University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Mentors sought for international students

UB staff and domestic students are being recruited to serve as mentors for newly arrived international students during the spring 2011 semester. Participants need not know about other cultures, speak other languages or have traveled overseas.

Each mentor will be paired with two newly arrived international students, and the commitment is for one semester. Mentors must be available to meet with their mentees for one hour every two weeks. The activity can be as simple as having lunch together, going for coffee or taking a walk, or as elaborate as visiting a local tourist attraction, going to a sports event or having a family dinner in one’s home.

Separate half-day training sessions will take place for both mentors and mentees. Mentors will learn about the mentees’ culture or cultures, receive valuable information about campus resources, and learn tips on how to best interact with someone from another country. Optional monthly “mentor only” meetings will enable mentors to share experiences, get answers to questions and provide feedback on the program. An end-of-semester party will celebrate participants’ mentoring accomplishments.

The mentoring program is being sponsored by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and UB Counseling Services. Applications can be found on the ISSS website

Questions about the program may be directed to Jessica Ereiz, assistant director of ISSS and mentoring program coordinator at 645-2258 or jlkumro@buffalo.edu.

UB to close Christmas and New Year’s eves

UB will be closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 31—Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, respectively’and vice presidents and deans also may choose to close their individual units Dec. 27-31 if warranted by operating needs.

Employees who decide to take these days off must charge vacation, personal leave or compensatory time. Those who choose to work if their units are closed may do so; the University Libraries will serve as the alternate work site.

For more details regarding this year’s holiday closure policy, click here.