Nominations will be accepted through Friday, February 7, for the 2019–2020 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service. This SUNY system-level award recognizes classified service employees for excellence and superior service to students and the community at large. Members of the Buffalo State College community are encouraged to submit nominations for deserving colleagues.

The nomination form and award guidelines are available online. Thank you.

Please join the Chemistry and Physics departments for the seminar "Chemoenzymatic Strategies for Expediting Molecular Discovery," presented by Rudi Fasan, professor of chemistry at the University of Rochester, on Thursday, February 6, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 176.

Abstract
Our research group is interested in merging chemical and biological tools for developing general platforms for streamlining the discovery of biologically active molecules. Using these methodologies, we aim to discover and develop novel chemical agents useful for probing cell signalling pathways and modulating protein-protein interactions implicated in cancer and other diseases. A first part of the seminar will describe our work on the development of chemoenzymatic strategies for late-stage C—H bond functionalization. The selective functionalization of aliphatic C—H bonds represents a most valuable but also one of the most challenging transformations in organic chemistry. Our group is investigating the use of engineered cytochrome P450s and P450-mediated chemoenzymatic synthesis as a strategy for rapidly diversifying complex molecules such as natural products and streamlining the discovery of natural product analogs with improved pharmacological properties and as probes for investigating diseases. The second part of the talk will provide an overview of methodologies developed by our group for the construction and screening of combinatorial libraries of "natural product-like" macrocyclic peptides. Macrocyclic peptides constitute attractive molecular scaffolds for modulating protein complexes, including "undruggable" protein-protein interactions. We will discuss representative examples in which these methodologies are leveraged toward developing macrocyclic peptides capable of targeting and disrupting protein-protein interactions implicated in cancer development and progression.

Degree Works will be unavailable all day for system maintenance on Tuesday, February 11.

Please join Buffalo State College alumni choreographers for continued open rehearsals for this year’s annual dance concert, “The World Grooves: Dance Traditions and Explorations,” in Warren Enters Theatre in Upton Hall.

Choreography as a career is unique to dance, requiring hours of inquiry and analysis that focus on sensory experiences, interpretation, and expression. Buffalo State arts and letters alumni are navigating a career in performance and choreography. The dance program is committed to guiding undergraduate students' growth and success while they are in school, and then continuing to support our graduates while they navigate professional post-academic lives.

We requested proposals from our alumni who are currently working in the field. Proposals required an explanation of how the work connects to the overall concert theme and other production information, a performance résumé, and video of professional work. Five individuals were asked to share how traditions inspire their explorations by applying their creative process on the student dance company. This experience is supported by funding from the Grant Allocation Committee. The following two performances remain:

James Huggins
Saturday, February 8
Noon–2:00 p.m.

Melissa Vargo
Tuesday, March 10
12:15–1:30 p.m.

Buffalo State College will upgrade its data warehouse from the close of business Friday, February 14, through Monday, February 17. The data warehouse is also known as “ODS”; its reporting tool, Argos, is used to create reports from ODS. Other systems like Banner and Degree Works also interact with ODS.

During this upgrade, ODS will operate with data captured before the close of business on February 14. Data in ODS will not be updated during this period. Any report run from February 14 through 17 will be populated with data last updated on February 14.

ODS will be completely unavailable for a short window. If you find ODS to be nonoperational at any time during this window, please log off and log back on later; ODS will likely be running again. Please remember, though, that data will not be updated past February 14.

During this upgrade, systems interacting with ODS could be slow, freeze, or behave in unusual ways. Banner might also be affected during this period. If you encounter problems, please log out and log back in later.

A new tab has been added in Schedule Planner: Search by Section Attribute. This tool allows students to select one or more degree attributes and filter by those.

Please remind students that they can easily search for classes that still have seats available by selecting OPEN CLASSES ONLY in the Course Status field and selecting the spring 2020 term.

Students are strongly encouraged to use Schedule Planner to plan their desired schedule and register with ease.

Weigel Health Promotions will host a therapy dog workshop through Horizon Health Services on Tuesday, February 4, and Wednesday, February 12, at 1:00 p.m. in Weigel Wellness Center 203.

Therapy dogs are trained to provide affection and comfort to patients. They fulfill an emotional void that is often drained by addiction or mental health disorders. Research shows that interaction with therapy dogs increases the release of bonding and happiness hormones and decreases stress.

Therapy dogs can be found in many breeds and sizes; however, golden retrievers are often used because of their calm demeanor and patient disposition. Horizon’s therapy dogs are golden retrievers bred by the workshop facilitator, Colleen Babcock. These dogs visit many different outpatient clinics, including Horizon Village Campus and Terrace House. Other volunteers and programs bring their furry friends to places such as the airport, hospitals, schools, and other facilities that you may or may not think could benefit from this service.

Horizon Village and their outpatient clinics have invested in two therapy dogs who "work" in the rehab facility. Horizon’s adoption of a therapy dog program continues to improve and enhance practices, maintaining Horizon’s high-quality treatment and recovery programs.

More information on Horizon Health Services therapy dogs and the services that Horizon provides is available online. An interview with Colleen Babcock, the facilitator and employee of Horizon Health Services, during one of our workshops on campus is also available.

This is a great opportunity for extra credit for all students as this service may help them in their personal, professional, or educational life.

Please contact Paula Madrigal, assistant director of prevention and health promotions, 878-4719, with questions.

For more Weigel Health Promotions programs, please visit our website, check out our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest.

Buffalo State College has adopted the Open SUNY Course Quality Review (OSCQR) tool for continuous improvement of online and hybrid courses. The course design review process uses a team approach along with Buffalo State's customized version of OSCQR to focus on how instructional design and pedagogical best practices can be applied to online or hybrid courses.

Come and learn more about the OSCQR tool and the process that is currently being used at Buffalo State on Tuesday, February 18, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Chase Hall 109. Hear from your colleagues about their experiences using this tool and the benefits of participating in this process.

Moderator:
Brooke Winckelmann, Instructional Designer, Information Technology Services

Panelists:
Jill D’Angelo, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Department
Carol DeNysschen, Chair and Professor, Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department
Deborah Silverman, Chair and Associate Professor, Communication Department

Please register through the Workshop Registration System. 

Effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, February 3, all active courses for spring 2020 will require instructor permission in order for a student to register. The online Late Add window will be active until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, February 13. Each late add will be assessed a $20 late add fee. Students are strongly encouraged to be registered for the classes they are attending and to complete all drop/add activity directly in Banner by the established drop/add deadline of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 2.

Do something different next year! Exchange to another school in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands for a summer, a semester, or a year. Take new classes. Meet new people. Have new adventures. NSE is affordable; most students pay Buffalo State tuition (or in-state tuition to their host school) and receive financial aid, and all students earn credits toward their degree. 

Priority application deadline for summer 2020 and the 2020–2021 school year is Saturday, February 15. Don't delay!

To schedule an informational meeting or for assistance with the application, please e-mail studyaway@buffalostate.edu or visit South Wing 430.