Author: slfrank

Dear UB Graduate Students,

As many of you know, current events in Iran have reached a boiling point, with the country contending with a nationwide communications shutdown (including internet, mobile, and landline services), protestors across the country facing attacks, and people unable to get in touch with loved ones. We understand that many of our current UB students are feeling anxious and uncertain, and many potential students in Iran are unable to meet various deadlines for things like interviews and language tests due to the blackout. Additionally, federal policies have put international students writ large, including those from Iran, in a more difficult position than they might typically already be in. We stand with our international students as they’re forced to navigate not only the everyday challenges inherent in academic pursuits, but also the stress of working during violent conflicts abroad compounded by domestic policy changes that may impact their ability to work and study at UB.

As we usher in a new semester, we would like to remind everyone that you pay for resources, and you have the right to voice your experiences and make requests of those offices. You also have the right to reach out to government representatives at all levels to make your voices heard on federal policies that are impacting students throughout the state, the country, and around the world. Please do not take that for granted. Additionally, the GSA has an international student committee and we invite students to contact us if they are interested in getting their concerns elevated to upper administrative bodies on campus.

Please reach out to anyone in the Graduate Student Association if you have any questions or concerns and we will do our best to respond to those concerns, or direct you to the right resource.

Sincerely,

The GSA Executive Committee

Sarah MacDougall, President – gsa-president@buffalo.edu
Sevda Mirkoohi, Vice-Presidet – gsa-vicepresident@buffalo.edu
Isaac Kolding, Treasurer – gsa-treasurer@buffalo.edu

As the semester comes to a close, we at GSA want to wish you all a happy winter season and a restful break!

During the course of the semester, we have been trying, with limited success, to schedule a series of workshops for anyone who wishes to have more information about their rights when dealing with law enforcement. While we are continuing to try and set this up for spring semester, we wanted to provide some resources for all to have on hand over break. The New York State Office for New Americans offers information and assistance on topics such as health, employment, nutrition assistance, and more. Additionally, they link to the New York Immigration Coalition, which offers a variety of tools and information on federal regulations, Canadian border crossing, family preparedness, and knowing your rights. Please peruse these resources if you have any questions about whether travel over break is right for you, or if you have any general questions about these topics.

• New York Immigration Coalition
• New York State Office for New Americans

Have a healthy and safe winter break!

The GSA is currently exploring options for placing first aid kits in accessible locations around campus. To help us address your needs, we’ve created a short, anonymous survey (no more than 5 minutes) for students to let us know whether they have convenient access to a first aid kit, whether they would like their club to have one, if they have any experiences seeking basic first aid on campus, and if they’d like to be kept up to date on these efforts. Please fill out the survey here.

Two additional SNAP application support dates have been added:

• Thursday, 12/4, 10am-2pm
• Thursday, 12/11, 10am-2pm

To apply, students must have resided in the U.S. at least five years and be a green card holder or be a U.S. citizen. Students on F-1 or J-1 visas are not eligible. Students receiving more than 10.5 meals/week on the meal plan are not eligible per federal rules.

Most students may be eligible via the work requirement: either completing any number of hours in the Federal Work Study program OR are employed at least 20 hours/week (on average) in other employment.

Eligible students can schedule an appointment in Navigate.
Appointments are 20 minutes, from 10am to 12pm and 12:30pm to 2pm.
Students are asked to bring copies of documents to the appointment.
Location: 114 Student Union, Health Promotion.

Though there was a delay, students previously on SNAP should receive their benefits this month.

Students in application stage during November will not get a SNAP benefit for November.
For more information, please access the following links:
Making an appointment in Navigate
What to bring
UB SNAP Flyer

Humanities and Social Sciences Grad Students—submit your papers to the Annual Milton Plesur Graduate Conference, a symposium hosted by UB’s History GSA, by January 21! Submitted papers or presentations should be relevant to the conference theme of “Breaking the Silos,” focusing on interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences work that considers the problems of the past, present, and future. Everyone encouraged to submit, regardless of whether you consider yourself an interdisciplinary scholar or not! Email ajm223@buffalo.edu with any questions. For a full call for papers and to submit a proposal, visit this link.

The GSA is currently hiring an Hourly Associate Editor to serve through the end of the current fiscal year (July 31, 2026).  The full description of the position is attached here.  If you are interested in this posting, please email the required materials listed to the GSA Vice President, Sevda Abdavinejad Mirkoohi, at gsa-vicepresident@buffalo.edu by Monday, January 26^th in order to be considered.  Applicants must be currently enrolled graduate students who have paid their mandatory student activity fee and must be able to serve for the full term of the position.

The semester may be wrapping up, but we are still looking for international students to weigh in on their experiences at UB so that we can better advocate for this population! If you are willing to dedicate approximately one hour per month sharing your experiences with the GSA E-board, please reach out to Sevda (gsa-vicepresident@buffalo.edu) or Sarah (gsa-president@buffalo.edu).

Registration is now open for the tenth annual 3MT competition.

Eligibility to compete is limited to doctoral students currently enrolled at the University at Buffalo and actively engaged in dissertation research who have completed their Application to Candidacy. All disciplines are welcome.

Important dates to remember:

• Oct. 20, 2025: Preliminary competition registration closes.
• Oct. 27-30, 2025: Preliminary competition.
• Nov. 6, 2025: Finalists are notified.
• Feb. 27, 2026: Dress rehearsal.
• March 6, 2026: 3MT Competition.

To get some insight into what you’d like to see from us, as well as the University, we’ve created a survey that we would love for you to fill out. It shouldn’t take much time, and all responses are anonymous. It touches on your programming wants and needs, AI usage, food security, issues facing international students, and more. Your responses will help us tailor our offerings, as well as provide more background that we can use when speaking on your behalf to UB.

The GSEU is looking to gather information about how student workers are being impacted by funding cuts. Please fill out this anonymous survey to let them know if you would like to be included in these discussions.