The Professional Development Center, Butler Library, and Instructional Resources will host streamed sessions from the Protect, Use, and Share Content in Online Education FACT² Symposium on November 7. Please join us in Butler Library 181B to view the streamed sessions. Use the links below to register.

Session Times and Descriptions

SUNY Copyright Policy and Clarifications
9:30–10:15 a.m.
SUNY Counsel’s Office: SUNY copyright policy and clarifications. Content development agreements used in the online learning environment. Legal considerations for licensing work for use on Open SUNY.

The Ongoing Congressional Review of Our Nation’s Copyright Law
10:30 a.m.–noon
Keynote address: Karyn Temple Claggett, associate register of copyrights and director of policy and international affairs, U.S. Copyright Office. The ongoing congressional review of our nation’s copyright law, including why it is important that copyright law keep pace with technological advancement.

A New Look at Copyright and Case Law in Relation to Higher Education
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Robert Clarida, Esq., partner, Reitler, Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC: A new look at copyright and case law in relation to higher education. Some thoughts about future directions for higher ed.

SUNY Faculty and Staff Share Their Success, Concerns, and Goals for Online Education
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panel session: Lenore G. Horowitz, teaching faculty of informatics, SUNY Albany; Sarah Morehouse, information resources coordinator, Empire State College; and Carine Surdey, senior instructional designer, SUNY Broome Community College. SUNY faculty and staff members share their successes, concerns, and goals for online education.

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.

A flu vaccine clinic will be held today, November 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all students, especially those who have a chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes or who are currently on prednisone, receive a flu shot.

Insurance companies that might cover the vaccine at this clinic are Independent Health, Cigna, Aetna, CVS/Caremark, Merck/Medco, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare Parts B and D, and Fidelis. Students must present a valid health insurance card. Others must pay the $31.99 cost of the injection by cash or check.

The flu clinic is arranged through the Weigel Health Center. Please call Debbie Sarratori, assistant director of medical administration, at ext. 6711 with questions.

Alumni and friends of Buffalo State are invited to attend the sixth annual Veterans Day Silent March on Thursday, November 6, to honor those members of the Buffalo State community who have served in any branch of the United States military or allied services.

The procession will feature past and present service members, their spouses and dependents, and first responders. Marchers will assemble at 11:45 a.m. at Chase Hall. The procession proceeds from Chase Hall to the Campbell Student Union Quad at noon. The memorial ceremony will begin at 12:10 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Quad.

This annual event is presented by the Alumni Association and Continuing Professional Studies, which houses the Veteran and Military Services Office. The 2014 Military Service Scholarship will be formally awarded at the ceremony. A brief reception after the ceremony is planned in Chase Hall 13 and 15.

Employees who are enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) may select a different health plan for the 2015 plan year during the Option Transfer Period. Employees will have 30 days from the date the 2015 rates are approved and published to change their health insurance carrier.

The New York State Employee Benefits Division will mail information about the new health plan rates and deadline dates to enrolled employees' home addresses. This information will also be announced in the Daily Bulletin. The 2015 "Choices" booklet, a comparison of the insurance plans, will be available on the Human Resource Management website by late November. 

Also, representatives from the Empire Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, and Independent Health will be on campus from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, in Butler Library 210 to answer questions about current health insurance plans and anticipated changes in coverage for 2015.

For additional information, please call ext. 4821.

Please note the following deadlines for employee benefits enrollment and changes:

• November 7
  Flex Spending Account: Health Care Spending or Dependent Care Advantage Account: For additional information or to enroll, visit www.flexspend.ny.gov or call (800) 358-7202.
   
• November 28
  Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP): Eligible CSEA, PEF, UUP, and M/C employees may forfeit vacation and/or personal leave in exchange for a credit toward their health insurance premiums in 2015. For additional information, visit the Human Resource Management website.
   
• November 30
  Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP): NYSHIP enrollees in the PTCP can make the following changes to their coverage for the 2015 plan year without a qualifying event:

  *Change your pre-tax status for insurance deductions.
  *Change from family to individual coverage.
  *Voluntarily cancel your health coverage.

Note: Unless you have a qualifying event, the waiting period still applies to enroll in health insurance for the first time or to add previously eligible dependents to your coverage. For additional information, visit the SUNY Benefits website.

Please call the Employee Benefits Office at ext. 4821 with questions.

The Buffalo State campus and community are invited to a lecture by Laura Sommer, associate professor of art history at Daemen College, on Friday, November 7, at 3:00 p.m. in Technology Building 160. Her talk, "Fragmented Narratives: Italian Painting in the 19th Century," will examine the visual culture of Italian national unification. This event is sponsored by the Fine Arts Department with assistance from the Dr. Margaret Bacon Fund.

The University Police Department has temporarily suspended the grooming standards for the department, allowing officers to grow a goatee for eight weeks, until December 31. University Police officers are participating in the Goatees for Charity fundraiser by paying $50 each to grow a goatee. The funds raised will be donated to the Lt. Colonel Matt Urban Human Services Center of W.N.Y., which provides a variety of community services in Buffalo.

It’s that time of the year. Clean out your storage spaces, desks, and filing cabinets and bring your unneeded supplies to the annual Office Supply Swap.

The schedule for the swap:

Tuesday, November 18
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Drop-off day. Bring your supplies to Business Services, Moore Hall 124*

Wednesday, November 19
9:00 a.m.–noon
Supply shopping for departments that donated

Wednesday, November 19
Noon–3:00 p.m.
Supply shopping for all campus departments

This is also a great opportunity to check out the surplus furniture warehouse.

Questions? Contact Lauren Bostaph, ext. 6835.

*Note: The location of the swap is Moore Hall warehouse, G2 on the campus map (not Moore Complex).

The next Idea Lab event is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 220. Come one, come all! Bring a colleague.