From the Provost

I am pleased to announce that Kevin Railey, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, will assume the role of interim provost when I become interim president on August 1.

Railey came to Buffalo State as a member of the English Department in 1991, and chaired the department for eight years. He served as interim associate vice president for enrollment management in 2005–2006 and has served as associate provost and dean of the Graduate School since May 2007.

He received the President’s Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Equity and Campus Diversity in 2003 and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities in 2005.

I have every expectation that he will bring the same degree of commitment, intelligence, and thoughtfulness to the provost’s office that he has brought to his work as professor, dean, and associate provost. Buffalo State is very fortunate to have capable and willing administrators like Dr. Railey, particularly in this time of transition.

An opportunity exists for a member of the Buffalo State professional staff to lead staff development initiatives. The appointee will provide leadership in the following areas:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of initiatives, policies, and a campuswide culture in support of excellence in professional service.
• Arrange and oversee delivery of professional development opportunities for new, mid-term, and senior staff; focus on skill sets for promotional opportunities.
• Coordinate new staff orientation and mentoring programs.
• Disseminate relevant information on staff development.
• Link staff development opportunities with the campus performance program system.

Appointment is for two years, through the end of the spring 2010 semester. The provost will negotiate a compensation package with the appointee. Starting date is negotiable.

Required Qualifications: Advanced degree, five years’ experience in a professional position, prior successful experience with staff development, and evidence of strong organizational and leadership skills.  

Submit a letter of application, résumé or curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for three professional references to Carolyn Martino, Academic and Student Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222-1095.

Electronic applications are encouraged and may be submitted to martinc@buffalostate.edu.

Review of applications began April 17 and will continue until the position is filled.

From the President
At its May 15, 2009, meeting, the College Senate approved the recommendation on academic clemency brought forward by the Standards for Students Committee, and forwarded the following resolution to the president for review and approval:

WHEREAS, a five-year waiting period for clemency is longer than the majority of our peers; and

WHEREAS, the benefit of clemency should be applied only to students who actually register for classes to continue their studies at the college,

THEREFORE, be it resolved that the following revisions be incorporated into the policy on academic clemency:

Academic Clemency (2007–2009 Undergraduate Catalog, p. 25; new language appears in boldface type)

Any student with a Buffalo State GPA of less than 2.0 is eligible to apply for academic clemency when he or she applies for readmission to the college through the Admissions Office. The student’s last semester of enrollment must have been at least three (was five) years prior to the application for admission. Students can request clemency for up to two consecutive semesters of work or 30 consecutive credit hours if earned on a part-time basis. These two semesters or 30 hours are to be determined by the student in consultation with appropriate offices (dean, Educational Opportunity Program, etc.). A decision of clemency includes all coursework taken within those one or two semesters at Buffalo State; it is not selectively applied. As a result, the student forfeits all coursework during these two semesters and any remaining credit hours at the time of clemency must result in a 2.0 GPA or greater. Any mathematics or English competency requirements fulfilled during the clemency period will still be recognized. However, any credit hours associated with these requirements will be removed and must be replaced with other coursework. Clemency is appliedonly after a student has registered for an upcoming semester (sentence added).

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate to revise the language in the policy for academic clemency as indicated above. I authorize the provost to implement the language changes, effective immediately, and to notify appropriate college personnel of the new language.

Critique and Evaluation Period (CEP) for spring 2008 will take place on Monday, May 5; Tuesday, May 6; Wednesday, May 7; and Thursday, May 8. A study day will be held on Friday, May 2.

The purpose of CEP is to provide a single class meeting during which faculty and students have an extended period of uninterrupted time to conduct appropriate end-of-course activities. CEP is designed for classes that meet more than once a week during the semester. Classes (evening or day) that meet only once a week have sufficient time for final evaluation; therefore, they follow their regular schedules (exams to be scheduledduring CEP and not before).

The following regulations govern CEP:

• A study day will occur the weekday immediately prior to the start of CEP. Evening classes that meet only once a week will not have a study day.
• All instructors are expected to meet their classes at the scheduled time during CEP and to choose an appropriate activity that reflects the academic goals of the course and the intent of CEP (e.g., an exam, a review, critique of papers, course summation, or individual presentations or demonstrations).
• Instructors should not schedule a final exam prior to CEP. Instructors may not change the date and time of their final class periods during CEP. In case of emergencies, instructors should confer with their appropriate dean and notify University College.
• CEPs will be scheduled for one-hour-and-50-minute periods. Instructors are not to increase or decrease the scheduled CEP time.
• In case of an emergency that would close the school, CEPs scheduled for the time of the closing will be rescheduled on the emergency CEP day only.
• Faculty members must post office hours during which they will be available to meet with students during CEP week.

From the President
At its May 15, 2009, meeting, the College Senate approved the recommendation brought forward by the Academic Plan Committee to support the draft 2009–2013 Strategic Plan, and forwarded the following resolution to the president for review and approval:

WHEREAS, effective long-range planning is critical to the operation and interests of Buffalo State College;

WHEREAS, the college has demonstrated measurable progress and success through its previous, now-expiring 2003–2008 Strategic Plan;

WHEREAS, the developmental process for the proposed 2009–2013 Strategic Plan has been public and receptive to responses and proposals from the entire Buffalo State community; and

WHEREAS, the resulting draft is now sufficiently comprehensive at its present level to warrant the Senate’s confidence,

THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Buffalo State College Senate offer its support and endorsement of the 2009–2013 Strategic Plan.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate to support and endorse the 2009–2013 Buffalo State College Strategic Plan. I authorize the provost to move forward with the implementation of the plan effective with the fall 2009 semester.

From the President

CORRECTION APPENDED

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

New Program:
Minor in Philosophy

New Courses:
CHE 570 Biochemical Principles I
FLE 240 Introduction to Linguistics
FLE 340 Second Language Acquisition and Literacy

New Course and Intellectual Foundations Designation:
HUMANITIES
MCL 100 Italian Cinema I (in English)

Course Revisions:
FLE 300 Introduction to the Foreign Language Classroom
FLE 401 Teaching Foreign Languages in Middle and High Schools

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Correction: July 16, 2009
The original version of this announcement, published June 18, incorrectly recorded FLE 340 as a Course Revision.

From the Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee
I am pleased to announce the membership of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee for Buffalo State College:

Chair
Howard A. Zemsky, President, Taurus Partners

College Council Representatives
William J. Bissett, President, Gaming and Entertainment Company, Delaware North
James Brandys, Senior Vice President, Investment Wealth Management Adviser, Merrill Lynch
Alphonso V. O’Neil-White, President and CEO, HealthNow New York

Faculty Representatives
Felix L. Armfield, Professor, History and Social Studies Education
Betty J. Cappella, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, Educational Foundations
Ann C. Colley, Professor, English
Sharon F. Cramer, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, Exceptional Education
Kevin F. Mulcahy, Chair and Associate Professor, Hospitality and Tourism
Constance Dean Qualls, Chair and Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
John F. Siskar, Associate Professor, Art Education
Randal J. Snyder, Associate Professor, Biology

Student Representatives
Kafilat O. Hassan, President, United Students Government
Jenelle N. Orosz, Graduate Student

Professional Staff Representative
Daniel C. Vélez, Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs 

Support Staff Representative
Susan A. Niescier, Administrative Aide, Technology

Administration Representatives
Susanne P. Bair, Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Ronald S. Rochon, Dean, School of Education

Alumni Association Representative
Marsha D. Jackson, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Erie Community College

Buffalo State College Foundation Representative
Benjamin M. Zuffranieri, Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP 

Non-Voting Member
Chancellor’s Liaison
Aimee L. Bernstein, Associate Vice Chancellor, SUNY

Staff Support
Campus Liaison
Bonita R. Durand, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Buffalo State College Council

Secretary to the Search Committee
Melissa A. Slisz, Staff Assistant, President’s Office

This committee has been established by the Buffalo State College Council to solicit and evaluate nominations and applications for the position of college president in accordance with the guidelines established by the State University of New York Board of Trustees. The committee will submit a list of qualified candidates to the College Council, and the council will send a list of acceptable candidates to SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher for her review and consideration. Chancellor Zimpher will then make her final recommendation to the SUNY Board of Trustees, which maintains the legal authority to appoint the president. Please remember that all search committee members are required to sign confidentiality agreements to help protect applicants, which in turn helps ensure a professional process and a successful outcome.

I thank the entire college community for its support throughout the process, which has led to the appointment of this committee. I encourage everyone to continue to provide input, either directly to committee members or through the e-mail addresspresidentsearch@buffalostate.edu.

A professional development initiative to support members of the campus community was developed in the past year. Emphasis is in three primary areas.

• The development of faculty as teachers, scholars, and professionals.
• Organizational development to maximize institutional effectiveness and provide for staff and administrator development.
• The development of innovative instructional processes and modalities.

The initiative, modeled after best practices of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education, received funding from the Buffalo State Investments in the Future allocation process. One position was created, assistant to the provost for professional development, and was nationally searched. The search committee, composed of the following members, reviewed numerous applications.

Robert Barone, Computer Information Systems
Ricky Fleming, Music
Scott Johnson, University College (co-chair)
Howard Reid, Psychology
Camille Spyra, E. H. Butler Library
Kathy Wood, Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education (co-chair)
Stephanie Zuckerman-Aviles, Career Development Center

Kevin Railey, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, served as administrative liaison to the committee.

No suitable candidates were identified for campus interviews and the appointment. In checking with trends nationally, it became apparent that qualified individuals to lead a comprehensive professional development initiative, such as that envisioned for Buffalo State, are difficult to find. This suggests a repeat search may again be unsuccessful.

Members of the search committee provided some excellent suggestions to advance professional development initiatives at Buffalo State. These include:

• Conduct an internal search to identify a member of the faculty for a 0.5 FTE commitment to lead faculty development efforts, especially in relation to teaching skills and instructional modalities.
• Conduct an internal search to identify a member of the professional staff for a 0.5 FTE commitment to lead staff development efforts, especially in relation to staff orientation, mentoring, and professional advancement.

I concur with the committee’s recommendations. Creation of position descriptions for internal searches is under way. The intent is to conduct internal searches so appointments can be made as soon as possible. Appointments will occur through replacement of one-half (0.5 FTE) of the appointees’ responsibilities. Appointments will be effective through the spring 2010 semester. At that time, the campus will decide to resume a search for one leadership position for professional development or continue in another way.

Priority recommendations from the search committee are to identify a faculty member and a staff member to give leadership on a half-time basis to professional development for the respective constituencies. Additional committee recommendations to be pursued include:

• Create a professional development advisory committee with membership to include colleagues now guiding specific development efforts such as CASTL and service learning.
• Establish initiatives to support development of adjunct faculty, department chairs, and directors.

The next meeting of the College Senate will take place on Friday, December 14. Room and time are changed for this meeting only. Start time is 1:30 p.m. Location isClassroom Building C122. Members of the college community are cordially invited to attend.

Included on the agenda for the meeting will be UB President John Simpson, who has been asked to speak on UB 2020. A panel of senators and distinguished professors will ask questions, followed by questions from the Senate, followed by questions from visitors.

The agenda for the meeting will appear in the December 13 issue of the college Bulletin and will be posted on the College Senate Web site later this week.

All contracts and agreements that involve the use of college-owned equipment, supplies, or facilities, and/or require the college to provide any nature of services, shall be approved by both the appropriate vice president and the associate vice president and comptroller prior to execution. Contracts and agreements may be signedonly by the college president, the vice president for finance and management, the associate vice president and comptroller, or the director of purchasing. Any other college employee who signs a contract or agreement may be held personally responsible for its performance (payment, liability, etc.). Any contract executed by an employee without express prior authorization is not valid or binding on Buffalo State College. The Public Officers Law is meant to protect state employees only in the performance of their official duties. Employees place themselves at potentially great financial risk by entering into such agreements, written or oral, on behalf of the college without express prior written authorization.