From the Provost
Applications are now being accepted for Provost’s Incentive Grants for academic year 2008–2009. Awards of up to $1,500 are available to tenured and tenure-track faculty members to assist with travel, purchase of materials, conference fees, and other support for scholarly, research, and creative activities.

A selection committee of representatives from the four schools will review all proposals based on the criteria of benefit to the faculty member’s professional development, teaching, and service to the academic department.

Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 9. Grants will be allocated later this year, but consistent with past guidelines, research and creative activities should be conducted between March 15, 2009, and March 15, 2010.

Selection criteria and application instructions are available online or from the Academic and Student Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519. Please contact Janet Ramsey, 878-4554, with questions.

From the President
The next meeting of the Buffalo State College Council will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, in Cleveland Hall 518.

Agenda
Call to Order
Action Items
-- Approval of Minutes: December 2, 2008
Council Chair’s Report
President’s Report
Committee Reports
Announcements
Adjournment

From the Chair of the College Senate
The Academic Plan Committee of the College Senate will hold two open forums to facilitate discussion of the Strategic Plan and Academic Plan (2009–2013). The forums will be held on Tuesday, February 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m. (Bengal Pause) in Bacon Hall 117, and on Friday, February 6, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. Please check the Daily for upcoming details.

From the President
I am pleased to invite the college community to a luncheon honoring faculty and staff who are in their 25th year of service at Buffalo State College on Thursday, February 12, at noon in the Saturn Club, 977 Delaware Avenue. Reservations will be accepted through Thursday, February 5.

This annual event serves to honor our colleagues for their years of service and dedication to Buffalo State. The 20 employees crossing the 25-year mark this year are:

Cheryl A. Boyce, Registrar’s Office
Michalene Brusehaber, Mathematics Department
Theodore F. Byrley, Economics and Finance Department
Catherine A. Cook, Institutional Advancement
Marc S. Daggers, Campus Services
Heidi E. Dietz Faletti, English Department
Roger L. Firestien, Center for Studies in Creativity
Kathleen J. Jones, Residence Life Office
William Lin, Computer Information Systems Department
Natalie Logan, Center for Development of Human Services
David A. Massaro, Information Technology Exchange Center
John S. Montague, School of Natural and Social Sciences
Thomas E. Newhouse, English Department
Joyce A. Owens, Custodial Services
Angeline M. Price, Weigel Health Center
A. Paul Reynolds, Computing and Technology Services
Michael Rowe, Center for Development of Human Services
Steven E. Shaffer, Facilities Planning
Susan Davey Tournour, Center for Development of Human Services
Craig G. Werner, English Department

If you are interested in attending the luncheon, please complete and return the registration form or call Laurie Graziano or Melissa Slisz at 878-4101.

From the President
Upon completion of the review procedures at the department, dean, and vice presidential levels, I am pleased to announce the following promotion:

Promotion to associate professor, effective January 23, 2009, and continuing appointment effective January 23, 2010:

Amy McMillan, Biology

Appeals
Negative decisions on promotions may be appealed. Appeals are probably best suited to instances in which an individual believes that his or her case was misunderstood or inadequately advocated. If an appeal seems warranted, the president should be notified in writing of the intent to appeal by Friday, February 6.

By Phyllis Camesano

The Buffalo State College Theater Department and theBuffalo News have entered into a promotional partnership that is increasing visibility for college performances—at no extra cost to the department.

Last fall, Drew Kahn, professor and chair of the Theater Department, contacted the Buffalo News to discuss promotional possibilities for college performances. Cindy Sterner, promotions and public affairs director at theBuffalo News, jumped at the opportunity. Under the new arrangement, which is all part of the department’s existing ad buy in Gusto, the News has increased the size and frequency of ads, offered $5 discount coupons for select performances, and lent its name as sponsor to programs and signage.

“The Buffalo News is imbedded in arts and culture, and so is Buffalo State College,” Sterner said. “We are impressed with the Theater Department’s proven track record and delighted to provide increased visibility.”

The promotional partnership began with last fall’s production of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, which sold out nine of its 10 performances. This spring, the partnerships continues with The Grapes of Wrath (March 12–21) and the Theater Department’s annual dance concert, The World Within (April 29–May 2).

“We are thrilled with this new relationship,” said Kahn. “Not only are we increasing awareness of the amazing work our students and faculty are doing at Buffalo State theater, we are also joining forces with an organization that has a powerful and tangible commitment to education and the arts.”

Plans are under way for expanding the partnership to all corners of Western New York. For more information about the Theater Department or to purchase tickets, please visit the Web site or call 878-6416.

By Phyllis Camesano

The photo exhibition China's Sacred Sites reveals the pageantry, mystery, and ancient philosophical principles of Chinese architecture. The exhibition will be on display through January 29 in Upton Gallery.

Beverly Foit-Albert, architect and coauthor of the bookChina's Sacred Sites, on which the exhibition is based, will present a gallery talk on Tuesday, January 27, at 12:15 p.m. A presentation and reception with Foit-Albert will be held on Thursday, January 29, at 4:00 p.m. in Upton Gallery and Warren Enters Theatre in Upton Hall. For exhibition hours or more information, call 878-6014.

This event is sponsored by the Buffalo State College Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Research Foundation at Buffalo State College, the Center for China Studies, and University College.

By Mary A. Durlak

Magnetism and electricity are not the same thing. So why do so many high school students think they are?

Back when David Henry, associate professor of elementary education, was a high school physics teacher working on his Ph.D., he started to answer that question by asking another one: “If so many high school students think that,” he wondered, “where does the misperception start?” His research has shown that, by fourth grade, students’ false ideas about physics-related subjects such as electric current were already cementing.

Henry, who teaches methods of teaching science and mathematics in elementary school, used his sabbatical to investigate students’ mental models of how electric current works. He revised and validated an assessment tool, the Path of Electric Current Assessment (PECA), to measure fourth-graders’ understanding of electric current. Working with colleague Michael Jabot, professor of science education curriculum and instruction at SUNY Fredonia, Henry revised the PECA as a multiple-choice questionnaire that is easier for teachers to use than an earlier version. The PECA can also be used to assess student understanding of the topic beyond fourth grade, through high school.

“PECA is not a quiz with right or wrong answers,” said Henry. “Instead, it enables us to figure out the mental model students use to think about the topic.”

In addition to administering the PECA, Henry interviewed students to verify that the answers they gave indeed reflected their thought processes. The revised instrument was given to students in grades four, five, and six, and the interviews helped Henry refine the PECA. Students from other grades, including high school, have also taken it. Data collection and interpretation are ongoing.

The data gathered to date enabled Henry to developed two curriculum-design projects that teachers can use when introducing their students to electricity. The larger point, however, is that the curricular units also introduce students to scientific thinking. “What we really want to develop is scientific literacy,” said Henry. “The authority in science is the evidence, not the teacher.”

For example, Henry developed a curriculum unit, “Electricity and Energy.” The method of instruction includes classroom activities involving batteries, wires, motors, and light bulbs. Also, it introduces students to the idea of making predictions, discussing those predictions in small groups, and explaining their rationale to the class.

“We know this works,” said Henry. “Students learn about science and scientific thinking this way.” As a result, students can avoid a misunderstanding that can persist into high school and beyond.

“Much of what makes this kind of work possible,” said Henry, “is the Professional Development Schools Consortium that Buffalo State has developed with area schools. Participating schools provide us with real teachers in real classrooms, where we can test ways of teaching science and incorporate the most successful into our teacher training programs at the college.”

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Read previous Focus on Sabbatical stories:

Felix Armfield
Betty Cappella
Ann Colley
Rob Delprino
Musa Abdul Hakim
Wendy Paterson
Stephen Phelps
John Song
Carol Townsend
Jonathan Thornton

The State University of New York Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee voted unanimously on December 22 to name SUNY Vice Chancellor and Secretary of the University John J. O’Connor as officer in charge of the university.

As officer in charge, O’Connor will fulfill the authority of the Office of the Chancellor. O’Connor retains his current responsibilities as vice chancellor and secretary of the university. He is not a candidate in the search for a permanent chancellor and serves as staff to the chancellor search committee.

It is anticipated that a new chancellor will be considered and appointed in the near future by the Board of Trustees, based on the continued progress of the chancellor search committee.

“During this period of transition, SUNY needs a steady, knowledgeable leader,” said SUNY Board Chairman Carl T. Hayden. “I have great confidence in John O’Connor’s ability. He has more than 25 years of senior level service in higher education and has stepped in to meet a variety of challenges in times of need.”

“I am grateful for the confidence of the executive committee,” O’Connor said, “and I look forward to working with an extremely talented and capable group of senior staff, campus presidents, faculty, students, and staff during this important time.”

O’Connor’s appointment is not without precedent. In 1996 during a similar transition period, William Anslow, then senior vice chancellor of the university, was appointed officer in charge following the departure of then-Chancellor Thomas Bartlett.

O’Connor was appointed vice chancellor and secretary of the university in June 1997 after having served in an acting capacity since December 1996. In March 2000, he assumed additional responsibilities as president of the Research Foundation of the State University.

Prior to joining SUNY, O’Connor was president of a Washington, D.C., consulting firm providing management services to not-for-profit organizations in the United States and Europe.

From 1981 to 1996, he served in senior positions at New York University, including vice president for university relations and executive assistant to the president. He was press secretary and special assistant to the majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1976 to 1981.

O’Connor holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. in public administration from New York University. He is a director of the American Ditchley Foundation and the King Juan Carlos I Foundation; a fellow of the British Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce; and chairman of the board of trustees of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana.

Vice Chancellor O’Connor succeeds Interim Chancellor John B. Clark, who stepped down December 31, 2008.

O’Connor will serve until such time that a new chancellor is appointed and takes office, or that the board takes other action. O’Connor’s salary remains unchanged at $245,669 per year.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 440,000 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses.

From the President
At its December 12, 2008, meeting, the College Senate voted to approve and forward the following resolution to the president for approval and action:

Revision to the General Education Requirements for Transfer and Readmitted Students

The College Senate recommends that effective fall 2009 all new transfer and readmitted students be placed in the Intellectual Foundations program. The proposed new policy for both transfer and readmitted students will replace existing policies in the 2007-2009 Undergraduate Catalog as indicated below:

The current policy for transfer students (page 92 under “Course Coding System”) reads as follows:

At the time of the printing of this catalog, new students at Buffalo State College are required to fulfill Intellectual Foundations requirements. Students starting their education before fall 2006 are required to fulfill general education (GE2K) requirements and should consult their department adviser and the catalog covering their year of entry.

The current policy for readmitted students (page 14 under “Readmission”) reads as follows:

Readmitted students will be placed in a general education program on the basis of hours earned, corresponding to the current hours of the entering class of 2006. For example, the class entering in fall 2006 could be expected to have 30 credit hours earned by the start of fall semester 2007; therefore, readmitted students with 30 hours or fewer would be placed in Intellectual Foundations; students with 31 hours or more would be placed in General Education 2000. Readmitted students for fall 2007 will be appropriately placed by the Admissions Office. Readmitted students currently registered who have been placed in Intellectual Foundations may petition to be placed in General Education 2000 and their petitions (and any petitions currently pending) will be granted on the same basis.

The revised policy for transfer and readmitted students will read:

Effective fall 2009, all new transfer and readmitted students at Buffalo State College are required to fulfill Intellectual Foundations (GEIF) requirements regardless of their initial matriculation date into a regionally accredited four-year institution or two-year college. A student who has been advised at his/her previous school based on GE2K requirements can petition to be placed in General Education 2000 (GE2K) if it is advantageous for graduation.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, three general education programs (GEIF, GE2K, GEC) existing at the same time can cause confusion for students, faculty and staff;

WHEREAS, students starting their education before fall 2006 would no longer be required to complete GE2K and could choose from the current (IF) selection of classes, therefore acquiring the benefits of the most current general education program;

WHEREAS, students may petition their placement into Intellectual Foundations if it is found that GE2K would be more advantageous for graduation; and,

WHEREAS, using only one general education program will lead to simplified and more manageable academic advisement,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate supports the proposed policy revision to default all transfer and readmitted students into Intellectual Foundations upon their acceptance to Buffalo State College.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and approve the amendments to the General Education requirements for transfer and readmitted students as outlined above. I charge the provost with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of these policy revisions and ensuring that these revisions are communicated immediately to all faculty, students, and staff.