Please join the Civic and Community Engagement Office for the webinar "Building Democratic Skills through Deliberative Dialogue" on Thursday, January 30, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m in South Wing 137.

In the face of ever-increasing polarization and divisiveness, there is a great need and desire for an effective, accessible, and inclusive tool for diverse people to engage across differences in pursuit of common ground for action on major social issues.

A deliberative dialogue forum brings people together in a small gathering to deliberate challenging public issues. The process is guided by a neutral moderator and a discussion guide that presents multiple approaches to addressing the problem. Deliberative dialogue provides an effective framework for mutual understanding and a common purpose that allows people to discuss difficult issues, weigh options, and ultimately take action.

Reservations can be made by e-mail at cce@buffalostate.edu.

The Daily Bulletin will take a holiday break from December 23, 2019, to January 1, 2020. The deadline for submissions for the January 2 issue is 2:00 p.m. today. During the break, users may submit items for Friday, January 3, and beyond. Happy holidays from Marketing and Communications.

Tuesday, December 31, is the last day for employees to change their health insurance option for the 2020 plan year. Employees must complete a Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) and submit it to the Employee Benefits Office in Cleveland Hall 410 before December 31. Changes will become effective December 26, 2019. 

During the Option Transfer Period, employees may change their NYSHIP option for the next plan year to one of the following:

• The Empire Plan
• A NYSHIP health maintenance organization (HMO). Note: employees must live or work in the HMO’s service area.
• The Opt-Out Program. Note: employees who are represented by UUP are not eligible to participate in this program.

The New York State Employee Benefits Division has announced the new health plan rates, which are posted on the Human Resource Management website. Rates have also been mailed to employees’ home addresses.

The 2020 “Choices" booklet (PDF, 1.8 MB), which gives a comparison of the insurance plans, is also available for review.

The Option Transfer Period also allows employees to make the following changes to their health insurance coverage without a qualifying event:

• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel coverage
• Change a pre-tax contribution program election (PDF, 151 KB)

No action is required if employees wish to keep their current health insurance option.

For additional information, please call the Employee Benefits Office at 878-4821.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The College Senate Office would like to extend to everyone warm holiday wishes and much health and prosperity in 2020. The Senate meeting schedule for the spring semester is posted on the Senate website. The podcast from the December 13, 2019, meeting will be posted, along with the minutes from the November 8, 2019, meeting, as soon as the podcast is finalized. Reports from the December 13, 2019, meeting are posted on the Senate website as well. Please contact Vincent Masci, assistant to the College Senate, with questions.

SUNY has announced the 2020 call for proposals for round 9 of the SUNY Innovative Instruction Technology Grants (PDF, 800 KB). Proposals and budgets must be reviewed internally before their submission to SUNY (see below). Proposal deadlines are Wednesday, February 12 (internal), and Sunday, February 23 (SUNY).

Three funding tiers are available: $10,000, $20,000 and $60,000. These competitive, peer-reviewed awards are allocated for proposals that can demonstrate, communicate, and replicate innovations developed at campuses across SUNY. 

Faculty and staff members who are interested in submitting a proposal may contact John Draeger, director of the Buffalo State Teaching and Learning Center, or Meghan Pereira, director of instructional design and training, with ideas or questions.

All proposals, including narratives, budgets, and budget narratives, must be submitted to Melissa Miszkiewicz, technology communications officer, by Wednesday, February 12, for review by the CIO and vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communications. The CIO will provide a letter of support for approved proposals.

More information, including the program’s mission, application details, a list of currently funded projects and outcomes, and previous award recipients (including some colleagues from Buffalo State), is available on the SUNY IITG website.

Student Conduct and Community Standards will be closed for construction December 17–January 3. SCCS staff members will operate remotely out of the Residence Life Office in Porter Hall 118.

Please call 878-3000 or e-mail the office at studentconduct@buffalostate.edu to reach a staff member during this time frame.

To file a complaint, please visit our website and submit the complaint electronically: click on File a Report and then on the Student Conduct Complaint Form.

Tuesday, December 31, is the final day for employees to change their health insurance option for the 2020 plan year. Employees must complete a Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) and submit it to the Employee Benefits Office in Cleveland Hall 410 before December 31. Changes will become effective December 26, 2019. 

During the Option Transfer Period, employees may change their NYSHIP option for the next plan year to one of the following:

• The Empire Plan
• A NYSHIP health maintenance organization (HMO). Note: employees must live or work in the HMO’s service area.
• The Opt-Out Program. Note: employees who are represented by UUP are not eligible to participate in this program.

The New York State Employee Benefits Division has announced the new health plan rates, which are posted on the Human Resource Management website. Rates have also been mailed to employees’ home addresses.

The 2020 “Choices" booklet (PDF, 1.8 MB), which gives a comparison of the insurance plans, is also available for review.

The Option Transfer Period also allows employees to make the following changes to their health insurance coverage without a qualifying event:

• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel coverage
• Change a pre-tax contribution program election (PDF, 151 KB)

No action is required if employees wish to keep their current health insurance option.

For additional information, please call the Employee Benefits Office at 878-4821.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, February 7, 2020, 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 community are encouraged to submit nominations for deserving colleagues.

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

From the Associate Provost
It is with heartfelt appreciation that I announce that Roswell Park will retire from his position as director of individualized studies on Tuesday, December 31. Keith Fulcher, Ph.D., will serve as interim director of individualized studies.

Dr. Park joined the college in 1979 as associate for continuing education, where he edited and marketed publications. In 1983, he was promoted to become the first coordinator of evening and adult education, which evolved into the individualized studies program. Dr. Park was appointed interim director and then named director of Academic Support Programs (ASP) in 2001. ASP consolidated and unified the operation of academic advisement, tutoring, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), and individualized studies.

Dr. Park received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 2007 and the Buffalo State President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement in 1992. His service to the college includes three terms on the College Senate, chair of the Academic Plan Committee, member of the Curriculum Committee and the President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity, and HUM 100 instructor for the All College Honors Program.

In 1997, Dr. Park earned his doctorate and master of arts degree in English from the University at Buffalo. His bachelor of arts degree in English is from Kenyon College.

Please join me in extending our warmest wishes and gratitude to Dr. Park for his 40 years of dedication and service to the college and students.

A campuswide gathering will be held in spring 2020. More details will follow.

Creative Services has created a photo calendar template in PowerPoint that can be customized with your own photos and special dates (e.g., birthdays, anniversaries). The template, instructions, and printing costs are found on the Creative Services website. If using Creative Service's print services, please submit requests by Wednesday, December 18, to ensure that you receive your printed calendar by the holiday. The last day for calendar pickup will be Friday, December 20. Photo calendar requests and printing services will continue in the new year.