The campus community is invited to attend the lecture "Rwanda: Not in Kansas Anymore," presented by Carol Townsend, associate professor of design, on Tuesday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210. Refreshments will be served.

This lecture is sponsored by the Buffalo-Lille Association Inc. For more information, please contact Jean F. Gounard, director of international student affairs and president of the Buffalo-Lille Association, 878-5331.

Microsoft has ended support for Internet Explorer 10, the current version installed on campus PCs. Therefore, Internet Explorer 11 will be included in the next round of Windows updates. These updates will be applied to all faculty and staff computers on Wednesday, February 24. Student lab devices will receive the update at a later date. If you have any questions regarding these updates, please contact the Computing Help Desk, 878-4357.

From the President's Council on Equity and Campus Diversity
Nominations are encouraged for the Dr. Muriel A. Howard Presidential Award for the Promotion of Equity and Campus Diversity. The award recognizes faculty and staff members who promote respect for diversity and individual differences through classroom discussions, curricular experiences, out-of-classroom activities, projects, conversations, or special mentorships that go beyond what is usually expected as a part of their regular job expectations or teaching assignments.

We welcome nominations from students, faculty, and staff so that we might acknowledge members of our community who reflect these values of respect for diversity and advocacy for social justice at an awards luncheon on Tuesday, April 19.

Award criteria and nomination forms (PDF) can be found on the Equity and Campus Diversity website. The application deadline is close of business Friday, March 18.

Please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, 878-6210, with questions.

Buffalo State is pleased to announce the Diversity Abroad Honors Scholarship Program. Five awards of $1,000 each will be awarded to Buffalo State students meeting the criteria listed below who wish to study abroad. The application deadline is Thursday, February 25.

Academic Criteria

• Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program with a declared major at a sponsoring SUNY campus.
• Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to compete for travel awards.
• Applicants must be registered full time and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Transfer students will become eligible to study abroad during the second semester of enrollment in a SUNY two-year or baccalaureate program.

Financial Criteria
Candidates are not required to demonstrate financial need. 

Additional Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must be United States citizens or permanent resident aliens, and New York State residents.
 
While all students are encouraged to apply, students from underrepresented groups and students applying for experiences in countries where English is not the primary language will receive priority.

Application Process
Information on the application process can be found on the International Education website.

The Elementary Education and Reading Department will offer the workshop "English Language Acquisition Support in the Regular Classroom" on Saturday, February 27, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in Bacon Hall 116A. This workshop will provide an overview of the types of support needed for the English language learner in a regular classroom setting. We will focus on language acquisition levels, lesson planning, and teaching and assessment strategies for all core content areas across Pre-K–12 grade levels. This workshop is open to the entire campus and should help teacher candidates in preparing for the Second Language Acquisition section of the EAS exam. To register, please e-mail Mary Cummings, lecturer of elementary education and reading, with "Workshop registration" in the subject line.

The Weigel Health Center and Weigel Health Promotions will host a workshop on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) with speakers from the Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (ECCPASA) on Tuesday, February 23, from noon to 1:30 p.m. (Bengal Pause) in Cleveland Hall 205. The workshop will provide participants with knowledge about the Project CHOICES initiative, which focuses on prevention of FASD. Anyone who would like to participate is welcome to attend.

According to ECCPASA, “Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol while pregnant. Effects can include physical, mental, and behavioral problems along with learning disabilities.” Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading known cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also recently released a new set of guidelines regarding women of childbearing age who consume alcohol.

Please contact Lexxy Durant, health educator, 878-6725, with questions or for more information.

Colin Phoenix from Fidelity Investments will present the seminar "Feel More Secure about Your Social Security Choices" on Tuesday, February 24, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Butler Library 210.

This seminar will help you

• understand the importance of Social Security in your savings plan;
• take the steps you need to maximize your claiming strategy;
• plan for your retirement income.

Reserve your seat online or by phone at (800) 642-7131.

New York State employees who contributed to a Flex Spending Account (FSA) under the Health Care Spending Account or the Dependent Care Advantage Account in 2015 must submit all unpaid claims for qualifying expenses incurred by December 31, 2015, on or before Thursday, March 31. Employees who fail to submit appropriate receipts for unused funds by the March deadline will forfeit such contributions and will not receive reimbursement or credit.

Please contact the Human Resource Management Employee Benefits Office, 878-4821, with questions.

Lindsey Freeman, assistant professor of sociology, will present "Mondrians and Memories of the Manhattan Project" today, February 18, at 12:15 p.m. in Butler Library 181B as part of the Women and Gender Studies Brown Bag Series. Please feel free to bring your lunch; cookies will be provided.

Communication and media students are invited to a group session led by Andrew Kornacki, chief public affairs officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, on Thursday, February 25, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. Kornacki will discuss the government's hiring process and tips to land a federal position. Attendees will learn to

• source local and national opportunities,
• navigate the federal job posting system,
• construct their rsums to get noticed.