Are you going through the motions when teaching the same courses semester after semester? Can you proclaim that you can do your courses in your sleep? If your responses are yes, then spice up your teaching routine by attending this workshop on Wednesday, May 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. This workshop session seeks to shake you out of your teaching doldrums and is open to all but is geared specifically to Learning Community faculty. Participants will discuss failures and successes when attempting these strategies in the Integrated Hour. Presented by Lori Woods and Carlos Jones.

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This roundtable discussion on Wednesday, May 21, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in Bacon Hall 115 is designed for returning Learning Community faculty, student development liaisons, and librarians. Participants will dissect the programmatic goals of the Learning Community and will identify elements of a successful Learning Community experience. Information about first-year students and student development resources will be shared. The goal of this session is to consider how the Learning Community program fits in with the first-year program. Lunch provided. Presented by Ann Emo and Brian Dubenion.

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This interactive workshop on Tuesday, May 20, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Bacon Hall 207 will highlight two models that can be used to promote creative learning. First, we will use the Creative Thinking Skills model as a general framework that can be used to design and deliver creative learning experiences. We will show how some tools embedded in this model can be applied in any subject area. Second, we will focus on the Accelerated Learning Model and identify the principles and methods that can be applied to create learning designs that result in more enjoyable, engaging, and satisfying experiences for both students and faculty. This workshop is designed for faculty members who are interested in incorporating creative thinking into their lessons and courses. To that end, participants are encouraged to identify a learning objective to be used as a focus for their own application during this session.

Presented by John Cabra and Tim Switalski

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Join the interim vice president for enrollment management on Tuesday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Bacon Hall 207 for an open and frank dialog about the role of faculty in the recruitment and retention of the next generation of Buffalo State students. Presented by Brad Fuster and Christine Auman.

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This networking reception on Monday, May 19, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall will celebrate the successes of the Coalition Building Team, announce exciting new developments for 2014, and premiere a student-produced film, The New America, about student perceptions of diversity in 2014. Wine and refreshments will be served. All faculty and staff members are invited to attend.

Sponsored by the Buffalo State NCBI Campus Affiliate, Coalition Building Team.

Are you concerned about providing the best advising experience for you and your students? Do you want advisement conversations to be more than a discussion about course selection? Explore best practices for offering effective advisement sessions during this session on Monday, May 19, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Bacon Hall 205. Participants will learn about the intrusive advising model and will have the opportunity to ask questions about IF Provost Waivers and the Intellectual Foundations 2014 program. Presented by Marie Ferraro and Amitra Wall.

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Green-screen technology. Multi-track recording. The range of options for enhancing course material and delivery is virtually endless and, with the help of Instructional Resources, closer than you might think. Join fellow faculty members on Monday, May 19, from 11:00 a.m. to noon in the Bulger Communication Center lobby for a tour of Instructional Resources and find out what is available. Sponsored by Melaine Kenyon.

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This week’s FACTS article focuses on the availability of financial aid resources to support participation in study-abroad programs (national and international). While financial aid is typically available to help students, there are significant variations in program costs and aid eligibility among the various study-abroad opportunities; therefore, students are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and meet with a financial aid adviser to discuss their study-abroad plans and to attend a financial aid information session for the particular exchange program.

Below are important points to keep in mind when working with students who express an interest in studying abroad.

Funding the Gap. Participating in an exchange program can be much more expensive than a regular semester at Buffalo State, leaving a gap between the aid awarded and the program’s expected costs. In most cases, the gap is funded through additional student or parent loans. Loan options include:

• Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Parent PLUS Loans (dependent students only; separate application required)
• Federal Graduate PLUS Loans (graduate students only; separate application required)
• Private/Alternative Loans (separate application required)

Tip: Participating in the National Student Exchange (NSE) program is often a more affordable option for students who desire an exchange experience but do not have the financial means to travel internationally.

Paying All Schools Involved. Students who participate in an exchange program may have a balance due at multiple colleges. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that Buffalo State (host institution) and the study-abroad school(s) are paid in full. Failure to make a timely payment will result in a transcript hold on the student’s record.

Submitting Transcripts and Impact to Future Aid Eligibility. Students must submit an official copy of their academic transcript from the exchange program within a timely manner after the completion of the program. Failure to submit the transcript will result in a cancellation of federal and state financial aid.

For more information, please refer to the Financial Aid for Exchange Programs guide.

If you have questions regarding this article, please contact us at finaid@buffalostate.edu or ext. 4902. All questions and answers will be posted in the You Asked for It section of the FAO website. Click on the Faculty and Staff link (bottom left).

As we move to more networked online platforms, collaborative tools are more readily available. Come to this hands-on workshop on Monday, May 19, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 314 to explore some of the new ways to collaborate online to work, publish, and play. Presented by Ken Fujiuchi.

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Please verify that your Record of Authorized Signatures forms are up-to-date in order to avoid delays in the processing of your department's request for purchase orders.

You must complete a new Record of Authorized Signatures form for each department account if there are changes. You will need a new Record of Authorized Signatures form if an authorized signatory is on sabbatical and an interim will be in charge while he or she is away, or if there is a temporary department chair for summer only. You must also submit a new form if your department has new employees who will be authorized to sign purchase requisitions.

The form can be found on the Procurement Services website. Please complete the form and send the original to Procurement Services, Cleveland Hall 406, as soon as possible.