BUFFALO, N.Y. — There will be a new public health component to the University at Buffalo’s annual Operation Doorhanger initiative this year.

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, university representatives will visit with students and community members in the neighborhoods near UB’s South Campus.

Tess Morrissey, UB’s director of community relations, will be available to speak with media about this year’s Operation Doorhanger initiative at 1:3o p.m. Wednesday in the staging area, which will be the Parker Hall parking lot on UB’s South Campus. (See map.)

Wednesday’s event follows a joint effort this past weekend between UB and the City of Buffalo to ensure that proper protocols are in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as students return to off-campus housing. UB representatives also dropped off Operation Doorhanger packets at apartment complexes in Amherst on Monday.

“Every year we stress the importance of being good neighbors to our off-campus students. This year, this message is even more important due to COVID-19. We will be reminding students to follow UB’s health and safety guidelines, as well as the county’s health guidelines, including practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings. We are committed to keeping our students and the University Heights neighborhood safe and healthy,” Morrissey said.

Many students began moving into on- and off-campus housing this week, with UB’s fall semester set to start Aug. 31.

City inspectors conducted health and safety inspections this past weekend, making sure that off-campus apartments are equipped with working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

On Wednesday, representatives from UB’s Office of Community Relations will be providing students with a packet of information that includes details on UB’s new health and safety guidelines, as well as reminders about being a good neighbor.

UB staff members will hang doorhangers on the door handles of about 1,500 homes to encourage students and lifelong residents to stay safe and work together to improve their community.

Now in its fifth year, Operation Doorhanger is part of the university’s continuing efforts to encourage community building and to make the South Campus neighborhood a better place to live.

What: Operation Doorhanger, UB’s annual back-to-school community outreach initiative.

When: Media availability for Tess Morrissey, UB’s director of community relations, 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Where: Parker Hall parking lot, South Campus.