Spring 2013
International Student Orientation
Overview of Important
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
For Undergraduate Students
ONLY
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Spring 2013
UB Terminology - Definitions
-
-
GPA: Grade Point Average
HUB: UB’s Student Information
System
Hold / Service Indicator: electronic
block to course registration
Waive (a course, requirement): not
have to take the course or fulfill the
requirement
Prerequisite: course which must be
taken before student can register for a
higher level course
http://registrar.buffalo.edu/glossary/index.php
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Spring 2013
Campus Advising Offices
 You should meet with an
Advisor at least once a
semester. They will show
you how to use UB
academic tools, and to
help you develop your
academic plan.
 Have you started your UB
Contact list?
http://advising.buffalo.edu/directory/index.php
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Spring 2013
Your UB Identity
1.
UBIT name
(username) &
Password.
Use this to access
MyUB, UBLearns, and
your HUB Student
Center.
2.
UB Person Number is found on
your UB Card.
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Spring 2013
UBIT Information for Students






Your UBIT Account
Getting Connected
Email
Software
Computing Sites
File Storage and
Sharing
http://www.buffalo.edu/ubit/information-for-students.html
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Spring 2013
Your Identity: MyUB and HUB Student Center
3.
UBmail
4.
UBlearns
5.
Your HUB Student Center
Need to Know announcements
7
Spring 2013
Your Identity: HUB Student Center
HUB Student Center is the
University at Buffalo’s online
one-stop shop for students
that can be accessed
through MyUB.
Link to the Undergraduate
Catalog
Within the Student Center students can register for classes,
check their grades, request transcripts, manage their
finances/financial aid, maintain their personal information, and
much more.
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Spring 2013
Your responsibilities as a student…
“…As a condition of enrollment, students are responsible for
reviewing, understanding and abiding by the university's regulations,
procedures, requirements and deadlines as described in official
publications, including the university's undergraduate catalog, UB
web sites and official university e-mail communications.
In addition, all students are required to positively affirm their
knowledge of, and adherence to UB's Rules and Regulations prior to
their inaugural semester at UB. Asserting a lack of knowledge of
university regulations will not be accepted as a basis for an exception
to these regulations.”
Source: Undergraduate Catalog
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/
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Spring 2013
The Undergraduate Catalog
The Undergraduate Catalog is available
ONLY on-line at:
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/
The Catalog is your CONTRACT with UB.
It explains the policies and procedures of
the University.
It describes all academic degree programs
as well as courses and careers related to
each program.
Your Catalog Year is 2012-2013.
You will use the Catalog in conjunction with
your Academic Advisement Report (AAR)
found in HUB.
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Spring 2013
University Degree Requirements
What is required to earn my
baccalaureate degree and
graduate?
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/degree/index.shtml
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Spring 2013
University Degree Requirements
Minimum Number of Credit
Hours
Earn at least 120 credit hours
Academic Residency
Requirement
Complete a minimum of 30 undergraduate credit
hours (the equivalent of one full year of study) at
the University at Buffalo
Minimum Academic Average
Earn at least a 2.0 overall GPA (grade point
average). Note: Higher departmental and overall
GPA may be required for some programs.
Major Requirement
Be admitted to a major and complete
requirements for that major
General Education Program
Complete General Education program
Graduation
Undergraduate Students apply for graduation in
your HUB Student Center
Academic Advisement Report
(AAR) - HUB Student Center
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Spring 2013
General Education Requirements
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/degree/gened.shtml
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Spring 2013
General Education Requirements
General Education is the fundamental liberal arts core of your
American education.
To earn a bachelor’s degree, you must acquire certain skills and
knowledge in areas outside your major.
All State University of New York students are required to complete
the same general education program (specific course details may
vary by school).
General Education requirements are tracked on your Academic
Advisement Report (in HUB).
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Spring 2013
General Education Requirements

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Spring 2013
Academic Programs
Links to:
 Majors
 Non-Degree
programs
 Approved Minors
 Department
Abbreviations
 Course Prefixes
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/academicprograms/index.shtml
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Spring 2013
Academic Program Requirements
Links to:
 Overview of Department
 Degrees & Policies (
Acceptance Criteria
courses & gpa, Major
requirements)
 Courses – descriptions,
and Prerequisite info.
 Faculty – where did they
earn their last degree
 Careers – what have
recent graduates go on to.
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Spring 2013
Transfer Credit
Have you earned credit
from another college or
university?
Have you requested that a
Final Official Transcript be
sent to UB?
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/alternative/index.shtml
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Spring 2013
Alternative Exam Credit
Test credit, transfer coursework and other types of non-UB
credit are listed on your Transfer Credit Summary Report (as
well as in HUB).
 UB accepts a few types of alternative/exam credit (A-level, IB,
AP, CLEP). Please refer to the following website:
http://tas.buffalo.edu/altexam/
Minimum scores are usually required to earn credit and/or
meet degree requirements.
Remember to tell your advisor about this credit as it could
affect what classes you take.
 The College Board Code for UB is: 2925
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/alternative/index.shtml
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Spring 2013
Your Major
Intended Major
Intended = A major you are considering or
working on the prerequisites for, but to which
you have not yet applied or been accepted.
Approved Major
Approved = a major to which you are accepted
either at the time of entry to UB (only certain
majors do this) or after you have completed the
prerequisites and applied to the department
Undecided
Undecided or Exploratory is not a major that you
can declare. It describes a student who is not
sure about a major or who is exploring multiple
majors.
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Spring 2013
Managing Your Academic Plan
1.
My Academics
Links to
Undergrad
Catalog &
Calendars
More Information: HUB Information for Students
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Spring 2013
How do I know what requirements I have completed?
2.
4.
3.
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Spring 2013
How do I know if I am making
timely progress toward a degree?
Choose a major as early as possible and begin working on
the prerequisite courses (also referred to as “acceptance
criteria”)*.
* Acceptance criteria vary by major—they can range from
3 courses to 15—so planning ahead is critical!
Plan out most General Education requirements and major
prerequisites in your first two years.
Aim at being accepted to a major by the time you have
completed 60 credit hours.
Get help if you are having trouble.
Consider changing your major if things are not going well.
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Spring 2013
How and When Do I Register for Classes?
Holds
Registration
links
When You
can begin to
Register
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Spring 2013
Course Registration Information
• If you are not yet registered for classes, you MUST meet
with an academic advisor later today and register.
• Registration for Fall 2013 semester begins in mid March.
You will be assigned a start date and time based on your
total number of completed credits.
• Get the classes you want and need! Don’t miss your
Enrollment Date (in HUB Student Center)!
http://registrar.buffalo.edu/registration/index.php
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Spring 2013
How do I find out which courses are offered
each semester?
Course offerings
information is found on
the Registrar website and
in HUB by doing a Course
Search.
HUB course search will
display information such
as: sections, components
(e.g. lecture with lab,
lecture with recitation),
times, location, teacher,
description, registration
number of all course
offerings for each
semester.
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Spring 2013
Dates & Deadlines
1.
http://registrar.buffalo.edu/calendars/index.php
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Spring 2013
Late Fees &
Holds / Service Indicators
 Financial penalties and/or registration holds apply
if deadlines are missed!
 REMINDER: Avoid a hold on next semester
registration by affirming the UB Rules &
Regulations in the “Need to Know” box on your
MyUB homepage.
Source: Office of the Registrar
http://registrar.buffalo.edu/registration/policies/checkstops.php
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Spring 2013
Creating your Time Management &
Study Plan
Planner
UBmail powered by
Google
Class Schedule
Use the Calendar function in Google to add the
following dates, events,
Course Syllabi
 Enter the dates of test, papers, projects, etc.
 Create Study Plan based on test dates
Academic Calendar
UB’s Academic Calendars include dates for the start
and end of semesters, official holidays and final exams
Student Calendars
The Student Calendars include important dates and
deadlines for course registration, drop/add and course
resign.
Enter your classes (Repeating Event, date range)
Source: Drop/Add Information, Resigning a Course Information,
Office of the Registrar
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Spring 2013
Dropping / Resigning Classes
Dropping Classes
Earn a Cumulative gpa (grade point average) ≥ 2.0 and
most recent semester gpa ≥ 2.0
Full-time Status
To be considered a Full-time student, you must be
registered for at least 12.0 credit hours.
Resigning classes
Dropping a class after the 6th day of classes Can be
done until the end of 11th week of classes (Friday,
March 29, 2013). Grade of “R” appears on your record.
Note: Beginning on Sunday, January 20, 2013, you will
have a financial liability even if you resign classes.

International students cannot resign a class if it
means they will no longer be enrolled full-time
without first consulting an International Student
Advisor!
Source: Drop/Add Information, Resigning a Course Information,
Office of the Registrar
30
Spring 2013
Repeating Classes
•
•
•
•
Always speak with an advisor BEFORE repeating a course!
Courses can be repeated whether you pass, resign or fail.
Credit is earned only once.
Second grade will calculate into the GPA. All grades will appear
on transcript.
• Students attempting a class for the FIRST time are given priority
for enrolling in high demand classes.
Some courses may only be repeated in a summer session.
Examples include:
BIO 200 & 201
CHE 101- 202
COM 101
ECO 181 & 182
UGC 111 & 112
ENG 101, 102, 201
MTH 121- 241
PHY 101
PSC 101
PSY 101
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/grading/repeat.shtml
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Spring 2013
Academic Course Expectations
The Academic Integrity Video and
more information on this topic can
be found on-line at:
http://academicintegrity.buffalo.edu
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/course/index.shtml
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Spring 2013
Course Syllabi
The course syllabus serves as a
contract between the student and
professor regarding course
expectations and policies.
The course syllabus should clearly
communicate what the instructor
expects of students and what
students can expect from the
instructor.
All course syllabi should
include, but are not limited to,
the following components:
 Course Description
 Learning Outcomes
 Academic Content
 Grading Policy
 Office Hours
 Academic Integrity
A course syllabus must be finalized
and distributed to the class during
the first week of classes.
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/course/syllabi.shtml
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Spring 2013
UB Learns
UBlearns is our application of the
BlackBoard Course Information &
Course Management System.
Through UBlearns, students and
faculty have access to course and
classroom tools and materials.
The UBlearns website is not the same
as the MyUB website!
UBlearns is a Blackboard™
application that SOME professors use
as a complement to formal classroom
instruction.
https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/
NOT ALL of your classes will be listed
on UBlearns - your class will only be
listed there if the instructor chooses
to enroll the course.
34
Spring 2013
Tutoring Services at UB
http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/helpAZ/tutoring.html
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Spring 2013
Grading
Letter Grade
Grade Points
A
4.00
A-
3.67
B+
3.33
B
3.00
B-
2.67
C+
2.33
C
2.00
C-
1.67
D+
1.33
D
1.00
F
0.00
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/grading/index.shtml
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Spring 2013
Do I have to maintain certain grades or standards?
Mid-semester Review
Last day to Resign a 15
week course
Final Grades posted to
HUB Student Center
Academic Review
Fall
Semester
Spring
Semester
October
March
End of the 11th week End of the 11th week
of semester
of semester
End of 1st week in
January
Mid May
Mid May
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/grading/academicreview.shtml
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Spring 2013
YES! There is an Academic Standards Review
at the end of each semester
Academic Progress Complete a minimum of 24 credits each
academic year
Good Standing
Earn a Cumulative gpa (grade point average) ≥ 2.0
and most recent semester gpa ≥ 2.0
Academic Warning First semester students with semester gpa < 2.0.
Continuing students with cumulative UB gpa > 2.0
but most recent semester gpa < 2.0
Probations
Cumulative gpa ≥ 2.0 but 2 most recent
consecutive semester gpa’s < 2.0, OR cumulative
gpa < 2.0 but Quality Point Deficit < 20
Dismissal
Continuing students with cumulative GPA < 2.0
and Quality Point Deficit ≥ 20
Source: Undergraduate Catalog – Grading – Academic Review
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Spring 2013
Academic Honors
Dean’s List
By semester: 3.6 gpa (grade point
average) and at least 15 credit hours
Latin Honors
Upon degree conferral
3.20 gpa: Cum Laude
3.50 gpa: Magna Cum Laude
3.75 gpa: Summa Cum Laude
Departmental
Honors
 “With Distinction”
 “With High Distinction”
 “With Highest Distinction”
Honoraries &
Honor Societies
Source: Undergraduate Catalog - Grading
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Spring 2013
Other UB Resources
UBE 101
First Year Experience Course (freshmen only) - 1 credit hour
course
UE 141
Discovery Seminars - 1 credit hour course
The Learning
Center
Baldy Hall 218 - free math and writing tutoring
Career Services
Research majors and careers, help with resume writing and job
searches, and much more! Capen 259.
Undergraduate
Academies
Undergraduate Academies are scholarly communities composed
of students, faculty, and staff that share a common mission,
goals, and interests. Joining an undergraduate academy will
enable you to focus on one of UB's strengths by participating in a
unique curricular and co-curricular experience.
Center for
Undergraduate
Research and
Creative Activities
(CURCA)
The Center for Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities
(CURCA) serves as a hub for undergraduate students from all
majors who interested in finding challenging research and
creative opportunities that match their academic interests and
career goals.
40
Spring 2013
Leaving UB
Academic
Withdrawal
By petition only. Grades for all courses in a semester
are changed to “W”. Used for medical or extenuating
circumstances. Deadline to apply is end of subsequent
semester.
Undergraduate
Leave of Absence
You may request a Leave of Absence for one or two
semesters from your enrollment at the university.
Securing a Leave of Absence will preserve your status
as of the time you begin your leave and will eliminate
any re-application process or paperwork when you
return. You will also have access to your UB e-mail
during this time.
Not Returning to
UB Checklist
We recommend that you use this checklist as a guide
to help you make sure that you haven’t forgotten
something important before you leave.
Source: Leave of Absence Information, Resigning a Course
Information, Office of the Registrar
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Spring 2013
Tuition & Billing
The Office of Student Accounts performs
the following functions for the University:
•Provides Tuition and Fee Rates
•Processes Comprehensive Fee Waivers
•Manages UB Billing
•Collects Payments
•Provides Information about the 1098-T
•Administers Service Indicators/Holds on
Students’ Accounts
•Determines New York State Residency
for Tuition Purposes
•Manages Financial Aid Refunds
•Provides Liability Deadlines
http://studentaccounts.buffalo.edu/
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Spring 2013
Student Response Center
The Student Response Center (SRC)! The
SRC is a single point of contact for our
current and future students.
Strategically developed to bring resources
together in one convenient location, the
SRC staff can answer questions on:
 Financial aid
 Billing
 Registration
 Academic records services
Location: Capen 232, North Campus
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://sarfs.buffalo.edu/src.php
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Spring 2013
Transfer Support Services
Welcome new Transfer Students.
Go the Transfer Student page for
more information on the following
services and programs:
“TRANSFERmation” workshop
Transfer Peer Mentor Program application and info on-line
Tips from other Transfer Students
• University at Buffalo chapter since
2001
• Over 1000 students inducted
• Leadership experience, campus
and community involvement
• 3.5 GPA at UB required to join
---Will YOU become a Tau Sigma
member?
http://sas.buffalo.edu/transfer/index.php
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Spring 2013
Charting Your Progress
in the First Year
 Create a UB Contacts folder in your UBmail account
 Record important Academic and Registration dates
into a Planner/Calendars
 Develop your Time Management and Study Plan
 Pay attention to your Mid-semester grades
 Meet with your advisor
 Know when and how to register for next semester
classes
 Think ahead… develop a four-year academic plan
45
Spring 2013
How Do I Remember All of This?
 …all of this information, and more, is available on-line or in
University publications and there are many people you can go to
for help (e.g. academic advisors). Read your UB e-mail account
 Read the “Need to Know section of MyUB regularly at
http://myub.buffalo.edu
 Read the “Be Advised Web Log” at http://advising.buffalo.edu
 Read the Spectrum (student newspaper)
Spring Semester 2013
First Day of Classes:
Monday, January 14, 2013
46
Meet Your Academic Advisor
Please look at your name tag and find
the code for your major. (Example: SEAS)
Student Athletes
Please call to schedule an appointment with
your academic advisor.
Office of Athlete Academic &
Development Services
Alumni Arena 169
716-645-5533
48
School of Management
MG
Stay in this room
49
College of Arts & Sciences
CAS
Park Hall 275
North Campus
716-645-6883
50
School of Engineering
& Applied Sciences
SEAS
Bonner Hall 410
North Campus
716-645-2775
51
Student Advising Services
SAS
Norton Hall 109
North Campus
716-645-6013
52
School of Medicine &
Biomedical Sciences
SMBS
Sherman Annex 127
South Campus
53
School of Nursing
NUR
Wende Hall 103
South Campus
716-829-2537
54
School of Architecture
APX
Diefendorf Hall 103
South Campus
55
School of Public Health
& Health Professions
PHHP
Kimball Tower 104B
South Campus
56
School of Pharmacy &
Pharmaceutical Sciences
PHM
Kapoor Hall 270
South Campus
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58
Non-matriculated and
Visiting or Exchange Students
EXCH
Study Abroad Office
Talbert Hall 210
North Campus
59