page_title: Union College
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: Union College / Campus / Design
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Joseph Ramée (1764-1842), Architekt: Union College in Schenectady, New York, USA; Lageplan. English: The Joseph Jacques Ramée (1764-1842) architectural plan of Union College in Schenectady, New York, United States
context_page_description: Union College is a private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the state of New York. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as three of the earliest Greek letter societies were established there. After 175 years as a traditional all-male institution, Union College began enrolling women in 1970.
  The college offers a liberal arts curriculum across some 21 academic departments, as well as opportunities for interdepartmental majors and self-designed organizing theme majors. It offers a wide array of courses in the humanities, social sciences, arts, sciences, literature, and foreign languages. The school is distinguished among liberal arts colleges by offering also offering
  ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees in computer engineering, bioengineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. About 60% of Union students engage in some form of international study or study abroad.
context_section_description: After Union College received its charter in 1795 the college began conducting classes on the upper floor, while a grammar school continued to be conducted on the lower.  It soon became clear that this space would prove inadequate for the growing college. Construction soon began on a three story building, possibly influenced by Princeton's Nassau Hall, that was occupied in 1804.  Two dormitories were constructed nearby.
  Eliphalet Nott became college president that year, and envisioned an expanding campus to accommodate a growing school. In 1806 a large tract of land was acquired to the east of the Downtown Schenectady, on a gentle slope up from the Mohawk River and facing nearly due west. In 1812 French architect Joseph-Jacques Ramée, equally skilled in landscapes and structures, was then hired to draw up a comprehensive plan for the new campus. Ramée worked on drawings for about a year, and construction of two of the college buildings proceeded quickly enough to permit occupation in 1814. The Union College campus thus became the first comprehensively planned college campus in the United States.
caption: The original 1813 Ramée plan of the Union College campus
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