Representatives from the Empire Plan, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, and Independent Health will be on campus to answer questions about current health insurance plans and anticipated changes in coverage for 2017 on Thursday, December 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210.

Staff members from the Employee Benefits Office will also be present to assist employees in making changes to health insurance coverage.

Attendees may also obtain dental and vision benefit information, have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked, find out their body mass and pulse indexes, learn the benefits of and sample massage therapy, and consult with specialists on smoking cessation and weight loss—all free of charge. Obtain helpful information regarding the Buffalo State Employee Assistance Program and meet EAP coordinators.

Please call Human Resource Management at 878-2421 with questions.

Academic Support Programs announces its culminating student workshop of the semester, "Finals: You Can Do This; We'll Show You How," today, December 6, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Technology Building 358. Offered by study skills specialist Lauren Copeland, the workshop will emphasize adapting study skills to deadline pressure, using course notes to maximum benefit, and reducing and managing stress. The workshop is a joint effort with the college’s new Academic Achievement Center. As always, all workshops are free. Download the printable poster (PDF, 347 KB) from the center’s website with relevant details.

All faculty and staff are invited to International Speed Dating, an event hosted by the School of Education's International Professional Development Schools (IPDS) Consortium on Thursday, December 8 from 4-5 pm in the Campus House.
 
This event provides an opportunity for campus faculty and staff to learn about the many paths to participation in our unique IPDS programs. Whether you are a full-time or part-time faculty member, a periodic lecturer, or an administrative staff member…there are ways that you can become involved.
 
IPDS programs are short-term opportunities that include a pre-travel semester course, travel abroad during the interim months, and visits from partner colleagues to Buffalo. The programs are specifically designed to meet the personal, academic, and professional development needs of Buffalo State’s teacher candidates, with activities and partnerships organized in local schools, universities, and communities.
 
The event program begins at 4:10 pm. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. The bar will be open for cash sales and networking. Please RSVP to Tamara Horstman-Riphahn.
 
From Chile to China, the Dominican Republic to Germany, Honduras to Italy, and Rwanda to Zambia…we want to fill your passport and your international goals! Please join us!

Academic Support Programs announces its culminating student workshop of the semester, "Finals: You Can Do This; We'll Show You How," on Tuesday, December 6, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Technology Building 358. Offered by study skills specialist Lauren Copeland, the workshop will emphasize adapting study skills to deadline pressure, using course notes to maximum benefit, and reducing and managing stress. The workshop is a joint effort with the college’s new Academic Achievement Center. As always, all workshops are free. Download the printable poster (PDF, 347 KB) from the center’s website with relevant details.

The Burchfield Penney Holiday Artists Sale takes place Friday, December 2, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Burchfield Penney Art Center is again taking part in the Artists in Buffalo Inc. Holiday Open Studios and Galleries this year with more than 40 artists featured at the center.

More artists and gift ideas in the Museum Store—and holiday specials in Burchfield's Cafe, including Jerry's famous eggnog! Twenty percent of all sales will be donated to the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Featured artists:

Alison E. Kurek
Antimony Designs by Julia Skop
Aremel Soaps by Robin Lenhard
Art FX Glass by Catherine O’Connor
At 88 textile designs
AVALON
BAM Pottery by Bruce A McCausland
Banyon Bags by Nancy R. Hesketh
Baun Galleries by John Baun 
Blessings by Nature by Paula D'Amico
Buffalo Etchings by Tim Kosowski
Buffalo Gal Organics by Kasia Cummings
BuffaloHistoryBuff by Lauren and Eric Woods
Buffalo Roots by Eta Rottenberg
Christine's Wild Imagination by Christine Kellemen
CoyoteCandles by Beth Ann Sullivan
Dayna Banka Slone
dna jewelry designs by Donna Angelo
Everyday Earthware by Sarah Cozzemera
Gizmo's Creations by Lisa Paolucci
Gretchen Cole Jewelry
Jodi Waller’s JLynne pottery
Joyfulenergy Jewelry by Jayne Hughes
Junko McGee’s Earth Art
Just Beachy by Sandy Amoia
Kissed by the Sun Spice Co by Rick Fickhesen
Lewiston Jellies by James Malley
Lily-Kat Designs by Judy Liberante
Little Wood People by Barbara Hart
Lynn Schwab Jewelry
Missy Crowell
Mundo Images by Ann Peterson
Raveloe Fibers by Linda Collignon
roadkiln by Shaun Silverwood
Rosanna's Art Clay
Sarah Blackman
The Sparkwork Studio by Catherine Southwick
Susan Hettrich Makoczy
Wise Woman Designs by Michelle Collins
ZanieCrafts by Suzanne O'Brien
ZenJoy by Jackie LoVullo

The following Blackboard training sessions and workshops will be held in December:

• Blackboard Learn 9.1: Student Performance and Retention Center
• Blackboard Learn 9.1: Achievement Badges
• Blackboard Learn 9.1: Smart Views
• Blackboard Learn 9.1: Open Lab

Open Lab is an open forum devoted to answering questions and solving problems that faculty members may have about navigating Blackboard Learn 9.1. Bring your course-specific questions and have them answered here, or export/import your course in preparation for J-Term or the spring semester.

Detailed descriptions of each training session (PDF,193 KB) are available on the RITE website. All sessions will be held in Bulger Communication Center 122 or in a virtual webinar format.

All workshops are suitable for instructors teaching face-to-face, hybrid, or online courses. All workshop presentations will be one hour and are limited to 10 participants. The instructor will be available for an additional 30 minutes after each workshop for additional questions and discussion.

Please register online through the Workshop Registration System.

Join us in celebrating Computer Science Education Week on Thursday, December 8, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in the Technology Building main lobby.

Encourage your students to stop by to play video games or interact with digital stories, visit multimedia websites, or try out the apps—all developed by freshman students. Recognize the tremendous job growth in the computer industry, which is causing a shortage of computing professionals in the United States. Discover what women and minorities have contributed to computer science and find out how you can get involved with the Women in Computing Club. Stop by for refreshments and enter your name in a raffle prize drawing sponsored by McGraw-Hill.

Want to know what's new with technology on campus? Want to know what's coming? Want to know more about technology resources on campus? Well, here you go! It's the RITE Report (PDF, 14.6 MB), to be published once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester. The report is located on the RITE website under "About RITE"; click on "Newsletters."

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 (or will graduate) 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, 2017. Please direct questions to Marnie Letzelter, assistant to the dean of the Graduate School, 878-5609.

The Buffalo State Student Political Society (SPS) will sponsor a trip to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of the president of the United States on Friday, January 20. We will leave the Buffalo State campus in the early hours of Friday and return on Saturday after witnessing the official swearing in of our next president. Space is limited for this trip. Any students in good standing at Buffalo State who are interested should contact the organization at spsbuffalostate@gmail.com by noon Thursday, December 8, to reserve a space. First come, first served. The majority of the expenses for the trip will be provided by SPS through USG and the mandatory student activity fee. Please join us on this adventure!