Technology Fee

• Mobile web access to Student Services and resources critical to academic success as part of the UB Curriculum
  • Web based student services and information systems (HUB)
  • Electronic resources available from UB Libraries, including full text journals, articles and e-books
  • Self-service tools, such as 24/7 access to password resets online or via text message
  • Customized personal portals, such as MyUB and HUB
  • My Virtual Public Site provides 24/7 remote access to analysis and instructional software
  • UB Learns learning management systems including the Pulse app
    
  • Virtual meeting spaces via Zoom and MS 365 Teams
  • Secure cloud-based file storage and sharing (UBbox and OneDrive)
• Technology to support formal and informal learning environments
  • Educational technology in formally scheduled classrooms
  • Online learning content captured in lecture halls and classrooms
• Touchless printing kiosks (UB Print Anywhere powered by Wepa) which offer 24/7 access and color and black and white printing from any device
• Distribution of standard software for student learning and productivity
  • Participation in the Microsoft campus agreement (Microsoft 365 Software)
  • Analysis and synthesis programs such as MATLAB, SPSS, Mathematica, and SAS
  • Spirion software for removing and securing personally identifiable information (PII) on personal computers
• Robust and secure access to the Internet for academic and non-academic purposes
  • Secure configuration to encrypted eduroam Wi-Fi network using Secure W2
  • Internet access to the commodity Internet and Internet-2 via NYSERNet Regional Network
  • UB Connect and UB Devices networks for media or gaming devices and campus visitors, parents and guests
  • UB wired and Wi-Fi network in residence halls and on-campus apartments for low latency Internet access
  • Wi-Fi network access in UB parking lots and certain outdoor spaces
  • Spam filtering and email filters
• Guidance for student use of computing and information technology
  • UBIT Help Center and mobile UB Tech Squad unit technology assistance services
  • On-site consulting in Silverman Library to provide assistance with productivity and printing issues
  • Rapid response to solve, escalate, and triage problems to reduce hardware and software downtimes
  • Online help documentation and video tutorials for configuration, customization and installation of UB supported devices and software
• Technology to assist students with special needs
  • Read & Write, Jaws, MathPlayer, ZoomText and Dragon Naturally Speaking software installed on assistive workstations
  • Read & Write speech-to-text software enabled on all Cybrary workstations
  • 7 adaptive stations in public IT service sites

• Over 250 state-of-the-art computing IT services sites and classrooms located on all campuses
• 532 public workstations (North Campus)
• 86 public workstations (South Campus)
• 20 library reference workstations
• My Virtual Public Site—access to analysis and synthesis software fully integrated with personal and remote file storage and printing
• Public IT service site in Silverman Library that provides comfortable furniture, secure Wi-Fi access, and power to support mobile device usage
• Public IT service sites in Ellicott (Blake Learning Center), Governors (Clinton), and South Campus (Clement) residence halls
• 21 Express Stations in public IT service sites to give students quick access to productivity tools and printing
• 19 Quick Connect workstations in public areas outside of public IT service sites, accessible 24/7
• 96 workstations in two hands-on computer equipped classrooms
• 24-hour access to public computers in Silverman Library during the semester
• 24/7 access to residential computing labs: Governors (Clinton) on North Campus and Clement on South Campus during academic months
• Secure Wi-Fi access to eduroam on campus
• Over 8,700 wireless access points across the campuses, including coverage in three parking lots
• Annual web-based student computing surveys
• UB ResNet residence halls and apartments registration service
• Printing support for all registered students using UB Print Anywhere, using 100% tree-free paper
• Centralized provisioning of virtualized workstations (“zero” clients) saving energy through reduced electrical and cooling usage in public IT service sites
  

In support of UB’s commitment to academic excellence, the digital library provides outstanding collections, services, and programs that enhance students’ educational experiences.

• Provide 24/7 access to a vast array of electronic resources, including web based full-text and research-oriented digital information products, to support the creation of new knowledge
• Provide technology-enabled spaces and innovative services which inspire learning and collaboration.
• Partner with teaching faculty to create global citizens who are able to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.

• 458 research databases including ScienceDirect, JSTOR and HUBNET provided to students
•  2.7 million Libraries database searches
•  3.0 million journal articles downloaded.
• 1.8 million e-books are now available in the Libraries.
•  280,000 e-book sections and chapters downloaded
•  263,000 e-journals provided
•  126 digital collections offered, covering subject areas including African American studies, American literature, architecture, biology, medicine, music, psychology and UB history.
• The Libraries provide streamed access to course-assigned feature films, classic films, and popular documentaries embedded directly into UB Learns.
• Journal articles and book chapters are delivered electronically, and physical items are retrieved and made available for pickup through the Libraries’ Delivery+ service
  

• The project to upgrade centrally scheduled classrooms with digital connections and projection continued. Approximately 50 rooms are completed each year

• 12,123 classroom lecture-recordings (33,159 hours) were made available to students during 2022-2023. Approximately 52,902 recordings were made by faculty and staff on their own computers.
• 190 centrally scheduled classrooms are currently equipped with educational  technology, including hy-flex rooms and LED video walls
  

Fundamental facilities and services, equipment, software and technical efforts in support of university student systems and student service areas. Continued support to enhance student access to technology including:

• Provide multiple web-based service options to facilitate student service information dissemination and service transactions on a 24/7 basis for enrolled students including: reservation forms; services and facilities information; self-help and developmental information; and service/business forms
• 24/7 web-based mechanisms for student feedback and questions
• Technical support for the maintenance and enhancement of Student Life technology, fundamental facilities, services, equipment and application development that supports 19 student service units
  

• Approximately 950 web pages supported
• Over 2.5 million  page views annually
• 19 student service units supported
  

Fundamental facilities and services, equipment, software and technical services in support of advancing UB's mission of excellence in research, teaching and service through the provision of high-quality information resources and technology.

Distributed Support for Technology

• Maintain computing labs on both campuses

Web Based Student Services

• HUB Student Center
• MyUB
• UB Mobile app for Android and iOS devices
• UBmail
• UB Learns
• UBbox
• Microsoft 365 (includes OneDrive storage)
• Zoom
• EAB Navigate
• Web servers for personal web pages, student club websites
• Digital capture of instructional sessions in lecture halls and classrooms with Panopto
• Site licensed software downloadable for supported devices
  

Public IT Service Sites and Hands-on Classrooms

Public IT service sites are locations equipped with network-connected computers with productivity software and with high speed printers available to all UB students.

• Friendly, comfortable IT locations and classrooms that encourage collaboration
• Quick access: express stations in public IT service sites and Quick Connect in other public areas on campus
• Maintained public site availability 16 hours/day seven days/week generally plus one 24-hour site
• Maintained two hands-on computer equipped classrooms (75 seats) for hands-on instruction
• Monitor and repair software on 618 public workstations located throughout campus
• Integration with My Virtual Public Site and UB Print Anywhere for access to specialized software anywhere, anytime
• Created Level Up gaming lounge and Esports arena, which includes high-end Dell Alienware systems and peripherals and console gaming pods consisting of the latest model Playstation, Nintendo Switch with large library of games.
  

• 532 public workstations (North Campus)
• 86 public workstations (South Campus)
• 20 Library Reference workstations (North and South Campus)
• Software at the public IT service site  metered for data-based decision making regarding licensing
• Provided metered premium software to public workstations
• 1Gbps connection speed to all public IT service sites

Access to public printing services (UB Print Anywhere) is provided around campus, integrated with public lab workstations and accessible from students’ personal devices.

• Maintain 56 public access self-serve print kiosks to support high quality and timely printing services

• 4.9 million pages printed in 22-23
  

Connectivity to campus network and Internet

• Connections to Internet 1 and Internet 2
• Encrypted eduroam Wi-Fi available throughout campus
• UB_Devices SSID created for easier onboarding of certain types of consumer IoT devices
• UB wired residence halls and apartment network provides Gigabit Ethernet to student residents
• Maintained a library of self-help documentation for connecting to the network

• SecureW2 service configures mobile devices to encrypted eduroam Wi-Fi quickly and effortlessly
• 100  Gbps redundant Internet 1 connectivity
• 100 Gbps Internet 2 connectivity

• 7 adaptive technology workstations in public IT service sites
• Maintained Standard accessible software on 7 adaptive workstations in public labs, including JAWS, Dragon Naturally Speaking, and ZoomText

• Center for Assistive Technology recommends assistive software for public IT service sites.

• Continued support for the Blackboard application including production, quality assurance and development servers
• Application building block maintenance and support including vendor suggested enhancements
• UB Learns Pulse App for iPhone and some Android devices
  

• 17,097 unique visitors to Pulse App in 2023.
• 3,337 UB Learns course sites in Fall 2019, maintained by 756 faculty members
• 142,224 student enrollments in courses using UB Learns for Fall 2019, maintained by 2,227 faculty members
  

• Participation in the Microsoft Campus Software Agreement (MCSA)
• Provided software tools, documentation, and assistance for the products established by UB2020 Standards Committee
• Distributed licenses for software in support of UB's programs through My Virtual Public Site
• Distributed software licenses (SPSS, SAS, AutoCad, Mathematica, Maple) for use in departmental computing labs
• Oracle accounts and software access were provided for database classes

• 17,745 Microsoft Windows Office downloads, and 10,558 Mac Office downloads in the 2020-21 academic year

UBITName (login) for many campus services; and high availability email and file services

• Sustained commercial spam identification service
• Maintained email delivery quality of service
• Maintained service availability and delivery throughput of the central email service infrastructure
• Maintained central authentication service and self-serve password management

• 18,424 UBmail Provided by Google (Gmail) accounts provided for students and alumni as of September 1, 2022
• 77,220 UBmail Powered by Exchange Online accounts provided for students and alumni as of September 1, 2022
  

Computing assistance with UBITName accounts, getting connected and IT services, problem and request handling for students, faculty, and staff via phone, email, and a walk-in location.

• Provide consulting services to all UB affiliates, primarily students
• Provide on-line self-help instruction, including stepwise orientation to IT at UB
• 1-800 number help line for out of town students

• Increase student awareness and provide self-help tools for computing and Internet security
• Implementation of Duo two-step verification to protect UBITName accounts
• Implemented Spirion desktop software to locate and expunge Personally Identifiable Information on personally owned laptop computers

• Computer security learning session provided to new students and their parents during summer orientations

Public IT service sites:

• UBIT Help Center:Silverman Library(Capen) 3^rd floor
• Computing sites
  

Office of Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Monday – Friday; 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
517 Capen Hall, North Campus
716-645-7979
716-645-7910
buffalo.edu/ubit/help

What is UBIT doing to make sure every student has fast, reliable Wi-Fi access?

Reliable Wi-Fi coverage is essential to UB, and demand is growing rapidly. Starting the spring of 2022, UB undertook it’s third upgrade to the wireless system.  This two-year expansion will almost double the number of access points and enable the newest Wi-Fi 6 standard across the whole campus.  Included in this expansion is the addition of an AP in every dorm room when completed.

In 2013, UBIT partnering with Verizon Wireless, completed the original distributed antenna system project (DAS) that significantly improved cellular reception in trouble spots such as Knox Hall and the Student Union. Based on student’s increasing cellular needs, and in collaboration with Verizon Wireless, UBIT acknowledged the need to continue the expansion of cellular service on the North Campus.  Each year since the project inception, UBIT/Verizon Wireless continue to expand DAS across the North Campus to provide sustainable cellular coverage. The most recent buildings completed in 2020 are Jarvis Hall, Fronczak Hall and the Computing Center. AT&T has subscribed to 100% of the buildings on the North Campus that have DAS deployed, to improve service to their cellular customers.  T-Mobile customers have improved services in the Ellicott & Governors Complexes, Student Union, Greiner, Knox, Baldy, Clemens Halls, and is actively performing research to extend their services to match the Verizon North Campus DAS footprint. UBIT continues to collaborate with our cellular partners to improve the student experience on campus.

When can I use my UB email account?

As soon as you activate your UBITName, UBmail is yours to use! All official communications will be sent only to your buffalo.edu address, and many professors prefer to receive emails solely from your buffalo.edu address as a proof of authenticity. Even if you do not use UBmail as your main email account, we recommend checking your UBmail at least once a day.

Why aren’t there more computers for students on campus?

The way people interact with computers is changing. We know from the Fall 2020 UBIT Student Experience Survey that over 90% of students own laptop computers, and over 95% own smartphones. Although UB offers over 3,000 workstations for students in over 225 sites on campus, there never seems to be enough. To support the shift towards mobile device usage, we have increased the number of convenient power outlets on campus and are expanding Wi-Fi coverage over the next few years. UBIT also makes your mobile devices more powerful by offering remote print access (UB Print Anywhere) to public computing sites and providing professional software through My Virtual Public Site. Files can be easily stored and accessed from any device using UBbox and OneDrive, both of which offer secure cloud storage.

What is UB doing to provide student services 24/7?

With the exception of planned maintenance, UB’s networks are always up and running. UB services like the HUB Student Center, UB Learns and MyUB are available 24/7, and our spam filters are on constantly on guard. The UBIT website is optimized for mobile web browsing with world-class software always available for download to UB students, faculty and staff. The UBIT Help Center online is available 24/7 to submit problems, request services and track their progress. Apps like UB Mobile offer access to UB information anytime, from anywhere.

How do I get my copy of Microsoft Office software?

UB offers Microsoft 365 apps at no additional cost: http://www.buffalo.edu/ubit/services/microsoft365.html. New versions of a secure VPN (Cisco AnyConnect), Maple and Matlab are also available to download. Before you buy any software, be sure to check buffalo.edu/ubit/software to see if UB provides it.

Where can I get access to analysis and creativity software like SPSS or Microsoft Visual Studio?

My Virtual Public Site offers access to high-demand and costly software packages from your laptop or desktop computer, wherever you are. In just a few clicks, you can control to a high-powered PC with software like SPSS, MATLAB, Mathematica, Microsoft Office and more. 

Where can I get help with my UBITName account or connecting to the Internet?

The UB Tech Squad, a division of the UBIT Help Center, is available on the 3^rd floor of the Silverman Library in Capen Hall on North Campus. The UBIT Help Center can also be reached by phone (716-645-3542) or online at buffalo.edu/ubit/help.  The UB Tech Squad also offers in-person assistance to current UB students anywhere on campus at no extra cost: book an appointment online at help.

I am new to UB. How do I learn about all of UB Information Technology’s offerings?

Visit  https://www.buffalo.edu/ubit/new to see what UBIT has to offer for new students.