A Better U: The Roadmap for Bridging Campus-Community Connections

Throughout my time at Union College, I have taken note of the many advantages and opportunities for growth within the student experience both on campus and in the community. The research and findings of my thesis have all come to circle around the topic of placemaking-what creates the feeling of a 'college town'-and the unique aspects that collaborate to achieve this distinct feeling. There is an innate sense that overwhelms the body when a place just has that certain energy. Whether it be the people that inhabit that place, the events that occur in that place, or the combination of the two, there is a feeling of 'place' in these cities. Schenectady, by means of sustainable collaboration with Union, can also create this unique feeling that tourists and students alike will recognize as something truly special. In doing so, Union College will elevate to become a place of community, collaboration, openness, and create a sense of place within and outside of the gates that surround the campus. This kind of program is possible from research gathered, first-hand internship insight, data, surveys, scholarly texts, and interviews with campus and community stakeholders involved in the revitalization of Schenectady.