Residential Education

A Culture of Learning

The residential education staff, in collaboration with the residential life staff, provides leadership and direction to the residential study centers, the Academic Assistant and Tutor staffs, and the First Year Interest and Shared Interest Housing learning communities. In addition, residential education staff serves as a liaison to several learning communities with residential components such as Acker Scholars, Honors College, Leadership House and Undergraduate Academies.

Study Centers

URH&A study centers are specifically designed to help students with academic transition issues. Students find a quiet place to study or engage in small group work along with free individual and group tutoring in high demand disciplines. The residence hall Study Centers include the Blake Academic Success Center, along with the Spaulding and Porter Study Lounges in the Ellicott Complex, the Jones Academic Success Center in the Governors Complex, and the Clement Study Lounge and Goodyear X on the South Campus.

Tutoring Program

Free tutoring is available Sunday through Thursday in each residential area; the Blake Center in Ellicott, the Jones Center in Governors and the Clement Lounge on South Campus. Tutoring is provided in various high demand subjects including chemistry, biology, English, physics, accounting, math and economics.

UB's Residential Learning Communities

First-Year Interest Communities

Students in these communities live together on the same residence hall floors and attend programs and events specifically designed for their area of academic interest, but do not necessarily share class schedules. Each group has a faculty/staff advisor. In addition to an RA, FYI communities are supervised by student Academic Assistants who develop programming around an academic theme. Examples of FYI Communities include architecture, engineering, fine arts, social sciences, and management.

Shared Interest Housing Communities

Unlike First-Year Interest Communities, Shared Interest Housing Communities are centered on topics of mutual student interest, but may not be exclusively academic-focused. SIH Communities may be conceived, proposed and organized by students. These communities vary in size from a suite (8 students) to a floor (20+ students). Each SIH has a floor leader (designated by the group) and works with an Academic Assistant and a faculty/staff advisor to organize educational, social and community service programs. Examples of SIH Communities include Honors Corps, Architecture, and Science and Engineering.