About our Buildings and Programs

Special Living Options

Residential 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 other students with similar academic interests. 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. They may attend some classes together, 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. The FYI Communities are: Architecture, Engineering, Fine Arts, General Interest/Undecided, Health-Related Professions, Management, and Social Sciences.

6 of the 7 FYI communities are located in Spaulding Quad in the Ellicott Complex on the North Campus. The Architecture FYI community is housed in Goodyear Hall on the Main Street Campus. Interest in participating in a FYI community is indicated on the housing application.

Undergraduate Academies

UB's Undergraduate Academies are scholarly communities composed of students, faculty, and staff that share a common mission, goals, and interests. Students participating in an Undergraduate Academy will have the opportunity to engage in a unique curricular and co-curricular experience. 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. The Undergraduate Academies are housed in Red Jacket Quad in the Ellicott Complex.

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

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.

For more information on Leadership House, visit the program website at www.leadership.buffalo.edu .

Special Interest Housing (SIH) Communities

Shared Interest Housing Communities brings upper-class students with common interests together to enhance their University experience. SIH communities are organized around topics of mutual themes and interests, but are not exclusively academic-focused. The theme of the area is left up to the students to define, and may be an academic or social interest, a club, a fraternity or sorority, or have a 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) 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 & Engineering.

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.

Ready to apply?

• Current Students
• Incoming students - (Complete the Residence Hall Agreement and pay the $200 housing deposit)