Parent and Family Orientation

A new student poses for a picture with his parents or guardians.

Learn about how we help families support their students' success at UB. 

On this page:

How to Support Your New UB Student

You play an important role in your student’s college success. While your student is required to participate in their student orientation program, there are a number of ways you can support their transition.

Parent and Family Orientation Resources

Review the items on this page to help support your student's transition to UB.

On-Demand Information

Helpful and timely information for you as a supporter of a new UB student. 

Academics at UB

Review the information linked below to better understand what to expect for your student's academic experience this semester as well as the services and people at UB who support your student's success.

Advice from UB Faculty

YouTube video for Faculty at UB

UB faculty share their role and expectations, and their approach to teaching in the UB classroom. 

Paying for College (Financial Aid and Billing)

Review the information below to learn about Financial Aid and how to pay the eBill at UB. 

Life on Campus

Campus life can help ease your student's transition to college and help them build community from the start. That might mean utilizing resources or services offered at UB or connecting with other new students. You play an important role helping your student set realistic expectations for the semester and navigating the ups and downs of their new college environment. 

Review the information below to learn more about what's ahead for your new UB student. 

Dining on Campus

Supporting Your Student's Experience

FAQs from On-Demand Information

Answers to the most frequently asked questions submitted from supporters of new students.

Live Virtual Question & Answer Session

The orientation office will host 1-hour live question and answer sessions featuring experts from the orientation office in July. The sessions allow supporters of new students to ask their questions to both staff and current students prior to the start of the semester. 

Please note, the sessions will not be recorded or distributed. Sessions are identical; we recommend selecting the day/time that works best for your schedule and only attend once.

Session details:

  • Check back in May for the dates/times
Use the Zoom App

For the best experience, we recommend viewing from the Zoom application on your device, not the web browser. Visit the Zoom website to sign up for a free account.

On-Campus Program

Program Overview

UB offers a two-day, on-campus orientation program in July for supporters of new first-year, U.S. students. Parent and Family Orientation runs concurrently, but separate from, the first-year student orientation program.

During Parent and Family Orientation, we’ll cover what to expect during your student's first year at UB and how you can support the start of their college journey. You'll also learn about services and resources your student should utilize during their first year, strategies for you to help your student navigate the transition to college, and an opportunity to get to know the UB community and campus environment.

Please Note: The Parent and Family Orientation program is appropriate for supporters ages 16 and up.

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Program Registration

Register for Parent and Family Orientation through the “Parent & Family Orientation” tab of your student's Orientation Data Form, which your student can log in to at any time. Please note that your student will need their email address and password (created during the initial login to the system) and payment must be made by credit card.

Registration must be completed at least five (5) business days in advance of the scheduled session date; day-of walk-in registration is not available.

Cancellations must be made in writing five (5) business days prior to the scheduled orientation session for a full refund. Refunds cannot be processed after that deadline.

Additional Details

Supporters attending on-campus orientation will need off-campus overnight accommodations. If you need suggestions, check here for a list of partner hotel accommodations.

The on-campus Summer Orientation takes place on North Campus. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and dressing in layers to accommodate fluctuating temperatures.

Prepare for your trip to campus

Additional Resources

Not attending orientation?

If you plan to travel with your student to Buffalo, NY, but not to attend the orientation program, spend your time getting to know the City of Good Neighbors.

Sample Schedule

Need Help?

Helping new students transition to life at UB:

University at Buffalo
112 Student Union, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: (716) 645-6125