TIAA-CREF representative Richard Thompson will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff on the following days:

Thursday, March 5
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, April 1
Tuesday, April 14
Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 21

Sessions are by appointment only, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Butler Library 210B. 

Gain a greater level of confidence in your retirement portfolio. To schedule an appointment, visit the TIAA-CREF website or call (800) 732-8353 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

An introductory workshop on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) review process and ethics training requirement to help researchers whose projects involve human participants determine appropriate levels of review will be held on Monday, March 9, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Butler Library 208.

Before the review process, researchers must be sure that their project is, in fact, research with human participants as defined by the federal government. To qualify as research with human participants, the following must be true: (1) The participants must be living. Thus, oral history projects fall under the guidelines, but research involving diaries kept in the 1800s does not. (2) The project is a systematic investigation; that is, it is designed to be a study. For example, instances in classrooms where teachers ask students’ opinions on the material to measure progress are not research; however, if that same teacher designs a study to evaluate two methods of teaching the material to see which is more effective, this would be research if the third criterion is met. (3) The project is designed to contribute to the generalized knowledge. To qualify as research, the person conducting the project must intend for it to be disseminated at some level.

On our campus, we also review student projects that may not be disseminated but that meet the first two criteria so that our students will learn the process of research with human participants and because we have contracted with the federal government to do so.

RSVP to Gina Game, research compliance manager, by Thursday, March 5.

Carol DeNysschen, associate professor of dietetics and nutrition, and junior-year students will discuss popular diet crazes, including the Paleo, gluten-free, South Beach, blood type, and Weight Watchers diets, on Friday, March 13, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 219. Learn about the structure of these diet plans, along with their costs, safety, and practicality.

RSVP to Gina Game, executive assistant to the associate vice president of sponsored programs, by Wednesday, March 11.

This event is presented by the Employee Assistance Program in collaboration with the School of the Professions’ Dietetics and Nutrition Department.

Are you questioning what the strategy is in marketing Buffalo State to potential students and the community? How we are getting the word out about the stories and attributes that make this college a special place? Tim Walsh, associate vice president for college relations, will provide an overview of the college’s marketing strategies, communication standards and policies, and available services provided by the College Relations team on Tuesday, February 24, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210. Students, faculty, and staff members are encouraged to attend, listen, and provide feedback and thoughts.

This presentation will be repeated on Thursday, February 26, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210.

Please join the Biology Department for the seminar "Mutualism Ecology and Evolution: Insights from Ant-Plant Interactions," presented by Megan Frederickson, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Toronto, on Tuesday, March 3, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Technology Building 160.

All faculty, staff, and students are welcome.

Seminar Abstract
Research in the Frederickson lab focuses on the ecology and evolution of mutualism, or cooperation between species. Mutualisms are extremely common in nature—so common, in fact, that every plant and animal on Earth may be involved in at least one mutualism. But cooperation is puzzling because it has the potential to be destabilized by selection for "cheating," or taking the benefits of cooperation without fully reciprocating. The evolution of mutualism is especially perplexing because partners do not share genes, precluding inclusive fitness benefits. The Frederickson lab uses a variety of approaches to study mutualisms involving insects (especially ants), plants, and microbes in both temperate and tropical ecosystems, to broadly characterize the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of mutualisms. I will describe our recent research on "cheating" in mutualisms, trade-offs between investing in multiple mutualisms (e.g., pollination and protection mutualisms), and the role of mutualism in facilitating biological invasions.

Jeffrey Otterstein from VALIC Financial Advisors will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Tuesday, March 3. Sessions are by appointment only between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210B.

Gain a greater level of confidence in your retirement portfolio. To schedule an appointment, please register online.

John Farar from Fidelity Investments will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Tuesday, February 24 and Thursday, March 19. Sessions are by appointment only, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Butler Library 210B.

To schedule an appointment, please register online or call (800) 642-7131.

Take Back the Night 2015 will be held Wednesday evening, April 15, in Rockwell Hall. Students can sign up to perform or volunteer for the event. The tentative deadline is Friday, February 27.

More information, videos, photos, and updates about Take Back the Night are available on the Weigel Health Center website.

Please contact Paula Madrigal, wellness and prevention coordinator for Weigel Health Center, Porter Hall 14A, ext. 4719, with questions.

The College Senate Standards for Students Committee will host two open forums on Tuesday, February 24, to gather feedback on the current state of advisement at Buffalo State and suggestions you may have for improvement at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Please attend the adviser session and encourage your students to attend the student session.

Advisers: 11:00 a.m.–noon, Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall 1
Students: 12:15–1:30 p.m., Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall 1

Your feedback will be used in addition to national, SUNY, and departmental information to provide recommendations to the Senate for improving the advisement experience on campus.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Volunteer and Service-Learning Celebration of Service Awards. The awards recognize faculty members, community partners, and students who participated in service-learning and volunteer initiatives throughout the academic year. This year's award recipients will be recognized on Tuesday, May 5, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall.

The campus community is invited to nominate individual students, student groups, community partners, faculty members, or classes for their outstanding achievements in fall 2014 and spring 2015 volunteer or service-learning activities.

Help us recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond this year. Information and the nomination web form can be found on the VSLC website. Nominations will be accepted through Monday, April 27.