Coronavirus Information

Update: March 18, 2020, 2:15 p.m.

Dear student, 

As you know, the guidance and information regarding COVID-19 and its impact on our college community changes every day.

Although Buffalo State College remains open and will begin remote instruction on March 30, we need to reduce density and limit the number of people on campus to slow the spread of the virus. The State University of New York has provided new guidance regarding on-campus housing options that differs slightly from what we communicated last week.

If you currently remain in the residence halls, we ask that you reconsider. While nobody will be forced to leave campus, we are urging remaining residents to make a socially responsible decision to limit density and, if feasible, return home.

However, we do fully understand that some students may not have the ability to return home. We intend to keep residence halls open for those who meet any of the following criteria: 

• Students, including our international students, for whom college housing is their primary residence.
• Students for whom safe living and dining arrangements cannot be made.
• Students who have limited or no access to technology.

Additionally, based on new guidance from SUNY, we’re strongly encouraging students who left campus for Spring Break and planned to return to campus, not to return—again to limit the spread of the virus. 

Given this new information, if you completed the Wufoo form indicating that you planned to return after spring break and you have already departed campus, we are asking that you do not return at this time. However, if you have an extenuating circumstance and believe you need to return, please email us at reslife@buffalostate.edu.

If you have not yet completed the Wufoo form OR you initially indicated that you are planning to return after spring break and have NOT YET left campus, then please update your information by completing this form no later than Thursday, March 19, at 5:00 p.m.

We are asking that all students who elect to return home check out of their residence halls no later than Sunday, March 22, at 5:00 p.m.

Please also understand that on-campus services are subject to change and may be limited in the days and weeks ahead. Of note, dining services will now be delivery only.

Furthermore, students that need to remain on campus should understand that we may need to relocate students to different rooms or buildings in the coming weeks to ensure proper staffing is available.

We understand that this is a difficult time, and we’re here to support you as much as we can. If you choose to move out, your belongings will be kept secure and arrangements can be made to pick up the rest of your belongings at a time to be determined in the future. We will communicate information about this once we receive direction that we have reached a point that this can be coordinated.

Information about pro-rated refunds or credits for room and board is forthcoming and will be communicated in the coming days. This information will be shared on the Coronavirus information page as it becomes available. 

Once again, if you completed the Wufoo form indicating that you planned to return after spring break and you have already departed campus, we are asking that you do not return at this time. However, if you have an extenuating circumstance and believe you need to return please email us at reslife@buffalostate.edu.

Thank you for your continued patience as we move forward in this unprecedented situation.

Timothy W. Gordon, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs