All members of the Teacher Education Unit (TEU) are invited to attend the Teacher Education Council (TEC) meeting on Friday, May 10, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the Grande Conference Room, Cleveland Hall 418. Please note the meeting time. Current issues in teacher education and assessment will be discussed.

Please join the Great Lakes Center today, May 16, for the seminar "Freshwater Bivalves: Distribution, Food, and Conservation," presented by Arthur Bogan, Ph.D., curator of mollusks at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, at 12:15 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 161.

This seminar will focus on freshwater bivalve research, fieldwork across Asia, conservation, and extinction. This will be a worldwide view of the order, their unique biology, and modern trends in systematics and conservation. All are welcome.

Please join the Great Lakes Center for the seminar "Freshwater Bivalves: Distribution, Food, and Conservation," presented by Arthur Bogan, Ph.D., curator of mollusks at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, on Thursday, May 16, at 12:15 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 161.

This seminar will focus on freshwater bivalve research, fieldwork across Asia, conservation, and extinction. This will be a worldwide view of the order, their unique biology, and modern trends in systematics and conservation. All are welcome.

The Buffalo State Intercollegiate Moot Court team will hold an organizational meeting on Tuesday, May 7, at 12:15 p.m. in Classroom Building A209.

Moot Court is appellate argument at its finest. Come and learn how to win an argument and kick-start a career. All are welcome and all can succeed.

This year's case involves whether it is appropriate for government officials to search a cell phone and whether the accused has a right to directly challenge his or her accuser. The case for next fall's competition will be handed out, and team members and coaches will be there to answer any questions. 

For additional information, please contact Peter Yacobucci, associate professor of political science.

With finals fast approaching, please be sure to tell students about the spring Bengal Study Night on Wednesday, May 8, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex. This free event will feature course review sessions, math and writing tutoring, relaxation activities, games, and therapy dogs. Pizza and beverages will be served at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. 

Feel free to distribute this flier (PDF, 354 KB) with full details and a complete schedule of activities and review sessions.

Bengal Study Night is brought to you by the Academic Commons, Academic Success, and the Weigel Wellness Center.

Here's one easy thing you can do this week to help the students you advise:

The needs of college students have evolved dramatically over the past century. Even as colleges have become more accessible to students from more diverse backgrounds and life experiences, state support for public colleges has continued its long decline. And today's students are facing not only a higher price tag but more family responsibilities and work obligations than the generations that preceded them. 

What can you as an adviser do to help meet the changing needs of the students you advise? A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, "Student Needs Have Changed. Advising Must Change, Too," describes innovative approaches that advisers and institutions are taking to help students succeed. Take a look and see what you can incorporate into your practice today.

This Tip of the Week has been brought to you by the Academic Advising Advisory Council (AAAC). Got a great advising tip you'd like to share (or some feedback about academic advising at Buffalo State)? Contact AAAC co-chairs Lisa Berglund, professor of English, or Aimee Woznick, director of the Academic Commons.

Brief elevator outages can be expected in various buildings across campus tomorrow, May 3, between 9:00 and 5:00 p.m. as Buffalo State conducts a tour of elevators for prospective elevator-repair companies. Potential bidders will be guided through the following buildings in this order, starting at 9:00 a.m.:

Rockwell Hall*
Ketchum Hall
Savage Theater and Communication Building
Moot Hall*
Clinton Center
South Wing
Chase Hall
Campbell Student Union
Sports Arena

An elevator in each building will be out of service* for no more than a half hour as bidders closely inspect the equipment. Temporary signage will be posted at each elevator stop. The walk-through is expected to be completed in one day.

Questions about this and other facilities projects can be e-mailed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu.

*These buildings will not require elevator shutdown given the nature of the work.

Butler Library will host a demonstration session on Primo, the new interface that will replace Summon as the search tool for library resources, on Tuesday, May 7, at noon in Butler Library 314.

SUNY libraries will migrate to Primo this summer. Primo and Summon share many common elements, and those who are comfortable with searching in Summon will be equally comfortable in Primo. Interested faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend this session to learn more about Primo and about how Primo will change access to library resources across SUNY.

Please register online and direct questions to Joseph Riggie, systems librarian.

The college will assess Natural Science, Social Science, and Diversity courses in the IF14 General Education program in the fall. The Institutional Effectiveness Office will host an orientation for faculty teaching these courses on Friday, May 10, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 217. This brief orientation will describe the assessment process, explain the role of individual faculty members, and connect faculty members with a liaison should they need more help.

From the Chair of the Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
The College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee will host the annual College Senate Caucus—the election of Senate officers for the upcoming academic year—on Friday, May 10, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Caudell Hall 110.

Candidates for officer positions must be senators who will be in office for the 2019–2020 academic year. Candidates should be present at the caucus to announce their candidacy. Alternatively, e-mails of interest for committee chairs may be e-mailed to Amy Rosen-Brand, chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee, by 11:00 a.m. May 10. Candidates who e-mail their interest must specify which standing committee(s) they wish to chair. Should a chair seat be contested, an election will be held expeditiously after the caucus.

Questions may be directed to Vincent Masci, assistant to the College Senate, 878-5139.