FAQs

UB faculty, staff and students are invited to gather on campus to view the total solar eclipse. Please visit the Viewing Locations webpage for more information. 

These events are not open to the community or those traveling from outside of the area to view the eclipse.

UB will be distributing glasses across all three campuses. Please visit the Solar Eclipse Viewing Glasses webpage fo rmore information. 

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun. People viewing the eclipse from locations in the “path of totality” will experience a total solar eclipse. The sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk, which lasts for about 3-4 minutes. 

It’s not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.

When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (eclipse glasses) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun. Learn more about NASA's eye safety during a total solar eclipse.

Also read: What you need to know about viewing the total solar eclipse

In anticipation of very significant traffic and congestion associated with the solar eclipse and in support of our local communities, UB is canceling all in-person classes on Monday, April 8, and encouraging instructors to offer classes remotely. If instructors elect to shift to remote instruction, they must provide asynchronous options for students who are unable to access remote classes in real time.

UB is providing discretion for supervisors to assess operational need that day, to anticipate meeting that need and then to consider remote work opportunities for all other employees. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so supervisors are encouraged to be as flexible as possible.  

All employees required to be, or who elect to be, on campus that day should check with their supervisors regarding any possible changes in reporting times or schedules on April 8. Employees reporting to campus on April 8 should anticipate heavier than normal traffic and allow for additional travel time.

If employees are unable to work remotely and will not report to campus the day of the eclipse, leave accruals must be charged as appropriate. Managers who have specific questions are encouraged to call Employee Relations at (716) 645-8169.

While the university will remain open on April 8 to provide continuity of operations for students, many units will be operating on a reduced schedule to allow employees to experience the eclipse. 

Visit Campus Shops and Dining, University Libraries and Parking and Transportation's Bus and Shuttle Schedules to stay up to date.  

An influx of visitors could lead to issues with transportation systems and cellular networks, delayed emergency responses, and cause an increase in the need for fuel, food and other resources. If you need to travel in or out of the area on April 8, make sure to fill up your fuel the night before and have food and water in your vehicle.