Please join us for the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Fall Speaker Series lecture "Why Use Python and Jupyter Notebooks for Coding, Handling Data, and More," presented by Joaquin Carbonara, Buffalo State professor of mathematics and chair of the professional applied and computational mathematics (PACM) program, on Thursday, November 15, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. (Bengal Pause) in Technology Building 160.

Python is a general purpose coding language that may be used for almost any problem that your computer is capable of solving. It is user friendly, with access to many online third-party libraries of existing coding databases to help expedite problem solving.   

Jupyter offers simplicity in code creation and "literate programming," which allows users to describe thoughts in prose with added math equations when writing code blocks.

Dr. Carbonara helped launch a new multidisciplinary track, M.S. in data science and analytics, this fall. He is an enthusiastic teacher and lifelong learner who is constantly updating his own skills with cutting-edge technology and programming. Dr. Carbonara's mission includes bringing academia and industry together to better prepare our students for successful careers.

More information is available on the Data Analytics website.

The Global Engagement Office invites faculty and staff members to celebrate International Education Week November 12–16 with a special reunion event for international alumni on Thursday, November 15, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center. We will also honor Jean F. Gounard, former director of international student affairs, who is retiring from Buffalo State. As faculty and staff members, you have made a difference in the lives of our international students. Please consider joining us.

Attendees must purchase tickets before the reception. Online registration is required by Friday, November 9.

For a complete list of International Education Week events, please visit the International Student and Scholar Services website.

Brent Peterson, Fidelity director and retirement planner, will provide free one-on-one consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Tuesday, October 30, in Cleveland Hall 205 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Appointments are required.

Fidelity understands that you are busy managing multiple financial priorities, which can make planning for retirement a challenge. As a leading retirement provider to higher education institutions, Fidelity is committed to helping you plan for a future that’s unique to you.

Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with a professional and make sure you are investing properly and on track with your retirement savings. Learn how to bring your retirement savings together and set up a SUNY ORP account with Fidelity Investments if you haven’t already.

To schedule an appointment regarding your individual retirement needs, please register online or call (844) 367-7869.

It's almost time to register for spring 2019. Before you register, learn about the various majors, minors, careers, internships, clubs, tutoring, and research opportunities that the college offers during the first Academic Opportunities Fair on Tuesday, October 30, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Social Hall. Free pizza!

The southwest entrance of Rockwell Hall, near the Performing Arts Center, will be closed (designated for emergency exit only) for roughly 10 days beginning Monday, October 29, as part of the Rockwell Hall gutter replacement project. All other building entrances will be unchanged. The stone cornice atop the building’s south face will be modified to accommodate updated gutters. Gutters will be replaced and new downspouts added. Your patience is appreciated during this work, which is likely to be noisy.

Questions about this project may be sent to vpfm@buffalostate.edu.

Please join us for the professional development workshop” What Are Microaggressions?” presented by Jean Strait, associate vice president for Buffalo State educational pipeline initiatives, on Friday, November 9, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Chase Hall 109.

Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely on their marginalized group membership. 

While microaggressions are generally discussed from the perspective of race and racism, any marginalized group in our society may become targets: people of color, women, LGBTs, those with disabilities, religious minorities, and so on. These everyday occurrences may, on the surface, appear harmless or trivial, or be described as “small slights,” but research indicates they have a powerful impact on the psychological well-being of marginalized groups and affect their standard of living by creating inequities in education, employment, and health care.

Dr. Strait and her team will share what microaggressions are, how we identify them, and how we can change our language to eliminate them. Tools to understand microaggressions will be introduced along with the following learning outcomes:

• Create an awareness of microaggressions
• Understand how microaggressions can marginalize others
• Reflect on ways to address and foster authentic dialog about issues

Breakfast will be provided, sponsored by the Buffalo State Chapter of United University Professions. Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

Please join us for the professional development workshop "Managing Up and Across the College: Cultivating Productive Partnerships with Your Supervisors and Peers,” on Thursday, November 1, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Chase Hall 109.

In a dynamic and complex bureaucratic institution, how we manage the expectations, relationship, and projects with our supervisors and peers will determine how successful we are in attaining performance goals. This session is for any staff members, faculty members, or administrators who want to further improve how they manage up and across the college. As a result of this session, participants will be able to

• understand the differences and similarities between their supervisor and their preferred communication, decision-making, and problem-solving styles to identify approaches for working more effectively together;
• identify strategies for managing the expectations of a supervisor and peers to successfully meet performance goals and avoid burnout;
• implement influence tactics to successfully create buy-in from their supervisor and peers for ideas and projects.

Light snacks will be provided. Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

The Faculty-Student Association (FSA) is now accepting applications for the 2019 grant cycle. FSA grants are awarded by the FSA board of directors to fund programs that will promote and cultivate educational and extracurricular activities on the Buffalo State campus. All student groups and faculty members are welcome to apply. Please visit the Applying for a Grant page for the application and guidelines.

The application deadline for the 2019 grant cycle is Saturday, December 1. For further information, please contact Hope Dunbar, executive director of the FSA, at fsa@buffalostate.edu.

Congratulations to Diane Marra, PSM coordinator in the School of Natural and Social Sciences, who won dinner for six at Chef's Restaurant during week one of the SEFA online raffle.

The prize for week two is a $100 gift card to Wegmans. The SEFA online raffle supports the campus's annual SEFA/United Way Campaign. To enter, visit the SEFA/United Way Raffle Tickets website and follow the prompts. From the "Select Raffle Week" drop-down menu, please choose "Raffle No. 2 - October 22–26." The winner will be selected on October 29 and notified by e-mail. Please contact campaign co-chair Tom Koller, senior associate athletics director, 878-6514, with questions.

Michael Niman, professor of communication, will present "Instructional Resistance to Pedagogic Techno-Fetishism" today, October 23, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Chase Hall 109. This workshop questions the rush to adopt heavily marketed course and classroom technology packages and products, arguing that most fail to fulfill their promises and many undermine effective teaching and degrade the classroom experience. With a growing legacy of failed technologies accumulating in our wake, this workshop will focus on discussing effective legacy technologies and the dangers involved with the rush to adopt new technologies operating on neurotoxic platforms. Please register through the Workshop Registration System.