The Sociology Department is accepting applications for its second Global Sociology study-abroad program in Chile. This three-week trip is an opportunity for students to study Chilean history and culture through a sociological lens in the capital city of Santiago.

• Students will earn 6 credits for SOC 495.
• Funding opportunities are available.
• No prior Spanish speaking skills are necessary.
• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• You must be in good academic standing.

An information session will be held Thursday, February 6, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Classroom Building B332. See you there!

A general information session, "Everything You Wanted to Know about Studying Abroad but Didn't Know Whom to Ask," will be held Tuesday, February 4, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center South 2.

The Blizzard of 1977 was an event described as being on "the extreme edge of climatic possibility." How does the Blizzard of 2014 compare? What's in store for the second half of this winter? Celebrate a piece of Buffalo's psyche by joining us for a brief presentation, a comparison of blizzards, a look at what the groundhog should say, a nostalgic playing of the Blizzard of '77 board game, food, and more on Thursday, January 30, at 4:30 p.m. in Classroom Building A400 (penthouse). Once you reach the Classroom Building, signs will direct you. All are welcome: students, faculty, and staff. The key words here are "a blizzard of fun." Come for a few minutes or a few hours. Look for our fliers.

Sponsored by the Meteorology and Climatology Club, the Geography and Planning Department, and the Arthur W. Gielow Meteorology Fund.

Faculty and staff members, join us for an information session on the SUNY Tools of Engagement Project (TOEP) on Tuesday, January 28, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Technology Building 242.

Professional Development Opportunity
Registration is now open for the SUNY Tools of Engagement Project (TOEP)

TOEP, an on-demand discovery learning professional development project, is designed to encourage faculty, staff, and teaching assistants to explore freely available online emerging technology tools for teaching and learning.

TOEP has been awarded additional funding through the SUNY provost's Innovative Instruction Technology Grants (IITG) initiative for 2013–2014. TOEP Phase 2 includes new participation options, enhanced resources, and expanded incentive opportunities.

Registration for TOEP is open through Friday, January 31. To be eligible for badges, a completion certificate, and incentives, you must complete your custom TOEP pathway by Monday, March 3. Incentives include professional development awards for the most pedagogically intriguing uses of TOEP tools.

Questions about TOEP? Contact any of your campus TOEP team members: Ken Fujiuchi, Jevon Hunter, Robin Harris, or Ramona Santa Maria.

Members of the Students of Concern Care Team are available to attend meetings or gatherings of faculty and staff members to provide information and share strategies and techniques for working with students of concern on campus. Upon request, we will attend chairs' meetings, departmental meetings, office gatherings, or other group meetings. 

The Care Team seeks to identify and provide support for students in distress who may threaten harm to themselves or others. Your help in providing notice of any students of concern is essential to keeping our campus community safe. Notify the Care Team whenever a student’s behavior gives reason for uncertainty about possible harm so that we can investigate the situation, develop a plan for action, and follow up with appropriate intervention.

To contact the Care Team,

• complete an online report via the website, or
• e-mail the team, or
• call the Dean of Students Office at ext. 4618.

Questions about the operation of the team should be addressed to Charles B. Kenyon, associate vice president and dean of students, ext. 4618.

If you wish to invite members of the team to meet with your department or office to discuss “red flag” warning signs, ways to report a concern, legal or FERPA issues, or how to respond when confronted by a student in distress, please contact Amy Rosen-Brand, associate director of disability services, ext. 4500.

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center's Alternative Break program will host the following information sessions for students interested in participating in an Alternative Spring Break experience:

• Tuesday, February 4, 12:30–1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 204
• Wednesday, February 12, noon–1:00 p.m. in Bacon Hall 204

From March 23 to March 29, two Alternative Break trips will be hosted:

Education on the Westside: Buffalo, NY
To celebrate SUNY Buffalo State’s Year of the Teacher, this break will allow participating students to learn about the Public Achievement model, work in Buffalo Public Schools classrooms, and facilitate a mentoring program with middle school students.

Conserving the Environment: Delaplane, VA
Participating students will head to the Blue Ridge Mountains to volunteer with Sky Meadows State Park to learn about conservation and resource management within the park’s natural environment while assisting the park with spring tree planting and invasive species control and removal.

Applications will be provided at the information sessions and can be found on the VSLC website. For more information, please call the VSLC at ext. 5811 or stop by Cleveland Hall 306.

Online course development training for faculty members who are developing online courses for summer or fall 2014 will begin in February.

The training is a hybrid, or blended, learning experience that includes

• face-to-face workshops,
• online learning experiences in Blackboard Learn,
• Blackboard Learn workshops,
• one-on-one meetings with campus instructional designers.

The training consists of five workshops; each workshop will be offered at two different times. If you are interested in joining one of our spring cohorts, please e-mail bidellgm@buffalostate.edu.

The spring online course development training workshop schedule is available on the Workshop Registration System website.

The State of New York/United University Professions Joint Labor-Management Committees have announced the allocation of funds for Individual Development Awards for July 2, 2013, through July 1, 2014. This program is intended to assist employees in the UUP bargaining unit in developing their full professional potential and in preparing for advancement by funding professional development activities. The maximum award is $1,000. Applications from those who have not been funded previously are encouraged. The total amount to be distributed at Buffalo State is $33,645 for this period (July 2, 2013, through July 1, 2014).

Guidelines regarding eligibility requirements, types of projects or activities and support, funding priorities, and application procedures and forms can be found at www.buffalostate.edu/offices/hr/ida.asp. 

Applications must be received by the Individual Development Award Committee, in care of the Human Resource Management Office, by 4:30 p.m. Friday, February 14. The committee strongly encourages the electronic submission of applications to fortunkm@buffalostate.edu. 

Individual Development Award Committee members are Ottilie Woodruff, Steve Macho, and Richard Stempniak representing UUP and Margaret Shaw-Burnett, Wendy Paterson, and Susan Earshen representing Management.

Please call Human Resource Management at ext. 4822 if you have questions regarding Individual Development Awards.

Classes were canceled Tuesday, January 7, because of extreme weather conditions. New York State policies and regulations require that state employees who do not report to work under such circumstances charge their leave accruals for the absence.  

The college is requesting that SUNY petition the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the Civil Service Commission to suspend the attendance rules for January 7, 2014, to excuse the full-day absence without charge to leave accruals. If and when that request is approved, we will notify employees. Until that time, employees who were absent on January 7 because of weather conditions should charge appropriate leave accruals (vacation, personal time, holiday compensatory time). Please note that sick leave should be charged only if there was a medical reason for the absence on January 7. Charges to sick leave or for preapproved time off will not be waived if the request is approved.

If you have any questions, please call Human Resource Management at ext. 4822.

The Graduate School will hold a meeting on Friday, February 7, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. All graduate faculty members are invited. All coordinators and chairs of graduate programs are especially encouraged to attend.