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A True Blue Year: 2022-23

“Our students are our purpose. We pride ourselves on finding new ways to enhance their experience.” - Brian F. Hamluk, VP for Student Life

Divisional Highlights: Celebrating a Year of True Blue Purpose, Places and People

Top 50 Nationwide in Entrepreneurship

Hadar Borden standing at an entrepreneurship event.

Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review announced that UB is one of the top 10 undergraduate schools in the northeast (and top 50 nationwide) for studying entrepreneurship—thanks in part to UB’s Startup and Innovation Collaboratory (formerly Blackstone LaunchPad).

Home Sweet Home

Prospective students and their families stream into Goodyear Hall during a recent Accepted Students tour.

UB’s most historic residence halls are getting history-making updates. Renovations to Goodyear and Clement halls will transform the buildings into modern, apartment-style housing with upgraded bedrooms and bathrooms, enhanced lighting and better Wi-Fi.

$36 million is being invested in capital projects to meet the needs of UB’s residential students.

Get the Full Picture

Peter Johnson sitting and talking with two people.

Where is the secret island on campus? What student-designed building did a U.S. Vice President visit last year? How much cheese sauce does the Big Blue food truck use in a year? Students got the answers to these questions—and many more—in our new video series, “That UB Life.” These short, behind-the-scenes clips feature campus highlights that help attract and retain students.

Let’s Go Buffalo!

The Thunder of the East, the UB Marching Band, played during half time of the Buffalo Bills home season opener against the Tennessee Titans in September 2022 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

Halftime was our time to shine in September, when the UB Marching Band (the Thunder of the East), Dazzlers Dance Team, Color Guard and twirlers delivered a spirited performance in front of a sold-out crowd at the Buffalo Bills home opener.

During the 2022-23 academic year, we continued to focus on our strategic priorities, including Wellness, Student Engagement and Success, Student Support, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.

Making Great Strides

Students gathered in Greiner courtyard at night.

At UB, we celebrate what makes us unique—and what brings us together. Before the fall semester started, thousands of students gathered at the Festival of Culture Uniting Students (FOCUS), a new international-themed event. The fun continued with welcome weekend traditions including the Interlocking UB, Campus Fest and the Bulls Welcome Back Blast.

Game Changer

Students sitting and playing video games in the esports lounge.

On any given evening, the new Esports gaming lounge in the Red Jacket Quad is nearly at capacity, welcoming varsity gamers and casual players alike to test their skills—and take a break from the stress of classes and exams. Available to all residential students, the lounge opened full-time in January, and features dozens of high-end gaming PCs as well as gaming consoles.

Cap. Gown. Community.

Proud ALANA graduates.

Graduating from UB is a milestone achievement—even more so for students who overcome additional challenges along the way. That’s why we proudly recognize hundreds of our most dedicated students with the ALANA celebration, Lavender reception and other precommencement celebrations.

Campus Dining and Shops won a Grand Prize award for One World Café from the National Association of College and University Food Services.

Carrying a Legacy Forward

The Evans family pose together for photos in front of the doorway bearing his name.

Willie Evans was a beloved figure at UB and throughout Western New York. In October, his wife, former teammates and others gathered to dedicate the Willie R. Evans Quadrangle in his honor—and rededicate UB to our core values.

Feeling Great

The UB community gathers for the grand opening of the Student Health Services center, located at 4350 Maple Road, near Sweet Home Road, in August 2022. Cutting the ribbon from left, Provost A. Scott Weber; Sharon Mitchell, senior director of student wellness; Susan Snyder, director, Student Health Services; Brian Hamluk, vice president for student life; Mary Stock, clinical assistant professor and senior physician; and Paula Taton, clinic manager. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

More comfortable. More convenient. More ways to take care of students. Those are just a few of the reasons to feel good about UB’s new Student Health Services center, which includes nearly two dozen exam rooms, a large reception area and a rapid testing lab.

Building on Success

A rendering of the social staircase in The Landing at Ellicott.

The home for more than 3,000 students is about to get a new “front door.” Construction started in May of 2023 on The Landing at Ellicott—a two-story entrance to the Ellicott Complex. With student lounges, a courtyard patio, event spaces and a featured “social staircase,” the new center will encourage even more interactions among students.

69% more Student Life staff donated to our mission last year—further evidence of our commitment.

Life-Changing Investments

Grace Osaba standing and talking to someone at a conference table.

Programs throughout Student Life are enhanced through the generosity of donors, who helped us surpass our $5 million Boldly Buffalo campaign goal. Grace Osaba, ’23 had the opportunity to work as a writer and editor within our Marketing Communications office thanks to donor support.

True Blue Moments

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