Union College
From Freepedia
This article is about the college in New York; there are also Union Colleges in Barbourville, Kentucky and Lincoln, Nebraska and a Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Many other colleges use the word "union" in their name.
Union College of Schenectady, New York is a non-denominational, independent, liberal arts college in the Mohawk Valley. It was chartered in 1795 and was the second college chartered by the state and the first outside of New York City. Plans for its establishment date back to 1784. The name "Union" refers to its formation by the cooperative effort of several religious denominations. Union College is known as the birthplace of fraternities as the first greek organisation in the United States (Kappa Alpha) was founded there. Troubled times during the third quarter of the 19th century led to a loss of prestige and a large decrease in student enrollment. Union College had to rebuild and redefine itself after that period.
Today, Union College offers many programs encompassing the liberal arts and sciences as well as engineering. Nearly fifty percent of the students are enrolled in science or engineering. The current student body is about 2200, almost evenly split between males and females.
Union College is also referred to as 'the mother of fraternities' because many fraternities, including the first three in America were founded there. The Union Triad is a name given to the first three fraternities founded in America. They were Kappa Alpha (1825), Sigma Phi (1827) and Delta Phi (1827). Greek life flourished at Union College throughout the 19th and 20th century. Despite suffering a decline in membership and chapters due to actions of the college's administration at the end of the 20th century and the very beginning of the 21st century, greek life continues to flourish and be a powerful positive influence on the campus and community.
Notable professors, alumni and former students
- Chester A. Arthur, former President of the United States
- William H. Seward, Governor of New York, U.S. Secretary of State, Lincoln Administration
- John James Audubon, famed Franco-American naturalist and painter
- Edward Bellamy, Notable 19th century authour of "Looking Backward"
- Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States
- Clare W. Graves, Notable 20th century psychology theorist
- George Westinghouse, founder of Westinghouse Electric Corporation
- William L. Greenly and Austin Blair, 19th century governors of Michigan
- Preston King, former U.S. Senator from New York
- Fitz Hugh Ludlow, 19th century author and explorer
- Lewis H. Morgan, father of American anthropology
- Akin Sawyerr, Co-Founder of Thurston House
- Charles Steinmetz, Notable 19th-20th century Electrical Engineer
- Robert Toombs, 19th century politician
- Raymond Gilmartin, former CEO of Merck & Co., Inc.
- Neil Abercrombie, congressman from Hawaii
- Mark Walsh, 21st century entrepreneur and venture capitalist
- David Viniar, Chief Financial Officer, Goldman Sachs
- Phil Alden Robinson, Film Director and Screenwriter; Field of Dreams, Sneakers, The Sum Of All Fears
