Union Graduate College

Not to be confused with Union College.

Union Graduate College

Location	Schenectady , New York , United States

Union Graduate College (UGC) is part of a federation of Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany Law School, Albany Medical College, Dudley Observatory, and Union College which together form Union University, a historic linkage dating back to 1873. Each member institution has its own governing board, is fiscally independent and is responsible for its own programs.

History

The history of Union Graduate College begins in the early 20th century. Advanced degree study was being conducted on the Union College Campus in several disciplines. The master's degree in electrical engineering was available as early as 1905 and was the first graduate degree awarded by Union to a woman, when Florence Buckland received her a master's degree in electrical engineering in 1925.

Union Graduate College’s School of Management began in the economics department of Union College. In May 1961, the Union Board of Trustees approved a master's program in industrial administration. The first three degrees in industrial administration were awarded in 1964.

Although advanced degrees in education had been available at Union earlier in the 1900s, a team of academic and administrative faculty was formed in 1986 to investigate the possibility of creating an innovative, high-quality teacher education program. They developed Union Graduate College’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in discipline areas that dove-tailed with the College’s academic strengths: biology, chemistry, earth science (geology), French, German, Greek, Latin, mathematics, physics, social studies, and Spanish. The first class of 15 MAT students graduated in 1990.

Union College continued to expand its graduate degree study offerings with new master's programs in management, healthcare management, engineering, education and bioethics, developing innovative programs through strategic relationships with other highly respected Upstate New York education institutions such as Albany Law School, Albany College of Pharmacy and Albany Medical College. Union College established what was then known as the “Center for Graduate Education and Special Programs” to administer these advanced degree programs.

In the new millennium, bolstered by expanding enrollments in all graduate programs and the growing regional demand for full-time and part-time graduate study, Union recognized the need to create a new, independent, professional graduate college. The Graduate College of Union University was formed and chartered by the State Board of Regents as an independent college in July 2003. The school’s name was changed to Union Graduate College in May 2006, a name that better reflected its Union College heritage.

Today, as an affiliate of Union College and the other Union University Colleges, Union Graduate College values its rich and multi-varied connection to the liberal arts and sciences. Future graduate study programs will build on these historical foundations of quality education that provides graduates with the skill and vision to lead.

Schools

• School of Management
• School of Education
• School of Engineering

The School of Engineering at Union Graduate College offers Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering & management systems and energy systems. The School also offers an accelerated MS with Union College.

• Center for Bioethics

Jointly offered by Union Graduate College and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Bioethics Program provides education in clinical ethics, research ethics and bioethics policy. The Program is designed to enhance the career and educational opportunities of those interested in such topics as end-of-life care and physician aid-in-dying, animal and human subject research, or public health and health policy issues like obesity and smoking.

Accreditation

Union Graduate College is accredited by the following organizations:

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business has accredited the MBA program and the MBA in Healthcare Management program. AACSB is the most prestigious accrediting body for schools of management. Only 25% of management schools are AACSB accredited.

The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) Union Graduate College’s MBA in Healthcare Management is one of only 21 programs in the United States accredited by both CAHME and AACSB.

The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) TEAC accreditation is considered the highest standard of accreditation for teacher preparation programs. Union Graduate College is one of only 22 TEAC accredited schools in New York State

National Board Certification The School of Education at Union Graduate Program has 17 faculty who are National Board Certified Teachers. This is more than any other program in New York State. National Board Certification is the only national, independent measure of accomplished teaching.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that is dedicated to quality assurance and improvement through accreditation via peer evaluation.

The New York State Board of Regents, Office of College and University Evaluation

External links

• Union Graduate College Official website