A message from Nojin Kwak, Vice Provost for International Education and Brian Hamluk, Vice President for Student Life.
February 6, 2026
Good afternoon,
We hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and well. We appreciate the concerns that have been shared about the current situation of Iranian students at UB in light of the crisis unfolding in your home country. UB is fortunate to enroll a sizable number of excellent students from Iran, and we acknowledge the distress and worry many of you may be experiencing as you follow events affecting Iran and your loved ones. We recognize that this is an incredibly challenging time, especially given the limited communication.
Please know that you are not alone. The university is here to help where we can and support our students' careers at UB. Your well-being matters to us, and our campus community cares deeply about your safety, health, and ability to focus on your studies. If distress is causing you to fall behind in your academic studies, I encourage you to contact your faculty directly.
Counseling services are available for students who may need assistance. For support, students can call 716-645-2720 or stop by Counseling Services offices in 120 Richmond or First Floor Michael Hall for a crisis appointment. In addition, counselors are available after hours by calling 716-645-2720 and selecting “option 2”.
The Dean of Students Office can also be helpful to you, from visiting our Blue Table food pantry due to this emergency or accessing other support resources. Please consider contacting the office to schedule an appointment with a team member in 315 Student Union or referring a friend who might need assistance.
As you might expect, our office closely monitors developments in federal policy affecting F-1 students, including post-graduation OPT. International Student Services (ISS) stands ready to assist students on a case-by-case basis to deal with the challenging regulatory environment to better assure successful outcomes. For additional information about ISS assistance, please contact the director, Katie Tudini at katietud@buffalo.edu
Concerning the financial difficulties caused by the current situation in Iran, I can offer several suggestions. You may be aware of our International Student Emergency Fund that can provide limited funding for short-term financial challenges. In addition, Student Life offers emergency funds for students facing financial difficulty, and Student Accounts offers the option of a payment plan that you and fellow students might consider. We understand that accessing financial accounts may be difficult at this time, so please know that late fees on your student account will not be assessed. If you need to speak with someone about your account, please visit 1Capen on the ground floor of Capen Hall or call 716-645-1800.
Please reach out to us or any of these resources if you are in need of support or assistance.
Sincerely,
Nojin Kwak, PhD
Vice Provost for International Education
Professor of Communication
Brian Hamluk, EdD
Vice President