The Buffalo State Rotaract Club would like to thank all faculty and staff members who supported the fall bake sale last week. Thanks to you, we were able to raise $160 for Grassroots Gardens WNY, which strives to unite the community and provide access to fresh produce in downtown Buffalo. Thank you!

The Buffalo State Theater Department and Casting Hall Productions proudly present The Drowsy Chaperone, in Upton Hall's Warren Enters Theatre.

Hailed by New York Magazine as "the perfect Broadway musical," The Drowsy Chaperone is a masterly meta-musical poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theater genre. Off-beat characters, mistaken identities, and romance drive the plot, and it is certain to provide an evening of laughter in a time where the world could use a laugh or two.

Directed and choreographed by Carlos R. A. Jones, associate dean of the School of Arts and Humanities; associate director Lee Becker; associate choreographer Robin Barker. Based on the book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. Featuring student actors Zachary Becker, Ezra Bedoya, Kent Botia, Kirsten Brady, Samantha Coleman, Salvatore Giangreco-Marotta, Corey Rae Gorski, Jake Grear, Amber Greer, Ian Hagerty, Kenny Lam, Kaeli McGinnis, Gabriella McKinley, Eddie Spaulding, Jacob Thompson, Elise Vullo and Stephen Weisenburger; student designers Sydney Bouthsavong and Rachael Steinmetz; student production team members Elizabeth Acevedo, Matthew Duncan, Amber Greer, Angelina Hunt, Azarius Matthews, Meghan Putman, Alexis Shelley; and all theater practicum students.

Performances November 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 22 at 8:00 p.m. and November 23 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Rockwell Hall Box Office, by phone at 878-3005, or online.

The SUNY Center for Professional Development will host an awareness campaign November 18–22 highlighting the important connection between lifelong learning, personal growth, and transformative organizational success. Webinar topics encompass the areas of personal, professional, and technical development while also delving into the world of executive leadership. Not only is being strategically well-rounded a great personal goal; it can also help you with your professional journey. 

Registration is required for each event.

NYS Procurement: Simply Complex
Monday, November 18
Noon–1:00 p.m.
This presentation will present an overview of the procurement process, including SUNY-specific requirements and exemptions. Topics include solicitation, bidding, and where applicable, approval thresholds, as well as any new procurement legislation. Q&A time included.

Top 10 Accessibility Mistakes You Might Be Making
Tuesday, November 19
Noon–1:00 p.m.
As an educator, you want to get accessibility “right” to create a more inclusive learning space, but what does that mean? How can you make your materials more accessible? This task can be overwhelming and, without the proper tools, frustrating if not impossible. This webinar highlights common mistakes and gives you the knowledge and understanding to improve the experience for both individuals with nonapparent disabilities and those who use adaptive technologies. These tips will also improve accessibility and usability for everyone, creating a better learning environment.

Leadership at Work: Expressing Gratitude
Wednesday, November 20
Noon–1:00 p.m.
Engaging employees to strengthen organizational culture can be complex and uncomfortable. Leaders can play a role in creating a positive work environment by expressing gratitude. Gratitude by definition is the quality of being thankful—possessing readiness to show appreciation and to return thanks. By practicing mindful gratitude, you can contribute to fostering a positive environment in the workplace. This panel discussion will introduce the concept of consciously expressing gratitude while also highlighting the difference between recognition and gratitude, staying genuine, and the measurable impact of gratitude.

Understanding SUNY’s IR Dashboards
Thursday, November 21
Noon–1:00 p.m.
The office of Institutional Research and Data Analytics is the central source for information about the SUNY system. It serves the university's vision, values, mission, and goals by analyzing and reporting institutional data to inform university, campus, and unit-level planning and development. Institutional Research (IR) dashboards provide interactive and visual information on student outcomes and measures such as graduation and retention, as well as fast facts. Learn how these dashboards allow users to drill down and filter to allow detailed exploration and analysis.

Leadership Refresh: Famous Movie Quotes, Leadership Perception, and Personality
Friday, November 22
Noon–1:00 p.m.
Do you have to reorganize your dishwasher if someone else loads it? Do you wonder why you can’t seem to relate to your boss? Join Brigadier General Christopher Eddy, USAF, Retired, as he puts leadership in different contexts, including U.S. history and military, American cinema, and personality analysis. Attendees will explore perceptions about history, their own personalities, and how Americans' favorite movie quotes relate to their leadership style.

The Dean of Students Office is asking departments, student organizations, and teams to donate the items listed below to Milligan's Food Pantry. Please assign donations or donate what you can, and bring donations to the Dean of Students Office by Thursday, November 21. Boxes will be distributed to Milligan's users the week of Thanksgiving.

Items needed: boxed cereal, peanut butter, stuffing mix, boxed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, canned fruit, canned tomatoes, canned chicken, dessert mix, jars of applesauce (plastic, please), cranberry sauce, canned beans, boxed crackers, oatmeal, pasta, spaghetti sauce, chicken noodle soup, and tomato soup. Deodorant and toothpaste also needed.

Thank you.

A Self-Care Strategies event for students will be held Wednesday, November 13, from 11:00 a.m. to noon on the third floor of the Campbell Student Union. Free activities include coloring, a drum circle, dietitian consultations, essential oils body scrub and stress-ball making, smoking cessation, personal safety information, 1,000 Thanks and giving cards, Mr. No (balloon art), emotional freedom technique/meridian tapping, meditation, and therapy dogs. Light refreshments will also be served. This event is sponsored by the Dean of Students Office and the Faculty-Student Association. Please contact the Dean of Students Office at 878-4618 with questions.

Food insecurity on college campuses is a problem nationwide. Milligan's Food Pantry has been serving the students of Buffalo State for nearly two decades, ensuring that no student on our campus goes hungry. During this season of Thanksgiving, the Dean of Students and Alumni Engagement offices are asking you to give generously. You can make a tax-deductible donation directly to the pantry by making your check payable to the Buffalo State College Foundation (put Milligan's Food Pantry in the memo line) and sending it to Claire Collier, Donor Relations Officer, Institutional Advancement Office, Cleveland Hall 304. Throughout the month, donations of nonperishable food items will be collected at the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center on the corner of Rockwell Road and Grant Street between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Needed items include breakfast cereals, snack bars, peanut butter, canned protein (tuna, chicken, stews), canned fruits, beans, rice, and pasta. (Please remember to check expiration dates.) Toiletry items such as soap, deodorant, and shampoo are also needed. Show your fellow Bengals how much you care!

The Buffalo State community is saddened by the death of Donald J. Treffinger, professor emeritus of creative studies, who died October 16, 2019. Dr. Treffinger joined the college in 1978 and retired in 1995. He is survived by two children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Services will be held Saturday, November 23, in Sarasota, Florida. More information is available online.

Please join us for "Thinking Spring 2020: Reusing, Revising, Remixing OER," a webinar offering a rapid review of open educational resources (OER), demonstrations of editing OER courses in Blackboard, and an overview of student success data and continuous improvement with OER, on Tuesday, November 12, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Watch with colleagues in Bulger Communication Center 120 or participate online via Zoom (Meeting ID: 562 289 9714).

OER can deliver immediate benefits to you and your students in terms of cost savings, immediate access, and innovative pedagogy. If you are using or test-driving OER courses, this could be a great time to dig deeper into the following:

• Customizing your open courses and taking back control of your curriculum
• Filling in gaps in your learning content
• Learning more about how OER and combined learning technology fosters student success

The webinar is sponsored through a collaboration between the Teaching and Learning Center, Instructional Design and Training, and Butler Library as well as SUNY OER Services and Lumen Learning.

The Buffalo State community is saddened by the death of Richard T. Augustine, director of student accounts (retired), who died November 5, 2019. Mr. Augustine joined the college in 1976 and retired in 2001. He is survived by his wife, Karen; four children; and eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be held today, November 11, at 10:00 a.m. at Epiphany United Church of Christ, 9365 Clarence Center Road, Clarence Center. More information is available online.

The call for proposals is now open for "Reimagining Civics Education for a Better 21st Century," a full-day summit designed for area students, educators, and policymakers to discuss the importance and revival of teaching civics in P–12 schools, on Monday, January 13, 2020, at Buffalo State College.

Hosted by Buffalo State's School of Education in collaboration with 1st Amendment-1st Vote Inc. and the Erie County Office of Public Advocacy, the summit will include consecutive morning sessions, a keynote speaker, afternoon roundtable sessions, and a final panel conversation with invited government and school officials entertaining questions developed at the prior sessions.

Presentation and roundtable proposals are being accepted for one or several of the thematic strands. Authors may submit multiple proposals; however, please complete a separate form for each. Within your submission, please (1) summarize the proposed presentation with a description of how you will address the thematic strand that you feel is most appropriate for your material, and (2) explain how you feel this proposed presentation will contribute to the summit discussion of civics education in the twenty-first century. Citations are acceptable but not required. Please limit your submission to 500 words (up to 250 words for each component) and submit proposals by Sunday, December 1.

Thematic Strands

1. Revitalizing and reimagining civics education for the twenty-first century
2. Full participation and leadership in the political process (advocacy and organizing)
3. Lessons from the field
4. The intersection of the civil rights movement with the women’s suffrage movement in the United States (unpacking social movements)
5. Translating civics education content into classroom practice and pedagogy

Submit a proposal.

Summit updates and registration details are available on the School of Education website.