Michael Spogli, TIAA’s financial consultant, is available to speak with Buffalo State faculty and staff members through telephone consultations. Appointments are required.

Take this opportunity to review your financial situation and personal retirement goals. Learn how to invest in financial products such as mutual funds, brokerage, life insurance, and annuities. Open a supplemental tax deferred annuity if you haven’t already. A detailed evaluation will tell you everything you need to know and do.

To schedule a telephone consultation, please visit the TIAA website or call (800) 732-8353.

The spring 2020 issue of Assessment Matters (PDF, 365 KB) from the Institutional Effectiveness Office is now available. This edition contains updates on general education assessment, annual reports, the next Middle States (MSCHE) reaccreditation, and more.  

Other editions of Assessment Matters are available on the IE website.

Please direct questions to the Institutional Effectiveness Office.

Employees may stop their Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) deductions, change their election amounts, or enroll in the DCAA if they experience an eligible change in status. A change in care provider and or change in work schedule (for the employee or spouse) are events, as a result of the current pandemic, that will allow employees to stop or reduce their deductions or even to newly enroll in the program. See the Governor's Office of Employee Relations website for eligible change-in-status information. Employees may submit their change or enroll online or over the phone at (800) 358-7202.

There is no limit to the number of changes an employee may submit during the year. Employees may stop now and re-enroll over the summer or next fall with the occurrence of another change in status event, until November 1, 2020.

Reducing or stopping DCAA payroll contributions does not affect an existing DCAA balance. Any money contributed (including the employer contribution) to a DCAA remains in an employee's account to use during the plan year. If employees enrolled during open enrollment, the money in their DCAA remains in their account for them to use for any DCAA expenses from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. If they enrolled following a change in status, account funds may be accessed beginning with the change in status start date through December 31, 2020.

Employees should direct questions to WageWorks customer service by phone at (800) 358-7202 or by e-mail to fsa@goer.ny.gov.

The Civic and Community Engagement Office is providing information about ways faculty, staff, and students can be active citizens and support our community during the coronavirus pandemic.

Feed Buffalo Food Pantry, located at 456 Massachusetts Avenue, is holding its second annual Ramadan Healthy Food Drive until April 21. Drop-off is every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The preferred shopping list includes foods such as organic cane sugar, organic tomato paste, jasmine rice, basmati rice, pasta, dates, chickpeas, organic coconut oil, virgin olive oil, almond milk or oat milk, and organic brown eggs.

If you or anyone you know needs food, please call (716) 588-0137 or visit www.feedbuffalo.org.

Please just us for "Paws and Peers: Bring Your Pet to Zoom Lunch," hosted by the Professional Development Center, on Friday, April 17, from noon to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom videoconferencing. 

Our colleagues at Buffalo State College might seem far away, but our dog, cat, and reptile colleagues join us every day in our remote offices. Join us for a virtual lunch to introduce your pet to your Buffalo State colleagues.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System. The Zoom link will be sent to participants two hours before the session begins.

Because of the high-wind watch issued by the National Weather Service for Monday, April 13, please ensure that windows are kept closed and be mindful when opening or closing outside entrance doors to be certain that they re-latch. Thank you.

The Civic and Community Engagement Office is providing information about ways faculty, staff, and students can be active citizens and support our community during the coronavirus pandemic.

We are happy to announce that Mayor Byron Brown has launched the Good Neighbors Network, a timely initiative that leverages the existing goodwill and social networks of Buffalo’s neighborhoods into a way of connecting residents without violating the physical distancing that is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The system allows for neighbors to place a brightly colored door hanger on their door if they need the help of a neighbor. For more information on this non-emergency assistance support program, please call 311 and or visit the City of Buffalo website.

Buffalo State’s Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship (USRF) program will continue in 2020 with modifications as necessary in response to COVID-19 concerns. USRF supports eight weeks of full-time research, scholarly, and creative activities. USRF applications are welcome from Buffalo State undergraduates in all disciplines with a graduation date of December 2020 or later. Each fellowship provides a student stipend of $3,000, a faculty mentor stipend of $1,000, and $500 for supplies or equipment to support the project.

Student project proposals for USRF 2020 must reflect the president’s announcements on college-funded travel restrictions and density limitations for all activities described in the application, and the provost's directive suspending all in-person human subjects research until further notice. Proposals should include specific plans for achieving project objectives remotely during the funding period, should it become necessary. To learn more about the program and access the online application portal, please visit the USRF program page at the Undergraduate Research website. The extended deadline for student applications is 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 15; mandatory faculty mentor approvals are due by 10:00 p.m. Friday, April 17.

Please join the Professional Development Center for the webinar "Work from Home and Be Home without Work: Striking a Balance between Work Productivity and Life at Home," presented by Jonathan Hulbert, director of leadership and organizational development, on Tuesday, April 21, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the day-to-day routines of how we work, care for our families, relax at home, and spend time with our friends. What is challenging about these changes is that our daily routines that used to be separated by psychological, social, and physical boundaries no longer have clear divides. A loss of boundaries and routine in our lives can lead to employee burnout and affect our mental health; however, as individuals, we have the power to re-create routines, boundaries, and personal connections to maintain a fulfilling personal and work life in a temporary remote environment.

This webinar will provide participants with strategies and frameworks to help us strike a balance between being productive in a remote work environment and spending quality time with families, friends, and activities we are passionate about.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

Please join the Professional Development Center for the webinar "Work from Home and Be Home without Work: Striking a Balance between Work Productivity and Life at Home," presented by Jonathan Hulbert, director of leadership and organizational development, on Tuesday, April 21, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the day-to-day routines of how we work, care for our families, relax at home, and spend time with our friends. What is challenging about these changes is that our daily routines that used to be separated by psychological, social, and physical boundaries no longer have clear divides. A loss of boundaries and routine in our lives can lead to employee burnout and affect our mental health; however, as individuals, we have the power to re-create routines, boundaries, and personal connections to maintain a fulfilling personal and work life in a temporary remote environment.

This webinar will provide participants with strategies and frameworks to help us strike a balance between being productive in a remote work environment and spending quality time with families, friends, and activities we are passionate about.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.