Union College is a private, independent institution of higher learning in Schenectady, New York. It was established as a men’s college in 1795 by a group of citizens. Unlike many colleges of its time, it was not affiliated with a particular religion, and so its founders chose the name Union to reflect unity among people of diverse religious backgrounds. Union was the first liberal arts college to offer engineering as a field of study. The college began to admit women in 1970.
United States President Chester Arthur graduated from Union College in 1848. Other notable alumni include William Henry Seward, the U.S. secretary of state who accomplished the purchase of Alaska from Russia; Gordon Gould, an inventor who designed one of the first lasers; and Andrea Barrett, an author who won the 1996 National Book Award for her volume Ship Fever and Other Stories.
Schenectady was established by Dutch pioneers. As a reflection of the city’s Dutch heritage, Union College’s athletic teams are called the Dutchmen and Dutchwomen.
The college’s website at https://www.union.edu/ offers additional information.
