The terms of the recently ratified agreement between New York State and United University Professions (UUP) include an employer contribution for UUP-represented Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount) participants for the 2018 plan year. UUP-represented employees, or employees represented by UUP at the time they enrolled, who have an active 2018 DCAAccount do not need to do anything. The employer contribution will be deposited into the employee’s account with the paycheck of October 3, 2018.

The employer contribution will be as follows:

Employee Gross Annual Salary        Employer Contribution

Up to $30,000                                       $800

$30,001 to $40,000                               $700

$40,001 to $50,000                               $600

$50,001 to $60,000                               $500

$60,001 to $70,000                               $400

Over $70,000                                        $300

Adding the employer contribution to DCAAccounts will not exceed the employee’s annual election amount unless the employee enrolled for less than their employer contribution. If an employee enrolled for less than the employer contribution, the employee will receive the full amount of their employer contribution. In all other situations, WageWorks will recalculate remaining biweekly deductions and, if necessary, the New York Office of State Comptroller (OSC) will issue a refund.

WageWorks will adjust DCAAccounts, and OSC will issue any necessary refunds with the paycheck of October 3, 2018. 

If an employee was on a leave of absence or terminated their 2018 DCAAccount, they will not receive an employer contribution unless the employee re-enrolls. Employees can re-enroll by submitting a change in status application, and they will be eligible for the employer contribution for the remainder of the 2018 plan year. Here are some examples of eligible change in status events:

• Marriage
• Divorce or separation
• Death (spouse/dependent)
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Beginning or end of employment (employee or spouse)
• Dependent disability
• From full-time to part-time employment or vice versa (employee or spouse)
• Beginning of or return from leave of absence (employee or spouse)
• Change in work schedule (employee or spouse)
• Change in custody of dependent
• Change in rate paid (only if the provider is not a relative)
• Change in care provider
• Loss of another Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) plan’s coverage (increase or enrollment only)

We encourage employees to visit www.flexspend.ny.gov or call customer service at (800) 358-7202 to learn more about enrolling during the plan year, and the change in status rules.

The Archives and Special Collections Department of E. H. Butler Library is pleased to announce the completion of the digitizing of official college histories as well as similar resources that may prove useful to researchers, alumni, and friends of the campus.

As Buffalo State plans to celebrate our upcoming sesquicentennial, these works may be particularly useful.

Some resources (e.g., These Were Builders, written by Sr. Martin Joseph Jones, the college's first archivist) provide interesting and useful facts for student research into the history of the campus and its structures.

Please see the online searchable texts at http://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/buffstate-history.

From the Director of Equity and Campus Diversity
The fall semester deadline for Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant proposals for 2018–2019 is Friday, October 12. Consistent with the college’s mission, minigrants provide financial assistance for projects, workshops, and activities that have institutional impact—strengthening Buffalo State’s inclusive excellence toward diversity as described by our mission statement, core values, and strategic plan.

Applications must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of proposed events.

For additional information, please visit the Equity and Campus Diversity website.

From the Director of Equity and Campus Diversity
The fall semester deadline for Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant proposals for 2018-2019 is Friday, October 12. Consistent with the college’s mission, minigrants provide financial assistance for projects, workshops, and activities that have institutional impact—strengthening Buffalo State’s inclusive excellence toward diversity as described by our mission statement, core values, and strategic plan.

Applications must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of proposed events.

For additional information, please visit the Equity and Campus Diversity website.

From the Director of Equity and Campus Diversity
The fall semester deadline for Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant proposals for 2018-2019 is Friday, October 12. Consistent with the college’s mission, minigrants provide financial assistance for projects, workshops, and activities that have institutional impact—strengthening Buffalo State’s inclusive excellence toward diversity as described by our mission statement, core values, and strategic plan.
 
Applications must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of proposed events.
 
For additional information, please visit the Equity and Campus Diversity website.

From the Director of Equity and Campus Diversity
The fall semester deadline for 2018–2019 Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant proposals is Friday, October 12. Consistent with the college’s mission, minigrants provide financial assistance for projects, workshops, and activities that have institutional impact—strengthening Buffalo State’s inclusive excellence toward diversity as described by our mission statement, core values, and strategic plan.
 
Applications must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of proposed events.
 
For additional information, please visit the Equity and Campus Diversity website.

Cultural Café is a monthly event series that brings together members of the Buffalo State community over conversation, culture, and coffee. Meet new people and find common ground with other internationally minded members of the community in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. 

Free coffee and light refreshments will be served. All are welcome!

Cultural Café occurs monthly on Fridays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Global Lounge on the third floor, southeast quad of Butler Library.

Fall 2018 schedule:

• September 14
• October 12
• November 9

Cultural Café is a partnership between the International Students Organization, the International Student Advisory Council, the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, and Butler Library.

Interested in sponsoring or partnering for a Cultural Café event? Contact Katie Bertel, academic outreach and engagement librarian, Butler Library.

The previously announced reduction to Tower Road related to the Tower 3 Renovation Project has been delayed. Rather than the reduction ending in mid-September, the impacted portion of this roadway will remain a single lane through approximately October 5.

Questions about this undertaking can be directed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu. Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated.

Instructional Design and Training, the Teaching and Learning Center, and the Professional Development Center invite you to register for our September and October workshops.

September

Electronic Course Evaluations: EvaluationKIT
Tuesday, September 11, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

What are High-Impact Practices Anyway?
Wednesday, September 12, 10:00 a.m. to noon, Chase Hall 109

Making Accessible Content: Word and PDF
Wednesday, September 12, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Blackboard Learn 9.1: Communication and Collaboration Tools
Thursday, September 13, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Microsoft Forms for Easy Surveys
Thursday, September 13, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Teaching and Learning Center Breakfast Conversation
Friday, September 14, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., Twin Rise 102

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
Monday, September 17, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Blackboard Ally
Monday, September 17, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Facilitating and Structuring Productive Meetings and Committees
Tuesday, September 18, 12:15 to 3:15 p.m., Chase Hall 109

The Fulbright Experience: Tips and Guidance for a Successful Application
Thursday, September 20, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., Chase Hall 109

Strategies for Classroom Management
Tuesday, September 25, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., Chase Hall 109

Strengthening Leadership Through Emotional and Social Intelligence
Wednesday, September 26, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Chase Hall 109

Blackboard Learn 9.1: Grade Center
Wednesday, September 26, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Electronic Course Evaluations: EvaluationKIT
Friday, September 28, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

October

Microsoft Forms for Easy Surveys
Wednesday, October 10, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Crucial Confrontations: Developing the Skills to Effectively Manage Conflict
Friday, October 12, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Chase Hall 109

Design Thinking for Improving Services: A Crash Course
Monday, October 15, 10:00 to 11:45 a.m., Chase Hall 109

Ensemble–Campus Video Solution–Introduction and Demo
Tuesday, October 16, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Ensemble Anthem–Screen, Webcam, and Audio Recordings From Your Desk
Thursday, October 18, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

An Introduction to the Institutional Review Board at Buffalo State
Thursday, October 18, 1:00 to 2:15 p.m., Chase Hall 109

Blackboard Ally
Friday, October 19, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

Rethinking Productivity Using Campus Technology: Methods for Managing Time and Tasks
Monday, October 22, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Chase Hall 109

The Art of Storytelling
Tuesday, October 23, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Chase Hall 109

Instructional Resources to Pedagogic Techno-Fetishism
Wednesday, October 23, 12:15 to 1:00 p.m., Buckham Hall B145

OneDrive to Help Organize Your Department
Monday, October 29, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., Bulger Communication Center 122

To view all of our workshops, please visit the Workshop Registration System.

Please join us for the Professional Development Center’s workshop “Strengthening Leadership through Emotional and Social Intelligence,” presented by Jonathan Hulbert, director of leadership and organizational development, on Wednesday, September 26, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Chase Hall 109.

Emotional and social intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions effectively in ourselves and in others. Leaders with high emotional and social intelligence are typically the top performers at their institutions and work more effectively with others than their peers. As a result of this session, faculty, staff, and administrators will be able to

• understand the connection between emotional and social intelligence, job performance, and leadership effectiveness; ?
• improve self-awareness and self-management during stressful situations and conflict;
• identify personal leadership-style preferences and strategies for using other leadership styles to attain goals; and
• identify developmental pathways to further enhance leadership effectiveness.

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