BY DANIELLE LEGARE

“With this being our third year, and second full year of programming, our goal is to continue to provide quality academic and social-emotional support to students across Western New York. We have a significant number of tutor-mentors returning to the role. We credit the power of the experience in making a difference in someone’s life as the major reason we see so many UB students eager to rejoin the program,” said Wil Green, assistant dean of community relations at GSE, who leads the program.  

• Grades 5-12 tutoring: Personalized sessions are available for students in three learning levels: 5th-6th, 7th-8th, and 9th-12th grades.
• Appointment availability: Tutoring sessions are offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, with appointment time slots dependent on tutor-mentor availability.
• Qualified tutor-mentors: All tutor-mentors are current UB students who have been vetted, received culturally responsive training and completed all NYS fingerprinting requirements. They earn volunteer, work-study hours or internship credit. This year, Brainy Bulls expanded its collaboration with the UB Teach program to hire students enrolled in teacher preparation, alongside an additional $50,000 in federal work-study funding to support more tutor-mentors.
• Session structure: Each session lasts 40 minutes, with students encouraged to come prepared with specific questions to maximize effectiveness.
• Continuity and follow-up: Efforts are made to pair students with the tutor-mentor who best connects with them. Parents and guardians receive follow-up notifications after each session and can provide feedback or request additional communication.

Initially serving Buffalo Public Schools and Erie 1 BOCES, Brainy Bulls is now open to students across eight Western New York counties at both public and charter schools. The program is also exploring partnerships with after-school providers to embed tutoring as a resource for participants.

“This year, now that we have a solid handle on recruitment, hiring and training, our main goal is to spread the word about Brainy Bulls so that we can connect with students in need, no matter where they may live in Western New York,” Green said. “By the end of this academic year, I’d like to see an increase in the number of students served and in the number of students who attend multiple sessions.”

To participate, students need internet access, a device and a valid email address. Appointments can be scheduled at: https://ed.buffalo.edu/tutoring.

“I am extremely proud of the work that our tutor-mentors have done in forging strong relationships that result in Brainy Bulls participants being encouraged about their academic journey,” said Green.

The program was developed as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to introduce 250,000 tutors and mentors into American schools over the next three years, aiming to support students in their academic recovery following the disruptions caused by pandemic-era schooling. 

Partnerships for the program include New York State Mentoring as well as several UB partners, such as Gifted Math Program, Center for Literacy and Reading Instruction, Student Life, Financial Aid, Parking and Transportation, Career Design Center, and the UB Teacher Residency Program and Teacher Education Programs.