Graduate Student Resources

CFA Drama Theatre.

Photo by Meridith Forrest Kulwicki

The links below will guide you to essential information and assist you as your progress through your academic programs in UB Theatre and Dance. 

Graduate Administration

Ariel Nereson.
R. Macklin Olszewski.
View Program Handbooks

Important Documents and Dates:

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When you are prepared to officialy schedule your Oral Defense, please do so by completing this form: Graduate Culminating Experience and Conferral - Oral Defense Scheduling and Pre-Conferral Review.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHEDULING YOUR ORAL DEFENSE: 

  • MA/MFA Students - It is recommended that MA/MFA's submit their final thesis/thesis project reflection for review at least two weeks prior to their defense date. In addition, defense dates should take place at least two weeks prior to Dec 10 or May 10 in order to assure time for revision and to meet the submission deadlines for the Graduate School.
  • PhD Students - it is recommended that PhD's submit their final dissertation for review at least one month in advance of their Defense date. In addition, defense dates should take place at least four weeks prior to Dec 10 or May 10 in order to assure time for revision and to meet the submission deadlines for the Graduate School.
  • Please note, the Culminating Experience (CE) Milestone will set until confirmation of a success Oral Defense and final submission of conferral documents. 

CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED FOR GRADUATION:

All graduates intending to confer should Register for Graduation before the published deadlines: Apply for Graduation in HUB - The Graduate School - University at Buffalo. If you missed the deadline to register in HUB, you must submit the necessary form based on your academic program to request Graduation registration, see Forms for Students - The Graduate School - University at Buffalo. 

  1. MA/MFA form - updateGradTermCertMastersAdvCert.pdf (SECURED) (buffalo.edu)
  2. PhD form - phd-atc.pdf (buffalo.edu) or amend-atc-phd.pdf (buffalo.edu)
     

 

 
The graduate school has published deadlines for required conferral documents and tasks depending on the term in which you intend to confer. However, as a general rule, the departmental deadlines are as follows:
  • For Fall term conferral, submit all documents by Dec 10. 
  • For Spring term conferral, submit all documents by May 10. 
  • The department does not confer during Winter and Summer semesters unless a special consideration has been made. 
     

MA/MFA Thesis Project (CE Milestone) required conferral materials due by term deadline. 

MA Thesis (CE Milestone) required conferral materials due by term deadline. 

PhD Dissertation (CE Milestone) required conferral materials due term deadline. 

Please note, PhD Students completing a Dissertation and MA students completing a Thesis (not at Thesis Project) MUST complete electronic submission to the Graduate School. Please see our Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Guidelines page for submission instructions.

Student Travel and Reimbursement

Preliminary knowledge of any travel has proven to be very helpful in obtaining a speedy reimbursement. Being able to prepare a voucher before actual travel gives the opportunity to obtain information that might not be readily available after a conference/symposium occurs.

To request travel reimbursement, please complete the following form and upload all necessary documentation: 

CAS - Theatre and Dance Department - Student Travel Reimbursement Request - Formstack

For a speedy reimbursement, please provide the following:

  1. Travel plans and justification documents, such as itinerary / conference agenda. 
  2. Forward any/all information as soon as possible rather than waiting until after you have traveled. This may include conference name, city, dates, air itinerary, payment for airfare, lodging confirmation, registration and payment of registration, etc.
  3. Which account your travel is being funded from.
  4. Documentation, such as a copy of a travel award letter or research fund approval should be included, this letter should denote the total approved funds, and if there a travel limit and/or exactly what expenses may be covered.

Reminder: Credit Card/Bank Statements MUST Accompany Your Documentation

  1. The required documentation includes: 
    • If flying: Flight itinerary from your booking agent and a credit/bank statement showing the transaction. Your flight itinerary should reflect dates, times and dollar amounts.  
    • If driving: A printed Google map (or similar software) from UB North Campus to the address you drive to (one way is sufficient).
  2. If you plan on extending your plans either before or after a conference, you must supply a listing of flight comparables showing your travel from one day before and one day after the conference. For example: If a conference is from the 10th – 13th, and you want to go early on the 5th, you must provide your itinerary showing these dates and ALSO a flight itinerary showing travel from the 9th – 13th or 14th. Or, if you wish to stay later, a flight itinerary from the 9th or 10th – 14th, plus your itinerary showing your extended dates.
  3.  When booking your airfare (research accts only), remember to adhere to the Fly America Act. This states that you must use a U.S. carrier when booking all international flights. If during the trip, you are transported on a non-U.S. carrier, the flight will still be reimbursed. However, your itinerary must show a U.S. carrier leaving and returning to the U.S., and payment must be to a U.S. company, (eg. Orbitz).
  4. Unusual situations occur in travel. For example, you may share a room with someone else and pay them for your portion of the bill or they may pay you for their portion of the bill. It is recommended that you get a lodging receipt from the hotel with all names on it. If a name other than your own shows on the bill, you must have that person write a letter/email stating that you paid them a portion of that bill and you must have a copy of your check/receipt that shows you paid along with a copy of the hotel bill. The same if you paid, have the other person send documentation of their payments. This usually happens with grad students and not faculty, however, it’s best to be prepared. Please provide a lodging receipt with your name on it and a credit/bank statement showing the lodging transaction.
  5. Food receipts are not necessary. If you are to be reimbursed for food purchases, we follow NYS per diem allotment chart.
  6. If you have direct deposit, chances are your reimbursement will be direct deposited into your account. If you wish to have a check mailed to you, please request this in advance.

Applicable Forms: 

The CAS Procurement Team handles travel reimbursement requests. Please contact Kim Brown, 645-4022, with travel questions. 

Important Forms for Graduate Students AND FACULTY

Department Resources

Graduate Faculty

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New Student Resources

Current Student Resources