Simpson to Discuss UB's Plan for Growth with Amherst Residents

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- University at Buffalo President John B. Simpson will meet with Amherst residents to discuss UB's ambitious plans to grow by 40 percent and that growth's potential impact on the regional economy.

The public forum, co-hosted by UB and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, will be held at 7 p.m. May 29 in Marinaccio's Italian Ristorante, 5877 Main Street in Williamsville.

Among the topics to be addressed is how UB's planned growth will positively impact Buffalo Niagara and create new opportunities for UB to interact with the community.

Simpson will be joined in the presentation by Robert G. Shibley, professor and director of the Urban Design Project in the UB School of Architecture and Planning. Shibley is overseeing UB's master-planning process, which will transform dramatically the landscape and infrastructure of UB's North (Amherst), South (Main Street) and Downtown campuses in keeping with the objectives of UB's strategic plan, UB 2020.

As part of its efforts to develop a master plan to oversee its 40 percent growth and the development of its three campus centers between now and 2020, UB has been reaching out to government officials, municipal planners and community leaders in Amherst, Buffalo and Erie County, Simpson noted.

"Our goal is to develop a master plan that connects with the plans of UB's host municipalities and is in the best interests of the community," Simpson said. "A critical element of this collaboration is how to best link UB's campuses with neighboring communities."

For more information about the vision, goals and objectives of the UB master plan, go to www.buffalo.edu/ub2020/plan.

Since Simpson announced in September the plan to grow UB, he and Shibley have met with many community groups and leaders to discuss the plan's potential impact on Western New York and to

invite their ideas and feedback. In these discussions, Simpson has described his vision for achieving enduring academic excellence at UB.

In the presentation to Amherst residents, Shibley will outline the beginnings of a new master plan for UB's three campuses. The plan will support UB's targeted growth and will improve UB's campus environments dramatically, Shibley said.

"We are trying to build bridges with communities around our three campus centers," Shibley added. "The master plan will lead to the creation of modern, attractive and safe spaces on all three campuses -- creating memorable environments for students, faculty, staff and community members to interact."

According to Simpson, UB's plan to grow by 10,000 students and 750 faculty members over the next 15 years will increase substantially UB's annual economic impact on Western New York. It will be a major catalyst for the kind of economic revitalization seen in Silicon Valley, Seattle, Boston and other American cities with great universities.

A bigger and better UB, Simpson said, will lead to regional job growth, improve the quality of life, bring in millions of dollars of research funding and new venture capital, create new companies and support existing ones, and reverse the "brain drain" exodus of young people from the region.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.