Yahoo told us that in 2016, over 1.5 billion of its users had their accounts compromised. Resolve to change your Buffalo State password today.

In addition to your Buffalo State password, why not change all your passwords? And resolve to change your passwords every three months. Never use the same password for more than one account.

Before you reset your password, read the Ouch! newsletter on setting strong passwords.

What is phishing? Phishing is a social engineering (PDF, 408 KB) tactic used by nefarious human beings to trick you into providing your personal information. Once they gather it, phishers use your personal information for a variety of activities. These activities may include using your identity and credit to make purchases; using your computer to get into other computers or onto a network, where they can harvest the personal information of thousands of people in addition to yours; manipulating you to send them money; installing malicious software (malware) on your computer; or hijacking your files and requiring you to pay ransom to regain access to them. Rather than try to get past security systems designed to protect networks, phishers go after you, the human. We humans are the weakest link in the chain.

Please take a moment to watch this video about phishing. Being aware of phishing techniques and being mindful when opening and reading e-mail will help keep you, your family, and the campus safe.

The Small Business Development Center will present “Survive and Thrive: Essentials for Starting Your Own Business,” a workshop covering all the essential information needed to start a business, on Tuesday, January 24, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Burchfield Penney Art Center (second floor). Specific topics will include creating a business plan; competition analysis; and tax, legal, and insurance issues. The workshop is free for Buffalo State College faculty, staff, students, and alumni as well as U.S. military veterans and $20 for all others.

Registration will take place immediately before the workshop, from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. To register in advance, please call the SBDC at 878-4030.

Project proposals are due tomorrow, January 5, for the second annual Fostering Innovation in Teaching with Technology (FITT) Academy, which will be held June 5–9. The FITT Academy is a hands-on, project-specific faculty development opportunity sponsored by Resources for Information, Technology, and Education (RITE). Additional information on the FITT Academy can be found on the RITE website.

Please join teacher education participants of the IPDS-Dominican Republic program as they observe and teach in local schools, learn Spanish, volunteer with young girls at the Mariposa DR Foundation, conduct educational research, and engage in cultural tours and activities in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, from January 3 to 20. The students will share and reflect on their experiences abroad through individual travel blogs. Wish them well and read about their adventures by following—and commenting on—their blog posts.

This year's cohort, led by Tamara Horstman-Riphahn, executive assistant to the dean of the School of Education, and Wendy McLeish, lecturer in the Elementary Education and Reading Department, consists of 15 teacher candidates: three exceptional education and 12 elementary education and reading students. This is the third cohort to travel to the Dominican Republic through the International Professional Development Schools Consortium, which is designed to engage teacher education candidates in short-term travel and service-learning activities that globalize their understanding and experience of education.

Brent Peterson, Fidelity director and retirement planner, will be on campus on Thursday, January 26, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210B to confidentially meet with you regarding your particular retirement needs. Appointments are required.

Mr. Peterson can assist you with managing your retirement savings goals, reviewing your investment choices, building a plan that’s easy to put into action, or setting up a SUNYORP account with Fidelity Investments.

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

Fidelity can help make your plans possible. Sign up today!

Michael Spogli, TIAA’s financial consultant, will be on campus to meet with Buffalo State faculty and staff members between 9:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, and Thursday, January 12, in Butler Library 210B. Appointments are required.

Take this opportunity to discuss your personal financial situation and be sure that you are saving enough for your retirement, that your investments are properly allocated, and that you are on track to meet your retirement goals. Don’t delay; schedule an appointment today. It’s easy: simply visit the TIAA website.

United University Professions (UUP) announces two scholarship opportunities for SUNY students: the UUP College Scholarship Fund Undergraduate Award and the William Scheuerman Postbaccalaureate Scholarship.

The UUP College Scholarship provides a one-time award of $3,000 to SUNY undergraduates who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, social justice issues, and labor ideals. Applicants must also demonstrate personal and academic achievement and display a strong record of community service. Eligible applicants must be full-time undergraduates who have completed at least 18 credit hours at any SUNY state-operated campus with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75. Details and application forms (PDF, 448 KB) are available on the UUP website. The application deadline is March 1, 2017.

The William Scheuerman Postbaccalaureate Scholarship provides a one-time award of $3,000 to full-time graduate or professional SUNY students. Applicants must have completed at least 9 credit hours and hold a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.95. Law and health science students must have completed at least one full semester. Eligible applicants must exhibit dedication to the goals and ideals of the labor union movement, demonstrate personal and academic achievement, and display a strong record of community service. This annual scholarship is named in honor of former UUP president William Scheuerman. Details and application forms (PDF, 102 KB) are available on the UUP website. The application deadline is March 1, 2017.

These are one-time awards, but students may reapply each year.

Students may obtain complete details and applications for these and other scholarships through UUP’s website. For more information, please contact the UUP Administrative Office in Albany at (800) 342-4206.

Three of the UUP undergraduate scholarships are awarded in honor of former UUP members and their families who generously contributed their time and money to the scholarship fund. These scholarships honor the late Eugene Link of SUNY Plattsburgh; the late Robert Carter of SUNY Oswego and his wife, Katherine; and the late Gertrude Butera of SUNY Alfred.

UUP represents 35,000 academic faculty and professional staff members on 29 New York state-operated campuses, including SUNY’s public teaching hospitals and health science centers in Brooklyn, Buffalo, Long Island, and Syracuse. UUP is an affiliate of NYSUT, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and the AFL-CIO.

The J-Term 2017 grading window will close Sunday, January 29, at 9:00 p.m. Detailed documentation for entering grades (PDF, 191 KB) is available on the Banner website. Assistance is available from the RITE Support Desk at 878-4357 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you have questions about grading, please call the Registrar's Office at 878-4811. We have provided a grading tip sheet (PDF, 617 KB) to assist you in successful grading.

The grading window for J-Term 2017 grading is now open and will close Sunday, January 29, at 9:00 p.m. Faculty members will enter their J-Term grades using Banner. Detailed documentation for entering grades (PDF, 191 KB) is available on the Banner website. Additionally, assistance is available by calling the RITE Support Desk at 878-4357 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about grading, please call the Registrar's Office at 878-4811. We have provided a grading tip sheet (PDF, 617 KB) to assist you in successful grading.