Come August, UB law students will have a place to call home.

No, they're not being uprooted from their North Campus digs, they're getting new ones-where, after marathon studying, the late-night crash-pad boasts a bed, not a lounge sofa, and the convenient meal needn't come from a vending machine. Well, depending on your pleasures.

To be sure, many law students will find themselves just a short walk away from their fully furnished apartment in Flint Village, where two of the nine buildings will be dedicated solely to housing law students.

R. Nils Olsen Jr., dean of the Law School, initiated the dialogue responsible for the planned "Living & Learning" environment for law students in UB's newest housing project, currently under construction.

"It just seemed like a good idea. I think building the housing is a very good idea," Olsen said, noting that as a result, UB seems less a commuter atmosphere. "We're very excited about—the university's willingness to let us take advantage (of the housing)."

Olsen explained that most law schools, if they do provide housing, offer dormitory dwelling for students. What UB is doing with apartment-style housing is unique in New York State, he said, and UB is perhaps among only a handful of law schools in the country that offer such accommodations. The intent is to bring first-year students together with upper-division students, said Olsen, who believes "a blended group of students—will enable more of a community to develop."

"It permits the creation of more of a community of interest-both socially and academically," he said.

Joe Krakowiak, director of University Residence Halls, said environments like these help students integrate more smoothly into the campus community.

"We are aware that these are successful in transitioning students. It's sort of a natural opportunity because the neighborhood is really small," he added, noting that the two buildings designated for the law school will house roughly 80 beds. The entire Flint complex will accommodate 536 students.

Olsen said he envisions the project as a major attraction in recruiting students-appealing to those looking for both convenience in location and a chance to fortify their learning experience. His confidence in the project stems, in part, from a survey he circulated to law students last semester.

"There will be no problem filling these rooms-if anything, there'll be a waiting list," he said of the units, which he expects to be equipped with access to law-school databases through a wireless system.

Krakowiak said he's hoping to extend LEXIS-NEXIS®, popular with UB's law students, to the Flint buildings, as well as provide a "data drop" for each individual-not just a single connection per room.

Olsen said he's also hoping to provide academics-related services on the premises-such as tutoring for first-year students and guest lecturers. The Student Bar Association will play a role to ensure students have a hand in developing an environment attractive to them, he added.

Cliff Wilson, associate vice president for Student Affairs, said the pilot project is part of UB's interest in developing graduate housing communities that mirror similar successful projects at the undergraduate level.

"We are encouraged by the number of freshmen who pick the freshmen areas," said Wilson, who oversees UB housing. Other special-interest areas include Spaulding Tower in the Ellicott Complex-for engineering students-and a pre-professional area in Red Jacket, also in Ellicott, for students interested in becoming doctors, lawyers and the like. Academically speaking, he said, students who share classes and coursework can study together, while students also often engage in similar social interests. The Flint project for law students is an extension of those programs, he said, and is the first such clustering in the campus apartments.

"One of the challenges in coming to a strange city is housing. Our graduate programs are challenging, (and this) begins to develop the kind of community our graduate programs are trying to develop," Wilson said.

He added that the deans of the schools of management and social work already have expressed interest in pursuing similar setups.