The next meeting of the Buffalo State College Council will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, in Cleveland Hall 518.

Agenda
Call to Order
Action Items
-- Approval of Minutes: March 18, 2008
Council Chair’s Report
President’s Report
Announcements
Adjournment

Policy
Buffalo State College is committed to providing a safe work environment for all employees that is free from intimidation, threats, and violent acts. The college will respond promptly to threats, acts of violence, and acts of aggression by employees or against employees by co-workers, members of the public, or others. This document sets forth standards for employee conduct and guidelines for reasonable precautions. The accompanying procedures outline response to threats or violence should they occur in the workplace.

Prohibited Conduct
A. Buffalo State College will not tolerate any act or threat of violence made in the workplace, on college property, or while in work status.

B. No person may engage in violent conduct or make threats of violence, implied or direct, on Buffalo State College property or in connection with college business. This includes, but is not limited to:

• The use of force with the intent to cause harm, e.g., physical attacks, any unwanted contact such as hitting, fighting, pushing, or throwing objects.
• Behavior that diminishes the dignity of others through sexual, racial, religious, or ethnic disparagement or harassment.
• Acts or threats that are intended to intimidate, harass, threaten, bully, coerce, or cause fear of harm, whether directly or indirectly.
• Acts or threats made directly or indirectly by oral or written words, gestures, or symbols that communicate a direct or indirect threat of physical or mental harm.

C. No person without legal authority may carry, possess, or use any dangerous weapon on Buffalo State College property or in college buildings or facilities. Unauthorized possession or use of firearms, knives (except non-spring pocket knives), or other weapons or explosives is prohibited.

Reporting Procedures
Incidents of workplace violence, threats of workplace violence, or observations of workplace violence are not to be ignored by any member of the Buffalo State College community. Workplace violence should be promptly reported to University Police (see below). Additionally, all members of the college community are encouraged to report behavior they reasonably believe poses a potential for workplace violence in order to maintain a safe working and learning environment.

A. Any person experiencing or witnessing imminent danger or personal injury or violence involving weapons or actual violence should call University Police at ext. 6333 immediately.

B. Any person who is the subject of a suspected violation of the Workplace Violence Prevention Policy involving violence without weapons or personal injury, or is a witness to such suspected violation, should report the incident to University Police.

C. Employees are expected to report to University Police any threat or act of violence that they have witnessed, received, or been informed of.

D. Every threat must be reported.

E. Employees who commit a violent act or threaten to commit a violent act are subject to disciplinary action and/or civil/criminal prosecution as appropriate.

F. Any individual who makes a substantial threat, exhibits threatening behavior, or engages in violent acts on Buffalo State College property shall be subject to removal from the premises as quickly as safety permits, pending the outcome of an investigation.

Employee Responsibilities
A. All Buffalo State College employees are responsible for helping to maintain a safe work and educational environment and are urged to take reasonable precautions to prevent violence and other unsafe conditions in the workplace and report indicators of increased risk of violent behavior including, but not limited to, the following examples:

Precautions:

• In response to telephone inquiries, do not release information about co-workers’ schedules, home telephone numbers, or other personal information.
• In the event of suspicious conduct, request the credentials of any stranger who enters your office to do repair or other service work. If necessary, verify the work request with Campus Services.
• Never leave money, credit cards, travel documents, or anything else of value in an unlocked desk or cabinet.
• If something is stolen, report it immediately to University Police.

Indicators:

• Direct or veiled threats of harm.
• Intimidating, belligerent, harassing, bullying, or other inappropriate and aggressive behavior.
• Numerous conflicts with supervisors and other employees.
• Bringing a weapon to the workplace, brandishing a weapon in the workplace, making inappropriate references to guns, or fascination with weapons.
• Statements showing fascination with incidents of workplace violence, statements indicating approval of the use of violence to resolve a problem, or statements indicating identification with perpetrators of workplace homicides.
• Statements indicating desperation (over family, financial, or other personal problems) to the point of contemplating suicide.
• Drug/alcohol abuse.
• Extreme changes in behavior.

B. Employees are expected to notify University Police whenever a protective restraining order or order of protection is granted that mentions Buffalo State College property, or involves a college employee or a person working at or attending the college, and provide a copy of the order. Appropriate efforts will be made to protect the privacy and sensitivity of the information provided. Employees should also notify their supervisors of such protective restraining orders or orders of protection.

C. Victims of domestic violence who believe the violence may extend into the workplace, or employees who believe that domestic or other personal matters may result in their being subject to violence extending into the workplace, are encouraged to notify their supervisors and University Police. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.

D. All employees have an obligation to immediately report any incidents of violence and/or inappropriate conduct or behavior to University Police. Following notification to University Police, employees should inform their supervisors of the incident.

Supervisors
A. Each dean, director, department chair, executive officer, administrator, or any other person with supervisory responsibility (hereinafter “supervisor”) is responsible within his or her area of jurisdiction for the implementation of this policy.

B. Supervisors are required to immediately contact University Police in the event of imminent or actual violence involving weapons or potential physical injuries.

C. Supervisors must report to University Police any complaint of workplace violence made to him or her and any other incidents of workplace violence of which he or she becomes aware of or reasonably believes to exist. Supervisors are expected to inform their immediate supervisors promptly about any complaints, acts, or threats of violence even if the situation has been addressed and resolved. After having reported such complaint or incident to University Police and immediate supervisor, the supervisor should keep it confidential and disclose it only as necessary during the investigation process and/or subsequent proceedings.

D. Following notification of University Police, supervisors are obligated to immediately contact the director or associate director of Human Resource Management to report incidents involving college employees.

University Police
A. The University Police Department is responsible for:

• Responding to
• Intervening and
• Documenting all incidents of violence in the workplace.

B. University Police will immediately log all incidents of workplace violence and will notify respective supervisors and the director or associate director of Human Resource Management of an incident involving an employee, or notify the associate vice president and dean of students of an incident with a student.

C. University Police will maintain an internal tracking system of all threats and incidents of violence. Annual reports will be submitted to the president detailing the number and description of workplace violence incidents, the disposition of the incidents, and recommend policy, training issues, or security procedures that were or should be implemented to maintain a safe working and learning environment.

D. University Police officers will be trained in workplace violence awareness and prevention, nonviolent-crises intervention, conflict management, and dispute resolution.

E. When informed, University Police will maintain a record of any orders of protection and will provide an escort to members of the college community within its geographical confines when sufficient personnel are available. Such services are to be extended at the discretion of the chief of police or his designee. Only the president or her designee can authorize an escort outside of the geographical confines of the college.

Human Resource Management
A. The Human Resource Management (HR) Office is responsible for:

• Assisting the chief of police and supervisors in responding to workplace violence.
• Facilitating appropriate responses to reported incidents of workplace violence.
• Notifying University Police of workplace violence incidents reported to HR.
• Consulting with, as necessary, counseling services to secure professional intervention.

B. The Human Resource Management Office is responsible for providing new employees or employees transferred to the college with a copy of the Workplace Violence Policy and Procedures and ensuring that employees receive appropriate training pursuant to NYS Labor Law §27b.

C. The Human Resource Management Office is responsible for annually disseminating this policy to all employees, as well as for posting the policy throughout the campus and on the college’s Web site, as appropriate.

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

New Course:
ADE 634 Workplace Literacy

At the October 2007 meeting of the College Senate, members were given an overview of the Voluntary System of Accountability by President Howard, an update on student housing, and a summary of the communication policy related to emergencies. Participants also heard from the chair of the Senate, Sharon Cramer. In addition, the Senate received an FAQ Bookstore report, illustrating the reasons for early book orders by faculty for the spring 2008 semester.

Three motions passed: two new awards, Career Achievement for Faculty and Career Achievement for Staff, will be recommended to the president. A third motion was passed to encourage all schools and the Professional Staff Caucus to elect their representatives to SIFOC at their next round of elections.

Three items presented for discussion at the meeting will be voted upon at the November 2007 meeting: therequirements for upper-division courses (Curriculum Committee); whether to suspend the implementation of BSC 301 until fall 2010 (Instruction and Research Committee); and the award to recognize faculty/staff mentors of faculty and staff (Faculty/Staff Welfare Committee).

Supporting documentation for the October meeting agenda items and motions may be found on the Senate Web site. Members of the campus community are encouraged to discuss these motions with their Senate representatives, their representatives on the respective standing committees, or with any at-large senator. Information about the senators can be found on the College Senate Web site.

Open enrollment to participate in the 2008 New York State Flex Spending Account ends at midnight on Friday, November 16. No enrollment applications will be accepted by the plan administrator after that time. For questions about the Health Care Spending or Dependent Care Advantage accounts, or to apply, call (800) 358-7202 or visit www.flexspend.state.ny.us.

This year's annual period in which employees may voluntarily cancel their health insurance coverage or voluntarily decline coverage for their dependents is November 1–November 30. A form is required to make this change.

Note: Unless your have a qualifying event, the 10-week waiting period still applies to enroll for health insurance for the first time, or to add previously eligible dependents to your coverage. Please call Human Resource Management at ext. 4821 with questions.

Each year, employees who are enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program may select a different health plan by completing change forms in the Human Resource Management Office. Employees may choose from the Empire Plan or one of the three health maintenance organizations: Community Blue, Independent Health, or Univera.

Employees will have 30 days from the date the 2008 rates are approved and published to change their health insurance carriers. The New York State Employee Benefits Division will mail information about the new health plan rates and deadline dates to enrolled employees' home addresses. "Choices," a comparison booklet of the insurance plans, will be available in the Human Resource Management Office by mid-November. If you would like to receive a copy, please call ext. 4821.

Provost Dennis Ponton (standing, right) last week met with (from left) Stephanie Barber, United Way; Richard Stempniak, UUP president; Margaret Shaw-Burnett, SEFA/United Way Campaign coordinator; and Helen Hughes, CSEA president, to review campaign progress and to discuss ways to reach 100 percent of Buffalo State’s SEFA/United Way goal. The group agreed that reaching the goal is a priority so that the college 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 gifts.

The SUNY Association of Chief Academic Officers (CAO) held its fall conference last week. I participated along with most of the provosts and academic vice presidents from the 64 SUNY campuses. Many of the topics discussed require further consideration on campus.

John Reid, executive director of the Governor’s Commission on Higher Education, updated the CAOs on commission progress. He reviewed higher education areas under study by the commission including academic excellence, tuition and financial aid, capital needs, alignment with workforce and economic development, access and K–12 partnerships, transfer and articulation, and higher education financing. A draft of the commission’s report is expected by December 1. CAOs were encouraged to focus on transfer and articulation issues to ensure seamless transition and timely graduation of transfer students.

John Clarke, interim SUNY chancellor, spoke on various issues regarding SUNY. He noted that excellence in public higher education is key to the vitality of New York State, and he characterized SUNY as providing good education with possibilities for greatness through consistent sustained long-term investment. In discussing the next budget, Chancellor Clarke identified the No. 1 priority to be an increase in full-time faculty within SUNY. Facility improvement supported by expanded capital funding is also a priority.

First-year programs were discussed by John N. Gardner, executive director of the Policy Center on the First Year of College. Gardner described the Foundation of Excellence in the First College Year program. This program offers a framework for colleges to audit nine defining characteristics of institutional effectiveness that promote learning and success of first-year students. Participants from SUNY to date are Brockport, Cortland, Fredonia, Stony Brook, and Tompkins Cortland Community College. Buffalo State may find it useful to become a participating campus.

Undergraduate research experiences were discussed by Kathy Whatley, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Whatley spoke of best practices at colleges across the county that influence campus culture so that undergraduate research programs are embraced. Buffalo State’s program and the leadership of Jill Singer were cited a number of times in Whatley’s presentation.

SUNY Provost Risa Palm reviewed priority budget requests such as increase in full-time faculty, increase in stipends for and numbers of graduate assistants, start-up funding for new faculty, and a systemwide student tracking system. Provost Palm introduced recently appointed associate provosts—Pedro Caban, Kavita Pandit, and Harold Silverman. Each described his or her respective areas of responsibility. Caban focuses on educational equity and diversity issues. He provides oversight to the Educational Opportunity Center, the Educational Opportunity Program, the National Association of System Heads, and efforts to instill diversity as a core value at all SUNY campuses. Pandit leads system efforts related to curriculum, program reviews, assessment, international programs, and the new professional science master’s initiative. Enrollment management, the SUNY Learning Network, SUNY Press, and various university-wide programs are Silverman’s responsibility.

Additional sessions during the three-day conference addressed the following:

• Workshops and case studies provided forum for discussion of the SUNY Digital Library proposal, elements of academic planning, and dealing with disruptive students.
• University college provosts held sector meetings to discuss a number of items including transfer student issues, department chair stipends, and starting salaries for new faculty appointments.
• The association’s business meetings resulted in changes in bylaws and established dates and possible topics for discussion at 2008 meetings.

Advanced to the President
The following have been approved by the Senate Curriculum Committee and forwarded to the president for review and approval:

New Courses:
HTR 318 Cultural Tourism
HTR 385 Private Club Management

Course Revisions:
CRJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
HIS 311 American Immigration and Ethnicity

Intellectual Foundations Designations: 

DIVERSITY
HIS 311 American Immigration and Ethnicity

SOCIAL SCIENCES
CRJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice

Advanced to the Curriculum Committee
The following have been received in the College Senate Office and forwarded to the Senate Curriculum Committee for review and approval:

Program Revisions:
B.S. Biology Education (7–12) (0631)
B.S. Biology Education (7–12; 5–6 Extension) (0630)
Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification Biology Education (7–12) (7013)
Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification Biology Education (7–12; 5–6 Extension) (7016)
B.S. Chemistry Education (7–12) (0632)
B.S. Chemistry Education (7–12; 5–6 Extension) (0637)
Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification Chemistry Education (7-12) (7025)
Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification Chemistry Education (7-12; 5–6 Extension) (7028)
B.S. Physics Education (7–12) (0634)
B.S. Physics Education (7–12; 5–6 Extension) (0634)
M.S.Ed. Physics Education (7–12 with Alternative Certification) (6635)
B.S. Earth Science Education (7–12) (0633)
B.S. Earth Science Education (7–12; 5–6 Extension) (7040)
Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification Earth Science Education (7–12) (7037)
Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification Earth Science Education (7–12; 5–6 Extension) (7040)
B.S. Fashion and Textile Technology (0401)
M.S. Forensic Science (1999)

New Course:
FTT 324 Industrial Apparel Assembly. Focus on design room techniques utilized in both couture and mass production of apparel. Emphasis on equipment; appropriate selection of style, color, and fiber content of construction materials; alteration techniques used to achieve proper-fitting garments and mastery of selected couture; and industrial construction processes.

Course Revisions:
FTT 109 Fundamentals of Apparel Construction.Basic beginning techniques of apparel construction using commercially available patterns; introduction to sewing equipment, measuring techniques, fabric selection, fit, and alterations; evaluation and comparison of garments completed as assignments to similar apparel available through retail sources.

FTT 224 Pattern Drafting and Grading for Industry.Introduction to technical patternmaking skills; emphasis on development of basic drafting and grading skills; students produce a drafted sloper that will be graded into a graded nest.