Union College is a small, energetic, independent liberal arts college in the Appalachian Mountain range. The College, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, was founded in 1879--a time when simple survival, not higher education, was the top priority of most of the country. But for the citizens of Barbourville, a town of 450 souls and three brick buildings, establishing a college for their children was essential. The name they chose reflected the unity of purpose they felt: To a man (and woman), they believed education was the path to leadership.
Union's 800-plus undergraduates and over 500 graduate students represent 28 states and 11 countries. The College's academic program fulfills the goal of a liberal arts education. It also provides students with the skills necessary to compete in a diverse job market. The undergraduate liberal arts curriculum makes available a body of knowledge drawn from the applied sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Majors and areas of study in pre-professional, technical, and skills-oriented fields prepare students for graduate study as well as postgraduate employment opportunities. The graduate program, which was launched over 50 years ago, offers advanced degrees in education and psychology.
Union's 100-acre campus is on the edge of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Kentucky. The newest of the College's 30 buildings include a state-of-the-art technology center, academic center, and student apartment building. Approximately one-half of Union's undergraduate students live in three residence halls and the apartments on campus. Dozens of student organizations offer many opportunities for participation in a wide range of extracurricular activities. Union's full-time College minister organizes various activities related to spiritual growth.
Intercollegiate sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, cycling, golf, soccer, swimming, and track & field for men and women. Women's sports include softball and volleyball. Baseball and football are additional men's sports. Union has a varsity cheerleading squad, as well as junior varsity teams for baseball, men's and women's basketball, and men's soccer. Intramural sports vary according to student request. The College recently added a new softball field, refurbished the baseball and soccer fields, updated facilities in Robsion Arena, home to men's and women's basketball and volleyball. Synthetic turf has been installed at Burch/Nau Field. This turf allows several athletic programs to take advantage of the field.
Location
Just 17 miles east of Interstate 75, the town of Barbourville sits in the Appalachian Mountains surrounded by four state parks filled with falls, lakes, and streams. The campus itself includes more than 100 gently rolling acres covered in overhanging elms, mountain laurel, and Georgian architecture. The famous Wilderness Road spans the east side of the campus, and Cumberland Gap National Historic Park is just 30 miles away. The air is clean and fresh, and the people are friendly and down to earth.
Majors and Degrees
Union College offers the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees. Majors are available in: accounting, athletic training, biology, business administration, chemistry, Christian ministries, communication, computer information technology, criminal justice, education (elementary, middle grades, and secondary), English, health, history, history and political science, human performance, international business, Latin American and Iberian Studies, management, marketing, mathematics, physical education (teaching), psychology, recreation management, RN-BSN, religious studies, sociology, social work, special education, sports management, and theatre.
At the graduate level, Union College offers a Master of Arts in Education with majors in: teacher as leader, health/physical education, psychology, reading and writing endorsement and special education. Rank I Programs (non-degree) include: curriculum and instruction, educational leadership (non-certification), teacher as leader, reading and writing endorsement, special education, and supervisor of instruction; and a Master of Arts in Psychology with majors in clinical and counseling psychology.
The Academic Program
Union College helps students make learning connections. Students are given opportunities for practical applications through an academically rigorous liberal arts curriculum. Upon admission to the College, students begin a process whereby career counselors and academic advisors help them articulate career goals, select academic courses of study appropriate to those goals, and achieve suitable placement upon completion of their studies.
The College operates on a two-semester calendar with August and winter interims, and May, June (Summer I), July (Summer II), and May-July (Summer III) terms. Students must successfully complete a total of 120 semester hours to earn a bachelor's degree, including 43-45 hours of required core classes from the four major divisions of study.
Study Abroad
Union College is a cooperating member of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS). The College joins with a number of other Kentucky colleges and universities to provide summer study opportunities in ten different locations. The programs in France, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Ecuador are open to all Union College students, who may earn credits toward their degree at Union.
Academic Facilities
The Weeks-Townsend Memorial Library provides a variety of resources and services to support and enrich the College's academic programs. The library houses a collection of more than 170,000 books, periodicals, government documents, and multi-media materials. The library subscribes to numerous on-line reference and full-text databases including more than 115,000 e-books. The library's Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), circulation, and reserves are fully automated and available on the web. The library can accommodate 250 persons in a variety of seating arrangements, including study carrels, tables, private study rooms, computer stations, and lounge areas. The library provides wireless access to the campus network and desktop and laptop computers for student use. Library participation in various state, regional, and national consortia and networks provides the college community with a wide array of traditional and electronic resources.
Weeks-Townsend includes a 20-seat computer lab, the main teaching lab on campus. The library houses several special collections including the Cumberland Gap Genealogy Collection, the Lincoln-Civil War Collection, and the College Archives as well as Curriculum, Juvenile,
and Kentucky collections. The library staff offers individual and group bibliographic instruction and instruction in the use of equipment, computer resources, and special collections.
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) includes multiple academic support services for Union College students. Individual tutoring is available in all majors--including both upper and lower division classes. Students may work with a tutor to review for classes, refresh study skills, or prepare for professional examinations such as GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and NTE. In addition Supplemental Instructors (SI's) are provided for several core courses students find most challenging. Students may also attend group study sessions with a student leader who has already excelled in that particular course. The SI leaders model good study strategies and encourage collaborative learning.
The Department of Special Programs directly oversees multiple student services offered at Union College.
The Office of Disabilities works to facilitate equal access to postsecondary education for students with disabilities. This office coordinates specific services and accommodations for students as well as serves as a liaison between college faculty, staff, and students regarding disability related issues.
The Office of Career Planning and Placement works individually with students and alumni to provide current and timely workshops, career postings, graduate school tours, help with graduate school testing and applications as well as resume review and preparation helps. In addition to the above, Special Programs also oversees the Academic Resource Center (ARC) where tutors are available daily for students struggling with academic issues. In addition, students may work with tutors outside of the regular ARC hours at multiple locations across campus.
Special Programs also coordinates TRiO Student Support Services and Upward Bound grants focusing on providing academic support and personal support, as well as grant aid, for current and future first generation college students. These grants currently serve 250 students at Union College.
Accreditation
Union College is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate, Bachelor, and Master level degrees and by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. Union is also approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation of Union College may be made directly to the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools by mail, telephone, or e-mail as follows: 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; 1-404-679-4501; www.sacscoc.org. All other inquiries should be made directly to Union College: 310 College Street, Barbourville, KY 40906, 1-606-546-4151, www.unionky.edu, (toll free line to Admissions Office: 1-800-489-8646).
Costs
Tuition and fees for the 2011-2012 academic year is $20,004; room and board is $6,200. Books and supplies are estimated at $1,470 per year.
Financial Aid
In 2011-12, 96% of Union's undergraduate students received financial assistance. Students wishing to be considered for aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA form allows students to be eligible for Federal, State and Institutional Aid. Union College awards several scholarships that range from $1,000 to full tuition.
Faculty
Union College has a faculty dedicated to teaching with an emphasis on providing a learning atmosphere that supports the one-to-one philosophy of the college. There are 62 full-time faculty members serving a population of 830 undergraduate and 550 graduate students. Sixty-six percent of full time faculty members have terminal degrees. The faculty to student ratio is 1:14 overall and 1:11 undergraduate only. Over 37% of the faculty members have served at Union for 10 years or more providing for the development of long term relationships with students as alumni.
Union College Student Government
Union College students have a vital role and a distinct responsibility in the governance of the College. Union College students, through the Student Government Association (SGA), have the responsibility to self-govern, seek representation from all sectors of the campus community, create fair representative government, project the best aspirations of the community, provide support to the administration for effective enrichment of College life, and assure the welfare of the student community by identifying important community projects, needs, problems, and solutions. Governance shared with the students, faculty, staff and administration is how Union College succeeds in its commitment to being student-centered.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, a student must submit a completed application, a $10 application fee, ACT or SAT I scores, and official high school transcripts. The following high school academic units are suggested: 4 in English, 3 in mathematics, 2 in social studies, and 2 in science. Foreign language study is recommended but not required. Applicants must have maintained a minimum average of C in their secondary school work. References and student activities are also considered.
Transfer students must submit a completed application, a $10 application fee, and official transcripts from any college or university previously attended. Official high school transcripts are required if the student is transferring fewer than 31 semester hours. Transfer students must be eligible to return to the institution last attended and may be admitted to Union in any semester or summer session.
At Union College, the doors are open to anyone who wants a more fulfilling life, regardless of race, color, gender, disability, and national or ethnic origin.
Application forms may be obtained by writing to the Admission Office, or you may apply online. Applications are processed on a rolling admission basis. Students must present ACT or SAT I scores and official high school transcripts. Upon acceptance, students must complete the health form provided by the College.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting:
