Campus Life

Experience the Vibrancy of Our Campus Community!

Welcome to Mongoose University, where campus life is an integral part of your educational journey! Nestled in the scenic city of Buffalo, New York, our campus offers a rich tapestry of academic, cultural, and social experiences. We’re dedicated to creating an environment where every student can thrive, discover new passions, and form lifelong connections.

Getting Around Campus

Parking & Transportation

Student Parking Permit: $275/semester (commuter lot), $425/semester (residential lot — closer to residence halls). Purchase through MyMongoose > Parking Services. Limited spots — apply early.
Freshman Parking: First-year residential students are not permitted to have cars on campus. Exceptions granted for documented medical need or employment — apply to Parking Services.
Campus Shuttle: Free shuttle running 3 routes every 15 minutes from 7am-midnight during the academic year. Routes connect residence halls, academic buildings, the recreation center, and downtown Orchard Park.
NFTA Metro: Discounted bus pass available for $50/semester (regularly $75/month) providing unlimited rides on Buffalo-area public transit. Purchase at the Student Center info desk.
Bike Share: 50 Mongoose Bikes available at 8 campus stations. Free for students with Mongoose ID. Helmet vending at $5 near each station.
Ride Share: Designated Uber/Lyft pickup and drop-off zones at the Student Center and main campus entrance.

Campus Map & Key Buildings

Building	Location	What’s Inside
Administration Building	Central campus	Registrar, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Admissions, Dean’s offices
Student Center	Central campus	Dining (The Greenery, Fireside Bistro), Student Life, Career Services, ISS, Disability Services, bookstore, game room, meeting rooms
Mongoose Library	Central campus	350K+ volumes, Writing Center, Tutoring Center, study rooms, tech lending, The Study Grind coffee shop
Science Building	North campus	Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science labs and classrooms, Math & Science Help Center
Engineering Hall	North campus	CS, ME, EE, Civil Engineering labs, 3D printing lab, robotics lab
Business Hall	East campus	School of Business classrooms, Bloomberg Terminal lab, student investment fund office
Health Sciences Center	East campus	Nursing simulation lab, Public Health, Exercise Science, campus health center
Performing Arts Center	South campus	Theater, music practice rooms, recital hall, art galleries, radio station (WMGU)
Mongoose Recreation Center	West campus	85,000 sq ft facility: pool, gym, fitness center, climbing wall, indoor track
Founders Hall	South campus	First-year residence hall, Housing Office (Room 102)
Lakeside Commons	West campus	Sophomore housing, community garden, lake recreation area
University Village	West campus	Upper-class & graduate apartments

Technology & IT Services

IT Help Desk
Location: Library, 1st Floor | Phone: (555) 478-3300 | Email: helpdesk@mongooseuniversity.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-8pm

WiFi: “Mongoose-Secure” (campus-wide, login with Mongoose ID) — 1 Gbps in academic buildings and residence halls
MyMongoose Portal: Central hub for registration, grades, financial aid, billing, advising, campus announcements, and more
Email: All students receive a mongooseuniversity.edu email (powered by Microsoft 365). Free access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and 1TB OneDrive storage.
Computer Labs: Open-access labs in the Library (60 stations), Student Center (30 stations), Engineering Hall (25 stations), and Business Hall (20 stations). Labs are open during building hours.
Software: Free access to Adobe Creative Cloud, MATLAB, SPSS, AutoCAD, Visual Studio, and more via campus computers or student licensing.
Printing: B&W $0.05/page, Color $0.25/page. Each student receives $25 printing credit per semester. MobilePrint from any personal device.
Hardware Support: Basic troubleshooting and virus removal free for student-owned devices. Loaner laptops available for up to 5 days if your device needs repair.

Bookstore

Location: Student Center, 1st Floor | Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm

Textbooks (new, used, rental, and digital options) — price match guarantee against Amazon and major retailers
Course materials list available on MyMongoose 4 weeks before each semester
Mongoose University apparel, gifts, and spirit merchandise
School supplies, snacks, and convenience items
Textbook buyback at end of each semester (up to 50% of purchase price for next-semester adoptions)
Average annual textbook cost: $600-$1,200 (varies by major; OER initiative reducing costs in Gen Ed courses)

Campus Safety & Security

Mongoose University Police Department (MUPD)
Emergency: (555) 478-3911 | Non-Emergency: (555) 478-3100 | Location: Campus Safety Building (near main entrance)

24/7 Campus Patrols: Sworn officers and trained security patrol campus around the clock
Blue Light Emergency Phones: 45 phones positioned throughout campus — press the button for immediate connection to MUPD
SafeWalk Escort Service: Free walking escort anywhere on campus, 8pm-2am nightly. Call (555) 478-3102 or request via the Mongoose Safety App.
Campus Shuttle: Runs every 15 minutes until midnight (see Getting Around Campus above)
Mongoose Safety App: Free mobile app with one-touch emergency calling, virtual SafeWalk, campus map, anonymous tip reporting, and real-time safety alerts
Timely Warning & Emergency Notifications: Alerts sent via text, email, and app push notification for campus emergencies. Register your phone in MyMongoose.
Annual Security Report: Available on our website per Clery Act requirements, including campus crime statistics and safety policies

Mail & Package Services

Location: Student Center, Lower Level | Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Each residential student receives a campus mailbox (assigned at check-in)
Package notification via email when a package arrives — pick up with Mongoose ID
Amazon Locker available in the Student Center lobby (24/7 access)
Outgoing USPS, UPS, and FedEx drop-off available
Mailing address format: [Student Name], Mongoose University, [Hall Name] Room [#], 100 Mongoose Drive, Orchard Park, NY 14127

Dining & Food Options

For detailed meal plans, dining locations, hours, and dietary accommodations, visit our Housing, Dining & Student Life page. Quick reference:

Mongoose Dining Hall: All-you-care-to-eat, 7am-9pm weekdays, 8am-8pm weekends
The Greenery: Grab-and-go, 7am-10pm
Fireside Bistro: Restaurant-style, Wed-Sat 5-9pm (reservations recommended)
The Study Grind: Coffee shop in the library, 6:30am-midnight
Flex Dollars accepted at all campus locations + 12 local partner restaurants in Orchard Park

Student Organizations & Involvement

Mongoose University has 150+ registered student organizations. Getting involved is one of the best ways to build community and develop leadership skills. Highlights:

Student Government Association (SGA): Represents student interests, allocates $850,000 student activity budget, organizes campus-wide events
Greek Life: 15 chapters (8 sororities, 7 fraternities) — recruitment in September (fall) and January (spring)
Media: The Mongoose Herald (campus newspaper), WMGU 91.7 FM (radio station), The Fang (literary magazine)
Cultural Orgs: Black Student Union, Latin American Student Association, Asian Student Alliance, International Student Organization, LGBTQ+ Alliance
Academic/Professional: Pre-Law Society, Women in STEM, Entrepreneurship Club, Future Educators, Accounting Society, Nursing Student Association
Community Service: Mongoose Volunteers (coordinates 15+ community partners), Habitat for Humanity chapter, food pantry volunteers
Start a new org: Requires 10+ members and a faculty advisor. Submit a charter to the Student Life office.

Browse all organizations and join through MongooseConnect on the MyMongoose portal.

Recreation & Athletics

Full details on the Recreation Center, intramural sports, club sports, and varsity athletics are on our Housing, Dining & Student Life page. Quick highlights:

Mongoose Recreation Center: 85,000 sq ft — pool, gym, fitness center, climbing wall, indoor track. Open 5:30am-11pm weekdays, 7am-9pm weekends.
Intramural Sports: Flag football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, esports — sign up each semester via MyMongoose
Club Sports: Rugby, lacrosse, crew, fencing, equestrian, sailing, ultimate frisbee
NCAA Division II: 18 varsity sports — Go Mongooses!
Outdoor Adventure Program: Hiking, kayaking, skiing trips throughout the year

Contact Campus Life

Office of Campus Life
Student Center, Suite 100
Mongoose University
100 Mongoose Drive, Orchard Park, NY 14127

Email: campuslife@mongooseuniversity.edu
Phone: (555) 478-3250
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm