From the Vice President for Finance and Management
College resources, including equipment, supplies, services, and facilities, shall be used for official college business only. Use of college resources for commercial purposes or for personal gain is prohibited. Any loan of college property (other than library materials) to any party for personal use is prohibited.

Direct any questions regarding this policy to James Thor, associate vice president and comptroller, at 878-4312.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
All student, faculty, and staff personal and academic information is private and confidential, and is protected by various state and federal laws. Buffalo State College employees must, by law, protect the privacy of this information.

Failure to protect personal and academic information may result in legal action against offending employees. Employees accused of failure to protect confidential information that results in harm to an individual may not be covered by the Public Officer's Law, and therefore not defended by New York State.

Examples of personal information that must be kept confidential: Social Security number, health information, disability status, etc. Faculty and staff must ensure that information contained on the employee change form is kept confidential.

Examples of academic information that must be kept confidential: grades, class schedule, student ID number, etc. Faculty and staff members may not post test scores or grades using any portion of a student's name, Social Security number, or student ID number. Faculty and staff must refrain from providing students' parents with information related to their student's academic performance or other personal information, unless given permission to do so by the student.

For more information:

State and Federal Laws:

• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (confidentiality of financial information): see the Human Resource Management and the Federal Trade Commission Web site.
• HIPAA (confidentiality of health information): see the Buffalo State Bulletin and the NYS Governor’s Office of Employee RelationsWeb site.
• FERPA (confidentiality of student/academic information): see the Academic Affairs or theU.S. Department of Education Web site.
   

   

• Restrictions on use of student Social Security numbers: see the New York State LegislatureWeb site; search for Education Law 2-b.
• New NYS law on notification of information security breach: see the New York State Legislature Web site; search for Article 39-F of GBS (General Business Law)

Questions regarding privacy of the employee change form, employee contracts, official employee files, etc.:
Susan Earshen, associate vice president, Human Resources, 878-3042

Questions regarding privacy of student information and FERPA:
Mark Bausili, registrar, 878-4907

Questions regarding health information and HIPAA:
Rock Doyle, assistant director, medical systems, 878-6711

Questions regarding legal liability and any legal action against the college or an employee: 
James Thor, associate vice president and comptroller, 878-4312

From the Provost
The Faculty Development Center will be located in Bulger Communication Center 104 beginning Tuesday, February 17. The telephone number is 878-3376.

As part of a faculty development initiative, the space will be used to host faculty presentations, showcase and circulate materials to assist faculty, and provide a location for individual consultations. Susan McMillen, director of faculty development, will be available at the center for drop-in discussions throughout the semester on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Sergey E. Mastitsky, research scientist with the Great Lakes Center, will present “New Data on the Biology of the Zebra Mussel: Case Studies from Belarus,” on Thursday, February 26, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Science Building 272.

The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a Ponto-Caspian invasive mollusk whose widespread proliferation in the waterbodies of Europe and North America has resulted in significant ecological changes and caused major economic damage. Numerous studies have been conducted on both continents to reveal the peculiarities of biology and ecology of the zebra mussel. However, there are still many gaps in our knowledge about this pest species. Mastitsky will discuss two aspects of D. polymorpha biology that have gained little attention from researchers so far. On the example of studies conducted in the Republic of Belarus, he will discuss the parasitological consequences of the zebra mussel spread, as well as the role that the shells of Dreissena play as a substrate for periphyton.

Students, faculty, and staff are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

The Biology Department currently has four openings remaining in its Undergraduate Research and Mentoring program, funded by the National Science Foundation to increase diversity within the scientific community. The two-year program prepares students for success in graduate programs related to aquatic biology and watershed ecology. Students from members of groups historically underrepresented in science and engineering are especially encouraged to apply. Participants receive a $12,000 stipend per year.

Qualified applicants will have a strong interest in graduate school in fields related to watershed or aquatic ecology, junior-level status, and a strong academic record. Students must submit applications, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and an essay describing research interests and graduate school aspirations. Application deadline is Monday, March 9. Contact Christopher Pennuto, associate professor of biology and URM program director, 878-4105, for more information.

By Phyllis Camesano

Alec Baldwin comes to Buffalo State for a reading of David Mamet’s Tony Award–nominated play Speed the Plow on Saturday, February 28, at 8:00 p.m. in thePerforming Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.*

A benefit for Buffalo-based theater company Road Less Traveled Productions, the reading also features actors Brian Mysliwy and Kelly Jakiel and is directed by Road’s founder and artistic director, Scott Behrend.

Star of stage, screen, and television, Baldwin has more than 50 film roles to his credit and has garnered Academy Award nominations and Emmy and Golden Globe awards. When not on Broadway or filming his next role, Baldwin can be seen on the critically acclaimed NBC comedy 30 Rock.

Tickets are available by phone at 878-3005, online atTicketguys.com, or at the Rockwell Hall Box Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm.

A private pre-show cocktail reception with Baldwin and the cast of Speed the Plow will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College. Tickets for the private reception with Baldwin are available by phone only at 878-3005.

*This is a rescheduled appearance. Tickets for the originally scheduled date of January 31 will be honored on February 28.

From the Chair of the College Senate
Please share your thoughts regarding the two major presentations at the College Senate meeting in the following ways:

Feedback regarding the Richardson Olmsted Complex: via e-mail to either the Richardson Center Corporation or Lisa Krieger, former at-large senator and liaison for the Richardson planning group.

Feedback regarding the Strategic Plan (now again in the hands of the provost): via either the Strategic Plan Web site or e-mail to Maryruth Glogowski, associate vice president for library and instructional technology. Please note that the “File Cabinet” on the Strategic Plan Web site contains many additional documents.

Please feel free to copy Sharon Cramer, College Senate chair, Ros Park, chair of the College Senate’s Academic Plan Committee, or Elisa Bergslien, vice chair of the College Senate’s Academic Plan Committee. We will continue to keep you informed as more information becomes available.

From the Senior Adviser to the President for Equity and Campus Diversity
One of the core values of Buffalo State College is respect for diversity and individual differences. The college has a strong commitment to diversity throughout the campus community and fully recognizes the educational benefits of diversity for all of its students. Many students have experiences with faculty and staff that are especially significant in bringing new insights regarding diversity, individual differences, and multiculturalism. These experiences inspire greater commitment to social justice and prepare students to succeed as citizens of a diverse and multicultural world. These experiences happen in the classroom, during special discussions and projects, in co-curricular activities on the athletic fields, in the residence halls, in student organizations, and other locations and activities throughout the campus.

The President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity would like to provide special recognition of thosefaculty, librarians, and professional staff who have made special efforts to increase respect for diversity and individual differences through classroom discussions, curricular experiences, out-of-classroom activities, projects, discussions, or special mentorship that go beyond what is usually expected as a part of their regular job expectation or teaching assignment.

The council seeks nominations from students of faculty, librarians, and professional staff who have embraced the college’s core value of respect for diversity and individual differences. These individuals have taken steps to increase students’ awareness of diversity and pluralism in the United States and/or have explored prejudice, bigotry, and stereotyping in an academic classroom or out-of-classroom experience.

Nominations of faculty and staff will be accepted from students until Friday, March 20. The nomination will identify the specific activity or experience that brought about new insights regarding respect for diversity and individual differences that was above and beyond the usual duties of the person nominated.

Those selected to receive the award and their nominators will be recognized at a special program on Thursday, April 23. The nominees will receive a plaque and other forms of recognition.

Please submit the nomination form recommending a faculty or staff person who meets the criteria to theEquity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, by Friday, March 20. The nominators and nominees will be notified of their selection for the award by April 3. If you have questions, please contact Dolores E. Battle, senior adviser to the president for equity and campus diversity, Cleveland Hall 415, 878-6210

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
University policy prohibits the assessment of general science fees, laboratory fees, and fees for course materials, i.e., texts and/or supplies. These fees are prohibited, as university tuition guarantees students access to the facilities and supplies considered necessary for their courses. However, campuses may establishdeposits in science courses requiring laboratory work as collateral against which replacement costs for damage may be assessed.

University policy also requires that students purchase supplies and materials necessary for credit-bearing courses at the campus store or other appropriate commercial outlet. When this is not feasible in terms of efficiency, cost containment, or method of distribution, a request may be submitted to establish a course-related fee if students will retain the end product of the laboratory course work, e.g., sculpture/ceramics, photography.

Please review your department fee schedule for compliance with university fee policy. Fees not in accordance with the above directives should be discontinued.

Contact James Thor, associate vice president and comptroller, 878-4312 with questions concerning this policy.

From the Vice President for Finance and Management
For all emergencies on campus, call University Police directly at 6333. Calls to 911 will be redirected by the City of Buffalo 911 operator to University Police and could waste valuable response time. The blue-light phones located throughout the campus and in most campus parking lots are a direct link to University Police and will ensure an immediate response. Call University Police at 878-6333 with questions or concerns regarding campus safety.