Please join us for the 25th annual Buffalo State Professional Development Schools (PDS) Conference on Friday, September 27, at the Buffalo Grand Hotel (formerly the Adam's Mark) from 7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Please register online by Wednesday, September 18. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Center for Global Engagement welcomes Cagri Ozkose-Biyik, assistant professor and chair of the Department of English Language and Literature at Yasar University in Izmir, Turkey, who will present “The Future of EFL Teacher Prep: A Turkish Perspective,” on Monday, August 12, at 2:00 p.m. the Grande Conference Room, Cleveland Hall 418.

Dr. Ozkose-Biyik earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction in 2010 and her master’s degree in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) in 2006 from the University at Albany, State University of New York. She received her B.A. in teaching English as a foreign language from Bogazici University in Istanbul in 2003.

Her scholarly interests include language teacher education, professional development, reflective practice, and sociocultural approaches to language learning and teaching. She coordinated a four-year European Commission–sponsored Marie Curie Career Integration Grant titled “The Revitalizing EFL Teachers’ Professional Development in Europe through Innovative Programs,” which was officially completed in January 2019.

Before joining Yasar University in 2012, where she also coordinates the Innovative Teaching and Learning Unit, Dr. Ozkose-Biyik worked as a postdoctoral research associate in the Evaluation Consortium and taught educational psychology courses at SUNY Albany.

We hope you’ll join us for this insightful, highly educational, and thought-provoking presentation about the future of teacher preparation as it pertains to teaching English as a foreign language.

The southern half of Lot I-34 will be closed from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 9,* to accommodate crane access for construction on the Speech-Language Pathology wing of Caudell Hall. Please note that the accessible parking spaces in Lot I-34 will also be unavailable during this time frame. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

*Please note: This is a change from the original closure date of Thursday, August 8. The lot will be open on August 8.

Are you new to community-engaged learning and interested in understanding how you might incorporate a community-engagement project into your course? Have you taught service learning for a while but could use a brief refresher on best practices or an update on current research-based efforts?

Please join us for a Service-Learning and Community-Engagement Overview on Tuesday August 21, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Grande Conference Room, Cleveland Hall 418.

This interactive session will help new faculty and staff members as well as those who could use a brushup on community-engaged learning and the practice of incorporating a community-based project into a course.

Topics will include the following:

• Overview of the theory and practice of service learning
• Strategies for identifying reciprocal and meaningful community partnerships
• Discussion of effective methods of incorporating student reflection to connect the service and course learning

Please register by e-mail. We look forward to seeing you.

Greetings from Residence Life and Student Leadership and Engagement! Soon the campus will be buzzing with the arrival of new and returning students. The Residence Life Office and the Student Leadership and Engagement Office would appreciate any support that our colleagues might offer for the following three events: 

Thursday, August 22: First-Year and Transfer Move-In Day 
Friday, August 23: Bengal Photo for the Class of 2023
Friday, August 23: Food Truck Kick Back 

Example roles for both events: 

Hall and line greeters – Volunteers will be standing or sitting, mainly in the same area, providing a friendly face as new students and families enter their hall or queue up to check in. 

Parking and directions – Volunteers will move back and forth in their assigned sections providing directions to new students and families, ensuring that students move their vehicles from the unloading zone to a parking lot as soon as the vehicle is unloaded.

Cart check-out – Volunteers will be seated at one of three tents checking in and out the carts that students use to move in.

Floaters (Food Truck Kick Back specific) – Volunteers will roam the event, keeping an eye out for things like full garbage cans and other concerns.

Human arrows (Bengal Photo specific) – Volunteers will lead the Class of 2023 from Convocation to the designated area in the Student Union Plaza to set them up for the class photo. 

If you are interested in volunteering your time, please complete the volunteer form, including your availability. Please e-mail Candace Williams, assistant director of residence life, with questions.

The southern half of Lot I-34 will be closed from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 6, and Thursday, August 8, to accommodate crane access for construction on the Speech-Language Pathology wing of Caudell Hall. Please note that the accessible parking spaces in Lot I-34 will also be unavailable during these time frames. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

Parking Services will relocate to Moot Hall this week, next to Student Accounts, to better accommodate the campus community. The office will be closed Thursday and Friday, August 8 and 9, to facilitate the move. Temporary one-day parking permits needed on August 8 or 9 will be available from Student Accounts, Moot Hall 260. Parking Services expects to reopen for business in Moot Hall 260 on Monday, August 12. All other directory information will remain the same. Thank you for your patience.

Please join the Weigel Wellness Center for a drumming circle from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Fridays, August 2 and 9, in the Student Union Plaza, and Thursdays, September 5, 19, and 26, in Perry Quad.

Recent scientific studies have shown the positive impact of group drumming and recreational music-making on the immune system, mood, brain functioning, and stress reduction. This is a fun, relaxing entry-level music-making and learning experience. Drums will be provided.

Any last-minute cancellations or changes will be made on our Facebook page. Hope to see you there.

Please see the Weigel Wellness website for more event listings.

The American Red Cross will hold its first campus blood drive of the academic year today, August 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. Presenting donors will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card.* Call (800) RED-CROSS or visit the Red Cross website to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.

*Donors must provide a valid e-mail address; gift card code may take up to 30 days to receive by e-mail.

The American Red Cross will hold its first campus blood drive of the academic year tomorrow, August 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. Presenting donors will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card.* Call (800) RED-CROSS or visit the Red Cross website to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.

*Donors must provide a valid e-mail address; gift card code may take up to 30 days to receive by e-mail.