Butler Library is seeking publications or creative works for display in the Faculty-Staff Scholarly Exhibits case in our lower lobby. Faculty and staff members who have current publications or creative works that they would like included should complete the Faculty-Staff Scholarly Exhibits form.

Please contact Katie Bertel, academic outreach and engagement librarian, with questions.

The ebrary e-book platform has a new name and a new look. Ebrary is now Ebook Central. See the new interface.

?Bookshelves in ebrary can be migrated to Ebook Central following this guide: http://libanswers.buffalostate.edu/faq/169768. Old links to ebrary materials should redirect for several months.

Please contact Joe Riggie, information systems librarian, 878-6320, with questions.

The Research and Creativity Council Incentive Program is accepting applications until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 28, for funds to promote faculty creativity and research. Please submit completed applications (PDF, 251 KB) to the Sponsored Programs Pre-award and Contract Services Office in Bishop Hall 24. Three council members have been appointed to review all applications received by the above deadline.

Incentive funds administered by the Research and Creativity Council are intended to promote faculty creativity and research. Their ultimate goal is to generate additional funded programs. At the end of the award period, recipients are required to submit a report documenting the use of the funds. They are then required to submit a grant proposal within the following year to an outside sponsoring agency through the Sponsored Programs Pre-award and Contract Services Office. Submitting a proposal through the Buffalo State College Foundation does not meet this requirement. Recipients are also obligated to participate in the Faculty and Staff Fall Forum, which takes place in October.

Expenditures considered for support under this program include travel to consult with a funding source, secretarial assistance, student assistance, consultation with grant specialists, preparation of specialized support materials for proposal (e.g., graphs, drawings, resource books), release time, and any other expense that can be justified. Funds cannot be requested for the purchase of computers, laptops, etc. Also, it is not the council’s intention to directly pay an individual for writing a proposal.

Brent Peterson, retirement planner from Fidelity Investments, will meet with Buffalo State faculty and staff members regarding their individual retirement needs on Thursday, January 26, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210B. Appointments are required.

Fidelity understands that you are busy managing multiple financial priorities, which can make planning for retirement a challenge. Why not let Fidelity assist you in making sure you are on track toward a future that is unique to you?

Start the year off right by ensuring that you are saving enough for your retirement. Make sure that you are investing properly and that you are on track with your retirement savings. Find out how to bring your retirement savings together. Set up a SUNYORP account with Fidelity Investments if you have not already.

To schedule your free, confidential, one-on-one appointment, call 844-FOR-SUNY or register online. Consider bringing relevant account statements and any paperwork to help address your retirement questions.

Fidelity has built its reputation by helping people create the future they envision. Put their experience to work for you. Schedule an appointment today!

Join the conversation for "Why Accessibility Matters," Modules 1 and 2 of the Accessibility: Designing and Teaching Courses for All Learners (#AccessMOOC), on Thursday, February 16, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Bulger Communication Center 120.

#AccessMOOC is an on-demand professional development MOOC co-developed by Buffalo State and Empire State College. Register to join the conversation through the Workshop Registration System and also register for the course on Canvas Network to gain access to the content that will be discussed in this session.

Accessibility: Designing and Teaching Courses for All Learners (#AccessMOOC) is an on-demand professional development MOOC co-developed by Buffalo State and Empire State College. The course will provide participants with an understanding of accessibility as a civil rights issue and help them develop the knowledge and skills needed to design learning experiences that promote inclusive learning environments. Register at Canvas Network and join the campus conversation. Full participation in the Canvas coursea will provide you with the opportunity to earn badges for each topic or module.

Information within #AccessMOOC is self-paced, so you can take as long as you want to complete, it but we encourage you to join members of Instructional Design and Training and Student Accessibility Services during the following times to discuss the suggested topics:

• "Why Accessibility Matters" Modules 1 and 2  
  Thursday, February 16
  9:30–10:30 a.m.
  Bulger Communication Center 120
• "Universal Design for Learning" Modules 3 & 4
  Thursday, March 2
  10:00–11:00 a.m.
  Bulger Communication Center 120
• "Tools and Technologies for Accessibility" Modules 5 & 6
  Friday, March 17
  9:30–10:30 a.m.
  Bulger Communication Center 120

Register for these sessions and enjoy light refreshments sponsored by United University Professionals (UUP).

Applications for the Robert J. Elmes Jr. Memorial Scholarship are now available for the spring 2017 semester. All CSEA local 640 members and their dependent children registered at Buffalo State College for at least 3 credit hours for the spring 2017 semester may apply for the $250 scholarship. Applications were mailed to all CSEA members and must be completed and returned to Mary Codick, secretary 1 in the Teacher Certification Office, Chase Hall 222, by Wednesday, February 1. If you did not receive an application or need a new one, please contact Mary Codick, 878-6121.

Please note that beginning with the fall 2017 scholarship cycle, the Robert J. Elmes Jr. Memorial Scholarship will be administered through the Campus Application Portal for Scholarships (CAPS). This is the last semester that paper applications will be mailed to CSEA members. In the future, members will be notified of the scholarship application and deadlines via e-mail and the Daily Bulletin.

Please take some time to visit the Scholarships section of the Financial Aid website and become familiar with the CAPS platform. The Elmes scholarship application for fall 2017 should be operational within CAPS by late spring or early summer. The Elmes Committee, composed of CSEA members, will continue to determine eligibility and awards through this new platform, and the selection criteria will not change. Please contact Ms. Codick, Elmes Committee chair, 878-6121, with questions about the transition.

Thank you and good luck.

Registration in Banner for spring 2017 ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, January 29. Students will be able to add themselves to a waitlist in Banner until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, January 24. If a seat becomes available, the next student on the waitlist will be notified via e-mail. The student will then have 24 hours or until the established drop/add deadline to register for the course. Please visit the Registrar's website for detailed information on waitlisting.

The Graduate Advisory Council announces a call for nominations for Outstanding Master’s Theses and Outstanding Master’s Projects. The purpose of these awards is to recognize outstanding student research and applied work at the graduate level. Up to three thesis awards and three project awards will be made. Applications will be accepted for students who have graduated in J-term 2016, May 2016, August 2016, or December 2016.

Nominations may be made by thesis or project advisers, or by students themselves. Additional reviews are required from the department chair and one external evaluator. Guidelines and forms are available on the Graduate School website.

The deadline for submission of nominations and evaluation forms to the Graduate School, Cleveland Hall 204, is Wednesday, February 8. Please direct questions to Marnie Letzelter, assistant to the dean of the Graduate School, 878-5609.

The Registrar's Office is excited to announce that, effective with the spring 2017 semester, students will have the ability to Late Add courses via Banner self-service (SSB). Beginning the second week of classes, when regular registration activity typically ends, students who wish to register for a course will be able to add the class to their Add or Drop Courses Worksheet in Banner self-service (SSB). This will generate an e-mail that students can forward to course instructors. If faculty members choose to accept the request, they will enter an override for the students in Banner, and students will then register themselves in the course.

This new process will begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday, January 30. Faculty members can provide overrides until 11:59 p.m. February 8, and students will have until 11:59 p.m. February 9 to act on any permissions they have been granted. More information on this new process can be found on the Registrar's website.