Residential Education

A Culture of Learning

Learning Communities at UB are the junctures where all the right connections are made - between students, classmates, mentors and UB's faculty and staff. Resident Assistants, Community Assistants, and Academic Assistants in URH&A conduct more than 3,000 residential learning programs each year.

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 and is 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.

Special Interest Housing Communities

Unlike First-Year Interest Communities, Special Interest Housing Communities are centered on topics of mutual student interest, but are not 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, Brothers in Academic Success, and Science and Engineering.

Undergraduate Academies

UB's undergraduate academies are scholarly communities composed of students, faculty, and staff that share a common mission, goals, and interests. Participating in an undergraduate academy will enable students to focus on one of UB's strengths by engaging in a unique curricular and co-curricular experience. For the 2007-2008 academic year students can participate in one of two different academies: Research Exploration or Civic Engagement. Both academies offer a variety of thought-provoking and engaging academic and social activities and are open to residential and commuter students. For the 2007-2008 year, the academies are housed in Red Jacket Quadrangle and have an Academic Assistant that provides additional support.

Tutoring Program

Free tutoring is available Sunday through Thursday in each residential area. Tutoring is provided in various subjects with emphasis on classes first-year students take including chemistry, biology, English, physics, accounting, math and economics.

Study Centers

URH&A study centers are specifically designed to help students, especially first-year 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.