The campus community is invited to an information session on MAP-Works on Wednesday, November 19, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Butler Library 210.

The MAP-Works survey has officially closed, and we’ve seen unprecedented student participation. More than 1,500 first-year students completed the survey, or 80.3 percent of the freshman class. Join us for a discussion about what we can glean from student responses and how we can best support students who are struggling.

RSVP to Eileen Merberg, interim director of student life, to attend.

Join Instructional Resources in Bulger Communication Center 120 throughout the week for the following live webinar sessions hosted by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

The State of State Authorization and Professional Licensure
Monday, November 10
3:30–4:30 p.m.

Engaging Online Students in the Career Development/Job Placement Process
Wednesday, November 12
8:00–9:00 a.m.

Adapting to Competency-Based Learning: An Industry Perspective
Wednesday, November 12
3:30–4:30 p.m.

Competency-Based Education Is Leading Us: Interviews from the Field
Friday, November 14
12:30–1:30 p.m.

Additional webinars can be found on the United States Distance Learning Association website.

In honor of National Distance Learning Week, you are invited to view these free professional development opportunities:

USDLA Webinars –  Registration Required. There are multiple sessions this week; registration is required for viewing.

Join Live on Wednesday, November 12, at 1:30 p.m. – No Registration Required. IELOL Leaders Share Distance Education Best Practices, presented by the Institute for Engaged Leadership in Online Learning and the Online Learning Consortium.

Join Live on Friday, November 14, at noon – No Registration Required. Are You CBE Ready? Assessing Your Competency-Based Education Program Readiness, presented by the Online Learning Consortium.

In an effort to provide key information to principal investigators (PIs), faculty, staff, and the campus community, Research and Sponsored Programs has launched Essential News for Researchers, an electronic communication intended to provide noteworthy information on updated policies, procedures, forms, and due dates as well as news and announcements specific to sponsored programs.

The Fall 2014 issue (PDF) is now available.

Please join us for the fourth presentation in our annual Philosophy and Humanities Fall 2014 Faculty Colloquia, "Millennials and the Meaning of Life and Work in Downton Abbey," presented by Kimberly Blessing, professor of philosophy, on Wednesday, November 12, at 2:00 p.m. in Bishop Hall 242.

Please note: This presentation has been rescheduled to December 3.

Please note the following changes in Buffalo State Dining's hours of operation due to Veterans Day:

Resident Dining

Monday, November 10 
Breakfast: 7:00–10:30 a.m. 
Lunch: 11:00 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Dinner: 4:30–8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 11
Brunch: 10:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Dinner: 4:30–8:30 p.m.

Food Court
Monday, November 10–Tuesday, November 11
Train Grill: 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Salsarita’s: Closed
Chop’d: 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.     
Bluw: Closed
Subway: Noon–11:00 p.m.
Roots: Closed
2.mato: 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Spot Coffee: 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Jamba Juice: Noon–7:00 p.m.

Argo Tea
Monday, November 10: 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11: Closed

Outtakes
Monday, November 10: 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11: Closed

Choc O Late
Monday, November 10: 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11: Closed

Cafe Oh-Le
Monday, November 10: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11: Closed

VOYA Financial (ING) will conduct the workshop "Understanding the Basics of Social Security," led by Gary Witten, on Monday, November 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210.

If you wish to attend, RSVP to molly@teamifs.com or call (716) 626-3928. A light lunch will be provided.

Come and learn about geographical information systems (GIS) on Tuesday, November 18, between 12:15 and 1:30 p.m. in Classroom Building A209 during Geography Awareness Week. Refreshments will be served. Activities include a video presentation, "Amazing GIS Work" by Jack Dangermond, founder and president of ESRI; the talk "Create a Better Future with GIS," by John Lenahan, business development manager for commercial services at ESRI; unveiling of the GIS tech hub at Buffalo State; and a demonstration of our unmanned helicopter.

The Geography and Planning Department will host a Geography Awareness Week luncheon on Thursday, November 20, in Classroom Building A209. Photo contest winners will be announced, and the documentary Journey to Planet Earth – Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization will be shown. The documentary addresses the geography of food in the context of global climate change, a growing population, and food availability.

An authoritative web presence is critical to the success of Buffalo State’s enrollment, retention, advancement, and overall communication efforts. To remain competitive, the college has moved to Drupal, a robust, open-source content management system. The College Relations Office has created multiple Drupal website designs that are accessible, feature-rich, and responsive.

Over the past two years, all academic departments and schools and more than 50 offices have been transferred into Drupal. College Relations is now urging any remaining offices, centers, and programs that need to have a web presence to move into the new system.

Timeline
The Ingeniux server (www1) will shut down effective December 30, 2014. At that time, Ingeniux sites will no longer be accessible. If you have an existing Ingeniux site that needs to be migrated over to Drupal, please contact Melissa Meehan, director of web administration, to request a Drupal shell site and sign up for Drupal training.

Migration Exceptions
The following sites should not be migrated into Drupal:

• Very low traffic sites or sites that were established for short-run, event-specific purposes, and completed initiatives
• Sites that have not been updated since January 2010

If you have any questions or are ready to migrate your site, please contact Melissa Meehan.

Please join the Communication Department, Buffalo State, and the local community to celebrate and remember the life of Dr. William E. Raffel, associate professor of communication, with a memorial service at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 14, in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall.

Gifts in Dr. Raffel’s memory may be made to the Buffalo State College Foundation with the notation “Communication Department Student Enrichment Fund in Honor of Bill Raffel.”