Kimberly J. Jackson, assistant dean of strategic and enrollment planning for the Graduate School, will present "Applying to Graduate School" on Thursday, October 29, in Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall 1 from 12:10 to 1:20 p.m. The presentation is free, and everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information, please contact Jean F. Gounard, director of international student affairs, 878-5331.

No matter how far along you are in your career, careful financial and retirement planning are critical. The New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) will offer two fall 2015 financial planning seminars on Friday, November 6, and Friday, December 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Millennium Airport Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. The Buffalo Pension and Retirement Education Program (PREP) seminars will focus on NYSTRS benefits, financial planning, Social Security, estate planning, retirement, filing for retirement, and retirement income. A NYSTRS PREP seminar can help members of all ages. Seminars are free, and spouses and partners are welcome. Reservations are required: please visit the NYSTRS website using your MyNYSTRS account or call (800) 348-7298, ext. 6180, to make a reservation. Please note: These seminars are not designed for one-on-one retirement counseling, but benefits consultations are available year-round.

Representatives from a variety of publishers, including Bedford, Pearson, McGraw Hill, and Fountainhead, will provide a selection of texts and resources suitable for the College Writing Program and the IF 2014 Intellectual Skills and Competencies categories of Critical Thinking (CT), Information Management (IM), and Writing across the Curriculum (W) on Thursday, November 5, from noon to 3:30 p.m. in Twin Rise 104. Pizza will be provided, courtesy of the publishers. For more information, please contact Michele Ninacs, director of the College Writing Program, 878-5451.

Before the start of registration, please review and bookmark the Registration Add Errors page. A YouTube tutorial, How to Process Overrides in Banner SSB, is also available. Registration for J-Term and Spring 2016 begins Wednesday, November 4.

Seats are going fast! Please tell your students to join us on Friday, November 6, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall for Manners Matters, an evening of dining, etiquette, and networking for the new professional. The event features mocktails and a five-course gourmet dinner and is designed to teach students how to mingle with employers and make positive first impressions. The cost of $15 per person is nonrefundable. Seats must be reserved by Friday, October 29, at the Bengal Card Office, Butler Library 108. Dining Dollars and Bengal Bucks may be used. For more information, please contact the Career Development Center, Cleveland Hall 306, 878-5811.

Please join the Biology Department for the seminar "Evo-Devo on the Spot: Using Butterfly Wing Patterns to Examine Molecular Responses to Selection," presented by Diane Ramos, assistant professor of biology at Daemen College, on Monday, November 2, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center West.

All faculty, staff, and students are welcome.

Seminar Abstract
Butterflies, like all organisms, must attempt to find morphological solutions to a dizzying array of environmental challenges. The field of evolutionary developmental (evo-devo) biology tells us that many of these morphological solutions arise from the reuse of pre-existing molecular tools. My research examines the expression and function of proteins, known for their important development roles in a variety of other contexts, which have been redeployed on the butterfly wing to provide novel morphological solutions to the challenges of sexual selection and predator avoidance.

Teacher education students of all grade levels and disciplines, as well as those students interested in exploring the teaching field, are invited to join the International Professional Development Schools Consortium (IPDS) for an informal gathering of education students, faculty, and staff on Tuesday, November 3, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Student Union Assembly Halls 1 and 2. The 2015 Teacher Tailgate, "Elect to Expand Your World: Creating a Global and Inclusive Teaching Community," is an effort to extend relationships, have fun, enjoy traditional tailgating treats, and share information about global activities and student opportunities.

The session will cover the following topics:

• Elementary and secondary teacher education organizations and opportunities
• Teach and study-abroad (IPDS) programs designed just for educators
• Certification exams, seminars, safety nets, and updates
• Graduate teacher education programs
• The employment outlook for teachers

Please spread the word and share the flier (PDF). Contact the PDS Office with questions.

The 16th annual Faculty and Staff Research and Creativity Fall Forum will be held Thursday, October 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Houston Gym. Provost Perreault will offer welcoming remarks at 12:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided for all participants and attendees. The event is open to the campus community. Please share this information with your classes. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Preview the presentations and find presenter locations on the floor plan on the website.

The goal of the forum is to develop, encourage, and support Buffalo State faculty and staff research and creativity and to make collaborative research endeavors and grantsmanship more accessible. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other Buffalo State faculty and staff members and identify common scholarly and creative interests that you may have.

Please note: setup time for poster displays is 8:30–10:45 a.m.

Jason Franklin, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service's Buffalo Forecast Office, will discuss the week of November 17–21, 2014, which will be remembered as one of the most significant winter events in Buffalo's snowy history, on Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00 p.m. in Classroom Building A209. Composed of two closely spaced but separate crippling lake effect snow events, this weather phenomenon left some areas with nearly 7 feet of snow while other locales just to the north measured only a few inches. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Buffalo (NWS BUF) successfully forecast this epic event using a combination of local, regional, and national expertise and research.

Franklin's presentation will highlight the guidance and expertise that went into forecasting this event: local records combined with online analogs, climatic ensembles, locally developed climatology, high-resolution local and national models, and locally generated tools. The presentation will also look into three factors that accentuated the dramatic difference in snowfall over such a short distance: (1) the sharp gradient in snowfall as observed in the reflectivity from the Buffalo WSR-88D radar on the northern edge of the lake effect snow band, (2) the nearly stationary position of the band for almost 24 hours, and (3) very intense snowfall rates of 3 to 5 inches per hour.

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.

A representative from the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) will present an overview of the organization and explain how students can get involved and become members on Tuesday, October 27, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Technology Building 358. The presentation is directed toward students who plan to become professionals in the fields of textiles, apparel, design, and merchandising, as well as science and technology.