Map-Works training sessions will be held at 8:00 a.m. Friday, October 21, and 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 26, in Butler Library 318. Map-Works is the student alert system that faculty, staff, and paraprofessionals can use to intervene proactively with students as they work toward their personal and academic goals. Sessions will provide a hands-on approach to the Map-Works software. Participants will learn how to log on and navigate the new system. These sessions are designed for new and repeat users.

Please register for either session through the Workshop Registration System.

J-Term and Spring 2017 master schedules are now available on the Registrar's Office Courses web page. Registration for both terms begins Wednesday, November 2. Students can view their scheduled registration start dates directly in Banner Self-Service. All registration-related activity begins at 6:00 a.m. on the assigned date and is then continuous. Time tickets or registration start dates are based on the total number of earned credit hours (transfer plus Buffalo State). For more information on time tickets, please view the Time Tickets web page.

The International Student Advisory Council (ISAC) is pleased to invite the campus community to a presentation by Clairissa Breen, assistant professor of criminal justice, "Department of Homeland Security, General Crime and Victimization Concerns," on Tuesday, November 29, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Jean F. Gounard, director of international student affairs, at 878-5331.

The International Student Advisory Student Council (ISAC) is pleased to invite the campus community to the talk "Rights of Internationals as They Interact with Police and the U.S. Courts System," presented by Martin Littlefield, lecturer in the Criminal Justice Department at Buffalo State, on Tuesday, November 15, from 12:10 to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Assembly Hall.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Jean F. Gounard, director of international student affairs, 878-5331.

Academic Support Programs’ Marie Ferraro will offer the Workshop to Success session "How to Prepare for and Take an Exam" on Thursday, October 27, during Bengal Pause (12:15 to 1:30 p.m.) in Butler Library 208. The session will cover how to review notes, texts, and electronic study guides; how to decide what topics are most important to learning in the course; and how to manage emotions on “game day.” The session is offered cooperatively with the new Academic Achievement Center. Please download and post the printable poster (PDF, 342 KB).

Please tell your students that tickets are on sale now for Casual Connections: A No-Nonsense Approach to Modern Manners, on Wednesday, November 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. Seats are going fast.

This year we put a new spin on the popular event formerly known as Manners Matter. Casual Connections will feature learning stations facilitated by more than 30 successful alumni and employers to network with students, teaching dining and professional skills. Instead of a formal dinner, food and drink stations will teach and challenge students just like in real professional networking events. Tickets are $10 per person, are non-refundable, and must be purchased by Friday, November 4, at the Bengal Card Office, Butler Library 108. Dining Dollars and Bengal Bucks may be used. This event has sold out every year. Get your tickets today.

The Community Academic Center—Buffalo State’s Grant Street office delivering educational programming on Buffalo's West Side—is proud to celebrate its fifth anniversary this year. Throughout the year, we will feature special events commemorating our achievements and community partnerships as well as provide opportunities for intercultural dialogue and learning. Please visit our website for more information on our special anniversary events? and our Annual Impact Report (PDF, 6.6 MB).

The Graduate School at Buffalo State, in collaboration with Open Buffalo and the Institute for Community Health Promotions, will host a two-part public lecture series, "Taking Action on Economic, Environmental, and Climate Sustainability," on Monday, November 7, and Monday, December 5. The series will feature community experts who will provide information about sustainability issues in our area. The series is designed to provide an interdisciplinary forum for discussing how to make progress in addressing these issues. Online registration is not required but is strongly encouraged; refreshments will be provided. Both sessions will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Butler Library 210 and are open to all faculty, staff, and students.

Economic Justice: A Community Agenda to Advance Equity for All
November 7

• Andrew Delmonte, Business Adviser and Coordinator of the Social Enterprise Center
• Ulla Bak, Cofounder and President of Bak USA
• Steve Peraza, Policy Analyst for Partnership for the Public Good
• John Washington, Campaigns and Strategy Manager at PUSH Buffalo

Environmental and Climate Justice: A Community Agenda to Advance Equity for All
December 5

• Eric Walker, Director of Energy Development and Management
• Harper Bishop, Economic and Climate Justice Coordinator at Open Buffalo
• Brittny Baxter, Upstate Legislative Organizer at New York Working Families?
• Ulysees Wingo, Masten District Council Member, Buffalo Common Council

The 17th annual Faculty and Staff Research and Creativity Fall Forum will be held Thursday, October 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Houston Gym. President Conway-Turner will offer welcoming remarks at 12:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided for all participants and attendees. The event is open to the campus community.

Please share this information with your classes. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The goal of the forum is to develop, encourage, and support Buffalo State faculty and staff research and creativity and to make collaborative research endeavors and grantsmanship more accessible. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other Buffalo State faculty and staff members and identify common scholarly and creative interests that you may have.

Please note: setup time for poster displays is 8:30–10:45 a.m.

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

Blackboard Learn 9.1: Grade Center
Blackboard Learn 9.1: Collaboration Tools
Blackboard Learn 9.1: Utilizing Rubrics in a Blackboard Course 
Blackboard Learn 9.1: Student Performance and Retention Center

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 CyberQuad Workshop Registration website.