About our Buildings and Programs
Learning Communities
For college students, the more experiences you share with your peers and faculty, the more satisfied you're likely to be with college and the better your academic experience - and beyond that, the more successful you'll be in life. Several of UB's learning communities have residential components that bridge the gap between academics, living on campus, and extracurricular interests. Students who participate in residential learning communities perform better academically because they have a built-in support structure and peers nearby who share both academic and social experiences.
First-Year Interest (FYI) Communities
FYI learning communities provide students the opportunity to live among others with similar academic interests. Students in FYI learning communities live together on the same residence hall floors and may attend some classes together, but do not necessarily share class schedules. There are 7 FYI housing areas:
- FYI Architecture
- FYI Engineering
- FYI Fine Arts
- FYI First Year Explorations
- FYI Health Professions
- FYI Management
- FYI Social Sciences
Students in these areas have an Academic Assistant that lives in the FYI area who provides programs and events specifically designed for their area of academic interest, as well as, in some cases, a faculty/staff advisor. All FYI floors are located in the Ellicott Complex except the FYI Architecture area which is located in Goodyear Hall on the Main Street Campus.
Undergraduate Academies
The Undergraduate Academies is a small community of students who share an interest in Civic Engagement, Global Perspectives, or Research Exploration. The Academies experience will complement any major and will enhance your undergraduate experience. Students participating in the Academies have the option of living together on the same residence hall floor in Richmond Hall in the Ellicott Complex, though it is not a requirement for participation in the program. Please note that room sizes vary, depending on the location of the Academies area.In the Residential Community, students form friendships quickly with like-minded individuals, as a result of attending fun programs, participating in service, and working on research projects together!
For more information on the Undergraduate Academies, visit the program website at academy.buffalo.edu 
.
Acker Scholars
Students in the Daniel Acker Scholar program have the opportunity to receive services including individualized advisement and counseling services, research skills courses, tutoring and community service activities. Students must be accepted in the Daniel Acker Scholar program to be eligible for housing in the first-year Acker Scholar area, which is located in Dewey Hall in the Governors Complex.
For more information on Daniel Acker Scholars, visit the program website at cpmc.buffalo.edu/acker .
Honors College
Students in the University Honors College have the opportunity to live and study in an environment that facilitates advanced independent learning. Services include special seminar courses, faculty mentors, undergraduate research and creative activities. Students must be accepted in the Honors College in order to be eligible for housing in the first-year honors area, which is located in Roosevelt Hall in the Governors Complex.
For more information on the University Honors College, visit the program website at honors.buffalo.edu .
Leadership House Learning Community
Leadership House is a residential learning community for first-year students where students are provided with an environment to polish their skills as leaders and become active citizens at UB and in the community. Students apply for Leadership House through the Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement. Leadership House is located in Dewey Hall in the Governors Complex.
Please visit the Leadership House 
program website for more information.
Shared Interest Housing (SIH) Communities
Shared Interest Housing Communities bring upper-class students with common interests together to enhance their University experience. SIH communities are organized around topics of mutual themes and interests, and must have an academic focus. The theme of the area is left up to the students to define, and may have an academic or cultural focus. These small-scale units occupy specially designated residence halls or sections of residence halls. The result is an increased opportunity for individuals with similar interests to live and learn together.
Each SIH community has a floor leader (designated by the group), a faculty/staff advisor and works with the residence hall staff to organize educational, social and community service programs. Examples of SIH Communities include Honors Corps, Architecture, Acker LEADS, Undergraduate Academies, MORE House and UB Scholars.
First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) - First-Year Student Halls
The First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) program is designed to provide a focused environment for first-year students living in the residence halls at the University at Buffalo. While the experience of living in the halls is invaluable, participants in the FYRE program will have the unique opportunity to live and learn with students who will share similar needs. Research shows that first-year students who live with other first-year students achieve more success, both academically and socially. For these reasons, we are proud to offer the FYRE program in our first-year student residence halls.
Students in the FYRE halls will live and learn while building long-lasting relationships with peers in a healthy, smoke and alcohol-free environment, designed especially for first-year students. Residence Hall Staff help foster strong communities to help connect students to the UB community and to one another. Students will have opportunities to impact their halls through involvement in program planning with the hall staff, as well as through leadership opportunities with Hall Council.
Gender Neutral Housing
The Gender Neutral Housing community is for first-year and returning students at UB that wish to live in a mixed gender housing environment. Room placement and roommates are not selected on the basis of gender. In this community it is possible for roommates of different genders to live in the same room. A gender-neutral bathroom is shared among all the residents of the community.
Chief Sagoyewatha Native American Learning Community
The Chief Sagoyewatha Native American community is for native students and students interested in native culture. Open to first-year and returning students, this community will provide opportunities to engage in academic and social activities that focus on native culture and is supported by native faculty and professional staff. Housing for the Chief Sagoyewatha community is located in Red Jacket Quad in the Ellicott Complex.
Ready to apply?
- Current Students
- Incoming students -
(Complete the Residence Hall Agreement and pay the $300 housing deposit)