Within the puzzle-like halls of the Ellicott complex sits an institution that meshes a tightly knit academic community and family-like atmosphere.
The Cora P. Maloney College, chartered in 1976, "has developed into a comprehensive student support unit for low income, minority, first generation and disabled incoming students," said Letitia Thomas, CPMC director.
"We try and steer them to opportunities and we've been successful by our encouragement, the experiences we provide and the students' own persistence."
Approximately 120 students are referred to CPMC through the Office of Admissions each year, selected from the pool of incoming students. The college seeks to provide an environment where advisors, tutors, speakers, programs and workshops guide students to academic excellence.
"I've been coming here since my freshman year for tutoring, and I began meeting people and gradually came by more," said Eunice Iheagwam, a senior psychology major. "It provides me with a comfortable place to study, with convenient computer access and having the tutors always available."
CPMC is the only remaining division from UB's old residential college system that supports a living and learning community, said Thomas, fostering a family-like atmosphere among students and staff.
"I always used to come in just to talk to my friend and then it became more like a family here," said Keba Rogers, second year graduate student in psychology. "I remember when I decided to change my major and everyone was telling me how crazy I am, but the people here were always encouraging me."
Rogers said that by her senior year, she became a student assistant and a mentor in the college.
"After I graduated I was offered the Graduate Assistant position here," said Rogers. "And now I help out on Graduate Awareness Conference, which is a panel of grad students helping juniors and seniors prepare for grad school."
Thomas said that students know they always have a place to turn. He believes every student who walks through the doors of CPMC is embraced with comfort and compassion
"I was actually just walking around with a friend looking to drop off resumes for an on-campus job and I was just greeted warmly by someone in CPMC," said Nagarajam Sivakumar, a second year graduate student in the computer science department. "[The] next thing they told me [was that] they could help me get a job right here as a CSE tutor."
In addition to developing a community within the CPMC, the college also seeks to build relationships with the greater community, Thomas said.
"CPMC was concerned with the Western New York community and wanted to articulate ideas and work for a cause," said Thomas. "We wanted to bring students to UB so that they can contribute and at the same time develop a close relationship with the community."
The college was named in honor of Cora P. Maloney, who was sworn in as Buffalo's first woman council member in 1957 and is recognized as one of the leading African-American women building communities in Western New York.
In the future, Thomas hopes to "develop a study abroad program to Africa and a community service program in order to emphasize the importance of giving back."
Although there is already a study abroad trip to Africa independent of CPMP, Thomas hopes to find funding to support another study abroad initiative.
