Self Employed Women’s Association | Ahmadabad, India | Collective purchasing, finance, child care, insurance, legal |
| Sustainable Rural Development | Philippines | Coconut farmers |
| Fiji Red Cross | Suva, Fiji | Health outreach |
| Save the Children Foundation | Suva, Fiji | Childcare and education |
| Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Sahara Africa | South Africa | Hospice care for HIV/AIDs patients |
| To be determined | Ghana | |
| See Mike Brody | Kenya | See Mike Brody |
And, last but not least, Parent Association News There are a number of ways that you, as families and parents of Union students, can be involved – many of which do not require you to be on campus:
- From your home or office: be our “Welcome Wagon”. This is an opportunity for parents of sophomore-junior-senior students to call and welcome incoming parents, and answer any questions they may have.
- Within your child’s old High School, or in your township, attend the local College Fairs. Attend a college fair in your local high school, and spread the good word about Union and share your own experiences.
- Within your own professional environment, help out Union’s Career Services. Help provide internship or job opportunities through your profession or network of contacts.
- Financially, assist the Parents Committee. Give a gift at the Leadership Level of $1000 and invite fellow parents to support the College by participating in the Parents Fund.
- Help in person during move-in day in September for the New Student/Parent Orientation. Help staff the Parents Welcome Center on move-in day and be a resource for new parents.
Please click on the following link if you would like to become actively involved. http://www.union.edu/Parents/form2.php
On a final note, in an attempt to reduce emails in your mailboxes, after this month’s edition, we will no longer be emailing our monthly newsletter. Instead, you will be able to find it on our webpage at http://www.union.edu/Parents > Parents Association > Newsletter.
I hope you enjoy the time your students will be home on break. Best wishes to your daughters and sons in their Union endeavors this year!
Sincerely,
Karen Dumonet (Vanessa ’07, Sebastian ’09)
Parents Association Chairperson