Effective September 4, 2018, a Roth option (after-tax) will be added to the 403(b) Voluntary Savings Plan.

The new Roth option will give you the opportunity for a payroll deduction on an after-tax basis with the potential to withdraw earnings on a tax-free basis in retirement. More information is available on the SUNY Benefits website at www.suny.edu/benefits or you can pick up an informational flyer in the Benefits Office (Cleveland Hall 410).

Highlights of the Roth 403(b):

• Money invested in the Roth option is taxed when it is deducted from your paycheck.
• You will be allowed to split your 403(b) contributions between the after-tax (Roth) and pretax (traditional) options.
• Earnings are income tax-free upon qualified distribution, which you can receive once you are separated from service, are at least age 59˝, and it has been at least five taxable years since the initial Roth deposit.
• Roth investments can also be made by transferring all or a portion of your traditional pretax voluntary 403(b) contributions, as an “in-plan conversion.” 
• The same investment options are available for both the traditional (pretax) and the Roth (after-tax) account balances under the 403(b) Voluntary Savings Plan.
• Please note: Loans are not permitted from the Roth 403(b).

To enroll or make changes to your current account go to www.retirementatwork.org/suny. If you would like to meet with a financial adviser, you can find our campus representatives at https://hr.buffalostate.edu/orp-one-one-consultations.

The Newman Center at Buffalo State will gather as a community of faith to formally open the academic year and celebrate the Annual Convocation and Liturgy of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. We welcome all members of the community to join with students, staff, faculty, family, and friends for Mass. This year, we will honor Marcia Sypniewski of the Business Services Office with the John Henry Cardinal Newman Award in recognition of her support of Catholic Campus Ministry.

Faculty and staff members are invited to march in the academic procession. Academic regalia is encouraged. A light reception will follow the Mass. To help us prepare for this event, please contact us at newmancenter@buffalostate.edu or 882-1080 if you plan to attend. Please include your name and the number of people who will attend.

The Fashion and Textile Technology Department is hosting a guest speaker on Thursday, September 6, at 12:30 p.m. in Technology Building 160. Susan Lapetina, senior vice president of education and corporate marketing at the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) will talk about technological innovation and the changes and challenges that the U.S. apparel industry is facing nationally and globally. We invite all students interested in pursuing a career in the fashion retailing industry to attend.

The Music Department's Early Childhood Music and Movement classes for children from birth to age 5 begin Saturday, September 8. To register, please visit the Music Department website.

The Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman Art Conservation Department will host its annual clinic for historic and artistic works needing conservation treatment on Friday, September 28. A few appointments remain for those with objects and paper conservation projects. Objects are three-dimensional artifacts made of materials such as ceramic, metal, glass, stone, wood, or composite constructions. Paper artwork is often defined as watercolors, prints, drawings, letters, documents, or rare books. Please call 878-5025 for an appointment.

Buff State Alert is the campus emergency notification system. Students, faculty, and staff members who wish to enroll in Buff State Alert or modify their contact preferences (e.g., update a cell phone number) may do so by visiting https://buffstatealert.buffalostate.edu and logging in with their Buffalo State user name and password. Anyone who does not have a Buffalo State user name or password can still sign up for text messages only from Buff State Alert by texting the word “buffalostate” to 79516.

Buff State Alert is used only to convey messages regarding serious safety issues, utility failures, or weather-related campuswide closures and cancellations. Buff State Alert is capable of sending text messages, recorded voice messages, and e-mail messages to multiple addresses and phone numbers. In addition, the system is capable of immediately posting messages to the Buffalo State home page, social media sites, the campus cable system, and select video message boards.

Personal data provided to Buff State Alert will not be used for any other purpose or for campus information broadcast. If you have questions about Buff State Alert, please call (716) 878-4357 or e-mail the RITE Support Desk.

Buffalo State's Anne Frank Project is thrilled to host its 10th annual social justice festival. We invite students, faculty, staff, and community members to participate and volunteer. As with past years, we appreciate professors redirecting class to the sessions. AFP 2018's schedule of unique events has workshops, performances, and exhibits that examine the theme through many lenses.

AFP 2018: Repair the World. The Time is NOW!

October 2 and 3

The past year has seen unparalleled changes in western philosophies, morals, and ethics. If parts of our world are indeed breaking, is it not our responsibility to repair them? Anne Frank dreamed of a world where "tikkun olam" (repair the world) was not just spoken, but practiced. AFP 2018 encourages presenters to share methods, practices, and experiences that teach tools and vocabulary to repair the world. 

Visit the AFP 2018 website for the full schedule, registration, and volunteer opportunities. 

Questions? Please e-mail Eve Everette.

All registration-related activity for fall 2018 must be completed in Banner by 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 3. Students will then have the ability to Late Add courses starting at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, September 4, and ending at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, September 13. A student who wishes to add a course during this time frame will be able to add the class to their Add or Drop Classes Worksheet in Banner self-service (SSB). This action will generate an e-mail that the student can forward to the course instructor. If the faculty member accepts the request, he or she will enter an Instructor Permission override for the student in Banner, and the student will then register for the course. It is important to note that students are strongly encouraged to be attending the course and as up-to-date as possible when asking for instructor permission through the late add process. Each successful late add processed will be assessed a $20 late add fee.

Flu season is right around the corner and Buffalo State would like to help you and your family stay healthy through our flu immunization program.

Flu vaccines will be available for faculty and staff members in Campbell Student Union Room 415 on Wednesday September 19, and Thursday, October 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

No appointment is necessary. Most insurance plans accepted (BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, Independent Health, Blue Choice, MVP, and Medicare Part B). Employees without a participating insurance plan will be charged $30 for the flu shot.

Participation and acceptance of any insurance is not a guarantee of benefits or payment in full. Co-payments or a deductible may apply. Please call your insurance provider’s member services department with questions regarding coverage.

Empire Plan enrollees may obtain their flu shot from an Empire Plan participating pharmacy without copay or at their doctor’s office (participating provider) for their usual co-pay should they wish to do so.

Please call Employee Benefits at ext. 4821 or the member services department of your insurance company with questions regarding your health insurance coverage. The phone number should be on your insurance card.

The 19th annual Faculty and Staff Research and Creativity Fall Forum will be held Thursday, October 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the 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 webpage under the Call for Submissions tab. Titles and abstracts or descriptions should be submitted electronically by Sunday, September 30. Display space per submission is limited to one five-foot table or two easels.

Please contact Hongliang (Jimmy) Xu with questions.