UB - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Student Life Information

Student Services

All supported students are assigned desk locations by the Department Chair during the first week of each semester.  Use of duplication equipment, laboratory space, computers, technician services, etc., must be arranged on an individual basis through the advisor with approval by the Department Chair.  Departmental funds are not available for student travel.

Information for International Students

The foreign graduate student should contact the International Student and Scholar Services Office (http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices) immediately upon arrival on campus and should keep in touch with that office during their entire stay at the University. The office assists international students seeking general information concerning the University and its many educational programs, and also coordinates the various services generally needed by international students such as admission, housing, counseling, health services, TOEFL testing and placement.  It arranges for reception and orientation of international students and faculty members and cooperates with other university offices to provide necessary counseling, financial aid, and special programming.  It is also responsible for relations with Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services, Internal Revenue Service, and other governmental and private agencies and community groups concerned with international student exchange.

As previously mentioned, foreign students on visa status must register for a full-time program of at least 12 credit hours each semester whether or not they are receiving financial support. (See also Student Status).

Student Membership in
ASME and AIAA

All full-time graduate students are eligible for student membership in the Buffalo Student Chapters of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and/or the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In addition, graduate students, regardless of society memberships, are eligible to compete in student paper competitions sponsored by the ASME and the AIAA.  The ASME award is sponsored by the Mechanical Engineering Department Heads Committee and requires endorsement by the Department Chair.  Information on these items is available from the respective student chapter presidents, and the faculty advisors for the student chapters.

Graduate Representative

A representative of the full-time Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering graduate students is invited to attend departmental faculty meetings, except during deliberations on personnel cases.  This representative has partial voting privileges and should be elected during the fall semester of each year at a meeting of the full-time graduate students.  Normally the representative is a department assistant or fellow.

Grievance Procedure

In the event a student has a grievance with respect to department matters associated with the graduate program, the student should discuss this matter with his/her advisor.  If a satisfactory solution cannot be reached at this level or if the student does not have an advisor, the grievance should be brought to the Department Chair.  Again, if a satisfactory solution cannot be achieved at this level, the Department Chair will convene a special Grievance Committee which includes department faculty and graduate students.  If the committee and the Department Chair together cannot resolve the grievance it will be referred to the Divisional Committee of the Graduate School and the chair of that committee will decide whether a new faculty-wide committee should be convened to investigate the grievance.  At this point, the grievance procedure is no longer within the jurisdiction of the department.