Editor’s note: This letter remains in the condition in which it was sent.
University at Buffalo Alumni Speak Out: Privacy Violations, Accessibility Failures, and Mishandling of Digital Services Migration
Buffalo, NY – Alumni of the University at Buffalo (UB) are raising serious concerns over privacy violations, inequitable treatment, and a failure to accommodate alumni with disabilities as the university phases out Google and other digital services . As UB enforces strict migration deadlines, graduates report email cutoffs and random restoration, unprofessional treatment from university staff, lack of clear guidance, arbitrary deadlines, privacy invasion of data, and discriminatory enforcement of policies.
This transition is part of a larger trend of universities mishandling digital service changes without proper input from students, alumni, or disability advocates. Similar concerns have emerged at Columbia University, Stanford University, Ohio State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Southern California (USC), and Harvard University, where students, faculty, and alumni have raised alarms about abrupt changes to email and cloud storage policies that fail to accommodate everyone, particularly those with disabilities.
Unclear and Arbitrary Email Cutoffs and Deadline Enforcement
A central issue for UB alumni is the sudden and uncommunicated cutoff of email access and arbitrary enforcement of migration deadlines. Initially, alumni were told to migrate their data from UBmail, OneDrive, UBbox, and Google Drive by December 15, 2024. Later, an informal extension was given, suggesting a deadline of June 2025. However, alumni soon found that some were told they had to complete the migration by March 18, 2025, for email access and March 31, 2025, for Google Drive.
The inconsistency in these deadlines created confusion and frustration among alumni, many of whom were not notified promptly or uniformly. For example, one alumnus was initially told to complete their transition by June, only to have their email access terminated on March 18, with no clear reasoning or explanation behind the shift.
“I was initially told I had until June, but then suddenly I was informed my email would be cut off on March 18. The confusion and lack of transparency made this entire process unnecessarily stressful.” – Anonymous UB Graduate
This arbitrary application of deadlines—coupled with inconsistent communication—demonstrates a lack of organization and foresight in managing the digital transition, causing undue stress for alumni. Many alumni had to advocate for themselves to get any flexibility, proving that UB has the capacity for flexibility, but it is not applied consistently. This highlights a deeper issue with the university's handling of this transition and calls into question its overall commitment to transparency and fair treatment.
Privacy Concerns: Does UB Own Student and Alumni Data?
Beyond logistical failures, serious privacy concerns have surfaced regarding UB’s handling of alumni emails and data. Graduates report that UB accessed, copied, and transferred personal emails without consent—and when questioned, university staff claimed UB had the right to do so.
“I was told my emails had been copied onto a USB drive without my permission. When I pushed back, I was told that UB ‘owns’ my emails and can do whatever they want with them. That is deeply concerning—what other student and alumni data are they accessing without consent?” – Anonymous UB Graduate
UB’s approach raises serious legal and ethical questions, particularly regarding:
- FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): Are students properly informed about who owns their data and what rights they have over it?
- Data Security and Transparency: Has UB disclosed how alumni data is stored, transferred, and potentially accessed by third parties?
Similar privacy issues have been raised at other institutions as well. For instance, Columbia University and USC have faced criticism for mishandling alumni data during the migration process. Columbia’s alumni experienced problems with lost emails and data being transferred without their consent, while USC faced a data breach that exposed sensitive information for some alumni, raising concerns about the security of personal records during digital transitions.
Failure to Provide Disability Accommodations and In-Person Support
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require universities to provide reasonable accommodations to students and alumni with disabilities. However, UB has refused to provide in-person assistance to those who need it.
“I have an accommodation on file with UB, yet I was told I could only receive virtual support—something that does not work for me. The stress of this situation has been overwhelming, especially while grieving the loss of a loved one. UB’s lack of flexibility shows they do not care about alumni who need extra support.” – Anonymous UB Graduate
Many alumni report that UB’s refusal to offer in-person support has made the transition significantly more difficult, particularly for:
Alumni with disabilities who need hands-on guidance rather than virtual instructions.
Non-tech-savvy individuals who are struggling with complex file migration processes.
Those experiencing personal hardships, such as the loss of a loved one, who need flexibility and extended deadlines.
Similar complaints have surfaced at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and Harvard University, where alumni with disabilities faced challenges in migrating data because of the universities' failure to provide accessible, in-person support. Alumni with visual impairments and other disabilities were unable to navigate the new systems, highlighting the systemic issue of universities failing to meet ADA requirements and ensuring that digital services are accessible to all.
What Needs to Change?
Alumni and advocates are calling for immediate reforms to address these concerns
1. A Public Commitment to Student & Alumni Data Privacy
UB must release a transparent policy on student data ownership and commit to not accessing, copying, or transferring alumni data without explicit consent
2. Extended and Fair Deadlines
The university must ensure all alumni are given consistent, reasonable deadlines and provide extensions for those requiring extra time due to personal circumstances or accessibility needs.
3. In-Person Support for Those Who Need It
UB must provide on-campus, face-to-face assistance for alumni who require hands-on guidance, rather than forcing a virtual-only solution.
4. Accountability for University Policies
UB should undergo an independent review of its data migration, privacy, and accessibility policies to ensure compliance with ADA, FERPA, and digital privacy laws.
Call to Action: Alumni & Students Must Demand Change
This issue does not just affect recent graduates—it highlights broader problems with digital privacy, accessibility, and fairness in higher education. Alumni and students are encouraged to:
File formal complaints with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) if they have faced accessibility barriers.
Contact UB’s administration and demand clear policies on student data ownership and privacy protections.
Reach out to local media outlets (WBFO, The Buffalo News, Spectrum News Buffalo) to raise awareness of UB’s mishandling of digital transitions.
Share their experiences on social media using #UBDataRights and #UBAccessibilityMatters to push for accountability.
Conclusion: A Demand for Institutional Accountability
This is not just about transferring emails and files—this is about ethical treatment of students and alumni, respect for digital privacy, and ensuring accessibility for all. UB must take immediate action to address these concerns and prove that it values its graduates—not just as students, but as lifelong members of the university community.
Jalonda Hill
