Guide to Campus Living

A community is defined by its common purpose and the interdependence of its members. To be successful, a community must share responsibility for meeting reasonable standards for behavior, respect and consideration of the individuals who make up the community. In UB’s residence halls, community comes first.

The University at Buffalo and Campus Living are committed to practices that value diversity of people and ideas, and by the open exchange of diverse views. We encourage students to develop skills and attitudes that make them positive, productive members of society — including the skills to appreciate, value, and celebrate diversity. The staff and students in our residence halls come from diverse backgrounds and social groups. We encourage acceptance and appreciation of people regardless of race, gender, gender identity or expression, age, ethnicity, skin color, national origin, marital status, veteran status, ability/disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or religious affiliation. We believe that each person has worth and should be treated with dignity and respect. In a community that values diversity, acts of bigotry cannot be tolerated.

Students are expected to act with civility. Hostile or inappropriate language or gestures that destroy relationships rather than sustain them are not welcome in or conducive to a civil residential community. If you are concerned by the activity of another resident, you should approach that resident before involving your Community Assistant. This confrontation should be done in an open, non-threatening manner and you should expect to be treated in the same manner. Acts of harassment - whether verbal, written, or physical - will not be tolerated. This civility statement is a declaration of the values and beliefs of University at Buffalo Campus Living and is not intended to and does not provide grounds for disciplinary action against any student at the University.

Your residence hall or apartment community provides an atmosphere conducive to social interaction and personal growth, as well as study. The residential program endeavors to be enriching socially, culturally, educationally, and in community services, for all students. As a member of the residence hall or apartment community, you have the following rights and responsibilities:

1. You have the right to live in a safe, clean, well-maintained facility, and you are responsible to ensure the same.
2. You have the right to a high-quality learning environment conducive to your academic and social pursuits, and you are responsible for taking part in maintaining such an environment.
3. You have the right to directly formulate or influence policy that affects you through participation in community meetings, Residence Hall or Village Council, Residence Hall Association, student government, and university organizations.
4. You have the right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, and veteran status.
5. You are asked to always consider the rights of fellow residents. Your actions should not interfere with another’s rights as stated above, nor should your actions interfere with the university’s attempt to manage and maintain Campus Living facilities.
6. You are expected to directly participate in community meetings. Each resident shares responsibility for adhering to and enforcing community standards.
7. You are responsible for knowing and adhering to the standards outlined in the Guide to Campus Living, Campus Living Community Standards, and the University Student Code of Conduct.
8. You are responsible for your own actions and the actions of your guests, and for accepting consequences associated with rule or community standard violations.
9. Uncivil behavior does not include any speech or expressive activity which is protected by the United States Constitution and/or the Constitution of the State of New York.

While the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) generally require the university to ask for written consent before disclosing a student’s personally identifiable information, it also allows colleges and universities to take key steps to maintain campus safety. In an emergency, FERPA permits the university to disclose education records without student consent to protect the health or safety of students or other individuals. FERPA also permits the university to disclose information from education records to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their son or daughter. FERPA and New York State Education Law Beau’s Policy allow the university to notify parents if students are involved in drug or alcohol related incidents. The full policy can be found in the UB Student Life Guide.

 Schools may disclose education records to parents if:

• the student is a dependent for income tax purposes
• if a health or safety emergency involves their child or
• if the student who is under age 21 has violated any law or its policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.

The Campus Living Community Standards Program is designed to reinforce the Campus Living standards throughout the residence halls and apartments while maintaining educational principles. This program functions cooperatively with the Office of Student Conduct.

These are the processes by which the Campus Living Standards are enforced. Students are provided a community standards meeting with Campus Living staff to resolve alleged violations. This program validates appropriate community standards and provides a valuable educational opportunity for positive student/staff interaction.

Campus Living Standards are the expectations, rules, and regulations that help create a positive community environment. Students living in the residence halls and apartments sign a housing agreement that stipulates Campus Living’s responsibilities as well as individual resident responsibilities. Resident responsibilities include complying with all Campus Living Standards, as written in this Guide to Campus Living. These standards apply to all residents and their guests. Some violations of the standards, particularly those impacting community safety, can result in the temporary suspension or termination of a resident’s Campus Living Housing License Agreement, as well as restrictions from entering Campus Living buildings.

Upon your arrival you will be offered a Room Condition Report form. Carefully survey your room and complete the check-in portion of the form. If you have roommates, do this together. The form should be returned to your Area/Hall or Village Office. This form allows Campus Living staff determine if damages occurred during your occupancy. 

At the end of the year, Campus Living staff will inspect each room for damage(s). If you are billed for damages, you will be notified through your university email address. Damage charge appeals are accepted in writing and are due 10 business days from date of billing. Since Campus Living is not authorized to remove late fees on your student account, it is recommended that the bill be paid by the deadline. A refund will be issued if the appeal is successful. Please include the student’s name, residence hall address, person number, contact information and a detailed reason for the appeal in your letter and address it to the person identified in the billing notice.

Campus Living staff will conduct health and safety inspections throughout the academic year to ensure that all laws and regulations are followed and each room, suite, or apartment is in good condition. You will be notified in advance when inspections take place.

We want your room or apartment to be your home away from home. We encourage you to personalize your space. For your safety and to follow any applicable laws or policies, we have developed some guidelines for you to use as you personalize your space:

• You cannot remove any furnishings from the room/apartment or create a potential health and safety hazard through furniture placement, such as placing furniture against heating units or blocking doors.
• Beds may not be lofted or bunked if not initially configured as a loft upon move-in.  Use of cinder blocks or commercially available bed risers is prohibited. Residence hall beds can be requested through a work order to be put in a raised position utilizing the provided notches in the bed posts. Beds are not allowed to be bunked, lofted, or raised in any other manner to a height exceeding 34" from the floor. For safety reasons, only Campus Living staff can raise or lower beds. In apartments, beds are raised or lowered only by exception. See your Village Office to request this.
• Feel free to add to your room — carpet, TV, a chair, etc. However, do not take lounge furniture to furnish your room.
• You may affix items to the wall using materials that will not damage the walls. Do not use nails, tacks, certain tapes, contact paper, wallpaper, etc. as you will be billed for any damages. Campus Living recommends removable mounting tapes such as 3M  or Command type
• Residents are not permitted to add curtains or draperies as per New York State Fire Code.  Additionally, any wall hangings, or other combustible materials of more than 10% of the wall  as they are prohibited and are considered fire hazards. Nothing is permitted to be hung from the ceiling or attached to sprinkler piping and sprinkler heads. All items must be hung at least 2 feet from the ceiling, including string lights.
• Decorations or furnishings may not obstruct or obscure the visibility of an exit door.
• Extension cords are not permitted. If additional outlets are necessary, surge protected outlet adapters and power strips with circuit breakers may be used. Each power strip must be individually plugged into a wall outlet; they cannot be plugged into another power strip. Electrical power cords may not be placed under carpets or rugs.
• Items cannot be placed in direct contact with the heating units in your spaces (radiators, in-wall heaters, etc.) at any time.  Take a few minutes to ensure your living spaces are safely arranged. It is strongly recommended that no items are placed within 12” of the units on all sides to ensure that the heaters receive adequate air flow for proper function.
• Refrigerators must be plugged directly into wall outlets. To conserve resources, refrigerators are limited to two per quad or triple and one per double or single and can be no larger than 4.5 cubic feet. Chest freezers are not permitted.
• Air conditioning units, both window and portable units, are not permitted.
• Halogen (torchiere) floor lamps, microwaves, and hot plates are not permitted in student rooms. Keurig-type appliances are permitted.
• You are permitted to rent a MicroFridge, if you would like a microwave in your room. *MicroFridge's are the only permitted microwaves in Campus Living rooms.
• Items that produce open flames or burn (e.g., candles and incense) and plug-in type air fresheners are not permitted in residents' rooms or apartments. 
• Motorized (gas or electric) vehicles are not permitted in the residence halls.  Electronic self-balancing boards (i.e. Hoverboards) and electronic scooters, or e-bikes are not permitted on campus. You can only use designated electric vehicle charging stations to charge a vehicle, not Campus Living building outlets.
• When checking out of your room you must take all personal items with you to avoid additional charges to your student account.

The Campus Living custodial staff cleans the common areas of your building, including the corridors, communal bathrooms, lounges, and stairwells. You must take your personal belongings from the bathroom after use, clean up spills in lounges and other areas, keep the kitchens clean, and always place trash and recyclables in the cans and “all-in-one” recycling containers. You need to do your part to keep your community clean. Residents must clean their own bathrooms in Campus Living Apartments, Clement, Goodyear and Greiner Halls, and in Ellicott’s rooms with bathrooms.

Campus Living advocates for the reduction of waste and the recycling of all reusable materials in all its facilities. Campus Living staff utilize environmentally sound practices while keeping our buildings clean.  Likewise, students are expected to recycle.  The University utilizes an “All-In-One” Recycling program. Members of the UB community do not have to sort recyclables by type. Mix the following recyclable items into the same recycling bin: paper, cardboard, books, magazines, plastic bottles and containers (numbers 1-7; no STYROFOAM), metal cans and food containers, glass bottles and jars.

Additionally, all batteries that can be recycled should be recycled. Batteries, old cell phones and similar small products with rechargeable batteries can brought to Area and Village Offices for recycling or proper disposal. You can help reduce trash by using reusable utensils, plates, and drinking glasses.

Recycling information is provided to all residence hall and apartment students through floor meetings and information dissemination. Recycling bins will be strategically located throughout Campus Living residence halls and apartments.

The Common Area Damage Program is designed to make fair assessments of vandalism, cleanup, and repair costs when the individuals responsible for the damage are unknown. When damage and/or vandalism is found the situation is appraised and the students living in that area will be charged accordingly, based on the cost of the repair. When a student comes forward and accepts responsibility for damage, that student is billed individually.

There are steps students can take to lower their chances of being assessed common area damage charges:

• Do not let strangers into buildings. If a student belongs to your hall/village, they have an access card to enter.
• If you see strangers in the building, contact Campus Living or University Police (716-645-2222).
• If you see someone creating a mess or causing damage, confront them and report it to your Community Assistant or Residence Hall Director/Complex Director.
• Clean up after yourself in bathrooms and lounges. Students are more likely to clean up after themselves in a room that is clean, but they tend to add to a mess if one existed when they arrived.
• Appeals to Common Area Damage charges must be submitted to your Hall Director/Complex Director or Area Director.

Students are expected to take all personal items from and clean their assigned space prior to departure. When a student leaves personal property in a room or apartment after they have moved out the property will be considered abandoned. The University assumes no liability for the loss or damage of students’ personal property that is left behind by the student. Campus Living will inventory the items of value, dispose of all perishable food and garbage, and pack up the remaining property. The students will be contacted through their university email, and Campus Living will retain the property for 10 business days.  After 10 business days, Campus Living will consider the property to be abandoned and may choose to donate the property to UB ReUSE or local charitable organizations or discard the property. Students who leave possessions behind may be found in violation of section 1.10 of the Campus Living standards for an improper checkout. If you accidentally or inadvertently leave something behind, call the area or village office to see if it has been retained.

Campus Living will only issue keys to a resident who provides proper identification. If a resident is locked out of their apartment/room, a Campus Living team member will unlock the door for them. The team members will not unlock doors for guests. For safety reasons apartment residents are required to meet the team members at the community building.  Residence hall students will meet the team members at the hall or area office.

If you lose or misplace your key and need to gain entrance to your apartment/room, contact the appropriate area or village office during office hours.  If after office hours, call the CA duty cell phone for assistance. Proof of identification is required for lockouts and the issuance of any keys.  Costs associated with changing locks and issuing new keys vary and are available at Residence Hall Area Offices and Apartment Villages Offices. These costs will be billed to the responsible party’s student account.

In the residence halls, each student is provided with a room key, a mailbox key or combination where applicable, and building access on your UB Card via the Card Access System. Always carry your key and always lock your room. If your key is lost or stolen, you must immediately request a lock change at your area office. Your key cannot be duplicated. When you move out, your key must be returned. You will be charged a fee if you do not return your Campus Living issued key or attempt to return a duplicated key. There is also a charge for a lost or non-returned temporary building-access card.

One apartment/room and mailbox key, where applicable, will be issued for each resident, along with building access on your UB Card via the Card Access System if you live in Flint, Hadley or South Lake Villages. In the event of a lost or stolen key, go to the office within your village. Costs associated with changing locks and issuing new keys vary and are available at Residence Hall Area Offices and Apartment Villages Offices. These costs will be billed to the responsible party’s student account.

Campus Living is not responsible for theft of or damage to personal property. Additionally, Campus Living is not liable for damages that occur accidentally or as the result of natural causes or an “act of God”; nor liable for damages which occur because of the actions of others. The University does not carry insurance covering the loss or damage (due to water, fire, etc.) to residents’ personal effects. Therefore, Campus Living strongly recommends that every resident obtain a renter insurance policy or be covered by their family’s homeowner’s or renter’s policy.

The Campus Living wants students to feel comfortable in their rooms. At times a student may want to change their room or apartment assignment. To help accommodate these students and others desiring to move, there is a room change request process in the Housing Portal.

Campus Living often operates in a full-capacity situation, particularly at the beginning of the fall semester. Therefore, there may be very limited options for students to move.

Campus Living reserves all rights regarding the assignment and reassignment of room accommodation for reasons of health, safety, security, conduct, or necessity, as outlined in the Housing License Agreement.

Student Success Centers, located in each residential area, serve various functions for students living on campus. They are flexible learning and engagement spaces that can be used for meetings, group-work, individual studying, telecommunications, and study sessions. Our goal is to create active learning environments where residents can collaborate, connect with peers, and engage in learning resources. The Success Centers offer workshops, study sessions, and a variety of activities, often in partnership with other campus offices and learning resources. One of the advantages of living in Campus Living is that many of the support services come directly to where residents live.

• Blake  Success Center (167 Academic Complex)
• Quiet study areas in Wilkeson and Evans Quads

• Main Street Success Center (1^st floor of Goodyear Hall) Computers and printing services are available on the first floor of Clement Hall.

• Jones Success Center (lower lever of Clinton Hall)
• Computers and printing services are available on the first floor of Clinton Hall

Each apartment village has a community room that can be reserved by residents of that village through the village office.

Printing stations are available throughout campus and in the residence halls and apartment community buildings.

The safety and security of our students is paramount. UB has numerous safety programs to provide the most secure living and learning environment possible. As a student within our residential community, you can help ensure a safe and secure environment.

It’s important for students to take responsibility for their own safety and well-being. Crime prevention starts with being aware of your environment and avoiding situations that could make you vulnerable to crime.

Bissell Hall, North Campus, adjacent to Alumni Arena 
Emergencies: 716-645-2222 
Non-Emergencies: 716-645-2227 
Email: ub-police@buffalo.edu

University Police are the first to respond to all medical, fire and criminal emergencies on campus. For details about any on-going campus emergency, as well as campus safety bulletins, and tips for emergency planning and preparedness, visit: Emergency - UB Alert Information and Resources - University at Buffalo. Students living off campus should call their municipal emergency authorities (Buffalo, Amherst) at 911.

Every UB community member should be registered with Emergency Text Messaging, UB Alert. UB’s emergency personnel use the system to immediately make text-message warnings or advisories to registered users’ cell phones. Registering is FREE and EASY at http://emergency.buffalo.edu/ubguardian.html

UB Guardian converts smartphones into personal safety devices. Download the free UB Guardian safety app to check in with family, friends, University Police or others you trust to help you stay safe both on and off campus. Students should call University Police for all on-campus emergencies at 716-645-2222 or utilize any emergency blue light phone to be immediately connected to campus police. The University Police serve the UB community 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year.

The University Police provide a wide array of programs and services. While some of these programs and services are detailed here, more information about emergency and safety programs at UB can be found at https://www.buffalo.edu/police.html

UB is committed to ensuring that victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking can obtain assistance and redress. Comprehensive information about options if you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence is available at https://www.buffalo.edu/police.html.  This includes safety tips, reporting options including anonymous reporting, and resources for victims. Campus Living  is also available to assist.

More information about UB resources is available on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website.

New York State has established a comprehensive, system-wide, uniform set of sexual assault prevention and response practices at all SUNY campuses. Accordingly, students are required to seek "affirmative consent" from partners when engaging in sexual activity.

“Affirmative consent is a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent can be given by words or actions, as long as those words or actions create clear permission regarding willingness to engage in sexual activity. Silence or lack of resistance, in and of itself, does not demonstrate consent. The definition of consent does not vary based upon a participant's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.” (Definition of consent used by the University in the resolution of Title IX/VAWA/sexual misconduct cases)

You can report the incident to UB's Title IX Coordinator, the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). EDI investigates reports of discrimination and harassment, and can also assist with coordinating academic, housing, or other accommodations. EDI may be contacted through the EDI web site at Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - University at Buffalo or by calling: 716-645-2266.

The health and safety of UB students is always our highest priority. However, students or others may be reluctant to report sexual violence and interpersonal violence or get immediate medical or other professional assistance, because of concerns that their own behavior may be a violation of University at Buffalo standards or regulations. To minimize any hesitation students or student organizations may have in obtaining help for themselves or others due to these concerns, Student Conduct has developed the "Good Samaritan" approach.

Emergency Blue Light Phones are located conveniently around campus in over 80 locations. You will find these phones around all residence halls and apartments.

Biking is the transportation alternative that infuses fun and healthy energy into getting to your destination. UB has bike racks for more than 800 bicycles on its campuses. You can register your bike online for free with Parking and Transportation.

University at Buffalo Police provides safety and crime prevention information for residence hall and apartment residents, as well as every member of our campus community.

The University at Buffalo has emergency plans and procedures and Campus Living, along with University Police, University Facilities, Environmental Health & Safety and many other UB offices, have been trained and continually test emergency processes.

Exterior building doors of residence halls and apartments, except for Creekside Village and Flickinger Court, are locked by the Card Access System. Your UB Card will only open certain doors. Duplication or loaning of these cards or your key is strictly prohibited. If you lose your card or your card doesn’t work, you will need to request a new UB Card in the UB Card Office, located at 1 Capen or 1 Diefendorf. Your old card will be deactivated, and you’ll be issued a new card. There is a fee for new or replacement UB Cards. You can report your UB Card lost using the UB GET Mobile app and that will lock any accounts linked to your UB Card.

Students must maintain the security of the building as well as their room. Repeated “lock out” service may result in a mandatory lock change and/or sanctioning.

• Do not prop doors open. Propped doors allow entry by nonresidents and possible criminals. If you see a propped door, close it!
• Lock the door to your room while you are out or sleeping. Locking your door whenever you are gone or asleep is an effective action you can take to reduce theft. In past years, most reports of items stolen from rooms involved unlocked doors.
• Be careful about leaving windows open in first-floor rooms. Thefts can occur through open windows. Screens should always remain in place.
• If you see unknown people in the halls who don’t have an escort, report it to the University Police at 716-645-2222, then contact a residence hall team member.
• Always escort guests in and out of the building. If you are hosting a group, keep tabs on everyone. Even if you trust your guests, strangers wandering around the hall can disturb others.
• Report all security-related maintenance problems to Campus Living at 716-645-2025. Locks, doors, windows, and lights that need repair or replacement and foliage that needs trimming should be reported immediately.

Although UB places a high priority on building security, there are incidents each year involving theft or damage to personal property. The University does not provide insurance covering the loss and/or damage (due to water leak, fire, etc.) to residents’ personal effects and will not assume responsibility for personal property losses, including items lost in the mail, in residence hall rooms or apartments unless negligence of the University is the cause of the loss. We encourage residents to make sure that their belongings are covered by either their family’s homeowner’s or renter’s policy or an individual renter’s insurance plan.

Lost and found services at UB are provided by the University Police.  Items found anywhere on campus are taken to Bissell Hall, where each item is logged in, tagged with an ID number, and stored in a secure place. An attempt to contact the owner is made if the item bears identification. If you find something, please turn it into the University Police. If you have lost an item on campus, please call the University Police at 716-645-2222.

Campus Living has extensive plans in place in the event of an emergency. Depending on the scope of the emergency as well as the area(s) of campus affected, specific campus responses are in place regarding student/parent communications, evacuation and relocation procedures and resources available to students. However, it is everyone’s responsibility to prepare for emergencies. Below are some emergency procedures that students are expected to follow in the event of an emergency. Always comply with the instructions from Campus Living and University Police.

For the health, safety and emotional well-being of students living on campus, it is important that students and parents are kept informed of the status of any emergency. The following methods of communication to students may be utilized during an emergency:

• e-mail messages utilizing university email accounts
• announcements on the Campus Living website 
• posting of notices
• floor meetings
• door-to-door announcements by Campus Living or University Police
• public address systems
• emergency text messages

Depending on the emergency, students will be expected to act in accordance with instructions communicated by Campus Living and University Police. Instructions include but are not limited to the following:

• No specific action necessary
• Limited facility or utility usage
• Evacuation
• Temporary relocation
• “Shelter in place” (stay in your room or lounge)
• “Lock down” (stay where you currently are and lock and/or barricade the door)
• Access to food and water

In the event an evacuation is necessary, immediately proceed to the nearest exit door and leave the building. Assemble in an area designated by Campus Living or University Police. If no Campus Living team member is in the immediate area, go to the nearest open grass area or parking lot. Evacuation/fire drills will be conducted throughout the academic year.

For any medical emergency, including serious injury, contact both the University Police at 716-645-2222 and a Campus Living team member and inform them of the nature of the problem. If you feel the situation is critical and an ambulance should be called immediately, tell University Police. Be sure to identify yourself and the exact location of the emergency and arrange for someone to meet the police when they arrive.

Where there is an immediate concern that someone poses a risk of harm to themselves or others, call University Police immediately at 716-645-2222. Notify a CA or another Campus Living team member as soon as possible.

Campus residences have both passive and active fire protection systems to protect residents in the event of a fire.

• Smoke and fire doors are strategically positioned in each building for the purpose of limiting the travel of fire and smoke.
• Fire detection systems in the form of smoke and heat detectors are provided throughout the residence halls, apartments, and each student room.
• Graphics are provided in each residence hall showing appropriate exit routes and all exits are clearly marked with lighted signs.
• Sprinkler systems are in various locations. Portable fire extinguishers are located on every floor. Fire alarm pull stations are readily accessible throughout the residence halls.

New York State Education Law §6438 requires notification of fire safety standards and measures in all college-owned or college-operated housing. To facilitate compliance, the following excerpt from UB’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is provided. The table below describes the fire safety system for each on-campus student housing facility:

Additional fire safety information may also be found in the University at Buffalo’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report, located on the University Police website.

In the event of an actual fire, activate the alarm with one of the red pull stations located on every floor in the halls, as you evacuate the building. It is important to note that in case of fire, elevators are out of service, and you must exit the buildings via stairways.

If you are in your room and discover a fire in the hallway, making it difficult or impossible to leave the room, close your room door and call University Police at 716-645-2222, then go to your window and call for help. Until help arrives, try to seal off your room by stuffing towels or clothes in the space between the bottom of the room door and floor.

AEDs have been placed in designated cabinets throughout the residence halls and apartments. These are to assist in the medical aid of those experiencing a true medical emergency.

If someone calls saying that there is a bomb, try to get as much information from the caller as you can, such as where and at what time it is supposed to go off. Immediately call the University Police at 716-645-2222 and your CA or any other Campus Living staff member. Give your name and the exact information you received. Do not investigate but be alert to unfamiliar objects along exit routes.

Do not touch anything and never pull the fire alarm!

If you smell natural gas in the residence halls or apartments:

• Stop what you are doing immediately
• Do not switch lights, appliances, or electronics on or off
• Evacuate the building or area as soon as possible
• Notify University Police at 716-645-2222 from a safe location

In the event of a malfunction in an elevator during non-business hours, notify a CA) on duty or call University Police at 716-645-2222.  Activating the elevator “help button” will notify the University Police. If this problem occurs on Monday through Friday during the day, Residential Building Services should be called at 716-645-2025. No one other than employees of the elevator maintenance company or University Police/Fire Rescue should attempt to rescue someone caught in malfunctioning elevator.

If the University officially closes for emergency purposes such as a snow emergency, the area and village offices and/or individual residence hall offices may remain open during normal business hours. To find out if the campus is closed due to weather or other emergencies, please call the campus hotline at 645-NEWS (6397) for closures or tune to 1620 AM, the Campus Advisory radio station and look for a text message from the UB text messaging system.

During any emergency it is important to remain calm. Do not argue with police, fire, or Campus Living personnel called to handle the emergency. Cooperating with University officials will decrease the potential danger during an emergency. Failure to comply with reasonable requests of Campus Living or University Police officials is a sanctionable offense of our Campus Living Standards. Questions and/or concerns about what has happened should be directed to your residence hall director or apartment complex director.

The University at Buffalo became a smoke-free campus in 2010. Smoking tobacco products, including use of e-cigarettes, is prohibited everywhere on campus, at off-site UB locations and in university-owned vehicles. The UBreathe Free policy applies to all students, employees, visitors, and vendors. The University offers a wide variety of support services to help people who want to quit smoking, including access to nicotine replacement therapy. Thank you for respecting our smoke-free campus environment!

UB provides health and wellness services through the Student Wellness Team, a cooperative group of professionals whose goal is to enhance individual health and cultivate an environment supportive of life-long healthy behaviors. The Student Wellness Team is composed of:

• Counseling Services
• Health Services
• Health Promotion

You can always contact Counseling Services for any mental health issues, including dealing with stress, handling a crisis, or coping with the transition to the university. Counseling, which is provided individually, in groups, and through workshops, can deal with such concerns as:

• Couple’s counseling
• Crisis intervention
• Evaluation for and monitoring of psychiatric medications
• Relationship problems
• Academic concerns
• Anxiety and depression
• Poor body image
• Loss of a loved one
• Homesickness or loneliness
• Problems with alcohol and other drugs
• Cross-cultural identity concerns
• Sexual identity concerns
• Sexual or physical abuse/assault

Health Services should be your first call for any non-emergency medical concern. The team includes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and medical support staff.  Services include general medical appointments, chronic illness management, health screenings, men’s and women’s health clinics, chiropractic services, immunization and travel clinics, and more. Physicians also provide referrals to specialty care as appropriate.

In an emergency situation, students should always call:

• On Campus: University Police, 716-645-2222
• Off Campus: Municipal emergency authorities, 911

After Hours Care: For urgent medical concerns at times when UB Student Health Services is CLOSED, please call 716-829-3316 and listen to the phone message; you will be given instructions for how to reach the after-hours nurse. This nurse will provide medical care advice and assistance over the phone.

If you need urgent (but NOT EMERGENCY) medical care when UB Student Health Services is closed, you may want to visit a local urgent care facility. Find locations and additional information. 

You should check with your insurance company regarding coverage before you go to an urgent care center, as you are responsible for any costs not paid by your health insurance company.

Health Promotion offers students information and services needed to manage personal wellness. Programs focus on:

• Self-Care and Stress Management
• Alcohol, Drug & Tobacco Harm Reduction
• Sexual Violence Prevention
• Healthy Eating