From left: SEFA Campaign chair Hal Payne, vice president for student affairs, met with CSEA president Helen Hughes; Margaret Shaw-Burnett, campaign coordinator for SEFA/United Way; and UUP President Richard Stempniak to review campaign progress and to discuss ways to reach the college’s SEFA/United Way goal. The group agreed that reaching the goal is a priority so that Buffalo State can continue to support the many needs of our local area. Members of the Buffalo State community are encouraged to participate in the campaign through payroll deduction or direct donation. The deadline is November 13.

Managing government relations for Buffalo State College is no easy task. There are myriad issues with which to contend and interaction among multiple layers of government—city, county, state, federal, and the SUNY system. But William Benfanti is up for the challenge.

Much has happened since Benfanti was hired one year ago to the new post of associate vice president for government relations. He immediately became involved in efforts to secure $93 million in state funding for the newscience and mathematics complex. He was also instrumental in bringing then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer to campus in January for the first-ever State of Upstateaddress.

Times have changed. State and federal budgets are experiencing trouble. David Paterson is now the state’s governor. But Benfanti is still as busy as ever.

He continues to press for state funding despite a looming budget crisis. He works daily with city and county government officials to discuss land issues and strengthen partnerships. And he continues to encourage state and SUNY officials to keep Buffalo State College in the forefront of their minds as they make decisions. In recent weeks, he has hosted daylong campus visits for Deborah Glick, a member of the New York State Assembly and chair of the higher education committee, and Elizabeth Clark, director of federal relations for SUNY.

“Our destiny is largely decided by those in Albany,” Benfanti said. “When it comes to the economy and jobs for the region, we need to make the case [to government] that Buffalo State and SUNY are not the problem but the solution.”

Benfanti said that helping to secure funding for the science and mathematics complex is one of his highlights thus far.

“This is more than just a building,” he said. “It represents where we’re taking education. There’s a tremendous amount of faculty planning, collaboration, and interdisciplinary work involved.”

Benfanti also continues to lobby for the future of the proposed athletics stadium and the expansion of the Great Lakes Center. As for how the outcome of the upcoming presidential election might affect efforts, Benfanti said there will be much turnover among the upper levels of Washington no matter who is elected.

Because his position is new, Benfanti currently has no staff directly reporting to him. But he frequently corresponds with SUNY staff as well as Patricia Lynch Associates, a lobbying firm that includes former New York State Assembly Majority Leader and Buffalo State alumnus Paul Tokasz, ’71, among its partners. “I work for everyone on campus,” Benfanti said.

Benfanti thinks it is incredibly energizing to be part of a higher education environment.

“Something’s always happening; there’s progress every day. There are new [community] partnerships all the time,” he said. “The college makes a real impact on people’s lives, and it’s nice for me to be a small part of that.”

As excitement builds for the upcoming presidential election, more undergraduate students have considered the political science major at Buffalo State. Hovering around 100 declared majors for the past four years, enrollment this fall stands at more than 140 students who are pursuing the bachelor of arts degree.

Laurie Buonanno, professor and chair of political science, said the election has become integrated into classes this semester and has progressively engaged students.

“The election is naturally brought up almost daily in every political science class,” she said. “For students, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to test theories and textbook learning during a presidential election.”

The department also offers minors in political science andpublic administration.

Despite the upward trend in majors, political science at Buffalo State bucks national trends when compared to its sister disciplines: economics, history, and sociology. In fall 2006, political science had the fewest majors among those programs at Buffalo State. On a national level, however, political science majors eclipse the rest.

Buonanno, however, said she’s more concerned with offering what students want and working with other departments to create interdisciplinary programs. She cites four major pushes for the Political Science Department.

First, she wants to increase pre-law offerings at Buffalo State and continue related curricular activities like mock trial. She said an interdisciplinary pre-law minor will be submitted to the College Senate Curriculum Committee in the next few weeks.

Another minor soon to be submitted will be international relations, which will serve as a precursor to an anticipated B.A. degree program. Buonanno said that only Geneseo and New Paltz offer a similar major in SUNY. Political Science would try to offer a unique sustainable development component in conjunction with the Geography and Planning Department.

The Political Science Department also hopes to offer public administration at the graduate level. Professor Lawrence Flood, former dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, is spearheading the development of an interdisciplinary master’s program in public administration while on sabbatical. If approved, it would be the only program of its kind in the region outside SUNY Brockport. The department submitted a proposal for a graduate certificate program this summer and is awaiting word from the College Senate.

Finally, Buonanno and her colleagues made numerous course revisions that allowed eight existing political science courses to fulfill Intellectual Foundations requirements.

No matter how course and program offerings evolve, Buonanno said, political science students earn a solid liberal arts degree and go on to pursue diverse careers. She said many become interested in campaign management, public administration, journalism, law, and business.

Many distinguished politicians have ties to Buffalo State’s political science programs, including United States Congressman Brian M. Higgins, ’85; Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, ’83; and New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, ’92. But professors have their eyes on potential leaders, too. This past summer, three Buffalo State students embarked on competitive paid internships in Albany for the New York State Senate and Assembly. Buonanno is excited for the future.

“There are more opportunities than ever for students to actively engage in their education,” she said.

The leadership minor, launched this semester, relies firmly on the belief that leaders are made, not born.

“Like creativity, leadership can be learned,” said Jeffrey Zacko-Smith, assistant professor of creative studies and coordinator of the leadership minor. The interdisciplinary minor is housed in Creative Studies.

The minor grew out of the college’s 2003–2008 Strategic Plan, which stated, “Buffalo State will empower leadership at all levels….” As part of the college’s commitment to promoting leadership, an interdisciplinary minor dealing with leadership was proposed.

“The term ‘leader’ is an empty label,” said Zacko-Smith. Leadership instead is contextual and social, and what makes a person a leader depends primarily on the surrounding set of circumstances. While many people think of leadership as a position of power and control, Zacko-Smith said that people can exercise leadership in many different ways. “Everyone is a leader,” he said, “just as everyone is creative. This minor helps people develop their leadership skills through experiential learning, though it is firmly grounded in leadership scholarship as well.”

To complete the 18-credit-hour minor, students must complete four required courses and two electives. The required courses are Foundations of Leadership, Creative Approaches to Problem Solving, Creative Leadership through Effective Facilitation, and Experiences in Leadership. The electives can be chosen from a variety of courses that help students develop the skills necessary for effective leadership: creativity and creative problem solving, critical evaluation and systematic thinking, empowerment, understanding the dynamics of diversity, and the ability to interact socially. The “ability to interact socially” includes such difficult competencies as conflict management, negotiation, facilitation, team building, providing effective feedback, and active listening.

The first thing that is often necessary, according to Zacko-Smith, is to convince students that they can, indeed, develop their leadership potential. “Once students realize that it is possible for them to expand their own abilities,” he said, “they can more easily become leaders. Leadership, like creativity, is often about effectively facilitating change.”

The courses give students many opportunities to develop the tools of leadership, including creative problem solving, how to function in a team environment, and how to motivate others. “I rarely lecture,” said Zacko-Smith. “Students have a chance to facilitate the class, provide useful feedback, and generate new ideas. That’s how they begin to realize they can be leaders.” For Zacko-Smith, learning, like leading, is a collaborative exercise.

The minor also offers students a valuable résumé-builder. “Whether students go directly to the workplace or on to graduate school,” said Zacko-Smith, “their transcripts will show the leadership minor.”

Beyond acquiring crucial skills and an important credential, there is another reason to take the leadership minor: “Students who take one class come back for more,” said Zacko-Smith. “They say, ‘I really learned something.’”

Buffalo State College has been selected to participate in the prestigious U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Centralized Student Career Experience Program (CSCEP). This honor makes Buffalo State one of only two colleges in New York State and the only SUNY institution to offer this prized opportunity to its students.

The first students accepted into the program will begin their service in late 2008 or early 2009.

“Buffalo State College is a perfect fit for us,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Malcolm. “The students are prepared to work with diverse people, the college is close to downtown, and the curriculum is a solid mix of strategic thinking and applied learning.”

The CSCEP is a cooperative education program for students working toward the completion of a four-year degree in specific law-enforcement-related areas. At Buffalo State, this is currently criminal justice, political science, psychology, and sociology. During the 16-week program, students work full time with the USMS in Buffalo (the district office for Western New York) to gain on-the-job training and work experience. They earn a salary and federal benefits. Upon successful completion of CSCEP and degree requirements, students may be hired as deputy U.S. marshals.

To qualify for the program, students must be currently enrolled at Buffalo State College, be at least 20 years old, have U.S. citizenship and a valid driver’s license, maintain a 3.0 grade point average within their major field and 2.75 overall, and be near completion of degree requirements. After applications are submitted to the U.S. Marshals Service, selected students must pass a structured interview, a full field background investigation, medical and psychological examinations, and a fitness test.

The duties performed by deputy U.S. marshals cover a wide range. Deputies are responsible for the majority of fugitive arrest warrants. They locate wanted persons, make positive identifications, and maintain custody after arrest. As safeguards for the federal court system, they provide protection for judges, their staffs, prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors. The USMS is the largest transporter of prisoners in the world. Deputy marshals also seize and manage property forfeited during major drug and criminal cases.

“This program provides our students with a direct path toward a career with the U.S. Marshals Service,” said Lisa August, associate director in the Career Development Center. “We are honored to be selected and excited about offering this opportunity to our students.”

For more information on Buffalo State College’s involvement with the CSCEP, contact August at (716) 878-5811.

The Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College is pleased to present “Fruition,” its annual Gala and Art Auction, on Friday, November 7, in the Mary Seaton Room of Kleinhans Music Hall. The gala will feature an evening of elegant dining, entertainment, and live and silent auctions.

Support helps fund the new Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State, a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and to the distinguished artists of Western New York. Auction items include work by Charles Burchfield, Milton Rogovin, Sylvia Rosen, and Buffalo State faculty members Joseph Piccillo, Carol Townsend, and Robert Wood.

“Juicy,” the inaugural post-gala party, featuring live music and dancing, will be held at Henry’s, the downstairs lounge at Kleinhans, at 9:30 p.m. Tickets for Juicy are $20 in advance (through November 5), $25 at the door.

For more information, visit www.bpfruition.com. For ticket information for either event, contact Susan Lojacano, special events fundraising coordinator at the Burchfield Penney, 878-3818. 

Faculty, staff, and students are cordially invited to join alumni at the fourth annual Armed Services Reunion honoring Buffalo State alumni, emeriti, students, faculty, and staff who have served or are serving in any branch of the United States or Allied military services.

The reunion, featuring lunch and an opportunity to hear about Buffalo State’s response to the new Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, November 16, in E. H. Butler Library 210. Afterward, a brief ceremony will be held in Rockwell Quad at the monument that was dedicated at the first reunion in 2005.

At 3:00 p.m., the Rampart Winds woodwind quintet of the United States Air Force Academy Band will present a free concert in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

Reservations are $20 and include lunch, a memento, and a $5 donation to the Military Service Scholarship Award. To make a reservation, please call Alumni Affairs at 878-6001 or (800) 672-2722 to charge by phone. You may also drop off or mail a check (payable to BSCAA) to Alumni Affairs, Cleveland Hall 305, by November 12.

There is no charge to attend the concert.

For more than 50 years, the Buffalo State College Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic has served thousands of students and clients alike. A learning lab for graduate students enrolled in the college’s speech-language pathology program, the clinic provides low-cost services to individuals of all ages from the community who suffer from a variety of communication disorders.

Under the supervision of the Speech-Language Pathology Department’s fully certified clinical faculty, graduate students receive invaluable hands-on experience through the clinic. All supervisors are licensed by New York State and hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

“The graduate program trains our students to expertly serve individuals with communication, hearing, and swallowing disorders,” said Constance Dean Qualls, professor and department chair. “The educational process involves both in- and out-of-class work, as well as clinical practicum experiences. The clinic is an integral part of the department as it provides our students with solid foundations for understanding how to assess and treat persons who have communication disorders.”

Open to the community, the clinic conducted more than 100 initial evaluations during the 2007–2008 year and treated nearly 200 clients in total. According to the clinic’s director, Karen Bailey-Jones, a majority of clients are referred to the clinic from local agencies when a child fails to qualify for services or an adult client’s insurance expires. The clinic charges a nominal registration fee for the evaluation and treatment of articulation and phonological disorders, aphasia, voice disorders, language impairments, hearing disorders, traumatic brain injury, and fluency disorders. Appointments are typically scheduled from noon to 7:00 p.m. to accommodate graduate students’ course schedules.

“In addition to treating members of the community with developmental or neurogenic disorders, we regularly assist professors, teachers, singers, lawyers, and even clergy who can lose their voice on a regular basis,” Bailey-Jones said. “The clinic also serves international students with accent reduction and offers intensive specialty clinics for stutterers and children with language-literacy difficulties.” The clinic also has contractual agreements with Bornhava Preschool, Elmwood Franklin School, and Aspire to provide on-site services.

Originally housed in a single room in Ketchum Hall in 1956, the clinic has steadily evolved, moving to its new facility in Caudell Hall in 2000. The nine-room state-of-the-art clinic will receive another boost this fall with the installation of a new digital video system, which will greatly enhance both the clinical and educational experiences for clients and students. The system was made possible by a $120,000 grant from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation last spring.

“Our supervisors will be able to digitally record all sessions, allowing us to develop ways to enhance the session for both student clinicians and clients,” said Bailey-Jones. “The system will allow us to quickly isolate segments of a session that are teachable moments and export those to PowerPoint for classroom presentations or to share one on one with clients.”

“The Speech-Language Pathology Department has gained a local and national reputation for providing an exceptional education to our graduate students,” Qualls added. “As a part of that, we receive many accolades for the clinical education of our graduate students. We are very proud of the clinic and how it continues to thrive, as evidenced by the support that we acquire for our clinic operations.”

In addition to serving the practicum needs of the graduate program, the clinic also provides undergraduate speech-language pathology students with a firsthand look at the profession, Qualls said.

“The department has a great group of faculty members that make us who we are,” Qualls said. “The academic and clinic faculty work very closely and in tandem to ensure that we provide the highest quality education for our students.”

For more information or to make an appointment, call theSpeech-Language-Hearing Clinic at 878-3530 or e-mailBailey-Jones.

The ACT Advising Survey administered this spring to 1,456 Buffalo State students revealed an alarming statistic: 50 percent of students reported meeting with their advisers only once or not at all during the past year—well below national norms. But it is hoped that the success of the new course-registration process for first-year students, introduced last summer, will improve the advisement experience for students and faculty alike.

Last summer, nearly two-thirds of incoming first-year students returned questionnaires by late June indicating which classes they would like to take—weeks before the first orientation sessions began, according to Scott Johnson, interim dean of University College. Students were then given a proposed schedule of classes; few made changes before the start of the fall semester.

“With the success of the preregistration process, faculty this semester now have a unique opportunity to take a more ‘teaching’ approach to advisement,” Johnson said. “We got rid of much of the angst with the technical process of registration and helped first-year students get the classes they needed.”

“The process helped students to look at their schedule and really think about it, helping them focus and ask more of the ‘why’ questions now,” added Doug Koritz, assistant dean of intellectual foundations. “The purpose was to enable better advising starting this semester. Advisement used to focus more on the mechanics of registration, but now hopefully will allow departments to better weave students into their majors.”

Andrew Nicholls, associate professor of history and social studies education, thinks the 2008 summer orientation marked a new beginning for incoming first-year students. He assisted students with advisement during the summer.

“The students I advised were much better informed about a range of topics, including Intellectual Foundations requirements, the logistics of registering and changing courses, and approaching their major programs,” Nicholls said. “Surprisingly, I heard very little carping about class times or selections.”

Amy McMillan, assistant professor of biology, also experienced the preregistration process and advised students during the summer.

“I never had the time in past summer advising sessions to talk to students about important things like what they need to do if they want to get into medical school,” she said. “This time, I actually had more fun advising than I ever had, even with having more students compared to previous years. I felt I could enthusiastically talk about the Biology Department and its programs rather than focus on the courses the students must take right now and how to register.”

The ACT Advising Survey, administered for the first time this spring, found the two most often-cited topics students reported not discussing with their advisers were finding a job after college (41 percent) and continuing their education after graduation (34 percent).

Emma McFayden, assistant director of recruitment and retention with the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program and a 2008 recipient of the President’s Awardfor Excellence in Academic Advisement, said that advisement should not be a “one-shot deal.”

“Students should remember their advisers long after their college careers are over,” McFayden said. “Effective advisement enhances graduation, promotes internships, graduate assistantships, and job placement.”

Lori Till, associate professor of hospitality and tourism and a fellow recipient of the President’s Award with McFayden, says the best advisement “can’t be accomplished on your own.” She said she continues to develop relationships with the Admissions Office, Registrar’s Office, and Academic Standards Office to deliver timely and knowledgeable help to students.

“We’re all in this together, and advisement has a big impact on a student’s perception of the college,” Till said. “Faculty should take advisement seriously and not think of it as a chore. It’s an opportunity for us to get to know students as individuals, not just people sitting in our classes.”

Ethnographer, sociologist, and author Elijah Andersondiscussed his own life story as well as the findings of the research he has conducted in urban neighborhoods for more than three decades in a moving talk at Buffalo State on Friday, October 17. His presentation was part of the 56th annual New York State Sociological Association Conference (NYSSA), held on campus last week.

Anderson spent his childhood in a shack by the Mississippi River until his family joined the African American migration northward to industrial urban centers during World War II. After his father started working in a factory job, he described how his life changed.

“My father bought a new car every year,” said Anderson. “He had just a fourth-grade education, but when we moved to South Bend, he was able to get a good-paying job.” Anderson said that those jobs have been shipped overseas, and one result is “structural poverty,” which he identified as a major reason for the violence in America’s cities today.

Anderson told the audience of about 200 people that he is among those who believe that restoring America’s cities will require an effort akin to the Marshall Plan, which helped to rebuild Europe after World War II. He received a standing ovation from the audience.

Anderson is the William K. Lanman Jr. Professor of Sociology at Yale University. He has written several books, including Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City and his classic work,A Place on the Corner. He recently edited and contributed to a collection of essays, Against the Wall: Poor, Young, Black, and Male, which contains a forward by Cornel West, who is scheduled to speak on campus on November 6.