Ketchum Hall will undergo a stair tread replacement project this summer as part of the campus’s critical maintenance work. This undertaking will include removal of existing stair treads, installation of new stair treads and rubber floor tiles at landings, repair of damaged plaster, and painting. The renovation work will be done in two phases to ensure that only one stairwell is closed at a time. Each stairwell will be available for emergency egress only while its renovation work is under way.

Phase 1—renovation of the west stairwell—is scheduled for May 18 through June 5. The work will affect the accessible entrance at the basement level. Individuals who require an accessible route during the renovation work may coordinate access with the Facilities Planning Office. All others are asked to use the east and north building entrances while the west stairwell work is under way.

Phase 2—renovation of the east stairwell—is expected to take place from June 8 through 26. Building occupants are asked to use the west and north building entrances while the east stairwell is being renovated.

Your patience and understanding are appreciated. Questions about this project can be e-mailed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu. Please refer to the Facilities Planning website for the latest information about current and upcoming construction projects.

Renovations to Bulger Communication Center are scheduled to take place from Monday, May 18, through the end of July. During this time, the North, West, and West 2 lecture halls will undergo reconstruction work including demolition, electrical upgrades, painting, and installation of acoustical panels, new furniture, and handrails.

In addition, the Bulger basement corridor ceiling near offices 113 through 117 will be replaced. New furniture will arrive Monday, June 1, and be stored in the main and upper lobbies until the rooms are ready for furniture installation. While no classes are scheduled in Bulger during this renovation, some college events will be held in the already-renovated halls on weekdays after 6:00 p.m. and on weekends.

Your patience and understanding are appreciated. Questions about this project can be e-mailed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu. Please visit the Facilities Planning website for the latest information about current and upcoming construction.

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
The results of the College Senate Caucus elections were announced at the College Senate meeting on May 8. Members of the 2015–2016 College Senate will participate in an electronic election from May 18–23 to elect the new College Senate chair and the chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee.

College Senate Chair
Anthony Hotchkiss
Amy McMillan

Bylaws and Elections Committee Chair
Barbara Sherman
Kevin Williams

Committee chairs elected at the caucus are as follows:

College Senate Vice Chair: Howard Reid
Academic Plan Committee Chair: Jason Grinnell
Budget and Staff Allocations Committee Chair: Frederick Floss
College Senate Curriculum Committee Chair: Marc Bayer
Faculty and Staff Welfare Committee Chair: Amitra Wall
Instruction and Research Committee Chair: Scott Goodman
Standards for Students Committee Chair: Heather Maldonado
Student Welfare Committee Co-Chair: Amy Rosen-Brand

Access to Blackboard will begin using the SUNY Secure Login process on Friday, May 15. Blackboard users will click ”Login” on the Blackboard log-in page and be directed to a web page where they will enter their Buffalo State user name and password. When the Blackboard session is complete, users must log out and then close their browsers (not the tab) to complete the log-out process and ensure security. For assistance with user name or password, please contact the Computing Help Desk, 878-4357.

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
The results of the College Senate Caucus elections were announced at the College Senate meeting on May 8. Members of the 2015–2016 College Senate will participate in an electronic election from May 18–23 to elect the new College Senate chair and the chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee.

College Senate Chair
Anthony Hotchkiss
Amy McMillan

Bylaws and Elections Committee Chair
Barbara Sherman
Kevin Williams

Committee chairs elected at the caucus are as follows:

College Senate Vice Chair: Howard Reid
Academic Plan Committee Chair: Jason Grinnell
Budget and Staff Allocations Committee Chair: Frederick Floss
College Senate Curriculum Committee Chair: Marc Bayer
Faculty and Staff Welfare Committee Chair: Amitra Wall
Instruction and Research Committee Chair: Scott Goodman
Standards for Students Committee Chair: Heather Maldonado
Student Welfare Committee Co-Chair: Amy Rosen-Brand

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
The College Senate Caucus (election of officers) will be held tomorrow, May 8, immediately before the 2:00 p.m. Senate meeting, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., in Butler Library 210. Current returning and newly elected senators are welcome to attend. Please e-mail Vince Masci, secretary to the College Senate, with questions.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The final College Senate meeting for the spring 2015 semester will be held at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, May 8, in Butler Library 210. Please note the one hour earlier start time. The meeting agenda is posted on the College Senate website.

Do you use Remote Desktop to access your campus PC from home? If so, please note: Computing and Technology Services has deployed a new Remote Desktop Gateway server to act as a "connection broker" between your home computer and campus PC. The Gateway is a more secure method of connecting and will greatly reduce the amount of unwanted traffic that hits our campus network.

If you wish to continue using Remote Desktop, you must configure the Gateway connection by following one of the links below:

How do I configure my home PC for use with the Remote Desktop Gateway server?
How do I configure my home Mac for use with the Remote Desktop Gateway server?

In order to set up the Gateway connection, you'll need to know the device name of your campus PC. The old method of using the IP address to connect to your campus PC will cease to function on Wednesday, May 27. The Gateway is ready to use now, so make these changes today and test your connection through the Gateway before the old method is no longer available. Please call the Computing Help Desk at 878-4357 with questions.

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
Please join the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee in welcoming the following new and returning senators for terms beginning August 2015:

At-Large
Ann Emo (new, 2015–2018)
Howard Reid (new, 2015–2018)
Heather Maldonado (second term, 2015–2018)

School of Arts and Humanities
Meg Knowles (new, 2015–2018)
Michele Ninacs (new, 2015–2018)

School of Education
Warren Gleckel (one-year term, 2015–2016 C-1)
Kevin Miller (second term, 2015–2018)
Jing Zhang (new, 2015–2018)

School of Natural and Social Sciences
Frederick Floss (new, 2015–2018)
Jennifer Hunt (second term, 2015–2018)

School of the Professions
Lynn Boorady (second term, 2015–2018)
Kimberly Kline (new, 2015–2018)

Professional Staff Caucus
Maria Brickhouse (new, 2015–2018)
Amy Rosen-Brand (new, 2015–2018)

Support Staff
Kathrine Harrington (new, 2015–2018)

From the Chair of the Woods-Beals Endowed Chair Search Advisory Committee
Our third and final candidate for the position of Woods-Beals Endowed Chair in Urban and Rural Education is Joseph E. Flynn Jr., associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations at Northern Illinois University, who will visit campus Monday, May 4.

Download the curriculum vitae for Joseph Flynn Jr. (PDF).

Dr. Flynn will present to the campus community during an open forum at 1:15 p.m. Monday in Cleveland Hall 418.

The campus community is encouraged to provide feedback about Dr. Flynn’s candidacy by completing a survey that will be available at the open forum.

Thank you for your help and support during this important process.

Sincerely,

Lawrence J. Maheady
Horace Mann Endowed Chair, Exceptional Education Department