From the Chair of the College Senate 
The November meeting of the College Senate takes place tomorrow, November 14, at 3:00 p.m. and is open to the college community. The agenda for the meeting is posted on the College Senate Web site.

Two action items will be addressed at the meeting: limits on the number of credit hours that can be taken by undergraduate students on academic probation (Standards for Students Committee, Elizabeth Stevens, chair) and revision of the Writing across the Curriculum criteria in Intellectual Foundations (Instruction and Research Committee, Andrew Nicholls, chair). Both motions can be found on the College Senate Web site in the News section.

Campus constituents interested in voicing their opinions about these motions are encouraged to contact senators. The list of senators, by representative groups, is also available on the College Senate Web site.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management

Preface
This serves as a notice to new employees and a reminder to others of the procedures to follow during snow emergencies and other extraordinary circumstances. Offices and other facilities operated by the state may be closed only by order of the governor; however, the college president or her designee is authorized to cancel classes and recommend that all but essential service* employees not report to work.

Policy and Procedures
The president has delegated the authority to cancel classes and services to the vice president for finance and management. University Police is responsible for monitoring all relevant weather conditions and reporting to the vice president for finance and management.

If the decision to close the college and cancel classes is made before the start of the workday, the vice president for finance and management will inform University Police. If the decision to close is made once classes are in session, the vice president for finance and management will consult with the provost/vice president for academic affairs and notify University Police of the decision. University Police will notify College Relations, who will notify the following broadcast stations in either case:

AM Radio
WBEN-AM 930
WECK-AM 1230
WHLD-AM 1270
WLVL-AM 1340
WJJL-AM 1440
WWKB-AM 1520

FM Radio
WBNY-FM 91.3 (campus)
WBUF-FM 92.9
WBLK-FM 93.7
WJYE-FM 96.1
WGRF-FM 96.9 (97 Rock)
WKSE-FM 98.5
STAR-FM 102.5
WEDG-FM 103.3
WHTT-FM 104.1
WYRK-FM 106.5

Television
WGRZ-TV 2
WIVB-TV 4
WKBW-TV 7

An early decision to close the college and cancel classes will be relayed to the stations listed above by about 6:00 a.m.

In addition, the College Relations Office will send a message via the NY-Alert system to all students, faculty, and staff members who have chosen to participate in this emergency notification system.

For information concerning cancellation of classes, please check the main page of the Buffalo State Web site,www.buffalostate.edu, or call the school closing information number, 878-5000. Please do not call any other number for this information.

Attendance Policy under Emergency Conditions
If classes and services are canceled before the workday begins, employees designated essential service* are required to report. All other employees are excused under emergency conditions but must charge the absence to appropriate leave accruals. Employees who elect to come to work may do so; however, the college cannot guarantee that they will be able to work at their usual locations or perform their normal duties. (See instructions below for employees who choose to report for work under emergency conditions.)

Should the closure occur during the workday, the vice president for finance and management will convey the decision to the other vice presidents, who will ensure that the announcement is communicated throughout their respective areas. Again, essential service* employees are required to remain on the job or report to work as scheduled in this instance. Following official closure, employees may leave their work sites and charge the remainder of their workday to appropriate leave accruals or continue working until their regular departure time.

Absences that result from the cancellation of classes and services must be charged to appropriate leave accruals as described below.

1. Vacation, personal, compensatory, or holiday leave.
2. Sick leave, but only in the event of personal or family illness.
3. Leave without pay. (A written request must be submitted to the Human Resource Management Office no later than the end of the pay period in which the attendance record is due.)

*Essential services are those that must be maintained to ensure the well-being and protection of those who reside on campus, as well as the maintenance and security of college property. The following functions are considered essential services. Employees assigned to these areas are required to report to work under emergency conditions:

• The law enforcement division of University Police.
• Campus Services and Facilities operations (all employees).
• Student health services (designated staff only).
• Residence Life (designated staff only).
• The dean of students.
• Staff responsible for the care and feeding of animals and maintenance of greenhouse facilities.

All employees who are designated essential service will be notified in writing by their department heads.

Directed Absences
Any employee who has reported to work and because of extraordinary circumstances beyond the employee's control (i.e., extremely hazardous conditions or physical plant breakdown) is directed by the college president or her designee to leave work shall not be required to charge this absence to leave accruals. Any such release of employees shall not create any right to equivalent time off to employees who are not directed to leave work. Supervisors, regardless of their good intentions, may not direct such absences.

Instructions for Nonessential Service Employees Who Elect to Report for Work under Emergency Conditions
Note: Parking may be severely restricted during periods of temporary emergency. Employees who report to work under these conditions must park in the Grant Street lot so that other lots may be cleared of snow.

1. Employees must report to University Police, Chase Hall 110, to sign the Attendance Record/Emergency Conditions sheet. Employees also must sign the sheet before leaving campus.
2. Employees should report to regular work locations and perform regular duties, even if their supervisor is absent.
3. If the employee's regular work location is not accessible, the employee must report to the director of Campus Services and Facilities, Clinton Center, 878-6111, or the director of Residence Life, Porter Hall, 878-3000, for assignment.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management

A Guide for New York State Employees

Introduction
Every officer and employee in state service is bound by the provisions of the state ethics laws, which establish specific standards of conduct, restrict certain business and professional activities—both while in state service and after leaving government—and require financial disclosure of policymakers and other higher level officials. Violators face serious penalties.

The following was developed as a guide for state employees by the New York State Commission on Public Integrity. It is intended only as a brief introductory guide and should not be considered as a comprehensive legal document.

Background
In 2007, the state adopted the Public Employee Ethics Reform Act, which combined the State Ethics Commission and the Temporary State Commission on Lobbying into the new Commission on Public Integrity.

The duties of the Commission on Public Integrity, with respect to state officers and employees, include:

• Receiving complaints alleging violations of Public Officers Law §73, 73-a, and 74 Civil Service Law §107; investigating complaints on its own initiative.
• Rendering advisory opinions that interpret and apply the laws as they pertain to present and former state officers and employees.
• Distributing, collecting, and auditing financial disclosure statements.
• Issuing rules and regulations to implement and enforce the law under its jurisdiction.

Financial Disclosure
Annual statements of financial disclosure are required of all policymakers and those individuals who—unless exempted by the commission—serve in a position with an annual salary rate in excess of the job rate of SG24 ($82,389 as of April 1, 2008).

The statements request information pertaining to major assets, sources of income liabilities, offices held with a political party, sources of gifts, real property, and other information.

All policymakers must file. However the commission can exempt from filing those individuals who are serving in a position with an annual salary rate in excess of the job rate of SG24 and who are not policymakers or do not perform certain job duties.

Conflicts of Interest
Officers and employees of state government are restricted in the activities in which they may engage while in state service. Basically, they may not engage in activities that would create or appear to create a conflict with their public duties. Some of the specific restrictions are:

• They may not sell goods or services to the state or any agency of the state except through a competitively bid contract.
• They may not appear before any state agency or render services for compensation in a matter before any state agency in connection with such subjects as the purchase or sale of goods, ratemaking, funding, or licensing.

More generally, state officers and employees should not have any interest in or engage in any business or activity “in substantial conflict” with the discharge of their public duties. This restriction prohibits them from:

• Disclosing confidential information acquired in the course of their official duties or using such information to further their personal interests.
• Using or attempting to use their official positions to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for themselves or others.
• Giving reasonable basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence them or unduly enjoy their favor in the performance of their official duties, or that they are affected by the kinship, rank, position, or influence of any party or person.

Finally, state officers and employees should pursue a course of conduct that will not raise suspicion among the public that they are engaging in acts that are in violation of their public trust.

Outside Activities
The commission’s regulations restrict the outside activities of state officers and employees as follows:

• Certain high-level officials, including all policymakers, are barred from serving as an officer of any political party or organization or from serving as an officer of any political party committee, including district leader or member of a national committee.
• No salaried state officers or employees may engage in any outside activity that interferes or is in conflict with their official state duties.

For policymakers, prior agency approval is required before engaging in any outside activity if the amount to be earned is more than $1,000 annually; and prior Commission on Public Integrity approval is required if the amount is more than $4,000.

Honoraria
The four state elected officials, as well as agency heads, are barred from accepting honoraria for speeches. Other state employees may accept reimbursement of travel expenses or honoraria only under certain circumstances. The source of the payment is critical.

The commission’s regulations require prior approval or subsequent reporting depending upon the nature of the payment and the position of the individual receiving the payment.

Gifts
State officers and employees may not accept or solicit a gift of more than a nominal value under circumstances in which it could be inferred that the gift was intended to influence or reward the recipient for performing official duties.

Nepotism
State officers and employees may not participate in any decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge a relative for any compensated position at a state agency, public authority, or the Legislature.

Investigations
The commission has the power to subpoena witnesses and require the production of any relevant books or records.

Political Activity
Civil Service Law §107 protects state employees from discriminatory practices based on their political affiliations.

• Employees’ appointments, selections to or removals from office, or their employment status may not be affected or influenced by political opinions or affiliations.
• State employees may not use their state authority or official position to coerce, intimidate, or otherwise influence other state employees to give money or service for any political purpose, to influence the political action of any person or entity, or to interfere with any election.
• State offices may not be used for soliciting or collecting any political contributions.

Penalties
Individuals who violate certain provisions of the law are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $40,000, plus the value of any gift, compensation, or benefit received. In lieu of a civil penalty, the commission may refer violations to an appropriate prosecutor for prosecution as a Class A misdemeanor.

Post-employment Restrictions
Two-year bar—Former state officers or employees may not, within a period of two years after leaving state service, appear or practice before their former agency or receive compensation for any services rendered in relation to any case, proceeding, application, or other matter before their former agency.

Lifetime bar—Former state officers and employees may not appear, practice, communicate, or otherwise render services before any state agency, or receive compensation for such services in relation to any case, proceeding, application, or transaction, with which they were directly concerned and in which they personally participated while in public service.

Legal Authority
Executive Law §94 created the State Commission on Public Integrity.

Public Officers Law §73 includes restrictions on the activities of current and former state officers and employees.

Public Officers Law §73-a contains the contents of the annual statement of financial disclosure and sets forth the requirements for filing.

Public Officers Law §74 establishes the State Code of Ethics, which prohibits conflicts of interest.

The regulations of the commission are found in Volume 19 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York (Parts 930-941).

Laws of New York
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi?COMMONQUERY=LAWS

State Commission on Public Integrity
http://www.nyintegrity.org/

From the President
The following revised response to the College Senate Resolution incorporates General Education requirements and replaces the response that appeared in the October 30, 2008, issue of the Bulletin:

At its October 10, 2008, meeting, the College Senate voted to approve and forward to the president as a recommendation for review and action the following motion:

Motion to Remove the ‘Double-Dipping’ Restriction in the Intellectual Foundations Program and other General Education Requirements

WHEREAS, limitations on students’ ability to “double‐dip” requirements between certain Intellectual Foundations other General Education categories and their majors present graduation difficulties for students in some majors; and

WHEREAS, the goal of breadth in students’ education can be substantively achieved with a less restrictive policy,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Intellectual Foundations resolution, as amended, be changed from the current language:

“Double Dipping”: Each student may select one course from the Cognate Foundations or American History or Civilizations areas (up to 4 credits total) in her or his major to fulfill both a major requirement and an Intellectual Foundations requirement.

to:

Each student may use courses to fulfill both major requirements and Intellectual Foundations requirements,or those of other General Education categories.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and approve the amendments to the language in the Intellectual Foundations and other General Education requirements as outlined above. I charge the provost with the responsibility of implementing the change in language in all appropriate college documents and to communicate this to students, faculty, and staff.

From the Chair of the College Senate 
The agenda for the next meeting of the College Senate—to be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 14, in Classroom Building C122—is posted on the College Senate Web site.

Two action items will be addressed at the meeting: limits on the number of credit hours that can be taken by undergraduate students on academic probation (Standards for Students Committee, Elizabeth Stevens, chair) and revision of the Writing across the Curriculum criteria in Intellectual Foundations (Instruction and Research Committee, Andrew Nicholls, chair). Both motions can be found on the College Senate Web site.

Campus constituents interested in voicing their opinions about these motions are encouraged to contact senators. The list of senators, by representative groups, is also available on the College Senate Web site.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
In compliance with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the rules promulgated therein by the Federal Trade Commission, Buffalo State College requires that all employees receive the following guidelines to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information:

Control access to rooms and file cabinets where paper records are kept:

• All doors to office areas must be locked during non-business hours.
• Work areas where customer information is processed must be behind locked doors or otherwise secured during business hours.
• Guests should be escorted in areas where customer information is being processed.
• Guests should be restricted to areas that do not have customer information in plain view. Conversely, customer information should be kept out of areas accessible to students and the public.
• File cabinets used to store customer information must be secured in locked areas.
• Fireproof cabinets used to store promissory notes must be locked during non-business hours.
• Records containing customer information are to be retained only as long as they are valid, useful, and required to be retained. When no longer needed, paper, microfilm, and microfiche records must be destroyed by shredding. Electronic records must be destroyed according to current guidelines available from Computing and Technology Services. Retention guidelines are available from the Campus Services and Facilities Office.

Control access to information stored electronically:

• Workstations should be behind locked doors or otherwise secured.
• Employees should “minimize” any computer windows not in use, to prevent inadvertent breaches.
• Employees are encouraged to password-protect their workstations when not in use.
• Employees should use strong passwords for all systems (at least eight characters, alphanumeric).
• Employees should change their passwords every 60 days or less.
• Employees must not post passwords on or near their computers.
• Access to student and employee records systems will be granted only to those employees whose job duties require them to access customer information.

Protect our customers’ information:

• Employees should respond to requests for customer information in accordance with theFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act(FERPA). FERPA questions or potential violations should be referred to the Registrar’s Office.
• Employees should refer to appropriate security policies as needed to ensure compliance.
• Employees must report any fraudulent attempt to obtain customer information to management, who should then report the attempt to the Vice President for Finance and Management’s Office.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
To comply with New York State Ethics Commission regulations (Title 19 NYCRR Part 930 of the Public Officers Law), the college is required to annually report honoraria received by full-time faculty and professional and management/confidential employees. An honorarium is defined as “a payment, fee, or other compensation given to an individual for services rendered not related to the individual’s official state duties.” It also includes payment for travel expenses when the expenses incurred are unrelated to the employee’s duties.

Examples of honoraria include compensation for delivering a speech, writing an article, or attending a meeting. Honoraria do not include salary, wages, or fees earned from outside employment. Faculty are not required to declare honoraria received within their academic disciplines.

Although reporting honoraria is required, obtaining prior approval of requests to receive honoraria is optional rather than mandatory. However, the college encourages employees to seek prior approval from the president’s designee (your respective vice president) before engaging in an activity that leads to the receipt of honoraria.

If you receive honoraria during the period April 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009, and do not request prior approval from your vice president, you will be required to report the source, date, and amount of honoraria received to your vice president by May 8, 2009.

Information regarding reporting of honoraria can be found on the New York State Ethics Commission Web site. Questions should be directed to Susan Earshen, associate vice president for human resource management, at 878-3042.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
The Workers’ Compensation Board promulgated new regulations related to implementation of Workers’ Compensation reform legislation signed into law in March 2007. New York State has implemented a workers’ compensation pharmacy network for all government employees pursuant to the new regulation.

The New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) has entered into an agreement with Express Scripts Inc., a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), which has a network of pharmacies to make available the medications workers may receive for their work-related injury or sickness.This does not change an employee’s right to get the medication necessary to treat such an illness or injury. It only means that he or she should obtain that medication from Express Scripts network pharmacies.

Employees may obtain additional information about Express Scripts network pharmacies by:

• Calling the Express Scripts’ 24-hour Call Center at (866) 533-7011.
• Visiting www.express-scripts.com.
• Visiting the NYSIF Web site.

More information about Workers’ Compensation Pharmacy Benefits can be found on the Human Resource Management Web site.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
The open enrollment deadline for the 2009 Flex Spending Account (FSA) program is midnight Friday, November 14, 2008, to enroll in either or both of the two benefits offered: the Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account.

Employees who enroll in the FSA program will receive a confirmation letter. All corrections or changes to 2009 enrollments must be made in writing on the confirmation letter and received by the Fringe Benefits Management Company no later than December 10, 2008.

For questions about the Health Care Spending or Dependent Care Advantage Accounts, or to apply, visitwww.flexspend.state.ny.us or call (800) 358-7202.

From the President
I am pleased to announce the updated membership for the 2008–2009 Buffalo State College Commencement Committee:

Chair: Raquel Schmidt, Associate Professor, Exceptional Education
Patricia Alessandra, Senior Staff Associate, Academic and Student Affairs
Mark Bausili, Registrar, Registrar’s Office
Peter Carey, Chief of Police, University Police
Nancy Chicola, Associate Professor, Elementary Education and Reading
Thomas Coates, Director, Events Management
Robert Delprino, Associate Professor, Psychology
Bonita Durand, Executive Assistant to the President, President’s Office
Lee Ann Grace, Assistant Dean, International and Exchange Programs
Joy Guarino, Assistant Professor, Theater
Deborah Insalaco, Associate Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
Lydia Kawaler, Manager, HRIS/Personnel Operations, Human Resource Management
Melaine Kenyon, Associate Director of Instructional Technologies, Instructional Resources
Marsha Moses, Assistant to the Dean, the Graduate School
Jill Powell, Senior Assistant to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement
William Raffel, Associate Professor, Communication
Kevin Railey, Associate Provost and Dean, Graduate School
Jean Salisbury, Secretary 2, University College
Amitra Wall, Associate Professor, Sociology
Gail Wells, Director, Student Life
William White, Assistant Professor, Modern and Classical Languages
Rita Zientek, Associate Dean, School of the Professions
Student Representatives: Dominique Gabriel,President, United Students Government (USG);Huewayne Watson, Executive Vice President, USG;Ibrahim Traore, Vice President, Caribbean Students Organization; and Kafilat Hassan, Assistant Vice President, Student Life

This committee serves as an advisory committee to the president, reviewing and forwarding recommendations for procedural and operational changes to the Commencement ceremonies, as well as other processes involved with Commencement.