The architectural centerpiece of the Union campus, the Nott Memorial, is named after the college's president from 1804-1866, Eliphalet Nott.

Union College of Schenectady, New York, is a non-denominational, independent, somewhat selective liberal arts college in New York's Capital District. Chartered in 1795, it is the second oldest college in the state, following only Columbia University. Known as the "Mother of Fraternities", Union spawned the first three Greek letter socieies in America. Today, it is widely regarded for its academic excellence. Union College may be any of several North American institutions of higher education: Union College in Schenectady, New York (founded 1795) Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky (founded 1874) Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska (founded 1891) Additionally, there is a Union University in Jackson, Tennessee and a Union Institute and University... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... The date of establishment or date of founding of an institution is the date on which that institution chooses to claim as its starting point. ... For the film of this title, see Private School (film). ... A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution, with the stipulation that it be invested, and the principal remain intact. ... University President is the title of the highest ranking officer within a university, within university systems that prefer that appellation over other variations such as Chancellor or rector. ... A faculty is a division within a university. ... In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ... Schenectady is a city located in Schenectady County, New York, of which it is the county seat. ... This article is about the state. ... Cities with at least a million inhabitants in 2006 An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... Millie, once mascot of the City of Brampton, is now the Brampton Arts Councils representative. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Image File history File links Copyright (c) 1997 C. DAVID READY. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Copyright (c) 1997 C. DAVID READY. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Nott Memorial (known locally as The Nott) is a 16-sided building, 89 feet in diameter, located on the center of the quad at Union College in Schenectady, New York. ... Eliphalet Nott (June 25, 1773 - January 25, 1866), American divine, was born at Ashford, Connecticut. ... Schenectady (pronounced ; Θkahnéhtati[1] in Tuscarora) is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. ... Liberal arts colleges in the United States are institutions of higher education in the United States which are primarily liberal arts colleges. ... The Capital District is an imprecise regional definition (much like Upstate New York) that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of New York: Albany County, Schenectady County, and Rensselaer County. ... Alma Mater Columbia University is a private university in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. ... The Mother of Fraternities is a term commonly used to refer to Union College, who played a critical role in establishing the Greek system in the United States of America. ...

History

Officially chartered in 1795, the college can trace its beginnings to 1779. Certain that Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga two years before would mean a new nation, several hundred residents of northern New York began the first popular demand for higher education in America. Local academic and clerical activists persisted in these efforts for sixteen years until the Regents of the State of New York recognized the school with the state's first charter.

For its initial seventy-five years, Union was regarded among the top handful of colleges in America. During the third quarter of the 19th century there was a loss in student enrollment. The college struggled to regain its previously high standing and had to rebuild and redefine itself after that period.

Today, Union is rated among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.^[1] Number 40 in the 2008 U.S. News & World Report ranking, Union offers many programs encompassing the liberal arts and sciences. Nearly fifty percent of its 2,200 students are enrolled in science or engineering. The current student body is almost evenly split between males and females. A founding member of NESCAC (before withdrawing in 1982), Union fields Division III teams in the majority of its sports. Ice hockey, Division I, is an exception. U.S. News & World Report is a weekly newsmagazine. ... In the history of education, the seven liberal arts comprise two groups of studies, the trivium and the quadrivium. ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying scientific knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria. ... The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) is an athletic conference consisting of highly selective liberal arts colleges located in New England and New York. ...

Two United States Presidents (Chester A. Arthur and James Carter), seven cabinet secretaries, fifteen United States senators, ninety-one members of the House of Representatives, thirteen governors, fifty important diplomats, more than 200 judges, forty missionaries, sixteen generals, and ninety college presidents, including the first presidents of the University of Illinois, the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, Vassar College, Smith College, Elmira College are all alumni of Union College. Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American politician who served as the 21st President of the United States. ... Order: 39th President Term of Office: January 20, 1977–January 20, 1981 Preceded by: Gerald Ford Succeeded by: Ronald Reagan Date of birth: October 1, 1924 Place of birth: Plains, Georgia Date of death: Place of death: First Lady: Rosalynn Carter Political party: Democratic Vice President: Walter Mondale James Earl... The University of Illinois is a system of public universities in Illinois. ... The University of Iowa, also commonly called Iowa or locally UI, is a major coeducational research university located on a 1,900-acre (8 km²) campus in Iowa City, Iowa, US, on the banks of the Iowa River in East Central Iowa. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a coeducational public research university in the state of Michigan. ... Vassar College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college situated in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. Founded as a womens college in 1861, it was the first member of the Seven Sisters to become coeducational. ... Smith College is a private, independent womens liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. ... Elmira College is a coeducational private liberal arts college located in Elmira, in New York States Southern Tier region. ...

Fellow graduates William H. Seward, well-known for for his once-controversial purchase of Alaska, and Robert Toombs, served simultaneously as Secretaries of State, Seward for the United States and Toombs the Confederate States of America, an unusual distinction in American history. Portraits of both currently hang side-by-side in the President’s House. William Henry Seward, Sr. ... Postbellum photograph of Robert A. Toombs. ... United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, a Secretary of State is a senior Cabinet Minister in charge of a Government Department. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial)  States that seceded under CSA control  States and territories claimed by CSA without formal secession and/or control Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia...

Union University

Union College, Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany Law School, Albany Medical College, Dudley Observatory, Graduate College of Union University, together form Union University, a historic linkage dating back to 1873 for graduate programs. Each member institution has its own governing board, is fiscally independent and is responsible for its own programs. See also: Union College's description of Union University. The Albany College of Pharmacy is a private, specialized college in Albany, New York. ... Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. ... Albany Medical College is a medical school located in Albany, New York, United States. ... Dudley Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in Schenectady, New York, United States. ... Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany Law School, Albany Medical College, Dudley Observatory, Graduate College of Union University, and Union College together form Union University, a historic linkage dating back to 1873. ... Union University is a federation of several graduate and undergraduate institutions which are located in the American State of New York. ...

Minerva House System

In recent years many old fraternity houses were taken over by the College in order to create the Minerva House system (named for the Roman goddess of wisdom who appears on the college's shield). Each incoming freshman is randomly placed in a Minerva House for their time at Union. Each Minerva House has a yearly entertainment budget, and can plan activities and events for its members (Students from any Minerva House can attend events at any other house as well). Upperclassmen also have the option of living in their Minerva.

Students may also elect to join Theme Houses. Currently, there are twelve active Theme Houses, including Wells House, dedicated to community service, Symposium House, which hosts discussions with faculty and students, and Arts House, Music/Culture House, two Language Houses, and Ozone House.

Greek life

Union College is referred to as the "Mother of Fraternities" because many fraternities, including the first three in America, as well as three other national fraternities, were founded there. More fraternities have been founded at Union than at any other college or university. The Union Triad is a name given to the first three Greek letter social fraternities with a continuing record founded in America. They were the Kappa Alpha Society (1825) (the oldest fraternity in the nation), the Sigma Phi Society (1827) and Delta Phi (1827). Sigma Phi and Delta Phi are the only two remaining out of the three thus making these chapters the oldest fraternity chapters in the nation. Many students (approximately 33%) choose to be a part of the Greek life on campus. The Mother of Fraternities is a term commonly used to refer to Union College, who played a critical role in establishing the Greek system in the United States of America. ... The Union Triad is a term used to refer to three general fraternities all founded at Union College in Schenectady, New York: the Kappa Alpha Society (established 1825), Sigma Phi (1827) and Delta Phi (1827). ... The Kappa Alpha Society (ΚΑ), founded in 1825, is the progenitor of the modern fraternity system in North America according to Bairds Manual. ... Founded on March 4, 1827 on the campus of Union College in Schenectady, New York, USA, the Sigma Phi Society is the second oldest Greek social fraternal organization in the United States. ... Delta Phi (ΔΦ) is a fraternity was founded in 1827 at Union College in Schenectady, New York. ...

There are nine fraternities that are a part of the Inter-Fraternal Council on campus. These fraternities are Alpha Delta Phi (AD), Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi),Chi Psi, (XY), Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE), Phi Delta Theta (Phi Delt), Psi Upsilon (Psi U), Sigma Chi (Sig Chi), Sigma Phi (Sig Phi), and Theta Delta Chi (TDX). This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ or AEPi) is currently the only international Jewish college fraternity in North America, with chapters in the United States and Canada. ... Chi Psi, ΧΨ is a fraternity consisting of more than 30 chapters (known as alphas) at American colleges and universities. ... Delta Kappa Epsilon (ΔΚΕ; also pronounced D-K-E or Deke) was founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who, upon hearing that some but not all of them had been invited to join the two existing societies (Alpha Delta Phi and Psi Upsilon), instead... Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ) is an international fraternity founded in 1848 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. ... Psi Upsilon (ΨΥ, Psi U) is the fifth oldest college fraternity, founded at Union College in 1833. ... Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) is one of the largest and oldest all-male, college, Greek-letter social fraternities. ... The Sigma Phi Society, founded on 4 March 1827 on the campus of Union College in Schenectady, New York is the second oldest Greek social fraternal organization in the United States. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

There are also three sororities on campus that are a part of the Panhellenic Council, Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delt), Gamma Phi Beta (Gamma Phi), and Sigma Delta Tau (SDT). Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ), also known as Tri Delta, is a national collegiate sorority founded on November 27, 1888. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Sigma Delta Tau (ΣΔΤ), a national sorority and member of the National Panhellenic Conference, was founded March 25, 1917 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. ...

The Multicultural Greek Council is also the governing body of five other Greek institutions: Alpha Phi Alpha, Iota Phi Theta, Lambda Pi Chi, Omega Phi Beta, and Phi Iota Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ) is the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African Americans. ... This article is about the predominantly African-American Fraternity. ... Lambda Pi Chi Sorority(ΛΠΧ) () is a U.S.-based Latina based Greek letter intercollegiate sorority founded on April 16, 1988 at Cornell University. ... Omega Phi Beta Sorority(ΩΦΒ) is a Latino oriented Greek letter intercollegiate sorority founded on March 15, 1989 on the University at Albany in Albany, New York. ... Phi Iota Alpha (ΦΙΑ), established December 26, 1931, is the oldest Latino fraternity in existence and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. ...

The College recently hired a new Director of Greek Life who will oversee all aspects of Greek life in an effort to improve and unite the system. In addition he will help develop a new Greek Scholarship to be awarded to a member of the Greek system who displays need, outstanding contributions to Greek Life, academics, and philanthropic endeavors.

Notable professors, alumni, and students

• Chester A. Arthur, 1848, 21st President of the United States.
• Baruch S. Blumberg, 1945, 1976 Nobel laureate in medicine.
• Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States. While pursuing the qualifications to command the Navy's first generation of nuclear submarines, then-Lieutenant Carter studied atomic physics through an extension program the College offered to officers detached to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Division of Reactor Development Schenectady laboratory.
• Gordon Gould, inventor of the laser.
• Leonard Jerome, 1817-1891, New York entrepreneur and grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill.
• Fitz Hugh Ludlow, 19th century author and explorer, author of the reknown "The Hashish Eater" (1857) and the college Alma Mater: "Ode to Old Union."
• Eliphalet Nott, 19th century Presbyterian minister, inventor, educational pioneer, and president of the College for sixty-two years (1804-1866); namesake of the Nott Memorial.
• William H. Seward, Governor of New York, U.S. Secretary of State, Lincoln and A. Johnson Administration.
• Charles Steinmetz, Ground-breaking 19th-20th century mathemetician and electrical engineer, holder of over 200 patents.
• James Tedisco, New York Assemblyman (1982 - ); Minority Leader (2005 - )
• Robert Toombs, 19th century Georgia senator; Secretary of State of the Confederacy.
• George Westinghouse, founder of Westinghouse Electric Corporation, studied briefly at Union.
• Joseph Christopher Yates (1768-1837), founding trustee of Union College, American lawyer, statesman and politician, served successively as Mayor of Schenectady (1798), State Senator (1805), State Supreme Court Justice (1808), and seventh Governor of New York (1823–1824); is also the namesake of Yates County, New York.

Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American politician who served as the 21st President of the United States. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... Baruch Samuel Blumberg (born 1925) is a American scientist and recipient of the 1976 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discoveries concerning new mechanisms for the origin and dissemination of infectious diseases. ... For other persons named Jimmy Carter, see Jimmy Carter (disambiguation). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... Almost a year after World War II ended, Congress established the United States Atomic Energy Commission to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. ... The first page of Gordon Goulds famous notebook, in which he coined the acronym LASER and described the essential elements for constructing one. ... For other uses, see Laser (disambiguation). ... Leonard Walter Jerome, born November 3, 1817 in Pompey, New York, United States – died March 3, 1891 at Brighton, England , was a Brooklyn, New York entrepreneur and grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill. ... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS (November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965) was a British statesman, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. At various times an author, soldier, journalist, and politician, Churchill is generally regarded as... Fitz Hugh Ludlow Fitz Hugh Ludlow, sometimes seen as “Fitzhugh Ludlow,” (September 11, 1836 – September 12, 1870) was an American author, journalist, and explorer; best-known for his autobiographical book The Hasheesh Eater (1857). ... Eliphalet Nott (June 25, 1773 - January 25, 1866), American divine, was born at Ashford, Connecticut. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... The Nott Memorial (known locally as The Nott) is a 16-sided building, 89 feet in diameter, located on the center of the quad at Union College in Schenectady, New York. ... William Henry Seward, Sr. ... This article is about the state. ... Charles Proteus Steinmetz (April 9, 1865_October 26, 1923) was born in Breslau, Silesia, Germany. ... James Tedisco represents District 110 in the New York State Assembly, which consists of portions of the city of Schenectady, as well as the City of Saratoga Springs, Ballston, Galway, Milton, and Glenville, among other communities located in Upstate New York. ... Postbellum photograph of Robert A. Toombs. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Westinghouse logo (designed by Paul Rand) The Westinghouse Electric Company, headquartered in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is an organization founded by George Westinghouse in 1886. ... Governor Joseph C. Yates, as painted by Ezra Ames, circa 1825 Joseph Christopher Yates (November 9, 1768–March 19, 1837), born in Schenectady, New York, was an American lawyer, statesman and politician. ...

See also

• Union Triad

The Union Triad is a term used to refer to three general fraternities all founded at Union College in Schenectady, New York: the Kappa Alpha Society (established 1825), Sigma Phi (1827) and Delta Phi (1827). ...

References

1. ^ America's Best Colleges: Union College. U.S.News & World Report. Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved on 2008-06-04.

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Union College home page
• US News & World Report Ratings
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• NAICU's U-CAN Network
• Unofficial Union College hockey team fan page
• Union's Info on Greeks