Please join us for a panel discussion, "A Celebration of Trees: Charles Burchfield and the Buffalo State Arboretum" on Thursday, September 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

As part of the exhibition Burchfield’s Arboretum, on view at the Burchfield Penney Art Center until December 2, the center presents a panel discussion celebrating trees and the past and present efforts of members and friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum.

Edna M. Lindemann and others at Buffalo State College founded the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum in 1962. This collection of trees planted throughout the campus was started, in part, because of the loss of the American elm trees that once lined Elmwood Avenue and other streets in the city of Buffalo to Dutch elm disease. In 1966, Dr. Lindemann became founding director of the Charles Burchfield Center, now the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Today this important collection, which has changed in many ways over the years, is maintained by Buffalo State College and supported by the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum, a group founded in 2016 to work with campus and community members to support and restore the arboretum and make it an accredited arboretum that is recognized as being among the best in the United States.

The panel will be moderated by exhibition curator Tullis Johnson.

Panelists:

Sarah Chapman, horticulture supervisor of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum at Buffalo State. She holds a B.A. in media study from the University at Buffalo and an A.S. in horticulture from Niagara County Community College. She has worked as an industry professional for 10 years, earning her Certified Nursery and Landscaper (CNLP) status in the process. She currently serves on the executive board of the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum.

Susan McCartney, special adviser to the provost for economic development at Buffalo State and director of the Buffalo State Small Business Development Center. She is a member of the executive board for the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum. She holds degrees in biology (B.S.), art history (B.A.), management (M.B.A.), and higher education administration (Ph.D.). She is deeply engaged in the community and her areas of expertise include entrepreneurship, strategic management, and urban economic development.

Robert Warren, associate professor of biology at Buffalo State. He is a member of the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum and director of the Center for Urban Ecology Research. He holds degrees in journalism (B.A.), biology (M.S.), and ecology (Ph.D.) and completed postdoctoral work in biology and environmental studies. His area of expertise is global change ecology, which focuses on the impacts of climate change, non-native species, and anthropogenic land-use on ecological interactions.

Rita M. Zientek, associate dean of the School of the Professions at Buffalo State. She holds degrees in accounting (B.S.), student personnel administration (M.S.), and higher education administration (Ph.D.). Along with Dr. McCartney, she devised the idea of creating the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum group as a way to work with Karen O’Quin, chair of the Campus Beautification Committee, to enhance the look of the campus.

This event is free with gallery admission. Gallery admission is free for Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students and Burchfield Penney members.

Please join us as Wende Mix, associate professor of geography and planning, kicks off the Professional Science Master's Programs Fall Speaker Series with her presentation "Data, Data Everywhere" on Thursday, September 13, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Technology Building 160.

Dr. Mix will discuss the enormous availability of free data and how to recognize what is suitable. The presentation will highlight how mapping of open data helps us to clarify what is useful and helps us to better explain valuable information. The presentation is open to all.

For more information, contact Diane Marra, coordinator, professional science master's programs, at 878-5295.

Please join us for "Nanotechnology Realized through Photovoltaics: Science, Society, and the Future," a presentation by Saquib Ahmed, assistant professor of engineering technology, on Thursday, September 13, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Bulger Communication Center 215.

This talk will focus on one of the most revolutionary uses of nanotechnology—the area of solar energy or photovoltaics (PV). The talk will cover basic solar cell device physics and touch upon the various generations of PV technologies on the market. Importantly, beyond the science, it will delve into a range of topics that dictate the success of the PV industry, including PV commercial viability, markets, grid parity, and growth.

The talk will also touch on a few critical general themes of nanotechnology for the present era: artificial intelligence (AI) and its emergence in nanoscience applications; process flow innovations and challenges in the semiconductor manufacturing industry; and the ethical, legal, and social implications of nanotechnology and their constant evolution.

All members of the Teacher Education Unit are invited to attend the Teacher Education Council meeting on Friday, September 14, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the Carmine A. Grande Conference Room, Cleveland Hall 418. Current issues in teacher education and assessment will be discussed.

Student participation is needed for a study in cultural fluency and engagement. The purpose of the study is to explore students’ understanding of and interest in cultural differences and influences on their educational experiences.

All full- and part-time faculty and staff members with teaching responsibilities from across the curricula are invited to have students in their classes participate in this exploratory study. Of particular interest are courses involving applied or experiential projects that engage students in work that might expose them to cultural differences. Students in your courses will be provided with links to three short surveys throughout the semester. Surveys will be administered using Qualtrics. No information is requested that would identify the course.

Interested faculty members should e-mail Ann Emo, associate professor of theater.

Members of the Students of Concern Care Team are available to attend meetings or gatherings of faculty and staff members to provide information and share strategies and techniques for working with students of concern on campus. Upon request, we will attend chairs' meetings, departmental meetings, office gatherings, or other group meetings.

Tell students: The Students of Concern Care Team seeks to identify and provide support for students in distress who may threaten harm to themselves or others. Your help in providing notice of any students of concern is essential to keeping our campus community safe. Please notify the Care Team whenever a student's behavior gives reason for uncertainty about possible harm so that we can assess the situation, develop a plan of reaction, and follow up with appropriate intervention. 

To contact the Care Team, please complete an online report, e-mail the chair, or call the Dean of Students Office at 878-4618.

Questions about the operation of the team should be addressed to Sarah M. Young, dean of students, 878-4618.

If you wish to invite members of the team to meet with your department or office to discuss "red flag" warning signs, ways to report a concern, legal or FERPA issues, or how to respond when confronted by a student in distress, please contact the Dean of Students Office.

From the Chair of the College Senate
Reports to the College Senate are posted on the College Senate website. The most recent reports are from the May 11, 2018, Senate meeting. The College Senate Standing Committee Final Reports for 2017–2018 are also posted on the Senate website.

Podcasts are now the official audio record of each College Senate meeting. If you missed a Senate meeting and want to catch up, podcasts are posted to the Senate's podcasts web page. Senate meeting summaries are also posted to the website after they are presented to the Senate.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The College Senate will hold its annual New Senator Orientation for all newly elected senators on Thursday, September 6, during Bengal Pause in the Carmine A. Grande Room, Cleveland Hall 418. This informal session, hosted by the Senate chair and parliamentarian, gives newly elected faculty, professional staff, and students the basic protocol on Senate meeting etiquette. The College Senate follows Robert’s Rules of Order as is mandated by its bylaws. Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. Please e-mail Vincent Masci, assistant to the College Senate, or phone the office at 878-5139 with questions.

From the Chair of the College Senate
College Senate meetings will be held in Bulger Communication Center 214 beginning in fall 2018, as Butler Library 210 undergoes extensive renovations. The meeting schedule for the 2018–2019 academic year (PDF, 32 KB) is posted on the Senate website.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The first College Senate meeting of the 2018–2019 academic year will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, September 14, in Bulger Communication Center 214. The meeting agenda will be posted on the College Senate website on September 7. For more information, please contact Vincent Masci, assistant to the College Senate, 878-5139.