Buffalo State College and the Student Life Office will host the annual Western New York Student Leadership Conference on Saturday, February 20, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Bulger Communication Center. More information to follow.

Academic freedom, tailored course content, affordability for students—these are important issues for many faculty members today. Join your colleagues and Lumen Learning to find out how open educational resources (OER) can address all these issues and more during an OER for Open Courses workshop on Friday, January 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Technology Building 160 (morning sessions) and 358 (afternoon sessions).

OERs are designed for open sharing, collaboration, creativity, flexibility, and tailorability, both in online and face-to-face courses. Learn how to adopt, adapt, and build OERs to increase affordability and access for students, give faculty greater engagement in teaching and learning, and measure and demonstrate OERs' impact on educational outcomes and costs.

This practical workshop will outline OER best practices, report findings from research on efficacy and impact of OER-based courses, and enable faculty members to explore new pedagogical approaches enabled via open education. Designed to appeal to both OER novices and to those faculty members who’ve attended Buffalo State’s previous OER workshops, this one-day event will bring attendees up to date with current developments in OER.

Final agenda and more details will be forthcoming.

Register for this informational and inspiring event today. The Buffalo State community will have priority until Friday, December 18, when registration will open to everyone.

The NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training is offering an exciting online career development opportunity that will help clerical, secretarial, and administrative employees develop the critical job-related skills necessary to succeed in their careers. Employees must complete 20 required courses and five elective courses while achieving a passing grade of 70 percent or higher for each course in order to earn the certificate of completion. Supervisory approval is not required for courses taken at home. The application period is December 1, 2015–January 4, 2016. Courses are available December 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016. For technical support and questions, please e-mail the partnership or call (518) 486-7814 or (800) 253-4332.

The campus community is invited to join the Elementary Education and Reading Department (EER) for its annual Graduate Student Project Presentation Night on Tuesday, December 15, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210. Come and celebrate the scholarship and creativity of EER graduate students.

Please contact David Henry, associate professor of elementary education and reading, with questions.

The Women in Computing (WIC) club will host a free event, "Hour of Code for Girls," for students in grades 9–12 on Friday, December 11, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Computer Information Systems Department (Technology Building). As a way to serve the neighboring community, the members of WIC hope to encourage girls who are attending area high schools to develop an interest in computer science. Please spread the word and encourage 9–12 teachers, administrators, or PTA organizations to urge students from their schools to attend the event. For more information, please visit the event website or contact Tammy Anna, department secretary, 878-5528.

The Counseling Center will offer a 50-minute workshop on stress management, sleep, and academic performance on Friday, December 11, at 11:00 a.m. in Weigel Health Center 203.

This workshop will focus on the top three factors that disrupted academic performance in 2014: stress, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. A psychologist from the Counseling Center will help participants learn healthful ways to predict and cope with stressful times in the academic year, mental and behavioral ways to reduce anxiety, and small ways to change one’s habits and environment to improve sleep. This workshop is open to all, so please refer any students who might benefit. Please note that this workshop takes place on Study Day (classes are not in session) and may be particularly helpful for students who are experiencing increased levels of stress over preparing for upcoming finals.

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center (VSLC) will hold an Introduction to Service-Learning Workshop for faculty and staff on Tuesday, January 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Cleveland 418. This interactive session is for faculty new to service-learning pedagogy and the practice of incorporating a community-based project into a course. 

Topics will include

• an overview of the theory and practice of service learning,
• support with converting a course to include a community-based project,
• discussion of effective methods of incorporating student reflection to connect the service and course learning.

Workshop Leaders
? Gary Welborn, faculty coordinator for service learning and associate professor of sociology
? Laura Hill Rao, VSLC coordinator

We welcome anyone who is interested in incorporating a service-learning project or just curious about what it would entail. RSVP to Mark Brumby, 878-5811 or vslc@buffalostate.edu.

Today is the last day to purchase that special holiday gift and support Buffalo State students at the same time during the 19th annual Student Art Sale from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Upton Hall's Czurles-Nelson Gallery. Selections include unusual earrings and necklaces, ceramic vases, bowls, scarves, and more. Don't miss out!

Please call Carol Townsend, associate professor of design, 878-4986, with questions.

Gifts galore! Don't miss out! Come and discover the handcrafted ceramic bowls, sterling silver earrings, wood items, photographs, and paintings at the 19th annual Student Art Sale. These are just a few of the items available for sale today, December 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and tomorrow, December 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come to Upton Hall's Czurles-Nelson Gallery, buy that holiday gift, and support our Art Education, Design, and Fine Arts students at the same time.

If you have questions, please call Carol Townsend, associate professor of design, at 878-4986.

Please remind students that the deadline for applications for the McNair Scholars Program is Friday, December 11. The Buffalo State McNair Scholars Program helps prepare eligible students for doctoral programs. The program supports students who demonstrate strong academic potential and interest in advanced studies.
 
The McNair Scholars Program provides academic support services to low income, first-generation college students or members of underrepresented groups. Program participants receive stipends, information about graduate study, mentoring, and opportunities for funded research.

Eligible students must submit the student part of the application package to the McNair program director in Science Building 253 by Friday, December 11. Review of applications will continue until all available positions are filled. Up to 10 McNair scholars will be selected this academic year.