Efficiency and savings are the hallmarks of transformational efforts in which UB has realigned operational services in human resources, informational technology and student services.

Through UB 2020, the university has substantially changed the way it does business, improving service while significantly increasing efficiency by eliminating duplication, applying new information technology and modernizing business practices.

The estimated more than $23 million that these efforts will save UB annually are, in turn, being reinvested in its mission of teaching, research and service.

Kara Saunders, interim registrar, has been a part of the team working on the Student Services Transformation (SST), the focus of which is improving the ways that faculty and staff deliver, and UB students access, the tools and services that support the students.

The resulting new Web-based software platform will modernize and integrate UB’s student-services systems, including academic advising, admissions, course registration, degree audit, financial aid, grading and transcripts.

The collaborative effort, Saunders notes, has been about aiming for excellence in meeting expectations.

“Students expect that the administrative aspects of their living and learning experience at UB will be seamless, simple and easy to navigate,” she adds. “Faculty and staff have similar expectations for their work in providing student services.”

“This project has very tangible, very real results and changes that are impacting students. It’s very rewarding to be a part of something like this.”