From the Vice President for Student Affairs
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Carmela Thompson, Ph.D., as the college’s new director of admissions.

Thompson is a native of Buffalo who comes to Buffalo State with 30 years of higher education experience, most recently as associate director of admissions at the University at Buffalo for the past 10 years. At UB, her responsibilities included management of the undergraduate recruitment teams including multicultural, EOP, and the Honors College. She led the offices’ market research, and the development and implementation of the communication plans derived from that research.

While she served as associate director, the University at Buffalo’s Metro New York applications increased by 15 percent, and enrollments increased by 17 percent. Out-of-state applications and enrollment increased by 122 percent and 86 percent, respectively.

“Dr. Thompson has the perfect education and experience for identifying, attracting, and enrolling the ideal Buffalo State student of the future,” said Mark Petrie, associate vice president for enrollment management. “Carmela has been successful at using data to drive decisions on how best to achieve the institution’s goals and objectives while at the same time never losing focus on what is most important—successful students.”

Thompson holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics education from SUNY Fredonia and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University at Buffalo. She will assume her duties on Monday, August 24.

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From the Interim Provost
The 10th annual Faculty and Staff Research and Creativity Fall Forum will be held Thursday, October 29, 2009 in the Houston Gym. The goal of this forum is to develop, encourage, and support Buffalo State College faculty and staff research and creativity, and to make collaborative research endeavors and grantsmanship more accessible. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other Buffalo State faculty and staff and to identify common scholarly and creative interests that you may have.

The 2009 Fall Forum will highlight faculty with research projects that are focused on addressing global issues at home and in the world and/or have involved collaboration with international colleagues. This provides faculty and staff an opportunity to showcase their research and projects that focus on matters significant to multicultural communities in Western New York and abroad.

All faculty and staff are invited to organize an exhibit to present current research, creative activity, or other scholarship. Individual, departmental, or group exhibits are welcome. To participate, please complete the online form.

A page designated to the event will appear on theResearch Foundation’s Web site. Titles and abstracts/descriptions are to be submitted electronically by Friday, September 25, 2009.

From the Interim President
I have approved the following curricular items, which have been recommended by the appropriate dean, the College Senate, and the interim provost:

New Program:
B.F.A. Interior Design (BFA-AH-INT)

New Courses:
EDC 603 Instructional Design and Problem Solving with Technology
EDC 607 Networking for Educators
EDC 610 Integrating Digital Video Technology into the Classroom
EDC 612 Educational Models, Simulations, and Games
EDC 614 Educational Graphics and Animation

Course Revisions and Intellectual Foundations Designations:
ARTS
FAR 251 Art History II

MATHEMATICS AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING
MAT 124 Functions and Modeling II

From the Interim President
At its May 15, 2009, meeting, the College Senate voted to recommend to the president the academic calendars for 2009–2013.

I accept the recommendation of the College Senate regarding academic calendars for the period 2009 through 2013 and hereby approve the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 calendars as final for those academic years. I also accept the calendars presented for 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 as tentative, to be reviewed again by the College Senate at a later time for consideration as final.

From the Interim President
The Buffalo State College Academic Year Obligation, as defined by the Policies of the Board of Trustees, Article XI, Title H, will commence on Monday, August 24, 2009, and end on Monday, May 31, 2010.

Article XI, Title H states that the academic year obligation should not exceed 10 months, and that an academic-year employee may be required to commence his or her professional obligation at a date reasonably prior to September 1 as may be necessitated by a college’s operating requirements.

Paul Theobald became interim dean of the Graduate School on August 3. He fills the vacancy left by Kevin Railey, who serves as the college’s interim provost.

“I will work to ensure that the Graduate School is doing everything it can to enhance scholarly life at Buffalo State for our faculty,” Theobald said, “so they, in turn, can best bring their insights to our students. As our Web sitestates, the Graduate School truly is a ‘community of scholars.’”

In his new role, Theobald will continue to pursue several issues that the Graduate School has been working on: the continuous enrollment policy, and revisions to several multidisciplinary graduate programs. He also is interested in exploring the establishment of a campus graduate student organization.

Theobald said he is open to policy initiatives and directions that faculty want to move forward with. “I will rely heavily on faculty members who are deeply engaged with our institution.”

He will continue to serve as the Woods-Beals Endowed Chair in Urban and Rural Education. In this role, Theobald edits and contributes to the peer-reviewed online Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education. In addition, he facilitates teacher study groups, mentors non-tenured faculty, and serves on the Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education’s (CEURE) advisory committee. He also has been working with Ron Rochon, dean of the School of Education, on the college’s plan to once again use Buffalo Public School 96, Campus West, as a college learning lab.

Theobald is recognized nationally as an expert on rural education and the history of American education. He has published widely and recently completed another book,Education Now: How Rethinking America’s Past Can Change Its Future (Paradigm Publishers).

Before moving to Buffalo in 2004, Theobald was dean of the School of Education and Counseling at Nebraska’s Wayne State College. He holds a doctorate in educational policy studies from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in history from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

His service as interim dean will conclude with the appointment of the college’s eighth president.

From the Interim President
As we get in gear for the fall 2009 semester, I want to offer a warm welcome back to those of you who have been away for the summer, an equally warm welcome to those of you who are new to Buffalo State, and sincere thanks to those who have been working so hard all summer long to keep the college moving forward. I hope this finds you energized and ready for another outstanding academic year!

We have now in our midst some 14 new full-time faculty members, as well as many professional and classified staff who have joined us over the past year. As of today, we’re expecting approximately 1,550 new first-year students and nearly 1,300 transfer students, as well as 500 new graduate students. Total enrollment should exceed 11,450.

Those of you who are returning to Buffalo State after a summer away will notice many improvements across campus—and some projects still under way. After a summer of resurfacing and rerouting, the reconstruction of Rockwell Road was completed ahead of schedule, and the street is now open for traffic and parking. The renovation of the Student Union Quad continues; much necessary work was completed this summer, and the project will continue next summer. We expect to see movement on the technology building and the new residence hall in the coming months. Finally, the site for the new science and math complex has been prepared, and we have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for Friday, September 25.

The ceremonial start of the 2009–2010 session will take place on Thursday, September 17, at noon in Rockwell Hall with our 2009 Academic Convocation. This year’s speaker will be Gene Nichol, professor of law and director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina, who will deliver the Bonnie and Vern L. Bullough Academic Convocation Address. Academic Convocation is a terrific opportunity for us to gather as a community, celebrate the start of another academic year, and recognize our colleagues with President’s and Chancellor’s awards. I hope to see you there.

And I hope you will join me in endeavoring to make the year ahead a great one for Buffalo State. Though the college is now in a period of transition, the things that make this such a rewarding place to study and work remain strong:

• We are a student-centered institution, with a deep and abiding commitment to giving our students rich and meaningful learning experiences and tools for personal and professional success.
• We are a welcoming and supportive community, with many great traditions that celebrate our shared membership in the wonderful Buffalo State College family.
• Our mission, vision, and core values such as quality teaching and learning, respect for diversity, and joy of discovery will remain the guiding principles of our institution, and are key to the implementation of our new strategic plan.

As interim president, I intend to steward these guiding principles and keep Buffalo State College moving forward. Let’s work together to keep growing, keep improving, keep making Buffalo State the best place it can be.

Have a great semester!

Yours sincerely,

Dennis K. Ponton
Interim President

From the Vice President for Student Affairs 
The Auxiliary Services Grant Allocation Committee (GAC) is requesting proposals from individuals, departments, and student clubs and organizations for funding of programs, speakers, and events to take place during the 2009–2010 academic year. The application and guidelines have been updated and are available online.

The deadlines to submit applications under this funding cycle are Wednesday, September 16, 2009, for fall 2009 and spring 2010 program proposals andWednesday, November 18, 2009, for spring 2010 program proposals.

Questions about GAC proposals may be addressed toDaniel Vélez, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, Cleveland Hall 519, 878-5550.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
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, 2009, through July 1, 2010. 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 are encouraged from those who have not been funded previously.

The total amount to be distributed at Buffalo State is $35,309 for the year to support professional development activities commenced on or after July 2, 2009, and completed on or before July 1, 2010. Detailed information and application forms may be found on theHuman Resource Management Web site.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
The process for awarding UUP discretionary awards has been further modified by mutual agreement between UUP and the college administration. The discretionary award steps have been streamlined to reduce confusion for employees and administrators. We wish to thank Richard Bihr, Jean Richardson, and Richard Stempniak of UUP for their input and assistance in revising the process.

Information on the UUP discretionary award process and deadlines was sent to UUP employees by campus mail on August 26. The same information was sent to home addresses of part-time faculty and employees currently on leave. All discretionary award information and forms can be found on the Human Resource Management Web site.

Changes for 2009
Employees may continue to self-nominate for a discretionary award by completing a nomination form and submitting it to their department chair, director, associate vice president, or other direct supervisor byWednesday, September 9, 2009. However, the requirement that employees must self-nominate to be eligible to appeal has been eliminated, and employees are no longer required to send a copy of their self-nominations to Human Resource Management.

Self-nominations and nominations initiated by supervisors and department heads will continue to be forwarded through the appropriate approval levels. For self-nominations, the form should be forwarded from each level to the next with a notation “recommend” or “unable to recommend.”

As with last year’s process, employees will not be notified of the recommendation at each level.Employees will have one opportunity to appeal after the president has made his decisions and sent out letters informing recipients of their awards. Letters will be sent on October 27, 2009. Employees may submit an appeal by November 4, 2009. Following a review by the Appeals Board, notification of the appeal decision will be sent by letter on November 16, 2009.

Please refer to the Human Resource Management Web site for more detailed information on the process. If you have questions regarding the UUP Discretionary Salary Increase process, please contact Susan Earshen, associate vice president for human resource management, at 878-3042.