Monday, September 30, is the deadline to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for the 2019 fall semester.

Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees.
• Part-time or temporary Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
• Full-time Research Foundation employees, provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses a semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours an academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received.

Employees who decide to drop a class or find it has been covered by another source after submitting an application are asked to please notify Human Resource Management immediately to update their applications.

Please contact Human Resource Management, 878-4821, for applications or program guidelines.

Commuters and faculty members, stop by the Bengal Card Office in Campbell Student Union 223 to grab your $5 Friday coupon book. Buy nine and get the 10th free! Save on everyone's favorite day of the week.

Questions? Please e-mail joshua.ungaro@compass-usa.com.

The podcast of the September 13, 2019, College Senate meeting is now available on the College Senate's podcasts web page. Podcasts serve as the official audio record of each College Senate meeting. Senate meeting minutes are also available on the Senate website.

The next meeting of the College Senate for fall 2019 will be held Friday, October 11, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 423. The meeting agenda will be posted to the Senate website on October 3.

Please direct questions to Vincent Masci, assistant to the College Senate, 878-5139.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is conducting a survey to gauge Buffalo State employee interest in a possible new program that would offer NFTA Metro monthly passes, regularly priced at $75, to faculty and staff members for $55 (pre-tax payroll deduction). Please complete this survey by Friday, October 4, to indicate your level of interest. Data will go directly to the NFTA.

More information on current NFTA Metro programs is available on the Finance and Management website.

Michael Spogli, TIAA’s financial consultant, will be on campus to meet with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Wednesday, October 2; Thursday, October 3; and Thursday, October 10, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416. Appointments are required.

Discuss your financial situation with an experienced TIAA consultant to help you plan for your future and pursue your financial goals. Take this opportunity to review your retirement savings or increase or start a tax-deferred annuity.

It’s too important to delay. Schedule an appointment today.

Michael Spogli, TIAA’s financial consultant, will be on campus to meet with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Wednesday, October 2; Thursday, October 3; and Thursday, October 10, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416. Appointments are required.

Discuss your financial situation with an experienced TIAA consultant to help you plan for your future and pursue your financial goals. Take this opportunity to review your retirement savings or increase or start a tax-deferred annuity.

It’s too important to delay. Schedule an appointment today.

From the Special Adviser to the Provost for Academic Research Initiatives
The 20th annual Faculty and Staff Research and Creativity Fall Forum will be held Thursday, November 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Houston Gym. The call for submissions is now open.  

The purpose of the forum is to encourage faculty and staff research and creativity, support collaborative projects, and develop grant-writing skills at Buffalo State. All faculty and staff members are invited to present an exhibit that highlights current research, activities, or scholarship. Individual, departmental, or group exhibits are welcome. The Fall Forum is an excellent networking opportunity to communicate with others having common scholarly and creative interests.

To participate, please complete the online registration form on the Fall Forum web page under the Call for Submissions tab. Titles and abstracts or descriptions should be submitted electronically by Thursday, October 31. Display space per submission is limited to one 5-foot table or two easels.

Please contact Hongliang "Jimmy" Xu, professor of mathematics, with questions.

Please join us for a dedication ceremony for the late Don Blundell, ’70, ’77, former director of the Campbell Student Union, on Saturday, October 12, at Whispering Pines College Camp. We will share stories, tales, and shenanigans from our time with Don. There will be a dedication of the trail system by United Students Government and a reception from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. RSVP by Tuesday, October 1, to USG at 878-6701.

iPhone users just received an update that is packed with security features. Wired magazine has published "The iOS 13 Privacy and Security Features You Should Know."