You have chosen a world-class university with an incredible array of opportunities available to you. The University at Albany is committed to supporting your academic experience and helping you reach your personal and professional goals.
This UAlbany Guidebook includes dozens of campus resources and involvement opportunities. Use the dropdown below to select from the list of categories and learn how to Unleash your Greatness at UAlbany!
Go Great Danes!
Academic Advising supports your success from orientation through graduation. We can help you achieve your educational goals, improve your academic performance and connect you to resources and opportunities at UAlbany.
You will have a dedicated advisor throughout your college career. In addition, you will have a departmental advisor once you declare a major.
The University at Albany Department of Athletics provides a NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program for men and women committed to supporting the educational mission of the university. The department strives to achieve excellence within intercollegiate competition at the highest level with deference to a continued commitment to fairness and integrity. Their goal is to connect all UAlbany students, staff, faculty, alumni and fans, and to provide information and updates on all UAlbany sporting events. UAlbany’s indoor and outdoor athletic facilities are among the most comprehensive in the Northeast, and serve as multi-use recreational spaces for UAlbany students.
Visit Career and Professional Development and their career counselors can help you discover internship options most suitable to your academic major(s). UAlbany has partnerships with over 3,000 employers offering job and internship opportunities across the country and overseas. To access the current internship listings visit albany.joinhandshake.com.
Learn more about Career and Professional Development in this video overview.
The Center for Achievement, Retention, and Student Success (CARSS) offers students access to free weekly tutoring delivered by current UAlbany trained student peers to help our undergraduate students Excel in their STEM majors.
The Center for Leadership and Service aims to create an inclusive and respectful environment that challenges students to become positive agents of social change. Our students are empowered to lead and follow as example, engaged in the community and recognized as world class leaders.
Learn more about the Center for Leadership and Service in this video overview.
Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (CURCE) assists undergraduate students in accessing opportunities that compliment and reinforce their classroom learning through research, scholarship, and creative activities on campus and in the community. Our team works with the campus community to expand research offerings to undergraduates that align with and are defined by student interests.
The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) increases the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students pursuing careers leading to professional licensure or professions in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
CAPS provides compassionate, confidential, and inclusive mental health care to UAlbany students, including individual and couples therapy services, medication management, group counseling, case management, assessment/testing, and mental health education and programming. We are also available to consult with students, staff, faculty, and family members when there is a mental health concern related to a UAlbany student.
The University at Albany's plans are aligned with local, state and federal guidance and rooted in the safety of our students, employees and the public with which we interact. Our primary goal is to protect public health and continue our vital missions of education and research. The University will continue to adjust UAlbany’s health and safety protocols according to current conditions, as it has done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) serves as a central resource for students, families, faculty and staff. We work with campus and community partners to support student success, cultivate a diverse and inclusive campus culture and encourage student self-advocacy. Our office works directly with students to assist them with a variety of concerns and connect them with appropriate resources.
The following units make up the Dean of Student Office - Community Standards, Disability Access & Inclusion Student Services (DAISS), Off-Campus Student Services, Supplemental Student Services, and Veteran & Military Student Services.
The 2022-2023 meal plans are designed to provide maximum flexibility, value, and convenience. These meal plans include declining balance funds called Discount Dollars that activate deep discounts at retail dining venues. All resident students are required to be on a meal plan. Meal plans are purchased per semester.
Disability Access and Inclusion Student Services (DAISS) supports students by ensuring a fully accessible living and learning environment for the University’s programs, services and activities in order to prepare them for a successful future in a diverse and global society.
The Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) seeks to provide admission opportunities for economically and educationally disadvantaged students who are residents of New York State and wish to enroll in one of the many undergraduate departments at the University at Albany.
EngageUAlbany, in collaboration with United Way of the Greater Capital Region, makes it easy to get involved in meaningful volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties surrounding our campus. With a wide variety of organizations represented, you can connect with a cause that fits your skills, interests, and schedule. Find your next volunteer adventure, from one-time special events to ongoing commitments in our new volunteer platform.
Learn more about Engage UAlbany in this video overview.
The University at Albany condemns all forms of discrimination and harassment, whether subtle or overt, and expects that all members of the University community join in assuring that all of our community members are accorded the dignity and respect they deserve. This includes all terms, conditions and privileges of employment and access for students, faculty and staff.
UAlbany's commitment to equity and compliance is demonstrated through our efforts to promote equal opportunity and maintain a safe, accessible, inclusive and welcoming educational and working environment.
The Office of the Title IX Coordinator oversees University-wide compliance with UAlbany policies, state laws and federal laws that prohibit discrimination and sexual misconduct.
At the University at Albany, learning by doing takes on many forms — from internships and research, to study abroad and service learning — and prepares our students for success.
UAlbany students who participate in experiential learning develop a greater understanding of their course material, learn problem solving and leadership skills, form a deeper connection with their community, and build strong personal and professional networks.
The Center for Experiential Education (CEE) works to support experiential learning in all UAlbany undergraduate and graduate programs, acting as a resource for both students and faculty. Please use this website to learn more about the programs CEE runs and the opportunities we steward across our three campuses.
Attending UAlbany is an investment in your future.
Welcome to Student Financial Services, home to the offices of Financial Aid and Student Accounts/Bursar. The University at Albany provides both merit aid and need-based aid, as well as payment plans and other assistance, to help you achieve your dreams.
Financial aid helps students pay for college. We encourage every student to apply for financial aid, even if they don’t think they will qualify for assistance. Over 80% of our undergraduate students apply and about 60% receive money they don’t need to pay back.
To determine if you qualify for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
As an incoming first-year or transfer student, you will choose an academic pathway to begin your university experience. All pathways will guide you towards your academic goals and include:
Since its founding in 1973, Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service, Inc. has proudly been serving the University at Albany community, as well as the surrounding areas of Albany and Guilderland. Five Quad is a New York State certified ambulance agency that is run and operated by University at Albany students. Five Quad provides Basic Life Support service 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the fall and spring semesters. Each semester, Five Quad has between 50-90 active members (including actively participating alumni), 10-20 members-in-training, and two ambulances. Our active membership is composed of CPR certified attendants and New York State Emergency Medical Technicians.
All of our active members are CPR/AED/First Aid certified and have completed Five Quad's specific agency training. Our EMTs are New York State certified at the Basic level and have completed the attendant training. Five Quad's drivers are NYS EMT-Bs who have completed attendant training, are CEVO II certified or have completed a defensive driving course, and have also undergone extensive ambulance handling and route training. Crew Chiefs are experienced NYS EMT-Bs, who have finished attendant training and have successfully run several emergency calls evaluated by a current Crew Chief. Our minimum crew consists of a Driver and a Crew Chief and usually has one to two attendants and or EMT-Basic trained crew members.
The Office of Student Activities & Orientation, and the many volunteer faculty and chapter/graduate advisors, support, challenge and nurture the many diverse fraternities and sororities and 600 students that make up our fraternity and sorority community. These organizations strive to uphold their founding values of scholarship, service, leadership and brotherhood/sisterhood on a daily basis. If you are looking for a group of values-minded individuals with high aspirations then Fraternity and Sorority Life at UAlbany is your home!
We have great options for all incoming freshmen. Take a 1-credit class (UFSP 100) on an interesting topic with transitional support woven into the class. Or take a 1-credit class and focus on developing your academic plan (UUNI 120). Or UUNI 100 is a 3-credit class that is explicitly about the skills needed for a successful transition to college.
The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC), provides a safe and inclusive environment for all students to engage in intercultural conversation around sex, gender and sexuality. Core to this mission is the centering of resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual and Allied (LGBTQ*) students, faculty, staff and their allies. The center is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all LGBTQ* persons at UAlbany. The GSRC enhances the University commitment to social justice and diversity and is a valuable source of support and networking for students, faculty and staff.
The University at Albany’s Good Samaritan 911 Policy supports students who reach out for assistance in the case of a medical emergency, as well as supports the student who is helped. Therefore, a student or student organization seeking medical treatment for themselves, or for any other student who is in immediate medical need, or any student who is the recipient of this emergency medical help, will not be subject to disciplinary sanctions related to the violation of using or possessing alcohol or other drugs, as defined in the University’s “Alcohol and Controlled Substances Policy” and Community Rights and Responsibilities (Prohibited Conduct Drugs and Alcohol). This policy applies to emergencies both on and off campus.
The Graduate School provides strategic leadership, advocacy, and support to ensure excellence and integrity in graduate education.
We work with prospective, admitted and current students to ensure that they experience an education that is accessible, diverse and inclusive.
Our goal is to be an internationally recognized leader in graduate education by cultivating a collaborative, innovative and interdisciplinary environment that prepares students to generate knowledge and solve critical problems locally, nationally and globally.
University at Albany Hillel is an organization dedicated to empowering students to develop strong Jewish identities through creative self-expression. Our mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. We envision a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.
Students in the Honors College develop the skills and expertise to develop and answer their own questions about the world. The Honors College provides students with the resources and support that will let them challenge themselves intellectually and explore their own curiosity.
The UAlbany ID Card Office is located in the Campus Center (B-52) and open Monday-Friday. Summer hours are a mix of in-person and virtual, so please check UAS Hours of Operation. Almost all ID card/campus funds needs can be managed online at ualbanyid.com or through the CBORD Mobile ID App. If you need assistance, please visit, call (518) 442-5989, or email at [email protected].
Call: (518) 442-3700
Email: [email protected]
Drop-in location: • University Library
Visit albany.edu/its/help for assistance
The Office of Intercultural Student Engagement is committed to developing and maintaining a culturally inclusive campus environment where all students can engage in meaningful relationships with other students, faculty and staff thereby enhancing the academic excellence, personal growth and leadership development of all UAlbany students.
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides a broad range of advising and referral services to approximately 2,000 enrolled and graduated international students from nearly 90 countries. One of the first contacts that undergraduate students have with UAlbany is receiving pre-arrival materials from ISSS and participating in its thorough orientation program.
Interfaith Services within the office of Intercultural Student Engagement supports the University at Albany’s commitment to creating a more welcoming and inclusive campus environment. We, along with our various faith and interfaith student groups on campus, encourage UAlbany students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as, members of surrounding communities to participate in a diverse array of faith and interfaith events and dialogues, service opportunities, or attend weekly Catholic, Islamic, Jewish, or Protestant services on campus. These activities enhance the academic excellence, personal growth and leadership development of all UAlbany students.
Visit the UAlbany Interfaith Center Linktree for more information and resources.
The Marching Great Danes and UAlbany Spirit Band turn spirit into tradition — and we're looking for new members!
The Marching Great Danes perform a field show during halftime at all home football games. The marching band also performs in the stands during football games and in parades.
The UAlbany Spirit Band primarily performs at home basketball games.
Our bands also perform at:
official University events, such as Convocation and Commencement
admissions events, such as Accepted Student Open Houses
other athletic events, such as game day previews
various events in the Capital Region community
Join the Marching Great Danes for our Fall 2023 season! Fill out our Fall 2023 Commitment Form to sign up and we’ll make sure you get everything you need to know leading up to our move in for band camp on August 13, 2023.
Please email us at [email protected] with any questions.
The Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program offers peer assistance services to UAlbany students, including a peer support hotline (518-442-5777), peer education on a variety of topics related to college mental health, and peer wellness coaching. Middle Earth is a student-run organization, supported by Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Office of Health Promotion).
The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), located on the Basement level of the Campus Center West Addition in room B87, enhances the University commitment to social justice and diversity by supporting students of all backgrounds and cultural identities.
The MRC staff work to improve the campus climate for African, Latino, Asian and Native American (ALANA) students, as well as assist in the training and education of all members of the UAlbany community around topics of diversity, inclusion, multiculturalism and cultural competency. The center is a valuable resource for faculty, staff and students looking for information regarding diversity and inclusion or just a great place to network with faculty, staff and scholars.
Please visit the UAlbany Multicultural Resource Center Linktree for more information and resources.
Your official source for involvement opportunities at UAlbany! Sign on to browse over 200 student groups and other opportunities available to you.
Use MyInvolvement to:
✓ Join an organization
✓ Communicate with group leaders
✓ Find out what’s happening on campus
✓ Track your community service hours
✓ Develop your Involvement Record to document your experiences outside the classroom
Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) provides support, resources, programming, outreach, and accountability to students who reside or whom plan to reside off-campus with an emphasis on safety & security, community engagement, being a good neighbor, locating housing, and tenants’ rights. OCSS strives to promote positive University/community relations by working collaboratively with internal and external partners to address issues and concerns that impact the college community off-campus.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s primary role is to carry out the University at Albany’s mission to ensure that diversity – in our people and in our ideas – drives excellence in everything we do.
We provide campus-wide leadership to ensure that we have a diverse and inclusive environment for our students, both graduate and undergraduate; faculty, staff, curriculum, programs, and activities. We also promote a safe, equitable, growth-minded, and engaged campus community that embraces the strengths of our differences.
While we won’t solve every challenge, we will create the kind of environment where we shed light and use best practices to move the University community forward. After all, a diverse and inclusive campus creates an environment where all can and will be expected to succeed.
The Office of Health Promotion helps UAlbany students live healthier lives by offering a variety of programs, services, and initiatives that address mental and physical health, alcohol and other drug use, recovery, sexual health, and sexual violence. Students looking for help navigating their health and well-being but unsure where to start or for advocacy services can contact our office for assistance.
The University at Albany has designated parking areas for students, employees, and visitors. Visit our Parking page for more detailed information.
The UAlbany bus system and the Capital District Transportation Authority, CDTA, provide transit services throughout the Capital Region. Visit our Mass Transit page for more detailed information.
Pre-Health advising is a resource for UAlbany students who are interested in preparing for and applying to health professional school. These health professions include: Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Podiatry, Veterinary Medicine, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic, Pharmacy, and Nursing.
Interested in a career in law? The University at Albany offers excellent preparation! UAlbany is located in the vibrant state capital, the site of numerous pre-law opportunities. Consider an internship with the state Senate or Assembly, or choose one of the many pre-law options offered by the Community and Public Service Program. At UAlbany, we offer a pre-law program called 3+3, that allows students to go to law school a year early at Albany Law School.
Project SHAPE (Sexual Health and Peer Education) is a group of student peer educators who provide sexuality, gender identity, and sexual health education to the UAlbany community. We offer educational programs, access to safer sex supplies and pregnancy tests, and work to destigmatize healthy sex and relationships.
The Registrar's Office offers resources for students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and external constituents. Online services include access to the academic calendar, schedule of classes, transcripts, enrollment and degree verifications, degree applications, diplomas, transfer credit, and registration. Chat options are available, please check hours of operation on the Registrar's Office website.
Our residence halls and apartments are where you’ll lay your head at night, but it’s the friends you’ll make and the experiences you’ll share in our vibrant and engaging community that will make UAlbany truly feel like home.
You’ll be within walking distance of classes, club meetings, dining, bus stops, fitness centers, a state-of-the-art medical center, events and more — so, it’s no surprise that students who live on campus all four years do better academically, feel more connected to the campus community and graduate at higher rates than students who don’t.
Affiliation with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
The Department of Air and Space Studies at RPI offers an elective program to eligible male and female students who are U.S. citizens wishing to pursue a commission as future Air Force officers. The program has two phases, a General Military Course and a Professional Officer Course. The General Military Course is taken during the first two years. After the General Military Course, students compete for entry into the two-year Professional Officer Course.
Affiliation with Siena College
Mohawk Army ROTC trains and develops future leaders of the United States Army.
Students may participate in the program during their freshman and sophomore years with no obligation. They will learn leadership fundamentals including communications, leadership processes, and Army organizational concepts.
Students enrolled in the advanced course (junior and senior years) earn a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army serving on active duty or in the Army Reserve or National Guard.
The Office of Student Accounts is open and ready to help with paying your bill, managing your account, etc. Contact us at [email protected] or 518-442-3202 with any questions.
Please use E-Pay to review and pay your bill, which is posted around the 20th of each month and is due on the 15th of the following month.
Student CARE Services administers programs to help students overcome personal, social, and financial barriers to academic success, especially those related to emergency and basic needs. Support may include collaborative needs assessment, resource coordination, financial and in-kind grants and on-going mentorship.
The Office of Student Engagement works to provide opportunities and pathways for students to be active and engaged in their studies, both inside and outside the classroom. At UAlbany, students and professors find many ways to connect with one another. Explore our site to see how.
One of the most significant changes a parent/guardian experiences with a student in college is the difference in access to education records. In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all rights belong to the student at a postsecondary institution (college/university) regardless of age. FERPA is a federal law that governs the disclosure of education records maintained by education institutions, as well as access to these records. Information about FERPA as it relates to student records at the University at Albany can be found on the Registrar’s webpage (www.albany.edu/registrar).
FERPA requires that University employees are vigilant in protecting the information contained in student academic records. The University provides students with secure, 24/7 access to MyUAlbany so students can manage their registration, view their class schedule, grades, degree audit, bill, financial aid, refunds, etc.
In most circumstances when a parent/guardian inquires about a student’s academic record, we will refer them back to the student for a conversation. We encourage open dialogue between students and parents/guardians. When discussing academic performance and progress with your student, we suggest asking them to provide an unofficial transcript, degree audit, and/or enrollment verification as resources for your discussion. Students can access these resources via the MyUAlbany portal. The University will only provide parent/guardian access to student records with the student’s written, notarized consent. Parents/ guardians seeking access to student records need to be authenticated via photo identification in person at the Registrar’s Office or via Zoom with photo identification.
Additionally, parents/guardians requiring access to student billing information should directly request access from their student, who may designate them as an authorized user in E-Pay (epay.albany.edu). Up to five (5) authorized users may be given access to view billing statements and account activity, view payment history and account activity, and view 1098-T tax statements. Designated users can remit payments on behalf of a student.
As a public higher education institution, the University at Albany has both an obligation and an opportunity to be a leader in sustainability. Our institution can and should serve as a model for other colleges and universities as well as for our own students and the community around us.
As a transfer student, you can select a program that will help guide you towards your academic goals and make connections among the campus community.
While these are not mandatory for transfer students, those who participate in at least one transfer program are more likely to have a higher GPA and be more engaged than students who are not in any kind of support program on campus.
Please consider selecting a program, so you set yourself up for success during your first year. Visit our website for more information.
Student Support Services (SSS) is a federal TRiO program. The University at Albany refers to the TRiO SSS program as “Project Excel.” Project Excel is a program for students who are first generation college students, come from low-income households and/or are disabled. Our mission is to help these students achieve their academic and professional goals. Project Excel offers a multitude of services geared toward developing academic excellence, interpersonal skills, and leadership ability, as well as achieving career goals. The staff is committed to the overall well-being and success of its students and is free to all participants.
As a new Great Dane, you’re entering a very active and engaged community - from sold out football games at Casey stadium, to student performances, concerts, speakers, cultural events, exercise classes, and off-campus trips, there’s simply something for everyone.
So, how can you find out what’s going on and when? UAlbanyGO is the answer! UAlbanyGo is your source for up to the minute information on events, activities and all that is happening on campus and off.
Visit UAlbanyGO to:
Get Involved. Stay Active. Go.
Civic engagement is the individual and collective actions that identify and address issues of public concern, such as voting, volunteering and community organizing.
UAlbany Votes — a non-partisan committee of student leaders, faculty, staff and University partners — works to promote a culture of civic engagement across our campuses.
We advance existing civic engagement initiatives, while developing innovative, inclusive ideas to implement year-round.
Become a UAlbany Votes Ambassador:
As a UAlbany Votes Ambassador, you'll facilitate voter registration, education and engagement on campus and beyond through voter registration drives, classroom presentations and group workshops. You'll also have access to training, resources and peer networking.
After election season, ambassadors are invited to join the UAlbany Votes committee and use their expertise from the field help create next year's action plan.
Interested? Please contact the Center for Leadership and Service at [email protected].
Learn more about UAlbany Votes in this video overview.
The University Art Museum is part of the dynamic learning environment at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Founded in 1967, the museum's mission is to advance knowledge and foster understanding in contemporary visual arts. Through exhibitions, programs, publications, and collections, the museum seeks to provide a forum for artists and audiences that enriches the intellectual life of the university and community. The 9,000-square-foot-facility was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone and has become known as an icon of late 20th century modernist architecture. The Museum has presented over four hundred exhibitions and its collection is especially strong in contemporary works on paper.
We believe that the Libraries’ collections and services are central to your success as students, faculty, and staff at the University at Albany. The University Libraries will always strive to be welcoming and safe places for all members of our communities and to provide service and access independent of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, ancestry, national or ethnic origin, or citizenship status.
Veteran and Military Student Services provides support to University at Albany students who are veterans, veteran- dependents, active duty personnel, Reserve and National Guard members, and ROTC cadets to secure Veterans Affairs educational benefits, facilitate connections, and create a sense of community through veteran-centered events and activities.
The Program in Writing and Critical Inquiry (WCI) is intended to introduce new students to intellectual inquiry at the university with a focus on academic writing. The seminar UUNI 110, required for students matriculating Fall 2013 and thereafter, is devoted to rigorous practice in writing as a discipline itself and as an essential form of inquiry in postsecondary education. It reflects the importance of writing as a vehicle for learning and a means of expression. It also emphasizes the essential role of writing in students’ lives as citizens, workers, and productive members of their communities.
Since 1977 the University at Albany Writing Center in the College of Arts and Sciences has offered students, faculty and staff a process-based approach to writing at any stage of the writing process.
Equally important, the Writing Center provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate tutors to develop their skills in writing, research and teaching.
The UAlbany Guidebook is created by the Office of Student Activities and Orientation. If you represent an on-campus office and would like to request edits to information listed on this page, please complete the UAlbany Guidebook Edit Request Form. The edits will be reflected within two business days. If you have additional questions, please contact us at [email protected].