All vendors and individuals who do business with Buffalo State or other agencies within the State of New York must be registered in the NYS Vendor file before payments can be processed. Vendors who are not registered must complete a Substitute W-9 form (PDF) and submit it to the Accounts Payable Department for processing. Questions may be addressed by phone at 878-4117.

Individuals who will be paid a fee for their services must include and combine any travel expenses with the fee. Such payments are subject to IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements. It is strongly recommended that college officials who negotiate a fee with such service providers arrive at a fee that is all-inclusive (i.e., the amount of the fee includes both the fee for services and a travel expense allowance). Employee travel allowances should be used as the basis for determining the reasonableness of the vendor travel expense. When combined fees are agreed upon, there is no need to collect travel expense receipts from non-employees as they apply to travel.

Honoraria can be processed for payment in one of the following ways:

1. A purchase order is recommended when individuals or vendors want a guarantee that they will receive payment. Please complete a requisition form and deliver it to the Procurement Services office.
2. Individuals or vendors who agree to receive payment after services have been performed must submit a detailed invoice billed to Buffalo State College. Please attach the invoice to a completed pink requisition and forward it to the Procurement Office for payment approval of straight pay.

Contracts submitted for approval by vendors or individuals must be reviewed and approved by the Procurement Office. Contracts are to be signed by an authorized campus signatory only, not by an employee.

For further information, please visit the Accounts Payable and Travel Services website.

Buffalo State undergraduates are cordially invited to submit proposals to participate in the second annual SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC), which will be held on the SUNY Cobleskill campus on Friday, April 15, 2016, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Student proposals for research poster sessions, oral presentations, and performances of creative work are welcome. For further information, please visit the SURC conference website and online submission portal. The deadline for proposals is Friday, February 5.

Lynda Schneekloth, a landscape architect, professor emerita at the UB School of Architecture and Planning, and chair of the Sierra Club Niagara Group, will address the question “Why is it so difficult for humans to take action on behalf of ourselves and life on Earth?” on Tuesday, December 15, at 7:00 p.m. in Classroom Building A209.

Earth is undoubtedly undergoing a rapid and catastrophic change in climate caused primarily by human activity. We are moving toward an uninhabitable planet that will not be able to support life as we have known it since the dawn of the Holocene. Although the steps that need to be taken have been outlined, and at this point are still possible in order to avoid the most extreme projected changes, the international community has done little. The question of “why?” will be explored in the talk.

This presentation is part of the WNY Chapter of the American Meteorological Society’s fall 2015 seminar series, hosted by the Buffalo State Geography and Planning Department's meteorology and climatology program.

Weigel Health Promotions would like your feedback. If you have used any of our services or worked with us at all this semester (workshop, table, speaker, supplies, community service hours, internship or volunteer hours, or anything else), please take a few minutes to complete the Weigel Health Promotions Service Feedback Form. The information we receive will allow us to learn what you like and dislike and make positive changes to best serve you.

Please be as honest as possible; all feedback is good feedback!

Please contact Paula Madrigal, wellness and prevention coordinator, 878-4719, with questions or for more information.

The Professional Development Center will present "All Stressed Up and Nowhere to Go," a practical, down-to-earth guide to dealing with those situations and people that seem to drive you crazy, on Wednesday, December 9, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Butler Library 181B.

Participants will learn a model for becoming more influential in creating their experience of life so that stress stops becoming a problem and instead becomes a valuable signal. Participants will also learn how to

• deal more effectively with stressful situations,
• create a life with less stress in the first place,
• create a purposeful life,
• create more serenity in their lives,
• change the chemical makeup of their bodies to cope with stress,
• choose the energy that drives their choices,
• develop the courage to become the people they want to be.

Lunch will be provided. Please register online through the CyberQuad Workshop Registration System.

The Professional Development Center will present "All Stressed Up and Nowhere to Go," a practical, down-to-earth guide to dealing with those situations and people that seem to drive you crazy, on Wednesday, December 9, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Butler Library 181B.

Participants will learn a model for becoming more influential in creating their experience of life so that stress stops becoming a problem and instead becomes a valuable signal. Participants will also learn how to

• deal more effectively with stressful situations,
• create a life with less stress in the first place,
• create a purposeful life,
• create more serenity in their lives,
• change the chemical makeup of their bodies to cope with stress,
• choose the energy that drives their choices,
• develop the courage to become the people they want to be.

Lunch will be provided. Please register online through the CyberQuad Workshop Registration System.

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Correction: November 19, 2015
The original version of this announcement incorrectly listed the workshop date as December 7. The correct date is December 9.

The fall 2015 Assessment Matters newsletter is now posted online (PDF). Get the news and information regarding campus assessment activities, reports, upcoming conferences, and resources.

Zhengzhou University of Light Industry and Buffalo State have partnered to offer a noncredit opportunity to students through which they can spend 14 days in China. The program will take place December 27 to January 10 and will include an introduction to traditional Chinese arts such as calligraphy, folk music, and paper cutting. Field trips to cultural heritage sites such as the Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an, the Longmen Grottoes, the Great Wall, and the Forbidden City are included. All costs are covered except for round-trip airfare (arrive Zhengzhou, depart Beijing), health insurance, and tourist visa, which can be estimated at $2,100.

To apply for the program, students must submit an essay of no more than one page that addresses how this experience will affect their academic work and professional goals. Essays must be received by Sunday, November 29, and should be addressed to Dr. Robert Summers and e-mailed to conwelmm@buffalostate.edu. Questions can be directed to the same address or by phone to 878-4620.

Buffalo State continues to engage in efforts to promote accessibility of course materials in all classes. Workshops are scheduled to provide support for Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, audio and video, Blackboard Learn, and third-party resources.

Please review and register for workshops through the CyberQuad Workshop Registration System.

Today is the last day to make changes to your health insurance plan for 2016. If you wish to make a change, please complete the option transfer form (PDF) and return it to Cleveland Hall 410. The effective date of the new coverage will be January 1, 2016.

Health insurance rates for 2016 are available on the Employee Benefits website.

The 2016 “Choices” booklet (PDF), a comparison of the health insurance plans, is also available online. The Summary of Benefits and Coverage for all plans, as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, can be obtained from the Employee Benefits website. You may wish to review this information before you decide whether to change insurance carriers or remain with your current carrier for your health insurance coverage.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

Please call the Employee Benefits Office at 878-4821 with questions.