Career Services Fee
The Career Services Fee, a component of UB’s Comprehensive Fee, is charged to all UB undergraduate, graduate and professional students (with some exceptions) and supports the staff, services and programs provided by UB’s Career Design Center, which are available to all UB students regardless of major.
Students have the capacity to engage in designing their life after college through early discovery and ongoing exploration. Guided by peer and professional career design consultants, students have expanded opportunities to discover their interests and build future-focused skills together with other students, alumni and industry experts through robust career communities.
The Career Design Center facilitates a wide range of Experiential Learning opportunities for students to apply their skills to areas of interest including Undergraduate Research Projects, Student Employment opportunities across campus, internships and the Internship Equity Fund.
The Career Design Center also fosters relationships with employer partners who actively recruit UB students through participation in on-campus Career Fairs, interviewing, information sessions and networking events. Additionally, the Career Design Center provides a variety of in-person and virtual program opportunities for students to engage with UB alumni for networking and mentoring purposes. This includes stewardship of the University’s primary student and alumni networking platform, Connect-a-Bull, with regisetred alumni representing a wide range of backgrounds and interests.
Updated 1/07/2025
- 24/7 access to relevant career and life design support resources
- Access to a 35,155+ employer network
- 152,000+ job and internship postings
- Pop-ups, skillshops and career design studio
- 6 industry-focused Career Communities
- Robust alumni networking platforms and programs
- Experiential Learning programs including Internships, On-Campus employment, Undergraduate Research Projects and the Internship Equity Fund.
- Faculty and staff career influencers and champions across all campuses
2023-24:
- 3,634 individual student appointments
- 270 students completed Undergraduate Majors Explorers courses
- 13,284 students logged into Bullseye powered by Handshake
- 152,022 jobs, internships and opportunities posted in Bullseye powered by Handshake
- 36,301approved employers in Bullseye powered by Handshake
- 19,000+ users of the Career Design Studio powered by uConnect
- 20,199 videos recorded on Big Interview
- 6,000+ alumni and students registered members of the Connect-a-Bull networking platform
- 13,329 students attended 2,000+ employer info sessions, class presentations, pop-ups, workshops, fairs, and networking events
Career Services: $1,181,293
On this page:
The Career Services Fee was charged for the first time in fall 2020. With a goal of increasing students’ access to career and life design, the fee supports a career design studio in real life and online to so students can explore 24/7, while also expanding students’ social capital and employer connections through expanded technologies.
Career Design $333,779
Funded 26 new on-campus student employment jobs and created student employee and supervisor professional development and life design resources in collaboration with a National student employment organization. Increased staffing and access to the career design center office in Capen Hall on North campus for all students along with expanding presence for students with offices on UB South Campus
Coaching and Skill Building $652,878
Variety of career consultation appointments including an increase in graduate student topics with the addition of a graduate career design consultant added to the staff. Hosted the very first PhD Career Pathways Conference and several PhD Design Your Life cohorts. Added identity-specific career section to the career design studio, Handshake mobile app along with increased use of the Interstride International student platform, Digital Challenge Cards to explore challenges to solve, Bullseye powered by Handshake, Big Interview practice interviews and learning modules, Job market stats on the Career Design Studio, career assessments and 24 campus-wide career education pop-ups. Invested in training of two staff professionals to earn advanced level certification as career + life design coaches for all students.
Connections $126,190
Record participation levels for the STEAM Job + Internship fair and spring virtual and in-person 2-day Hiring Summit, employer on-campus hosted interviews and new industry-specific employer showcases. Launched new student-to-alumni mentoring platform Connect-a-Bull in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Engagement, hosted the first Future of Work Summit with employers and the first all career community connections carnival connecting students with alumni in industries of interest to build their network.
Internships $68,445
Hired a Senior Career Associate for Internships and funded payments to students for 112 unpaid internships at 49 non-profit, government and civic organizations. Facilitated funding for student participation in 58 undergraduate research projects.
Steve Simpson
Director
Career Design Center
srsimpso@buffalo.edu
Who is charged the Career Services component of the Comprehensive Fee?
The Career Services component of the Comprehensive Fee is charged to all UB students except:
- students in the schools of management*, law, medicine, dental medicine
- externally funded students
- students in overseas major programs.
*School of Management students are charged a single fee that supports career-related services. This fee, called the School of Management Professional Development Career Services fee, supports the operation of the School of Management’s Career Resource Center, which is available exclusively to School of Management students, and UB’s central Career Design Center, which is available to all UB students.
> Learn about the School of Management’s Professional Development Career Services fee
> Learn about the Career Design Center
> Learn about the School of Management’s Career Resource Center
When should I come to the Career Design Center?
We believe that engaging in designing your life and career early in your UB experience is essential so that your choices can be intentional, thoughtful, and impactful. By starting early and then continuously accessing the resources your success is enhanced. We recommend engaging with us early and often.
What if I want to explore a major or change my major?
Many students change their major during their educational journey at UB. Exploration is a good thing. We are here to assist you as you discover options based on your values and evolving interests. In addition to Career coaches, there are a number of assessments that can inform your choices, your direction, and your design.
How can I get a job after graduation?
Your prospects for getting a job after graduation are enhanced by building a strong resume and experiences during your time at UB while building your network. Securing experiential learning opportunities including an internship while building meaningful connections with alumni contributes to your success.
Have a Question?
Let us know how we can help you. Submit our Contact Us form.