Please join us for the Professional Science Master's seminar "Quartz Crystal Microbalance: Increasing Sensitivity of QCM Sensor with Polymers," presented by Ho Yeon Yoo, Ph.D., research scientist in the Chemistry Department at Buffalo State College, on Thursday, March 8, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 173.

High molecular weight porous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films sensitive to water vapor were produced on a QCM crystal by first dip coating the quartz crystal into polymer solutions containing both PMMA and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). After drying, these films were leached with water to remove the PEO, which created porous PMMA films. The most sensitive film to water vapor contained both high molecular weight PMMA and PEO as film components. Porous PMMA films made from high molecular weights of both components comprising PMMA/PEO blended polymers had higher water vapor sensitivities. The molecular weight of the PMMA in a nonporous film only had a small effect on its water vapor sensitivity. The approach used in this research is general and can be used to increase the sensitivity of gas sensors in which the polymer that is leached by water (or other solvent) contains a functional group sensitive to a targeted volatile species.

The Admissions Office will host its Spring Open House on Saturday, April 14, from 9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This program is designed to highlight Buffalo State’s academic departments, student services, and campus life for all accepted students.

Visitors will gather in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall for a welcome at 9:15 a.m. Campus programming will begin at 9:45 a.m. and continue until 1:00 p.m.

Students and families can choose from a wide range of programs at Open House. Academic departments will present individually to those students who are specifically interested in their major programs. Tours of the campus, athletic facilities, library, and residence halls will give students an opportunity to envision life on campus. Financial Aid and Admissions representatives will be available to meet with students one-on-one. There will also be an “Excelsior Scholarship” presentation, which will contain general information about this program, and a “Your Best Choice” presentation for students who are still deciding what they would like to study. Student services offices and student groups will meet with visitors in the Campbell Student Union.

View the full Open House schedule (PDF, 4.2 MB).

If you know anyone who is interested in attending Buffalo State, feel free to extend an invitation to Open House. Registration is available online.

Please contact Tom Karanas , admissions adviser, with questions.

Please join us for a "Business Planning" discussion and workshop on Friday, March 9, at 3:00 p.m. in our Student INC.Ubator, Buckham Hall A107. No idea is too small or too large. This workshop will offer various tools and resources on how to further develop your business idea into a solid and focused business plan. This workshop is open to all students and is free of charge. The workshop will include the following:

• Questions to consider when starting your small business
• Business plan outline and overview
• Questions and discussion

RSVP to Olivia Harbol, INC.Ubator student manager, 878-4030.

The Buffalo State Theater Department is proud to present its annual dance concert, Movers and Shakers: Dance as Activism, choreographed and performed by students.

Movers and Shakers is a call to action for the choreographers, the dancers, and the audience. Each student choreographer reflects on what moves him or her socially, emotionally, and spiritually as well as physically. Students exercise their creative voices to bring their convictions to life. Choreography is a powerful civic tool when dancers embody critical global issues and move to convey justice. Witness how the choreographers blend dance with thoughts of social change. Our hope is to inspire and reawaken your concern for injustice, ignite your personal activism, and effect positive change. Exemplify democratic values, ideals, and process. Join the YOUTHQUAKE and be heard!

Performances will be held Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9, at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, March 10, at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 878-3005, or in person at the Rockwell Hall Box Office.

The Buffalo State community is saddened by the death of Rand L. Schuster, professor emeritus of design, who died February 27, 2018. Mr. Schuster retired in 2005. A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 8, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery on Niagara Street (between Vulcan Street and Crowley Avenue) in Buffalo. More information is available online.

Academic Commons invites the campus community to attend the following candidate presentations for the position of assistant director of advising:

Candidate 1
??Monday, March 12
11:00–11:40 a.m.
Caudell Hall 127 

Candidate 2
Tuesday, March 13
11:00–11:40 a.m.
Caudell Hall 127

Candidate 3
?Wednesday, March 14
1:00–1:40 p.m.
Caudell Hall 208
(Please note time and room change)

Attendees can view candidate application materials at each presentation and provide feedback via an online link shared at the session.

The Student Council for Exceptional Children and Buffalo State Best Buddies will host this year’s Spread the Word to End the Word campaign Tuesday, March 6, through Thursday, March 8. Volunteers will staff tables in the Campbell Student Union lobby from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. to raise people’s awareness of the derogatory use of the R-word (retard or retarded) and its negative effects on people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and friends. Please come to show your support and sign the pledge to stop using these words, and please encourage your students to do the same.

Spread the Word to End the Word (STW) is a nationwide campaign whose mission is to raise people’s awareness and change attitudes of segregation and hate to attitudes of acceptance and respect. For the past seven years, the support for our campuswide campaign of STW has grown immensely. Last year, almost 800 faculty, students, and staff pledged not to use the R-word. This year, we hope to increase that number.

A nighttime event celebrating inclusion, diversity, and respect will also be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, in Butler Library 210. All are welcome. Please join us for speakers, live music, activities, food, and art displays.

We hope individuals in the campus community will sign the pledge to Spread the Word to End the Word, and we hope you do, too.

Buffalo State's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is accepting new members and conducting training for new members in March and April.  ?

CERT educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may affect their area and trains them in basic disaster response. Using training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhoods or workplaces following an event when professional responders are not immediately available. CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their communities.

CERT is also fun. A new class begins soon. Please e-mail CERT as soon as possible to sign up. Some preparation is necessary to be completed ahead of time. All faculty and staff members are welcome.

New Classes
Wednesday mornings in Caudell Hall 127

March 14 – Light Rescue
March 21 – Fire Safety
April 11 – Terrorism
April 25 – Disaster Psychology

The first class (March 14) begins at 9:30 a.m. Classes run for an hour and a half to two hours. More details will be announced after sign-up.

Both undergraduate students and faculty mentors are invited to attend one of the following information sessions to learn more about the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship (USRF) program. The USRF program supports eight weeks of full-time research, scholarly, and creative activities for Buffalo State students with a graduation date of December 2018 or later. Each fellowship provides a student summer stipend of $3,000, a faculty summer salary of $1,000, and $500 for travel, supplies, or equipment.

Attend either session to hear suggestions for identifying a project, completing the online application, resources for mentors, and program expectations. Both sessions will be held in Science and Mathematics Complex 178.

Thursday, March 15  |  12:15–1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 21  |  Noon–1:30 p.m.

To learn more about the USRF program, please visit the Undergraduate Research website.

Explore and learn more about open educational resources with four webinars from SUNY and SUNY OER Services in celebration of Open Education Week, March 5–9.