The Daily Bulletin will not be published the week of Spring Recess, March 24–28. The deadline for submissions for the March 31 issue is 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 21. During the break, users will be able to submit items for Tuesday, April 1, and beyond. Thank you.

This workshop will demonstrate a solution-focused approach to assess and improve faculty skill and satisfaction levels with grading student writing on Tuesday, April 1, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Caudell Hall 116. Participants will learn which strategies do and do not work well, and they will leave with a packet of additional strategies and resources including best practices for teaching and grading writing, tips for managing the paper load, a self-editing guide to help students edit their own writing, sample writing and research rubrics, and an example of how to sequence assignments (scaffolding).

Register for this workshop through the CyberQuad Workshop Registration System.

Please join us for the third lecture in our spring 2014 colloquium series as Women in Philosophy (WIP) presents "What HBO's Girls Has to Say about Meaning in Life for Millennials" on Tuesday, March 18, at 12:15 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. Presenters will be senior Samantha Wezowicz, philosophy major, and Kimberly Blessing, professor and department chair.

Today is Pi Day, in honor of the mathematical constant (3.14). Stop by Spot Coffee and pick up a slice of (or a whole) homemade pi. Pi is available in a variety of flavors including pumpkin, apple, and sweet potato, and it makes for the perfect afternoon snack.

For more information on Buffalo State Dining, please visit our website.

We have received notification from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations that state offices were officially closed as of 2:00 p.m. March 12, 2014, and a directed early departure for nonessential employees was granted; therefore, employees who did report to work on March 12 but left early are not required to charge leave accruals for time after 2:00 p.m. As required by New York State time and attendance regulations, any departure earlier than 2:00 p.m. must be charged to appropriate leave accruals. Also according to NYS regulations, employees who were scheduled to work on March 12 but elected not to come to campus are required to charge a full day to appropriate leave accruals. Please note that sick leave accruals may be charged only if an employee was absent for medical reasons.

Please call Human Resource Management at ext. 4822 if you have questions regarding March 12 absences or early departures.

Join us for the next workshop in our spring 2014 Bengal Basics series:

Quick Tips for Finding Books and Articles for College-Level Research
Tuesday, March 18
3:00–4:00 p.m.
E. H. Butler Library 314
Presenter: Barbara Barone

Please call the Academic Skills Center at 878-4041 to reserve your seat.

The Orientation and New Student Programs Office has begun registration for the mandatory orientation programs for all new matriculated students for fall 2014. Orientation for first-year students will be held Wednesday, August 20, and Thursday, August 21.

Transfer students will attend Orientation on Friday, August 22. In addition, information about departmental advisement for transfer students will be on our website beginning Wednesday, March 26.

For additional information, please visit the Orientation website or e-mail the office at orientat@buffalostate.edu.

American Heart Association CPR/AED classes are offered at Weigel Health Center free of charge for faculty, staff, and students. During the class, you will learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and provide relief to a choking victim. Skills are taught for use with adults, children, and infants. Class is completed in two and a half hours.

Classes are scheduled on the following dates and times:

Monday, March 17, at 9:30 a.m.
Monday, March 24, at 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 27, at 9:30 a.m.
Monday, March 31, at 9:30 a.m.
Monday, April 7, at 9:30 a.m.

Classes will be held in Weigel Health Center 203. Reserve a spot in one of these classes or obtain additional information at lifesupport@buffalostate.edu.

If you would like to schedule a more convenient time for you and three others, contact us to arrange a class that fits into your schedule.

The School of Education welcomes alumna Robin Tolsma (’05, ’07) to campus on Thursday, March 20, for a presentation on her journey from teacher to activist after losing her husband in the crash of Flight 3407. Her talk from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115 is free and open to the public.

Since the tragedy, Tolsma has spent her time learning how to forgive, comprehend, and move forward. Along with members of other families affected by the tragedy, she has worked tirelessly to pass the strongest federal aviation bill in history to improve flight safety and pilot regulations. Tolsma is a former English teacher and the author of Everything Changed, a book that seeks to motivate and support those who are experiencing hardship or tragedy.

Tolsma’s journey from teacher to activist resonates well with our Year of the Teacher focus on the many enactments of teaching and learning that move individuals toward peace and justice, and make our society flourish. Her lecture encourages audiences to release hate, to never say "why me?" or feel shame for the way we grieve, and to use the educational tools we are given to make a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.

The Professional Staff Caucus will hold its Spring Student Scholarship Fundraiser on Friday, April 4, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Campus House. Tickets can be purchased online for $30, which includes appetizers and two alcoholic beverages. The fundraiser will feature theme baskets, gift certificates, and a 50/50 raffle. The first student PSC scholarship will be awarded in fall 2014. Faculty and staff members are encouraged to donate to Buffalo State College Foundation account 311154 to support the Professional Staff Caucus Scholarship Fund. Please join us at Campus House to network, relax, and enjoy fellowship with one another.