A new $43 million technology center for Buffalo State moves forward as the college and the State University of New York Construction Fund begin a national search for an architectural/engineering firm to complete technical specifications for the proposed building now that funding has been approved.

The much-needed facility will accommodate seven technology-based programs of study, including fashion and textile technology, electrical engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, technology education, and computer information technology.

“We are very excited about having a Technology Center that further advances our mission of hands-on study and strategic problem solving,” said Stan Medinac, associate vice president for facilities planning. “Having all our technology programs under one roof will also facilitate efficient sharing of resources and greater interaction among students, faculty, and staff.”

The proposed building, which is expected to be about 100,000 square feet and incorporate green design concepts, was developed based on extensive input from students, faculty, and staff. Smart classrooms and labs, as well as social and administrative spaces, are oriented to a sunlit atrium with information kiosks and seating areas. To accommodate new technology and evolving curricula, spaces will be integrated and easily reconfigured.

The building will be situated in the heart of the campus on land currently occupied by old service buildings. Completion is planned for 2011 with design finalization in 2008 and construction beginning in 2009.

Buffalo State is getting ready to launch a program designed to help would-be restaurateurs open independent establishments and manage them effectively. The Restaurant Institute, which begins its pilot program in January, is an initiative that includes the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Hospitality and Tourism Department, Campus House, and the Research Foundation.

“This is an example of Buffalo State’s core values,” said Kevin Mulcahy, chair and associate professor of the Hospitality and Tourism Department. “We’re collaborating internally and with the community.”

Designs for the Restaurant Institute began in spring 2006, but the need has existed much longer. According to Susan McCartney, director of the SBDC, many of her clients over the years—who come to the center for one-to-one counseling on starting and expanding businesses—would like to open restaurants. Now, after months of careful planning, she teamed up with the right collaborators to turn the idea of the institute into a reality. The Hospitality and Tourism Department is providing faculty and the use of Campus House for classes. The Research Foundation is providing professional staff support and a $7,000 incentive grant toward curriculum development costs. They also will continue to look for more grant support. Additionally, the Institutional Advancement and Development Office will help to secure funding from local private foundations and corporations.

The collaboration, however, goes beyond the Buffalo State campus. Earlier this year, organizers assembled an advisory team to solicit advice for the program. This “super group of consultants,” as Kathleen O’Brien, hospitality and tourism lecturer and director of Campus House, puts it, includes restaurant owners of renowned casual, mid-scale, and high-end establishments, including Hutch’s, Oliver’s, Ilio DiPaolo’s, the Empire Grill, Rue Franklin, Pizza Plant, and others.

“Their responses helped drive our curriculum,” said O’Brien. “When we had our orientation meeting back on September 10, many of them attended, and their feedback provided credibility. The restaurant industry is very networked, and the advisory team members are recognizable names around town.”

McCartney says the SBDC, which is the only school-based center for Erie and Wyoming counties, is now the only center in the state to offer a Restaurant Institute program. So far, 12 participants are registered. Mulcahy says organizers are looking for 15 to 20 participants, so things are on track.

“The Restaurant Institute is unique in the way it delivers content,” he said. “And for the pilot price of $1,000, it’s a bargain.”

McCartney agrees. “The institute will offer [restaurateurs] far greater support than a franchise [would],” she said.

McCartney, Mulcahy, and O’Brien are three of the Restaurant Institute’s steering committee members who are currently organizing the curriculum. The other members are Joseph Giambra, a counselor with the SBDC, Angelo Conorozzo, the Research Foundation liaison to the School of the Professions (which oversees both the SBDC and the Hospitality and Tourism Department), and Mary Kren, the coordinator of training and development for the Research Foundation.

The curriculum consists of a two-week “boot camp” at Campus House in early January, which is typically the slowest time of the year for the restaurant industry. Topics will include menu creation, financial strategies, service excellence, and more. After the two-week program orientation and educational programs, the institute will have “Progressive Monday” conferences every first and third Monday from February through May. The sessions, which will last three and a half hours each, will feature content on business planning; regional economics and differentiation; emotional intelligence and health; and trends in products, places, and people.

McCartney says the Progressive Monday sessions might take place at different area restaurants. Her staff will help teach these meetings, while O’Brien’s staff will primarily teach the “boot camp.” In mid-June, the institute will conclude with a four-day stretch that includes site visits throughout Western New York for observational education and networking opportunities. But beyond all the learning, the ultimate goal is to get new restaurants open.

“We’re pushing for independent, successful restaurants for the city,” said Conorozzo. “There is a 62 percent failure rate during the first two to three years for new restaurants. Through the Restaurant Institute, we want to lower that number. We want new restaurants to be successful both financially and in the way they provide service.”

Conorozzo also says that banks are reluctant to finance new restaurants. Through participation in the institute, he says, restaurateurs can establish credibility. This should increase the chances for them to receive much-needed startup loans.

McCartney is grateful for the collaboration on the Restaurant Institute and says the results could have far-reaching effects.

“When you think of Buffalo, good restaurants come to mind,” she said. “Independent establishments like Anchor Bar and Hutch’s help our area with tourism. And more importantly, they make up the fabric of the city.”

To create a diverse workforce at Buffalo State, Dolores E. Battle, senior adviser to the president for equity and campus diversity, says effort and leadership are required. Her office leads the charge in implementing the college’s core value of respect for diversity and individual differences. Battle says that diversity means more than numbers.

“Buffalo State makes a strong statement on diversity in its mission and core values,” she said. “Right from the very top administrators, it’s clear that the institution’s commitment to diversity is more than just words.”

The mission of the Equity and Campus Diversity Office is to ensure that the college community understands and complies with both federal and state laws with respect to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. Battle, who began her Buffalo State career as a speech-language pathologist and remains very involved in her professional discipline, assumed her current role shortly after Muriel Howard became president. She says the office has three primary functions. First, it ensures compliance and fairness in hiring, retention, and advancement of faculty and staff. Second, it focuses on maintaining a campus climate that reflects the college’s commitment to diversity. Third, it handles discrimination complaints.

“There is an academic triangle of teaching, service, and research and scholarship. Successful faculty members incorporate all three areas in their careers,” said Battle. “We want to make sure that those who are members of underrepresented groups—particularly women, persons with disabilities, and people of color—get their works published and advance toward tenure. One way we have helped is by offering a special mentoring program for new faculty from these groups.”

On the issue of hiring, Battle points to Strategic Initiatives 1.2 and 4.2 of the 2003–2008 Strategic Plan as a guide for everyone at Buffalo State: enhance and support recruitment, retention, diversity, and development of full-time faculty and staff; and strengthen excellence in diversity. But in addition to achieving the college’s mission, Battle says, fair hiring also falls under SUNY policy and federal civil rights laws.

To help make the process of conducting searches more efficient, all required procedures and forms are available online. The Equity and Campus Diversity Office also implemented a number of changes this academic year to the 2007–2008 Guide to Effective Administrative, Faculty and Staff Searches, including new options for online advertisements, the elimination of the addendum to the pre-interview report, and revisions to the pre-interview search procedure report and the interview and recommendation report.

Battle says her office is mindful about how difficult it is to get a diverse pool of applicants for positions in Buffalo. “The weather and the city’s declining population are two of many factors that make it difficult to attract people to the area,” she said.

Battle also knows that the usual approaches to hiring will yield the “usual” results. This is a motivating factor behind her office’s new diversity incentive grants, which help recruit candidates. She points out two uses for them: help pay registration costs for faculty who attend conferences with a high percentage of participants from underrepresented groups—for the purpose of recruitment—and help pay for a reception or meal for potential faculty from underrepresented groups who are visiting the campus for interviews.

Despite the challenges, proactive efforts to recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff appear to be paying off. According to data reported in a recent issue of theChronicle of Higher Education, Buffalo State has one of the highest percentages (14 percent) of faculty from underrepresented groups among the SUNY colleges outside the New York City area. Battle says as far as the college is concerned, one need look no further than theConvocation awards to see that the commitment to diversity is recognized on par with advisement, teaching, and research. “We do well when it comes to diversity,” she said. “People can feel it on campus.”

Can buying a T-shirt at the campus bookstore help change the world? It’s a step in the right direction. Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State has started stocking products that create sustainable employment and are environmentally responsible.

This fall, the bookstore began carrying T-shirts manufactured by edun LIVE. The entire manufacturing process for all edun LIVE garments—from growing cotton to shipping—occurs in developing countries like Lesotho, Tanzania, and Uganda. Edun LIVE works to ensure that everyone involved in the making of their products is fairly compensated and works in a humane, ethical environment.

Barnes & Noble College Booksellers has partnered withedun LIVE to distribute its products in more than 600 campus bookstores nationwide.

Edun LIVE was founded by Ali Hewson, entrepreneur and wife of U2 singer Bono. Edun LIVE’s mission is to use its business model to help Africans achieve greater financial independence.

“Our students are interested in learning about products produced by companies with a heightened sense of community and social awareness. Edun LIVE is at the forefront of this type of corporate thinking,” said Lynn Puma, bookstore manager.

Buffalo State’s bookstore carries edun LIVE shirts with the slogans, “How you live,” and “What you wear makes a difference.” The proceeds from the latter shirt benefit the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund.

Edun LIVE shirts with the Buffalo State logo are also available. Puma said the bookstore will soon have shirts with school colors and organic dyes.

In addition, the bookstore has started carrying an “eco-friendly” line of products, from notebooks and folders made from recycled paper to energy-efficient light bulbs.

The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is pleased to present the first in a new series at the museum. RendezBlue, a program combining film, performance, and music, will take place Thursday, October 11, through Sunday, October 14, and will focus on concepts of architecture, structure, and space. The four-day event features film, artwork, poetry, concerts, performance art, and lectures. All programs are free and will be held at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, on the third floor of Rockwell Hall. A complete list of programs is available on the Burchfield-Penney Web site. RendezBlue is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York.

Lee Ann Grace, assistant dean of international and exchange programs, was honored with the Faculty and Staff Leadership Award on Wednesday evening at the 21st annual President’s Circle Dinner, held at Kleinhans Music Hall.

Stanley Kardonsky, vice president for finance and management, presented Grace with the award for her continuous support of the annual faculty and staff appeal on behalf of the Buffalo State College Foundation. Grace has also provided scholarship funds to students taking part in study-abroad programs.

This year’s event attracted more than 200 guests, the largest number to date. The reception and dinner were followed by the presentation of awards.

President Muriel A. Howard presented the Foundation Leadership by Example Award to William J. Magavern II, whose vision and financial support moved the idea of a new Burchfield-Penney Art Center from concept to reality.

Howard also presented the Individual Philanthropic Leadership Award to James L. Brandys, ’71, ’73. Brandys, who chaired the Endowing the Future campaign, has generously supported Buffalo State both financially and with his time. His personal commitment to the college is outstanding and demonstrated by sustained leadership giving.

Linda Dobmeier, ’71, Buffalo State College Foundation chair, presented the Foundation Leadership Award to the Stockman Family Foundation for its vision and support of the college’s art conservation program.

Brandys presented the Corporate Philanthropic Leadership Award to First Niagara Financial Group. First Niagara provided leadership support to the college’s service learning program, especially the “Mentoring Matters” program that benefits both Buffalo State College and Buffalo Public Schools students.

Invited guests donated to the Buffalo State College Foundation’s 2006–2007 Annual Fund at the President’s Circle level or higher. The faculty and staff appeal also plays an important part in supporting the college. Buffalo State employees can choose which funds to support with their donations this year, the college’s 136th anniversary. Donations may be made through payroll deduction, cash, check, or credit card. To support a program or fund not included on the schools, funds, and departments list, please call the Buffalo State College Foundation at 878-5536.

Buffalo State’s new applied mathematics program is providing a practical approach to solving problems—far beyond the typical a² + b² = c² variety. Participants are identifying critical issues and devising solutions using math.

Students have been working on mathematical models to determine why honeybees are disappearing (known as colony collapse disorder), are compiling data on avian influenza and sexually transmitted diseases, and will be investigating many other infectious diseases.

The bachelor of science degree program prepares students for careers as mathematicians in computer-related positions or as analysts or statisticians in government, industry, or business. Many students become math teachers while others become better prepared to enter graduate school in mathematics or computer science.

Graduates of applied mathematics programs also are hired as statisticians, credit analysts, environmental analysts, computer programmers, actuaries, safety inspectors, sales representatives for technical industries, and more. Typical hiring firms include manufacturers, banks, insurance companies, and state and federal government agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“In applied mathematics, students start with the problem, and then develop the solution using math,” said Joaquin Carbonara, associate professor of mathematics. “Math is a way of thinking, and we’re eager to apply it to different areas. Applied mathematics is particularly useful when rooted in science, and it really answers the question ‘What is math good for?’”

Feedback from students so far has been extremely positive, according to Carbonara. He says the program provides the right environment to examine how mathematics ties in with fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Carbonara hopes other faculty throughout campus will collaborate with the program as it develops.

Applied mathematics faculty members already are partnering with local research centers such as the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) and UB’s Center for Computational Research for grants and for field training opportunities for students. In fact, the program recently began sponsoring a special colloquium series with HWI. At the first seminar on September 28, Nobel laureate and HWI president Herbert Hauptman discussed the topic of x-ray crystallography with 45 attendees, mostly students. Hauptman’s seminar focused on how to reconstruct an atom (crystal), which can help create proteins and produce helpful drugs.

“Dr. Hauptman helped develop the machinery for x-ray crystallography, and his seminar was yet another way of showing how applied mathematics ties in to the community,” said Carbonara. “We’ve created a DVD of the seminar and will post the video online soon. We also are e-mailing student attendees so that they can get together on their own to further discuss what they learned.”

In addition to working with organizations like HWI, the applied mathematics program continues to grow internally and now has six professors. One—Valentin Brimkov, hired two years ago as an associate professor—is driving international attention to applied mathematics. Brimkov successfully lobbied to have the next International Workshop on Combinatorial Image Analysis in Buffalo April 7–9, 2008, and he is chair of the event. Past workshops were held in France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand, as well as Philadelphia and Washington. Topics will include imaging, pattern recognition, bioinformatics, and more—all designed to provide solutions for a wide range of disciplines such as medicine, robotics, defense, and security. The three-day event also will feature speakers and the presentation of original papers that will be published in mathematical journals.

As the applied mathematics program evolves and strengthens, it will incorporate visiting professors from top universities to facilitate enhanced learning. Two international visitors from Italy and France already visited the department for joint research activities with Brimkov. One of them, François de Vieilleville from the University of Bordeaux, will arrive later this semester to continue his joint research with Brimkov for 10 more months. He also will provide seminars for students and faculty. The French government is funding de Vieilleville’s visit through a prestigious Lavoisier grant.

“We will develop applied mathematics in the way that the market dictates,” said Saziye Bayram, a recently hired assistant professor for the program. “Our program is flexible, and we’re looking in multiple directions. If you look around, it’s easy to see that math is everywhere.”

One hundred thirteen more undergraduate students are taking 15 credit hours or more this semester compared to spring 2007, thanks to initiatives taken by the Enrollment Management and Registrar’s offices.

“Getting more students to take a full load of classes is always in the forefront of any enrollment management professional’s mind,” said Mark Petrie, associate vice president for enrollment management. “The more registered credit hours, the more dollars available to Buffalo State via the state support model.”

But Petrie is quick to point out that the positive effects reach far beyond budget dollars. Calling his office’s amplified communication efforts the “right thing to do,” he said that full course loads increase overall retention and graduation rates—in turn, improving Buffalo State’s competitiveness among local colleges.

The increase in full-time students this spring comes despite a 227-student drop in enrollment at the beginning of the 2007–2008 academic year. The decline spurred Enrollment Management to take quick action.

Working together with Registrar Mark Bausili, Petrie realized the college needed to create a paradigm shift. “I think there was a misconception that having students take 12 credit hours would help them persist academically and maintain full-time status from a financial aid standpoint,” he said. “But students and faculty who believed in this concept may not realize that, more often than not, it hurts down the road.”

Through targeted messages during November through January via e-mail, the student Web page, and the Daily,Enrollment Management discussed the importance of graduating on time by taking 15 credit hours, shared a list of 10 reasons why students do not graduate, and alerted students about online courses to boost overall credit hours. Enrollment Management also asked department secretaries to spread the word about the messages posted to the student Web site.

“One of the points we wanted to communicate was that if you register for 15 or 18 credit hours, you don’t pay any more money than you would for 12 credit hours,” said Bausili. “That’s a benefit to students.”

Petrie said student success drives the overall success of Buffalo State. He plans to continue steady communication about the importance of taking full class loads.

“The more students we retain, the more dollars we have available to provide additional and better services in the future,” he said. “Our challenge is to get the campus to understand that student direction and success has a direct impact on our ability to provide services. Enrollment does affect everyone.”

If student success were not already the driving factor in encouraging fuller class loads, retention would be at the top of the list, said Bausili.

“Our region is expecting a 17 percent decline in high school students over the next 10 years,” he said. “It’s as important as ever that we be proactive in retaining our students.”

Buffalo State College’s Volunteer and Service-Learning Center will partner with several community groups in the Great American Cleanup on Saturday, April 19. Registration and breakfast start at 8:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Science Building. Service projects begin at 9:00 a.m. and will include a street sweep of Grant Street (from Military to West Ferry), a cleanup of Scajaquada Creek, and tree planting in the Black Rock–Riverside community. Members of the college and community are encouraged to participate. Call (716) 878-5811 or e-mailthe VSLC to volunteer.

The Burchfield-Penney Art Center’s annual gala and art auction will take place Friday, October 26, in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall. The theme of the event is Building Excitement, in celebration of the new Burchfield-Penney museum, scheduled to open in summer 2008.

Burchfield-Penney Council members Joan Bukowski and Nelson Montgomery will chair the event. “Building Excitement will be a terrific evening celebrating the arts in Western New York,” said Bukowski. “Join us at one of our area’s architectural masterpieces, Kleinhans Music Hall, as we prepare to open our area’s next architectural masterpiece, the new Burchfield-Penney Art Center.”

The 2007 event honors William J. Magavern II and his wife, Linda, for their leadership, vision, and generosity. Magavern initiated the new Burchfield-Penney in 1999 with a gift of $1 million. Today, he co-chairs the new museum project with Buffalo State College President Muriel A. Howard and remains active in all aspects of planning for the new museum.

“This is the most exciting time in the 40-year history of the Burchfield-Penney Art Center as we prepare for the move into our new museum building,” said Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield-Penney. “The museum’s success depends on the support and generosity of our many volunteers, members, and the Western New York community. Our annual gala and auction highlights the excitement that surrounds this organization.”

The 2007 auction—the museum’s major annual fundraising event—features 12 works in the live auction and 45 pieces of art in the silent auction. Media include pencil drawing, watercolor, mixed media, steel sculpture, ceramic, gouache, acrylic, pastel, monotype, oil, collage, wood engraving, linocut, photography, serigraph, enamel, and earthenware. Artists who have generously donated work for this event include Nancy Belfer, Patricia Carter, Valeria Cray-Dihaan, AJ Fries, Carrianne Hendrickson, Joyce Hill, Ani Hoover, Scott Losi, Robert Masak, Gail McCarthy, Coni Minneci, Lynn Northrop, Joseph Orffeo, George Palmer, Joseph Piccillo, Walter Prochownik, Milton Rogovin, Sylvia L. Rosen, Andy Russell, Deborah Stewart, and Joseph Whalen.

Each year, Rita Argen Auerbach, watercolor artist and great friend of the Burchfield-Penney, tutors a special guest artist in the creation of a watercolor painting for this event. The 2007 “celebrity” artist is Stanley Kardonsky, vice president for finance and management (pictured). Previous celebrity artists have included JoAnn Falletta, music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Howard Zemsky, area business and philanthropic leader and Buffalo State College Council member; and President Muriel A. Howard. The painting will be one of the works auctioned at the gala.

Gala committee members are David Buck, Robert C. Drake, Edwin M. Johnston III, William H. Pearce Jr., Calvin Rand, William Rupp, Jill Sessa, Victor Shanchuk Jr., Jennifer Bernacki Smith, Jeannie M. Wolf, and Matt Wolfe. For tickets and information, contact Wolf, event coordinator for the gala, at Event Elements: (716) 636-5797 or jwolf@eventelements.net. A complete auction preview will be available at www.burchfield-penney.org.