Information sessions on the Anne Frank Project's 2016 student trip to Rwanda, Africa, will be held today, September 29, and Thursday, October 1, during Bengal Pause (12:15 to 1:30 p.m.) in Savage Theater Building 209.

Students will be immersed in the remarkable reconciliation process Rwanda is moving through as it continues to recover from the 1994 genocide. Building on strong relationships with universities, public schools, arts organizations, and the Rwandan government, students will be exposed to unique experiences that will redefine their definition of "global citizen."

For more information about AFP, visit the AFP website.

Check out student blogs from past trips.

For more information, please contact AFP director Drew Kahn.

The phone rings and answering it is your job. Quite frankly, the telephone is the number one line of communication with unhappy customers, and therefore we need to make sure that we handle it correctly. And the first thing that has to happen with the phone is....answer it.

Light snacks will be provided. Please register through the CyberQuad Workshop Registration System.

Through National Student Exchange, students have the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year at one of the 200 participating colleges or universities at affordable tuition rates. Please contact Christine Frezza, 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, October 6, and Thursday, October 8, from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m. in Classroom Building C313. Thank you.

The Professional Development Center will present the workshop "Focus on Outcomes in Goal Writing" on Monday, October 5, at 10:00 a.m. in Butler Library 181B. If performance programs are done correctly, they should serve as a guidepost, confirming that the job is being done well and is part of a collaborative process. Effective goal setting establishes standards and targets for performance. SMART goals will be discussed.

Light snacks will be provided. Please register through the CyberQuad Workshop Registration System.

Louis Guillermo, president of the International Student Organization (ISO), will present “Events Sponsored by the International Student Organization during 2015–2016” on Thursday, October 1, from 12:10 to 1:20 p.m. in Assembly Hall 1 of the Campbell Student Union. The presentation is free, and everyone is welcome.

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

The following Blackboard training sessions and workshops will be held in October. Please register online. All sessions will be held in Bulger Communication Center 104.

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 the workshop for additional questions and discussion.

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, etc. You can also 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, specific items, by class sections, and many other options.

Grading color codes will also be covered. You are able to create rules to apply color to the cells in the Grade Center grid. Creating color rules provides 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 any campus-based activities or requirements you want to grade, such as papers, special projects, presentations, practicums, labs, and performances. Rubrics can be individualized to fit your needs to make your grading more efficient.

The college community is encouraged to participate in Orange Crush, Homecoming and Family Weekend 2015. This year's event runs Tuesday, September 29, through Sunday, October 4, and includes the Banner and Lip Sync competitions; the Pep Rally in the Plaza; the Homecoming Parade and Victory March down Elmwood Avenue; the Homecoming Tailgate Party; the football game against St. John Fisher, the men's soccer game against Fredonia; women's volleyball against Nazareth, the Student-Athlete Food Drive to support the Buffalo State Food Pantry; the King and Queen competition; the Orange Crush Carnival; and more. Wear orange and show your Bengal Pride all week. For a complete listing and description of events, please visit homecoming.buffalostate.edu.

The 2015–2016 “Conversations in and out of the Disciplines” lecture series begins Friday, October 2, when Michael Niman, professor of communication, presents "Acephalus Movements: Studying Utopia, Understanding Terror" at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320. A short, informal wine-and-cheese reception will be held after the talk. Everyone is welcome.

Please also mark your calendars for the other talks this fall:

October 16: Katherine Conway-Turner, president of Buffalo State College, will present “Aging within a Family Context: The Mother-Daughter Dynamic” at 3:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center's Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Auditorium.

November 6: Kelly Frothingham, department chair and professor of geography, will present “Stream Restoration: Local WNY Activity in the Context of National Trends” at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320.

December 4: Chuck Mancuso, professor of music, will present “The Last Great Days of the Buffalo Jazz Club Scene” at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320.

The Buffalo State College Parking and Transportation Committee will sponsor information sessions on bicycling safety from noon to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday September 30, in Assembly Hall 1 of the Campbell Student Union.

Presentations covering various aspects of bicycling safety will be given by representatives from the University Police Department and GoBike Buffalo. Learn about proper clothing, route choices, legally required bicycle accessories, special maintenance tips, proper locking techniques, and useful gear you will need to safely and easily use your bike for transportation year-round.

Advance registration is not required, and all levels of riders, from new to more experienced, are welcome to attend.

This environmental benefit project is being undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action taken by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation related to Article 19 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The enforcement action relates to power plant emissions in 1997 and 1998 that were found to exceed the acceptable threshold.

Check out the new Buffalo State bike gear at Barnes & Noble and take 20 percent off all bike jerseys, shorts, socks, LED safety lights, phantom flash arm bands, and locks from Monday, September 28, through Saturday, October 3.