University at Buffalo Claims 2026 1-MAC Institution Award
9/3/2026 11:03:00 AM | General, Office of Student-Athlete Success
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today the University at Buffalo has claimed the 2026 1-MAC Institution Award. Buffalo has now earned the honor six times in the award's nine-year history.
"It is an honor to recognize the University at Buffalo as the recipient of the 1-MAC Institution Award," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. "Buffalo has demonstrated, through its Stronger Together initiative and its year-round commitment to inclusion, a profound understanding of the responsibility that comes with being a university. It has used the power of athletics to create opportunity, bring people together and make a meaningful difference in the lives of its student-athletes and throughout the Western New York community. That kind of leadership is important, it is enduring, and it represents the highest ideals of the Mid-American Conference. We are proud to recognize Buffalo for the example it is setting for our conference and for collegiate athletics."
Buffalo's Stronger Together initiative serves as the foundation for year-round efforts focused on belonging, leadership, wellness, education and community engagement across all 16 athletics programs.
During the 2025-26 academic year, Buffalo provided student-athletes with opportunities to learn, lead and serve through educational programming, the More Than an Athlete speaker series, Horns Up for a Cause and numerous leadership development initiatives. The department also earned a perfect Athletics Equality Index score for the third consecutive year.
Buffalo continued to make an impact throughout Western New York through community partnerships and service. Student-athletes mentored more than 200 children through Become a Bull, while more than 5,400 elementary students participated in Education Day and National Girls & Women in Sports Day programming.
"I'm extremely proud of our staff and student-athletes here at UB as we continue to represent the qualities of the 1-MAC Award as a pillar of our fundamental mission to educate, celebrate and respect each other's differences, be inclusive, and give back to the Western New York community," said University at Buffalo Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt. "We are constantly finding ways to collaboratively make our experiences and those who visit our campus one that exemplifies a welcoming environment. I would be remised if I did not mention the passionate and tireless work of our Stronger Together Task Force within the Division of Athletics and Recreation with championing these values. I look forward to UB continuing to be a leader not only in the Mid-American Conference but nationally in this critical area."
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Inclusion 1-MAC Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Inclusion 1-MAC Program has evolved through the years to provide education and training opportunities, leadership development and advancement opportunities for coaches, administrators and student-athletes.
1-MAC Institution Award
2026: University at Buffalo
2025: Western Michigan University
2024: Eastern Michigan University
2023: University at Buffalo
2022: Bowling Green State University
2021: University at Buffalo
2020: University at Buffalo
2019: University at Buffalo
2018: University at Buffalo
"It is an honor to recognize the University at Buffalo as the recipient of the 1-MAC Institution Award," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. "Buffalo has demonstrated, through its Stronger Together initiative and its year-round commitment to inclusion, a profound understanding of the responsibility that comes with being a university. It has used the power of athletics to create opportunity, bring people together and make a meaningful difference in the lives of its student-athletes and throughout the Western New York community. That kind of leadership is important, it is enduring, and it represents the highest ideals of the Mid-American Conference. We are proud to recognize Buffalo for the example it is setting for our conference and for collegiate athletics."
Buffalo's Stronger Together initiative serves as the foundation for year-round efforts focused on belonging, leadership, wellness, education and community engagement across all 16 athletics programs.
During the 2025-26 academic year, Buffalo provided student-athletes with opportunities to learn, lead and serve through educational programming, the More Than an Athlete speaker series, Horns Up for a Cause and numerous leadership development initiatives. The department also earned a perfect Athletics Equality Index score for the third consecutive year.
Buffalo continued to make an impact throughout Western New York through community partnerships and service. Student-athletes mentored more than 200 children through Become a Bull, while more than 5,400 elementary students participated in Education Day and National Girls & Women in Sports Day programming.
"I'm extremely proud of our staff and student-athletes here at UB as we continue to represent the qualities of the 1-MAC Award as a pillar of our fundamental mission to educate, celebrate and respect each other's differences, be inclusive, and give back to the Western New York community," said University at Buffalo Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt. "We are constantly finding ways to collaboratively make our experiences and those who visit our campus one that exemplifies a welcoming environment. I would be remised if I did not mention the passionate and tireless work of our Stronger Together Task Force within the Division of Athletics and Recreation with championing these values. I look forward to UB continuing to be a leader not only in the Mid-American Conference but nationally in this critical area."
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Inclusion 1-MAC Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Inclusion 1-MAC Program has evolved through the years to provide education and training opportunities, leadership development and advancement opportunities for coaches, administrators and student-athletes.
1-MAC Institution Award
2026: University at Buffalo
2025: Western Michigan University
2024: Eastern Michigan University
2023: University at Buffalo
2022: Bowling Green State University
2021: University at Buffalo
2020: University at Buffalo
2019: University at Buffalo
2018: University at Buffalo
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