To provide key information to Buffalo State principal investigators (PIs), faculty, staff, and the campus community, the Sponsored Program Operations (SPO) office periodically distributes an electronic newsletter titled "Essential News for Employees and Researchers."

This communication is intended to provide noteworthy information on updated policies, procedures, forms, and due dates as well as news and announcements specific to sponsored programs.

The current issue for February 2016 (PDF) is now posted. Archived issues are also available.

The academic associate deans and the Students of Concern Care Team will hold a panel discussion on dealing with disruptive students on Thursday, February 25, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East. The discussion is aimed at helping faculty members develop effective practices for responding to students who are disruptive or present concerning behaviors.

Under college policy, faculty members should be able to conduct classes or other activities without disruption. Accordingly, a faculty member has the right to ask any individual who is disruptive or menacing to leave the classroom, disconnect from a distance education or web-based class, or vacate the area in which he or she is misbehaving.

In practice, however, it is often difficult for faculty members to respond to disruptive or concerning behavior.

• Legitimate fears may create a hesitancy or unwillingness to take action, including fear of retaliation by the student and fear of appearing unable to manage the class.
• Adjunct faculty members, in particular, may be concerned about their future employment if they admit to having difficulty handling the behavior of some of their students.
• A lack of information on how to respond or a lack of support for taking action may allow unwanted disruptive behavior to continue longer than it should.

The panel will provide tips for handling disruption, discuss the role of the syllabus in setting expectations, identify resources for support and assistance, and respond to questions or concerns. Members of the Students of Concern Care Team will be available to share information on how the Care Team can partner with faculty members to intervene in cases of disruptive and concerning students in order to provide support for students and to keep our community safe.

Presenters
Carlos Jones, Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities
Kathy Wood, Associate Dean of the School of Education
Karen O’Quin, Associate Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences
Rita Zientek, Associate Dean of the School of the Professions

Care Team Members
Charles Kenyon, Dean of Students
Joan McCool, Director of Counseling
Ron George, Case Manager
Kim Jablonski, Case Manager
Amy Rosen-Brand, Case Manager

This event is cosponsored by the Students of Concern Care Team and the Professional Development Center.

Please join us for a presentation on the Global Engagement Program, an opportunity for prestigious internships in New York City, by Brian Campbell, outreach coordinator for the SUNY Global Engagement Program, today, February 23, at 5:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center West

The SUNY Global Engagement Program is administered by the Center for International Programs and the Department of Political Science and International Relations at SUNY New Paltz. The New York City–based internship program provides students from all majors who are interested in global affairs with an internship in nongovernmental, governmental, or intergovernmental organizations along with a rigorous academic program.

Past students have been placed in internships with such organizations as the United Nations Department of Public Information, the Clinton Global Initiative, Doctors Without Borders, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Alumni have been placed in full-time paid employment with Doctors Without Borders and the Clinton Foundation. Others are employed in positions with nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and the private sector.

This event is hosted by the International Relations programs (B.A. and minor), housed in the Political Science Department.

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Office (SoTL) is accepting applications for two one-year, $2,000 faculty development fellowships to promote the scholarship of teaching and learning on campus. Full-time faculty members, departments, and interdisciplinary groups are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted electronically until 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 4. Please e-mail completed applications to John Draeger, director of SoTL. For more information, please visit the SoTL website.

Please note: This presentation has been postponed until fall 2016.

Joseph Gardella Jr., SUNY Distinguished Professor and John and Frances Larkin Professor of Chemistry at the University at Buffalo, will present "Surface and Polymer Chemistry and Chemical Analysis Explorations for Tissue and Tissue Engineering: Imaging of Pharmaceuticals and Drug Delivery for Wound Healing" at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in Science Building 272. This seminar series is sponsored by the Faculty-Student Association. An abstract of his talk appears below.

Abstract
This talk will review recent studies in collaborations with Roswell Park Cancer Institute on the role of surface chemical analysis to determine the spatial distribution of pharmaceuticals in tissue samples and in polymer membranes for drug delivery. A review of the methodology of the measurements, background into tissue preparation in cancer studies, and design of polymer membranes will be followed by results from multiple studies that illustrate the role of modern chemical analysis in progress in cancer treatment and wound healing. Interdisciplinary work requires collaboration from very disparate disciplines, and the role of student learning in chemistry and biology is examined as part of these studies.

Campus House members are invited to join us for our annual Fish Fry Dinner on Friday, February 26, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Watch culinary students at work in the open, state-of-the-art kitchen while you enjoy an a la carte dinner and receive impeccable service from our hospitality student managers-in-training. Call Krista Constantino at 878-3300 to make your reservation or place your order for take-out dinners.

Established in 2001, Campus House has been developed as a "teaching laboratory" for our students as well as a social club for the Buffalo State community. Membership is open to all Buffalo State faculty, staff, emeritus, alumni, and friends of the college. Becoming a member is easy; simply complete and return our membership application (PDF).

Learn ways to increase your professional development through research and publishing opportunities in partnership with the Institute for Community Health Promotion (ICHP) Collaborative Research Initiative (CRI) during an information reception on Tuesday, March 1, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210. Guest speakers will include Melanie Perreault, provost; William Wieczorek, ICHP director; Roswell Park IV, director of Academic Support Programs; and Andrea Nikischer, assistant professor of adult education. All faculty and staff members are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are encouraged at 878-4853 by Friday, February 26.

All members of the Buffalo State community who are interested in water-based business development—known as the blue economy—are invited to participate in a new certificate program that runs Thursday evenings for six weeks starting February 25 in Rockwell Hall. Speakers will cover a wide range of topics, including why we must all be concerned about the stewardship of water resources in Western New York and what we can do about it, how creative problem solving methodology can create better outcomes, and business and financing opportunities within the blue economy. Speakers include representatives from the WNY Sustainable Business Roundtable, Rich Products, the office of NY State Senator Marc Panepinto, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, and the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. For more information and the Buffalo State discount, please contact Susan McCartney, director of the Small Business Development Center, 878-4030.

Today is the last day to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for the spring 2016 semester.

Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees.
• Part-time or temporary Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
• Full-time Research Foundation employees, provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses a semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours an academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received.

After submitting an application, employees who decide to drop a class or find it has been covered by another source are asked to please notify Human Resource Management immediately to update their applications.

Please contact Human Resource Management, 878-4821, for applications or program guidelines.

The deadline to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for the spring 2016 semester is Monday, February 29.

Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees.
• Part-time or temporary Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
• Full-time Research Foundation employees, provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses a semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours an academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received.

After submitting an application, employees who decide to drop a class or find it has been covered by another source are asked to please notify Human Resource Management immediately to update their applications.

Please contact Human Resource Management, 878-4821, for applications or program guidelines.