Online Student Orientation (Step 1)
Please read and complete each step carefully. You are responsible for all the information covered in each step of this orientation. Please be aware that you will soon receive an official acceptance letter in the mail if you haven't already received one. It is important for you to understand what a UB Identification (UB ID) card is to complete all steps of this orientation.
IDENTIFICATION CARD (Your Student ID - The UB Card)
On-campus students receive a plastic student ID card that is called a UB Card. The UB card contains information (Person Number and ISO number) that allows you to register online, access your student records using MyUB, access your course work using UBlearns, as well as utilize the University's vast online computing and library resources.
As you are an online student, you will receive a Virtual UB Card. This means the program coordinator will email you all of the information that would normally appear on your plastic card (plastic cards can only be issued when photo identification is presented in person to a qualified UB Card employee). There is no need to worry, the information sent to you will be all that you need to access everything you need to succeed in this program.
To get your UB card information, you MUST register for classes. The program coordinator only has access to UB Card information for registered students at the University. You will need this UB Card information well before classes begin so that you may practice using UBLearns, the University's course management system.
You will register for courses using UB's phone registration system called BIRD.
REGISTER (Register for classes using BIRD)
BIRD (Billing, Inquiry, Records, and Drop/Add) is the University's telephone system for registration, grade retrieval, and financial award information. All new students in online programs at GSE are required to complete their initial course registration using this system. In future semesters you will be able to register online using MyUB. You will learn more about this later.
Important: Completion of your initial course registration allows the program coordinator to email you your UB Card Information. Typically the coordinator will email your personalized UB Card information within 5 days after you register using BIRD. If you do not receive this information within 5 days, contact us immediately.
Bird Instructions (Click here for detailed instructions on how to use BIRD)
- Call BIRD at (716) 645-7800. You will immediately be asked to select the menu item you would like to use. Press 1 for Registration Drop/Add.
- You will then be prompted to enter your social security number and then the pound (#) sign. BIRD will ask you for your 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN). Your first-time PIN has been set to the 2-digit month and 2-digit day of your birth. For example, if your birthday is July 9th your PIN would be 0709.
- Immediately after you enter this information, BIRD requests you to "select your PIN."' You must now enter a new, private PIN to replace the initial PIN. Once you have set your PIN and successfully passed this Identifier Number/PIN security check, the application you selected will begin.
- Follow the instructions BIRD gives to register for classes.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Now that you are up and running as an official Graduate School of Education graduate student, you are required to familiarize yourself with all of our school policies and procedures.
The University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education policies and procedures were designed with student success in mind. As you are fully responsible for all University policies and procedures, we require that you read all of the information found by clicking on the links listed below.
- UB Graduate School Policy and Procedures Manual (includes Academic Integrity Policy)
- The Graduate School of Education Policies & Procedures
- The University at Buffalo Information Technology Conditions of Use Policy
- Graduate School of Education Current Students webpage - This area houses our index of links to important student information. All information found at the links provided in this area are important to you as a GSE student. The more seriously you take your role as a student, the more you will get from your academic program!
Acknowledgement and Your UB Card Information
By typing in your name, email address and clicking on submit, you are acknowledging that you have read and comprehend the policies and procedures of the University at Buffalo. Once we receive your acknowledgement, we will send you your Virtual UB Card.
