This month's M&T Second Friday is July 10. On the second Friday of every month, the Burchfield Penney hosts something great, thanks to the support of M&T Bank. With openings and happy hours, programs, concerts, screenings, and other special events, visitors experience the best of the Burchfield Penney every Second Friday. Gallery admission is free all day (10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.), with special events and programs beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Burchfield Penney members always receive free or discounted admission to special programs. For all the benefits of membership, visit the website or call 878-6011.

• 5:30–7:30 p.m. Lazlo Hollyfeld in the Front Yard.
• 5:30–7:30 p.m. Hands-on art making in the studio classroom.
• Dusk: Squeaky Wheel presents Silent Sound, featuring Zorn's Lemma by Hollis Frampton, in the Front Yard; music by Wooden Cities and Cages.

Gallery hours are until 8:00 p.m. To keep up to date on all the Burchfield Penney's exhibitions and events, join our e-mail list or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more at www.burchfieldpenney.org.

Our busy departments are generating lots of mail every day, and faculty and staff members who prepare items to be mailed should remember a few things before filling out that blue mail slip. Here are some helpful tips:

Please do not overstuff business envelopes. If you need to put a group of documents in a business-size envelope, make sure they are folded sharply and pressed down so the envelope is as flat as possible. The meter machine cannot properly seal an overstuffed item. If you really need to stuff things in, sealing the envelope before sending it to us will ensure that the contents stay safe and will be processed efficiently by our equipment. You may also want to consider using a larger envelope. Remember, it’s not a turkey! So save the stuffing for November and please call 878-5515 with questions.

Today is the last day to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for Summer Session 2015.

Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees.
• Part-time or temporary Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
• Full-time Research Foundation employees, provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses a semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours an academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received.

After submitting an application, employees who decide to drop a class or find it has been covered by another source are asked to immediately notify Human Resource Management to update their applications.

Please contact Human Resource Management, 878-4821, for applications or program guidelines.

Friday, July 31, is the last day to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for Summer Session 2015.

Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees.
• Part-time or temporary Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
• Full-time Research Foundation employees, provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses a semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours an academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received.

After submitting an application, employees who decide to drop a class or find it has been covered by another source are asked to immediately notify Human Resource Management to update their applications.

Please contact Human Resource Management, 878-4821, for applications or program guidelines.

The deadline to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for Summer Session 2015 is Friday July 31.

Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees.
• Part-time or temporary Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
• Full-time Research Foundation employees, provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses a semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours an academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received.

After submitting an application, employees who decide to drop a class or find it has been covered by another source are asked to please notify Human Resource Management immediately to update their applications.

Please contact Human Resource Management, 878-4821, for applications or program guidelines.

Faculty and staff parking permit stickers for the 2015–2016 academic year are now available for purchase online. Employees may log on to the system with their campus username and password. Permits can be sent via U.S. mail to an employee's address of record or picked up in the Parking Services office, Chase Hall 126. A valid photo ID must be shown when picking up a parking permit.

Employees who do not have a campus username and password may apply for their parking permits in person in the Parking Services office. Permits are not available at Student Accounts.

University Police will begin ticketing for no-permit violations on Tuesday, September 8. If you have elected to receive your permit by mail and have not received it by this date, please stop at University Police or Parking Services to obtain a temporary permit for the day.

We are happy to provide this opportunity to go green and help create a smooth transition for the upcoming semester.

Weigel Health Center and the Employee Assistance Program are collaborating to provide free nicotine patches to students, faculty, and staff members who are ready to quit smoking. Supplies are limited. Stop by to see us in the Student Union Plaza (tent near Cleveland Hall) on Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Or, if you prefer, call Weigel Health Center at 878-6711 to set up a short meeting to assist you in developing a quit plan. We will then provide a free box of nicotine replacement patches. Help us create our tobacco-free campus community.

We will also be offering blood pressure screenings and providing information about the 24-hour blood pressure monitoring opportunity. 

Value in dollars: $40. Value in terms of your health: priceless.

Committee interest forms will be available on the College Senate website beginning July 1 for those who are interested in serving on one or more of the eight Senate standing committees. The deadline for submissions will be Friday, August 21. Standing committee chairs reserve the right to determine committee membership and make all membership decisions. Not all standing committees may need members.

2015–2016 Senate Standing Committee Chairs
Academic Plan, Jason Grinnell
Budget and Staff Allocations, Frederick Floss
Bylaws and Elections, Kevin Williams
Curriculum, Marc Bayer
Faculty and Staff Welfare, Amitra Wall
Instruction and Research, Scott Goodman
Standards for Students, Heather Maldonado
Student Welfare (vice chair), Amy Rosen-Brand (committee chair is a student senator elected at the first or second Senate meeting each fall)

Weigel Health Center and the Employee Assistance Program are collaborating to provide free nicotine patches to students, faculty, and staff members who are ready to quit smoking. Supplies are limited. Stop by to see us in the Student Union Plaza (tent near Cleveland Hall) on Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Or, if you prefer, call Weigel Health Center at 878-6711 to set up a short meeting to assist you in developing a quit plan. We will then provide a free box of nicotine replacement patches. Help us create our tobacco-free campus community. We will also be offering blood pressure screenings and providing information about the 24-hour blood pressure monitoring opportunity. 

Value in dollars: $40. Value in terms of your health: priceless.

Supplies are limited. Make the call (878-6711) and ask for Carrie.

First-Year Convocation 2015 will be held on Wednesday, August 26, at 9:00 a.m. in the Sports Arena. This event requires the enthusiastic participation of our campus community to succeed. All departments and offices are encouraged to allow their staff members to support this event as a work assignment for that morning by allowing personnel to march, volunteer, or simply attend the event as an audience member. Those interested in marching in regalia or volunteering to staff the event can register online.

A training session for volunteers will be held from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Monday, August 24. Volunteers will be asked to report on August 26 between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m., and marchers will be asked to report by 8:15 a.m.

Many thanks to those who have already registered for this welcoming tradition of our scholarly community, and thank you to those who will register today!