March 7–11 is Open Education Week, and the Open SUNY Center for Online Teaching Excellence (COTE) has scheduled daily webinars from noon to 12:30 p.m.

Open educational resources (OER) support student success by removing the barrier created by the rising costs of textbooks. OER also benefit faculty members by providing them with the ability to customize their learning materials according to their specific student learning outcomes, preferences, and student needs.

In a fall 2015 Buffalo State survey, 77 percent of faculty members expressed interest in learning more about OER. Open Education Week is the perfect time to learn more about and begin exploring these valuable resources.

Today’s webinars are the "OER Creation Project" by Mark McBride, library director at Monroe Community College, from noon to 12:30 p.m., and "Introduction to Creative Commons, Open Educational Resources and Open Policies," presented by Creative Commons, at 4:00 p.m.

To find out more about the COTE OER webinars, please visit the COTE Hub, where you can view and access all of this week's COTE webinars. Keep an eye on the Daily for more Open Education Week highlights throughout the week.

From the Diversity Program Coordinator
Please join us for "Discover Countries in Southeast Asia" (PDF), on Thursday, March 10, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East. This is the final event for the fifth annual Southeast Asia Week: Refugees in Crisis (PDF).

Discover countries in Southeast Asia by learning important facts about this region and viewing student posters highlighting various countries in the region. Refreshments provided.

This event is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Geography and Planning Department, the Faculty-Student Association Founders Fund, the Center for Southeast Asia Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Community Academic Center.

From the Diversity Program Coordinator
Please join us for "Refugees in Buffalo: Stories, Struggles, and Successes" on Wednesday, March 9, from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East. This event is part of the fifth annual Southeast Asia Week: Refugees in Crisis (PDF).

Buffalo is quickly becoming one of the most diverse cities in New York State, largely because of the resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers from around the world. These newcomers to Buffalo, including Somali, Bhutanese-Nepali, Burmese, Karen, Iraqi, and Sudanese, had very different pathways to our city but share a staunch determination to find success in their new home. In this panel discussion, moderated by Rubens Mukunzi, newcomers currently living in Buffalo will share their stories.

Refreshments will be provided. Please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, 878-6210, for more information.

This event is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Geography and Planning Department, the Faculty-Student Association Founders Fund, the Center for Southeast Asia Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Community Academic Center.

From the Diversity Program Coordinator
Please join us for "Beyond Syria," presented by Brian Brown-Cashdollar, development director for the International Institute of Buffalo, on Tuesday, March 8, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East. This event is the part of the fifth annual Southeast Asia Week: Refugees in Crisis (PDF).

From the reference point of the recent migration of Syrian refugees, this talk will highlight the differences between the European and U.S. refugee processes through the programs and services of the International Institute of Buffalo over the last 100 years.

Refreshments will be provided. Please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, 878-6210, for more information.

This event is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Geography and Planning Department, the Faculty-Student Association Founders Fund, the Center for Southeast Asia Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Community Academic Center.

The International Student Advisory Council is pleased to invite the campus community to a presentation by Barbara Dawkins of the Buffalo IRS Office, titled: "IRS Rules and Regulations as They Pertain to International Students and Scholars," on Thursday, March 17, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Assembly Hall 1 of the Campbell Student Union. The event is free and open to the public.

Faculty, staff, and administrators: Online registration for Commencement marchers and volunteer ushers is open. The Class of 2016 eagerly anticipates celebrating graduation at the 144th Commencement on Saturday, May 14, in the Sports Arena. Your participation will make this special event memorable for our graduates and their families. Please honor them by marching in the processional or serving as a volunteer usher to help with graduate lineup or greet and guide guests.

Three ceremonies will celebrate December 2015 and January 2016 graduates, and May and August 2016 potential degree candidates. Bachelor's degree candidates are celebrated at both 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Master's and C.A.S. candidates are celebrated at 6:00 p.m. A reception with live music follows each ceremony, where graduates, their guests, and faculty and staff members gather to continue the festivities.

Marcher registration and regalia information is posted on the Commencement website. Regalia rental orders are due by Friday, April 15. Order by Monday, March 14, if you wish to rent regalia for both Honors Convocation and Commencement.

Volunteer ushers also register online. Rehearsal information is also available.

Thank you for your dedicated service on Commencement day.

Blackboard Learn will be off-line Wednesday, March 9, from midnight to 7:00 a.m. for a scheduled extended maintenance update in which an operating system and firmware patch will be applied to storage servers.

If you experience any technical difficulties with Blackboard after this maintenance, please call the Open SUNY HelpDesk at (844) 673-6786 (844-OPENSUNY), submit a ticket request through Footprints at our HelpDesk web page, or send an e-mail to OpenSUNYHelp@suny.edu.

From the Diversity Program Coordinator
Please join us for "The History of Buffalo Immigration and Southeast Asian Connection," presented by Jean E. Richardson, associate professor emerita of history and social studies education, and Vida Vanchan, associate professor of geography and planning, on Monday, March 7, from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East. This event is part the fifth annual Southeast Asia Week: Refugees in Crisis (PDF).

Buffalo, New York, became an immigrant destination beginning in 1850 with the arrival of Catholic Irish and German people, almost doubling Buffalo’s population within a decade. By 1855, 75 percent of the adult population in Buffalo was foreign born. How were these immigrants perceived by the overwhelmingly white Protestant residents? In 1870, a second wave of immigration began, of predominately Polish and Italians, almost tripling Buffalo’s population. Why were these groups and others leaving their native countries in large numbers? Why was Buffalo one of their destinations? Were they accepted by the other groups residing in Buffalo? What political, economic, and social impacts did this great influx of foreign-born settlers have on Buffalo? Why did the flow stop by 1925?

Asians represent a later wave of U.S immigration. Noticeably, there has been an increase in the Asian population in Buffalo, particularly refugees from Southeast Asia. In 2015, the world witnessed the Rohingya refugee crisis. Who are the Rohingya people? What is their story? Join us for this enlightening and fascinating discussion.

Refreshments provided. Please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, 878-6210, for more information.

This event is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Geography and Planning Department, the Faculty-Student Association Founders Fund, the Center for Southeast Asia Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Community Academic Center.

From the Diversity Program Coordinator
Buffalo State College is pleased to present the fifth annual Southeast Asia Week: Refugees in Crisis (PDF) March 7–10. The following events will take place on campus. All events will be held in Bulger Communication Center East. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, 878-6210; visit our website; or download the flier (PDF).

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The History of Buffalo Immigration and Southeast Asian Connection
Jean E. Richardson, Associate Professor Emerita of History and Social Studies Education
Vida Vanchan, Associate Professor of Geography and Planning
Monday, March 7
4:30–5:45 p.m.

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Beyond Syria
Brian Brown-Cashdollar
Development Director, International Institute of Buffalo                       
Tuesday, March 8
12:15–1:30 p.m.

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Refugees in Buffalo: Stories, Struggles, and Successes
Wednesday, March 9
4:30–5:30 p.m.

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Discover Countries in Southeast Asia
Thursday, March 10
12:15–1:30 p.m.

This event is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Geography and Planning Department, the Faculty-Student Association Founders Fund, the Center for Southeast Asia Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Community Academic Center.

Buffalo State student Lazarus Lynch, '16, Son of a Southern Chef, will appear this morning on the WIVB-TV show Wake Up! His appearance follows a successful turn this past weekend on the Food Network's The Kitchen with Sunny Anderson.

This morning, Lynch will make Johnny's Salmon Croquettes with a side salad. The recipe is available online at WIVB.com or at sonofasouthernchef.com.

Lynch, an individualized studies major, will graduate in May. Be sure to follow him on Facebook.