University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Working @ UB

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  Sign up for Day of Caring

  UB faculty and staff are urged to join thousands of other volunteers from Western New York in taking part in the 20th annual Day of Caring, to be held on Aug. 15.

  Organized by the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Day of Caring is Western New York’s largest community service event, and serves as the launch for UB’s annual Campaign for the Community.

  The event starts at 8 a.m. at First Niagara Center. After a free breakfast, volunteers will leave by bus at about 8:45 a.m. for the various worksites.

  UB volunteers this year will be working at sites in and around the Buffalo Niagara Medical Corridor. Among the tasks volunteers will be performing are painting, landscaping, cleaning and assisting with a mailing.

  Participants will return to First Niagara Center by noon, where they can enjoy a free lunch and entertainment.

  Register online.

  For further information, contact Amy Myszka.

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  Mentors sought for international students

  UB staff and domestic students are being recruited to serve as mentors for newly arrived international students during the fall 2012 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 available to mentees and learn tips on how to best interact with someone from another country. 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). 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.