2007-2008 Campus Life Fee Report
University at Buffalo Comprehensive Fee
Quick Links:
Background
The Campus Life component of the Comprehensive Fee was instituted in 1998. The Campus Life Fee supports programs and facilities that promote the quality of campus life. Student Affairs at UB is dedicated to providing quality campus life programs and services that support student academic success and personal development. Service and program excellence in the campus life area assists UB in recruiting and retaining top students, positioning them for life success after graduation and nurturing a connectedness to UB, resulting in enhanced alumni relations.
Student Benefits/Impact
- Improves student retention
- Increases sense of community and campus pride
- Builds and improves campus traditions
- Teaches student responsibility and citizenship
- Provides diversity education
- Efficient cost effective services and programs
- Support for enhanced student involvement
- Quality response and service for students experiencing difficulty
- Programs and services to support commuter students
- Broad support for and involvement in campus-wide programs
- High quality facilities, which serve as the center for the student community
Student Access
- Student Union Advisory Committee
- Campus wide programming boards
- Individual and group services
- Multi-location programs and services
- Host over 7,000 programs annually
Contact Information
Student Life: Greek Affairs, Marching Band, Student Activities
150 Student Union
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm
Student Union
150 Student Union
Monday - Thursday 7:30 am to 12 am
Friday 7 am - 2 am
Saturday 10 am - 2 am
Sunday 10 am - 12 am
Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement
235 Student Union
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm
Intercultural & Diversity Center
240 Student Union
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm
New Student Programs
112 Student Union
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm
Judicial Affairs
252 Capen Hall
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm
Career Services
259 Capen Hall
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm
Undergraduate Academies 
17 Norton Hall
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm
Expenditure Plan
Student Life: $1,929,542
Student Union Operations $498,060
Serves as the "hearthstone" of the University providing a variety of social, cultural and educational programs, which work to support and enhance the mission of the University.
- Offices for student clubs and organizations
- Meeting rooms, theater, social hall, assembly theater and classrooms
- Building reservations operations and staff
- Information Center
- Building maintenance
- Building furniture
- Conference Theater
- Commuter Lounge
- Game Room
- Reservation room renovations
- Houses over 75 clubs and organizations
- Processed over 10,000 reservations
- Hosted over 200 large scale programs and activities
- Average daily building traffic over 24,000
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for Student Union
Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement Programs $371,279
Helps students develop leadership knowledge and skills to achieve their goals and make a positive difference in their lives and the lives of others. Provides opportunities for students to become more involved in the University community.
- Leadership educational programs
- Leadership development resource center
- Student organizational consulting
- Peer Education and Leadership Courses
- Student activity transcripts
- Public speaking meeting lab
- Leadership House
- Mentoring
- Community Engagement Center
- Support for Community Engagement Academy
- Community Service Coordination
- Advisement of Mortar Board and Phi Eta Sigma
- 4,500 students participated in over 200 leadership programs
- 17% increase in students served by workshops and training
- Presented in 65 academic classrooms
- 500 individual student consultations
- 80 Students completed the Students in Organizations Understanding Leadership (SOUL) Program
- 4,000 activity transcripts
- 30 Leadership House members
- 35 annual Pillars of Leadership Awards
- 19 leadership peer educators
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY Centers for opportunities for community service
- 371 students participated in Stay-Up UB dance marathon
- 400 plus students participated in community service programs (Crafts for a Cause, Saturday of Service)
- 60 plus workshops, reaching 900 students
- 120 students participated in the Women Empowered to Lead (WE LEAD) program
Late Night Programming $42,826
A series of late night programs designed to provide students with an alcohol free environment that supports responsible social interaction. Programs positively enhance the level of activity on campus during prime social hours and provide students with opportunities to develop leadership and programming skills. The goals include:
- Offering a variety of programs that will meet the interests of a diverse student body
- Encouraging student involvement and campus outreach in planning and co-sponsoring programs
- Providing quality programs
- Providing students an outlet to manage stress
- 40 late night programs per semester
- An average of 300 students in attendance at each event
- Website receives over 600 hits per day
- Provide late night programming grants to student groups
- 46 programming grants were awarded in Fall 2007
Marching Band $135,759
A visible music performance ensemble band that performs at every home football game as well as select away games, community events, and high school marching band exhibitions and competitions. The mission of the UB Marching Band is to provide a venue for artistic expression while supporting the regional community, the University, music education, and the performing arts.
- Uniforms
- Equipment
- Music
- Training
- Staff
- Social events
- Travel (when appropriate)
- Three credit music course
- 120 Marching Band student members
- 80 Pep Band student members
- Performed at 5 football games, 30 basketball games and 10 community events including a NYC parade and community concerts
- 146 students registered for three academic credit hours for the course
- One of only two marching bands in SUNY system
Intercultural & Diversity Center $134,003
Provides cultural enrichment programming and leadership experience that raises the awareness of issues of diversity while maintaining a university climate that celebrates differences; thus improving the quality of multicultural life for students at the University at Buffalo.
- Intercultural and Diversity Center
- Diversity Advocates Peer Education course
- Educational and cultural programming activities and events
- Clubs and organization co-sponsorships
- Internships
- Colours Newsletter
- Late night programming
- Over 1,100 student contacts
- 1,700 participants in diversity workshops
- Over 3,500 participants in the 4 cultural bazaars
- 100 participants in the Diversity Institute Program
- 20 trained peer educators
- 180 participants in panel discussions
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY Centers for racial harmony on campus
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY Centers for campus acceptance of individual differences
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY Centers for campus openness to opinions of others
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY Centers for cultural programming
Student Programming $447,090
Coordinates several major student programs designed to aid students in their emotional, social, and academic development. Programs are designed to enhance a sense of community and promote traditions on campus.
- Student Programming Board
- Family Weekend
- Haunted Union
- Senior Celebration
- General student programming
- Commuter programming
- Off-Campus Services
- Late Night Programming
- September Welcome:
- New Student Picnic
- Opening Day activities
- Student Services Fair
- General student programs in September
- Rockn Rally
- 2,000 students participated in Haunted Union
- 1,600 students participated in Senior Celebration
- Over 5,000 students participated in various student programming activities
- 3,500 students and family members participated in Opening Day activities
- 2,000 students participated in welcome back events
- 15 students participate on the programming board
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for college social activities
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for opportunities for involvement in campus clubs/activities
Fraternities and Sororities $35,165
Provide academic and social advisement for the members of recognized Greek-letter social organizations at UB, while also providing leadership development and community involvement opportunities. Serves as a resource for the University Community in regards to information and issues related to the UB Greek Community.
- Educational programs
- Philanthropic programs
- Leadership programs
- Organizational advising
- Academic awards program
- Greek Voices Newsletter
- Serves 46 social fraternal student organizations that are affiliated with our campus with approximately 700 active participants
- 67 UB community workshops
- 13 fund raising and community service events
- 4,800 hours of community service
- $20,000 raised for charitable organizations
Student Readership Program $78,110
The Collegiate Readership Program, managed by USA Today, provides students with access to 1,200 papers a day on campus. It is intended to enhance the learning environment on university campuses by providing students with an opportunity to be more informed about the events shaping their lives. Promotes a lifelong newspaper readership habit that may increase students' knowledge of local, national and international events.
- The USA Today and New York Times are delivered each weekday morning
- 12 distribution locations on both North and South Campuses
- 700 USA Today distributed daily
- 500 New York Times distributed daily
- 90% of students surveyed said program contributes to habit of reading a newspaper regularly
- Over 90% of students surveyed said that reading newspapers is important to their education
- Over 55% of students survey said locations were convenient; less than 20% said locations were not convenient
Student Union Rehab $187,250
Initial project approved in 2005 to enclose the front of the Student Union continues.
- Long term energy savings
- Increased temperature control
- Increases specialized programming space for students
- Increases usability of Student Union Lobby in the winter and cold weather months
- Improves aesthetics of the front of the Student Union
- Enhances Student Union customer services
- Student Union Lobby is the home of over 200 large scale events, daily information and vendor tables
- Average daily building traffic over 24,000
- Projected 15% energy savings
Judicial Affairs: $130,273
Provide just, safe, orderly, and positive campus climate through regulations, disciplinary processes, informational programming, and intervention effort.
- Judicial system
- Community service programs
- Victim assistance
- Student interventions
- Comprehensive Fee administration
- 12 law student hearing reps and 20 student justices trained
- 450 student judiciary meetings
- 150 temporary suspension meetings
- 20,000 community service hours assigned
- 140 outreach presentations
- 9 loan and gift requests administered
- 250 student advocacy consultations
- 1,495 Comprehensive Fee inquiries
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for clarity of rules governing student conduct
Campus Life Initiatives: $590,565
Recreation & Intramural Support $83,193
Co-sponsorship of the recreation and intramural program.
- Aquatics
- Physical Fitness Testing Center
- Recreation & Intramural Services Group Fitness
- UB Fit Programs
- Combine Programs
- CPR/AED Program
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Athletic Training Consultation
- Lap Swim
- Club Sports
- Intramurals
- Fitness equipment
- 1,080 participants in structured recreation
- 12 intramural sports are offered with 5,000 registered participants
- 92 courses are offered with 2,121 students registered for classes with academic credit
- 160 certification classes offered
- 35 club sports offered with over 1,350 participants
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for recreation and intramural programs
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for athletic facilities
Student Awareness and Mandated Programs $39,665
Outreach and implementation of programs critical to the health, accessibility and welfare of all students. These programs, most of which are unfunded by other sources, are either legislatively or administratively mandated. For most programs, student compliance is mandated.
- Meningitis Awareness
- Student Conduct Rules and Regulations
- Voter Registration
- Disability Services awareness
- Constitution Day
- All new incoming students received meningitis and student conduct rules and regulation information
- Nationally recognized consultant and public speaker on issues regarding Disability Services provided a one day faculty and staff training session
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for clarity of rules for student conduct
Club Sports $16,050
Student Affairs partners with Student Wellness Team to provide enhanced sport club environment. The benefits that individuals derive from a sport club commitment include self-satisfaction, development of leadership and organizational skills, and an opportunity to continue to participate and compete in their favorite activities at a non-varsity level.
- Athletic trainer coverage for specified home events
- Athletic trainer available for walk in consultation or pre-participation preparation
- Emphasis on safe club environment
- 35 club sports with over 1,350 participants
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY Centers for recreation and intramural programs
Career Services $135,288
Educates past and present students in the areas of self-assessment, career exploration, and job search techniques with the goal of helping them achieve lifelong career satisfaction and success.
- Part-time employment program
- Career resource library
- Career/job fairs
- Reference file service
- Computerized testing
- UBE 202 course
- Counseling and advisement
- 6,738 students registered for career services
- 6,103 student contacts
- Processed 3,769 reference applications
- Posted 5,048 full and part time jobs
- 125 employer campus visits
- 1,103 students interviewed on campus
- 103 students enrolled in UBE 202
- 2,867 workshop/presentation participants
- 4,709 student testing program participants
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for career planning services
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for campus help finding part time jobs
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for job placement services
Academic Engagement Support $202,484
Programs that bring outside subject matter expertise to UB to support the linkage between UB academic programs and student life-long learning, and to build UB pride among students and their families.
- Distinguished Speaker Series
- Life & Learning Workshops
- Mock Trial
- University Welcome
- UB Reads
- Meet the Author series
- Disability Services
- 6 Distinguished Speaker Series lectures
- 256 Life & Learning workshops; 4,600 individuals registered
- 20% of workshops were multi-disciplinary
- 95% said workshops helped them increase knowledge or skills
- 97% said they could apply what they learned
- 94% said they would recommend workshop to a friend
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY Centers for guest speakers outside of class
- Over 6,500 of UB Reads books distributed
- Nearly 80% of freshmen respondents reported reading the UB Reads book
- Freshmen survey respondents reported discussing the UB Reads book with others (51% family, 50% classroom, 65% fellow students)
- 11% increase in students served through Disability Services
- Over 2,300 exams are administered by Disability Services
- Over 500 students served by Disability Services
Alumni Board $10,700
Promotes UB Pride among alumni and continued involvement of students after graduation.
- Homecoming activities
- Promote interaction between current students and alumni by assisting students to network with civic and business leaders
- Assist students in transitioning to life after college and encourage networking with leading alumni
- Began new student orientation tradition by teaching the new alma mater lyrics to incoming student and families
- 3,600 students, alumni, faculty, and staff attended homecoming activities
- 50 student events with 5,300 students and 540 alumni participants
- 33 student received student leadership awards
- 200 participated in two Career Conversation programs
Assessment $103,185
Collect, analyze, and distribute information on current/future student need to inform planning of Student Affairs programs and services.
- Measures student satisfaction, opinions, and outcomes in relation to Student Affairs programs and services
- Provides tools, strategies, and expertise to support Student Affairs planning activities in order to encourage data-based planning decisions (e.g., documented need, articulated goals, success criterion, cost/benefits)
- Provides tool, strategies, and expertise to evaluate Student Affairs programs and services against institutional/Student Affairs goals and objectives
- Builds capacity (e.g., knowledge, skills, processes, systems) within Student Affairs in the areas of assessment, planning and evaluation
- 37 My Opinion surveys were administered on a variety of topics of institutional interest
- UB Advocates (student based focus groups) supported effective and efficient institutional and Student Affairs planning
- All major Student Affairs services continue to provide mechanisms to collect customer satisfaction information to inform planning
- All Life & Learning Workshops are evaluated using a standard survey tool designed to collect data on student participation, satisfaction, and impacts
New Student Programs: $343,620
UB 101 $89,756
One credit hour weekly seminar designed to assist first-year students in making the transition to UB, providing a framework for their success as students. Through a small, interactive classroom environment intended to engage students in learning, the course focuses on providing resources, fostering important relationships, and helping students understand their responsibilities and privileges within the UB community. 71 sections offered annually, topics include:
- Time management
- Learning in/beyond the classroom
- Planning for the future
- Registration and advisor relationship
- Personal wellness
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Appreciating cultural diversity
- Values exploration
- Almost 1,100 students completed UB 101
- 71 UB 101 sections taught by 83 instructors
- About 84% of students agree or strongly agree that they would recommend this course to other first-year students
- Over 90% of students agree or strongly agree that taking the course was a valuable experience
- Mean first to second year retention rate since 1998 entering cohort is 2% higher for students who completed UB 101 compared to all first-year students
Orientation $133,171
Comprehensive programs designed to welcome students to and encourage active engagement with the intellectual, social, and cultural aspects of the UB community.
- Eight 2-day summer programs for first-year students
- Six 1-day summer programs for transfer students
- Three 1-day winter programs for students
- Nearly 3,000 freshmen attended orientation
- Over 1,600 transfer students attended orientation
- First to second year retention rate for first-year students who attended orientation is over 11% higher compared to students who did not attend orientation
- Over 95% of students reported that orientation helped them feel more comfortable with starting college at UB
- Ranked 1st out of 4 SUNY centers for new student orientation services
Parent Programs $120,693
Comprehensive set of programs and services designed to assist parents in supporting their UB student.
- Parent & Family Orientation - concurrent programs with every Student Orientation session
- Parent Guide - comprehensive guide to UB for parents of UB students
- Parent Advisory Service - phone and email advisory service for advice, information, and referrals
- Parent E-Newsletter - sent once each month
- Approximately 2,200 parents and family members attended summer 2007 Parent & Family Orientation sessions
- Over 70% rated the parent and family orientation "A"; Over 100% rated it "B" or higher
- Over 80 Parent Advisory Service contacts (phone or email) in the Fall 2006 semester
- Over 2,000 copies of Parent Guide distributed to parents of new students in 2007
Strategic Investment Initiatives: $902,000
The strategic investment fund (initiated by the University) allocates a portion of the Comprehensive Fee for strategic investment areas that impact the entire student body. Strategic investment areas include disability accommodations, victim assistance, suicide prevention, alcohol awareness, and student research and civic engagement programs. These funds are used to support initiatives on behalf of the student experience identified through the UB 2020 strategic planning process.
Student Affairs Initiative $341,453
New or improvements to programs offered under the auspices of Student Affairs:
- Victim's Assistance - provide greater support for UB students who are injured, ill, or harmed through crime or violence
- Referral and checks on crime victims
- Referral and checks on injured students
- Faculty notification for hospitalizations
- Substance abuse interventions
- Single point of contact for parents
- Student Remembrance Program
- Civic Engagement - promote student awareness of civic responsibilities and opportunities; engage students in service on behalf of others; and educate on role of citizens and community needs
- Integrated learning opportunities
- Support for Civic Engagement Academy
- Community and civic engagement programming
- Community Engagement Center
- Community service coordination
- Alcohol EDU - enhance efforts to address student issues revolving around alcohol use and abuse
- Confidential personalized experience
- Alcohol related education
- Interactive exercises
- Assessment of alcohol related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior
- Suicide Prevention - provide greater support for at-risk students in coordination with UBWell grant in Counseling Services
- Partnership with academic units to highlight suicide prevention strategies
- QPR (question, persuade, refer) suicide prevention training
- Suicide prevention week programming
- Disability Services - provide testing and accommodation support to eligible students through staff specialists
- Adaptive classroom test administration
- Accommodated course registration
- Requests for course substitutions
- Auxiliary aids and services
- Accessible format textbooks
- Faculty consultations
- Physical access to classrooms
- Disability management counseling
- Over 2,300 exams are administered by Disability Services
- Over 500 students served by Disability Services
- 4,000 first year and new transfer students participated in Alcohol EDU. There was a 45% increase in the mean exam score; mean Pre-Test score was 51% and the Exam score was 73%
- 91% of students reported that AlcoholEDU prepared them to help in situations where they have identified an alcohol overdose
- After completing the course, 79% of students reported that they intend to "support the choice not to drink" and 76% intend to "contribute to a healthier and safer campus environment regarding alcohol use"
- Over 50% of UB students identified as non-drinkers (compared with 30% in the previous year) 11% increase in students served through Disability Services
- 74 alcohol interventions
- 50 victims assistance meetings
- 400 students participated in community service programs
- Over 2,500 community service hours completed by UB students
- 15 student participants in the local "Alternative Spring Break - Give Where You Live" program (week-long intensive community service program)
- Over 60 volunteer opportunities posted online
- Distributed thousands of voter registration forms
- 756 students, faculty, and staff trained in QPR (question, persuade, refer) suicide prevention training
- 54 students, faculty, and staff trained to be QPR instructors
- 114 participants in suicide prevention writing and poetry contests
Undergraduate Initiative $560,547
New or enhancements to programs offered under the auspices of the Office of the Provost to improve the Undergraduate Experience:
- First Year Discovery Seminars - small group classes with leading instructors intended to facilitate academic exploration and promote student-faculty engagement
- Learning Lunches - opportunities for enhanced academic experience through informal breakfasts and lunches, outside the classroom, between instructors and selected classes
- Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities - to promote the mission of the research university and to develop enhanced opportunities for undergraduate participation
- Recruitment of faculty opportunities; development of student focused research fairs and workshops
- Development of undergraduate research awards
- Celebration of Academic Excellence - to promote a culture of research and exploration and to recognize student advancement
- Development of undergraduate blended in and out of class learning experiences
- Undergraduate Academies - program expansion - addition of new Global Perspectives academy (to existing Civic Engagement and Research Exploration academies)
- 45 Discovery Seminars offered (Fall 2007 - Spring 2008), on topics such as: Fraud and Financial Forensics, Ancient and Modern Justice, Global Economy, New Product Innovations, and Solving Crimes with Referent Tracking
- Selected instructors, teaching small enrollment freshmen classes, invited to participate in instructor-student lunches or breakfasts as part of the Learning Lunch pilot program
- First student research fair was held (expected to be annual event)
- First undergraduate research awards were given to encourage active student participation in research
- Approximately 130 student projects highlighted as part of the Celebration of Academic Excellence
- Two new learning communities (Undergraduate Academies) were formed with 24 bed spaces for students committed to Civic Engagement and to Research
FAQs
Q. What is "Student Life"?
A. Student Life upholds the missions of the University at Buffalo and Student Affairs by providing meaningful opportunities, programs and services for students that encourage and foster: involvement, leadership, diversity, pride, tradition, learning, self-development and success. Through programs and services, Student Life is committed to assisting students in becoming a force for positive change in the university community and the greater society.
Q. Is there anything fun to do on campus?
A. Yes, the Student Programming Board, sponsored by the Office of Student Life provides a variety of programs throughout the year including: Halloween events, video game competitions, and a variety of events held in the lobby of the Student Union.
Q. What is so different about the Student Union from other buildings on campus?
A. The Student Union is one of the most popular places on campus to hang out. On a typical day you are likely to find student organization information tables in the lobby; vendors selling sweaters or candles by the door; music from the special event of the day; career fairs in the Social Hall; and a variety of activities and meetings throughout the building. There is never a dull moment during the academic year. Check out the daily schedule at the Information Center.
Q. How can I find out more about social justice and diversity issues on campus?
A. Stop by the Intercultural and Diversity Center and learn more about the Diversity Institute. It is designed to spark thought and engage students in conversations about the concepts of diversity, cultural identity and social justice in a safe, encouraging and challenging environment. This four hour certificate workshop addresses specific areas of diversity that are geared to actively engage students in experiential learning via activities, team building exercises and guided dialogue. Students are encouraged to step out side of their "comfort zone" in order to probe more deeply the complexity of issues of oppression. Participants receive a certificate at the completion of Institute for use on their resumes and portfolios.
Q. What is there to do on campus at night?
A. Stop by the Student Union any Friday night and there is sure to be something going on. Late night programming activities are sponsored every Thursday and Friday night. Events include card tournaments, movies, bingo, dance parties, craft making and more.
Q. Do I have to be major in Music to join the Marching or Pep Band?
A. No. The Thunder of the East comprises students from all majors. This past fall, over 97% of students registered for band camp were non-music majors. The chosen academic field of study of band members ranges from Aerospace Engineering to Communication to English.
Q. Why is it so important to develop my leadership skills?
A. Leadership is an important part of your life whether you are serving on a committee, participating in a classroom discussion, volunteering for a community service project, playing sports or working at a job. Your ability to lead and be a contributing member of a group plays a vital role in your success at UB and your future role in the community, a career, and family life. Many recent surveys show that one of the top things employers are looking for from prospective hires is leadership ability!
Q. Do I need to live in Leadership House to be a member? What are your membership requirements?
A. No, you do not need to live in Leadership House to be a member. We have what is called an "affiliate member". This means that you are a member of the house, but do not live there. You still participate in all of the programs and activities. As far as membership requirements, we look for students who have a strong desire to develop their leadership skills. All members of the house are required to attend regularly scheduled meetings, coordinate at least one community service project per semester, and coordinate at least one educational program for the campus each semester.
Q. Do I have to be an under represented student to participate in the programs or use the services offered by the Intercultural and Diversity Center?
A. Absolutely not. Our programs are open to all students and we encourage students to stop by the Center at anytime.
Q. Is there any place on campus I can volunteer for community service activities?
A. Yes, there are hundreds of opportunities to become involved. The Community Service Coordinator in the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement (235 Student Union) is here to help all students, individuals or groups, find and complete long term, short term and one time community service projects. Whether students want to engage in community service for a class assignment, as part of a student organization requirement, because community service helps build leadership skills, or because doing community service enriches the lives of both the one serving as well as those who are served, the Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement is the place to visit for help getting started.
Q. Why would I want to join a fraternity or sorority?
A. Greek-letter social organizations provide students with the opportunity to get involved in the campus and local communities, form lasting friendships and develop leadership skills.
Q. When can I join a fraternity or sorority?
A. A student must be at least a second semester freshman (12 credits or more) and have a minimum 2.0 QPA in order to join a fraternity or sorority.
