University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Working @ UB

Published: June 23, 2011

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  Mentors for international students sought

  UB staff interested in learning about other cultures and getting to know a student as a person rather than a number can do so by taking part in the International Student Mentoring Program sponsored by International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) and Counseling Services invite you to participate as a mentor in their International Student Mentoring Program.

  Staff and domestic students are being recruited to serve as mentors for newly arrived international students during the fall 2011 semester. Participants don’t need to speak other languages or have traveled overseas. All that is required, says Jessica Ereiz, assistant director for ISSS and coordinator of the mentoring program, is “a sincere desire to help others and an interest in people from other cultural backgrounds.”

  Each mentor will be paired with two newly arrived international students; the commitment is for one semester. Mentors must be available to meet with their mentees for an 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 be held for both mentors and mentees. Mentors will learn about the mentees’ culture or cultures, receive valuable information about campus resources available to mentees and learn tips on how to best interact with someone from another country.

  An end-of-semester reception will be held to celebrate participants’ mentoring accomplishments.

  Those interested in joining the International Student Mentoring Program should fill out the mentor application.

  Questions about the program should be directed to Ereiz at 645-2258 or jlkumro@buffalo.edu.

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  Renew parking permits online

  Faculty and staff are urged to “be green” and apply online for their 2011-12 parking permit renewal.

  Current permits expire on Aug. 31.

  Those who sign up now can receive their permits by mail before the start of the fall semester.

  Online renewal is available through My UB; enter the search phrase “my parking permit.” Users will need to know their vehicles’ plate number, make, model and year. The information will automatically populate the registration form for users registering the same vehicle as last year.

  The cost for the permit is $9.65; it is free to volunteers and retirees. The UB EPay system accepts Visa, MasterCard or Discover cards.

  After completing the registration process, users are asked to provide feedback to Parking and Transportation Services by clicking on the “UB parking survey” link on the receipt page.

  Faculty and staff also may obtain their permits in person. Over-the-counter registration will be held in 102 Spaulding Quad, Ellicott Complex, North Campus, or in 104 Harriman Hall, South Campus, beginning in early August.

  Anyone with questions or comments regarding the registration process should contact Parking and Transportation Services at 645-3943, or at ub-parking@buffalo.edu.