Do you want to get base funding for your research project? Do you want to launch your creative ideas? Buffalo State’s Research and Creativity Council (RCC) will conduct the workshop "Preparing an Incentive Grant Proposal" on Thursday, November 12, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 418. Feel free to bring a brown-bag lunch.

The Research Incentive Awards Program, sponsored by the RCC, funds a variety of research projects with the intention of enhancing future proposal submissions to outside agencies. Carol Darstein, director of Pre-Award and Contract Services, will provide an overview of the program, share examples of successful proposals, and offer tips for proposal preparation. Carol DeNysschen, Research and Creativity Council chair and a past recipient of the program, will be on hand to share her know-how in preparing a competitive application.

A successful research incentive proposal is one that is well-prepared, thoughtfully planned, and concisely packaged. The RCC wants to help make your research incentive proposal a success. This program will provide up to one-tenth of the funds (maximum request $7,000) that would be requested from an external sponsor. The funds should be used in a manner that will result in a higher quality submission, for example, preliminary survey research, graduate assistance on literature reviews, or travel expenses to meet with experts in the field. The only cost not supported by the program is salary for the faculty or staff member developing the grant.

The next competition is anticipated for January 2016.

RSVP to Gina Game, research compliance manager, by Friday, November 6.

The Student Life Office will collaborate with campus partners to host a series of events for Buffalo State commuter students. To find out more, please visit the Student Life website.

The Campbell Student Union will begin accepting online reservations for the spring 2016 semester today, November 2. This will also serve as the launch date for our new, upgraded reservation system. You must have an account to make a reservation. If you have not already done so, you may create an account for your department at http://buffalostate.maxgalaxy.net/Home.aspx?GUID.

As part of the weeklong series of events associated with the Black Cross Project, Buffalo State’s Faculty Development unit will host a Campus Connections event that offers students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to discuss the Black Cross installation on Friday, November 13, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Butler Library 181B. Opportunities for anonymous reflection will be available in addition to the open conversation.

As part of the weeklong series of events associated with the Black Cross Project, Buffalo State’s Faculty Development unit will sponsor a campus conversation, "Race, Violence, and the Struggle for Social Justice," on Thursday, November 12, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East.

Join panelists Joseph Flynn (University of Northern Illinois), Alex Means, Amitra Wall, and Steve Peraza (Buffalo State) in a dialog about the challenges to equality and human security that have become all too commonplace in American society. The panelists will discuss racism, racial profiling, and violence and then open the floor to discussion and questions from the audience.

The English Department's “Conversations In and Out of the Disciplines” lecture series continues Friday, November 6, when Kelly Frothingham, department chair and professor of geography and planning, presents “Stream Restoration: Local WNY Activity in the Context of National Trends” in Ketchum Hall 320 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. A short, informal wine-and-cheese reception will be held after the talk. The lecture is free and open to the public.

The following Blackboard training sessions and workshops will be held in November. All workshops are suitable for instructors teaching face-to-face, hybrid, or online courses. Workshop presentations will be one hour and are limited to 10 participants. The instructor will be available for an additional 30 minutes after each workshop for questions and discussion.

Please register online. All sessions will be held in Bulger Communication Center 104.

Blackboard Learn 9.1: Assessments
This workshop focuses on the available assessment tools in the latest version of Blackboard Learn. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to create, configure, and deploy individual and group assignments to collect student submissions to manage grades and feedback. The use of assignments, auto-graded tests, and Turnitin Plagiarism Checker will be covered.

Blackboard Learn 9.1: Grade Center
The Grade Center in Blackboard Learn is more than just a way to record students' grades. It is a dynamic and interactive tool, allowing you to collect student submissions, record data, calculate grades automatically, and monitor student progress. You can also drop the lowest grade, display percentages or letter grades, use a weighted grading system, and much more.  

By the end of this workshop, participants will have the skills necessary to use the Grade Center to manage students' grades for assignments, tests, discussion posts, and more. Create manual grade columns for any campus-based activities or requirements you want to grade, such as special projects, participation, or attendance. The Grade Center can be individualized to fit your needs to make your grading more efficient.

Blackboard Learn 9.1: Grade Center Smart Views
Smart Views in the Blackboard Grade Center allow a customized view based on a focused set of criteria. You can filter the columns to quickly find data and make grading easier and more efficient.

Smart Views allow you to tailor the gradebook based on categories, grades, performance, groups, or specific items; by class sections; and many other ways.

Grading Color Codes will also be covered. Create rules to apply color to the cells in the Grade Center grid that provide visual indicators to help you interpret information quickly. For example, you can use yellow to highlight graded items with failing scores so students and columns that require attention are prominent.

Blackboard Learn 9.1: Utilizing Rubrics in a Blackboard Course
A rubric is an assessment tool listing evaluation criteria for an assignment. A rubric divides the assigned work into parts and provides clear descriptions of the characteristics of the work associated with each part, at varying levels of skill. You can use a rubric to communicate the assignment requirements and acceptable performance standards. Rubrics can help ensure consistent and impartial grading.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to create and edit a rubric in Blackboard and use the rubric to simplify the grading of assignments. You can attach rubrics to assignments submitted in Blackboard, to essay questions, discussion forums, or even any campus-based activities or requirements you want to grade, such as papers, special projects, presentations, practicums, labs, performances, etc.  Rubrics can be individualized to fit your needs to make your grading more efficient.

Through National Student Exchange, students have the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year at one of 200 participating colleges or universities at affordable tuition rates. Please contact Christine Frezza, director of special programs, 878-4328, to schedule a class visit. Provide your students with this possibility for enriching their college experience and let them know about the upcoming information sessions on Tuesday, November 3, and Thursday, November 5, from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m. in Classroom Building C313. Thank you.

Weigel Health Promotions will host and collaborate with other organizations on a variety of events throughout November. Many events will focus on the Great American Smokeout, an annual event created by the American Cancer Society that takes place this year on November 19. November programs also include a Tobacco-Free Policy workshop, an Opiate (heroin) Overdose workshop, and a Clean Sweep to collect and dispose of tobacco-related litter across campus.

Information for specific events will be posted in the Daily Bulletin, events calendar, e-mail, and fliers, as well as on our social media pages. You can also check out our YouTube channel for more information about our office, programs, and events.

Also look for the Weigel Health Promotions table every Monday through Thursday in the Campbell Student Union during Bengal Pause!

Download our November 2015 Promotional newsletter (PDF) for details. Please visit our website or contact Paula Madrigal, wellness and prevention coordinator, 878-4719, with questions or for more information.

Those who have registered for the Professional Development Center's StrengthsQuest workshop on November 18 may pick up their StrengthsFinder 2.0 book from Lauren Turner, professional development assistant, in Butler Library 181B between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. by Friday, November 6.

Each book contains a unique code required to take the StrengthsQuest assessment. The assessment takes about 45 minutes to complete. Please pick up your book by November 6 to allow time for a full report to be generated before the November 18 workshop. Also, please click SHARE on the StrengthsQuest assessment site and enter the e-mail address woodruom@buffalostate.edu to allow a copy of the report to be sent to workshop facilitator Ottilie Woodruff. Results are strictly for use during the workshop. Please read Chapters 1–3 in your book before the workshop.

Only those who have registered for the StrengthsQuest workshop are eligible for the book. Limit of 10 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please contact Ottilie Woodruff, director of professional staff development, with questions.