Tennis players are still needed for the Buffalo State College Foundation’s 10th annual Golf and Tennis Scholarship Classic on Monday, September 10, at the Brookfield Country Club. If you are interested in playing or know of anyone who may be interested, please contact Pamela Voyer, ext. 3725. All proceeds will go directly to the All College Honors Program. For more information, visit the Scholarship Classic Web page.
The 2005–2006 Buffalo State College Women's SoccerMedia Guide cover was voted Best in the Nation by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) among Division III and junior college institutions. This is the second year that Buffalo State has garnered this award. The cover was designed by sports information director Jeff Ventura and women's soccer coach Nicholas DeMarsh.
Members of the campus and the community are invited to bring their art or artifacts to the Art Conservation Department for examination, conservation advice, and possible treatment during the department's annual Art Conservation Clinic in Rockwell Hall 230 on Friday, September 21, between 9:00 a.m. and noon or 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Appointments are required. Contact Diana McNerney, ext. 5025, to schedule a 30-minute visit.
The Buffalo State Alumni Association cordially invites you to attend its Young Alumnus Achievement Awards Reception on Friday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Fireside Lounge. This prestigious award, recognizing the achievements of graduates of the last 20 years, will be presented to the following individuals for their professional advancement, dedication to the community, and commitment to the college and its mission:
Jennifer (Whitson) Adams, ’99
Communications Director
Aspen Institute
Commission on No Child Left Behind
Washington, D.C.
Marc A. Batchelor, Esq., ’89
Vice President - Credit, Builders Bank
Business/Legal Counsel
Drug Free Kids: America’s Challenge Inc.
South Riding, Virginia
Holly (Meier) Hubert, ’88
Supervisory Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Williamsville, New York
Joseline Peña-Melnyk, ’87
State Delegate
The Maryland House of Delegates
District 21
College Park, Maryland
Kevin R. Ryan, M.S. ’05
Special Agent
Department of Homeland Security
Immigration and Customs
Buffalo, New York
Celebrate the outstanding achievements of our recipients. The cost is $15 per person and includes a champagne toast, hors d’oeuvre and dessert reception, and special memento. For reservations, contact theAlumni Affairs Office, ext. 6001, by September 21.
The Communication Department is preparing a self-study in its bid for accreditation with the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). The department will host a team of academic and professional representatives this fall that will review the program and make its recommendation.
ACEJMC is the accrediting body for journalism, broadcasting, public relations, advertising, and similar programs. Of the approximately 800 U.S. colleges offering communication degrees, only 109 are accredited by ACEJMC. Just five are in New York State, and none are SUNY schools. Accreditation would put Buffalo State's communication program on a par with those at Syracuse, Columbia, and New York University.
More information about ACEJMC accreditation is available on the Communication Department Web site.
From the President
Upon completion of the review procedures at the department, dean, and vice presidential levels, I am pleased to announce the following promotions:
Promotion to associate professor, effective September 1, 2007, and continuing appointment, effective September 1, 2008:
Jean M. DiPirro, Psychology
Ricky L. Fleming, Music
Ellen S. Friedland, Elementary Education and Reading
Anthony P. Gorny, Fine Arts
Victor Kasper, Economics and Finance
Michael I. Niman, Communication
Raquel J. Schmidt, Exceptional Education
David C. Wilson, Mathematics
Continuing appointment, effective September 1, 2008:
Valentin E. Brimkov, Mathematics
Dermot Coffey, Physics
Chaitali Ghosh, Mathematics
Shirley Hayes, Art Education
Carolyn M. Hilarski, Social Work
Judith C. Walsh, Art Conservation
Continuing appointment, effective September 1, 2007:
Jörg E. Schnier, Interior Design
Promotion to associate librarian, effective September 1, 2007, and continuing appointment, effective September 1, 2008:
Marianne D. Muha, E. H. Butler Library
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, September 14.
From the President
I am pleased to announce the following staff liaisons and presidential appointees to the College Senate for 2007–2008.
Academic Plan
Dorcas Colvin
Budget and Staff Allocations
Rebecca Schenk
Bylaws and Elections
Benjamin Christy
Curriculum
Rosalyn Lindner
Instruction and Research
Janet Ramsey
Professional Welfare
Yves Gachette
Standards for Students
Charles Kenyon
Student Welfare
Timothy Ecklund
Presidential Appointee
Kevin Railey
Presidential Appointee
Marian Deutschman
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:
Questions regarding privacy of the employee change form, employee contracts, official employee files, etc.:
Susan Earshen, director, Human Resources, ext. 3042
Questions regarding privacy of student information and FERPA:
Mark Bausili, registrar, ext. 4907
Questions regarding health information and HIPAA:
Rock Doyle, assistant director, medical systems, ext. 6711
Questions regarding legal liability and any legal action against the college or an employee:
Gary Phillips, comptroller, ext. 4312
The Internal Control Act of the State of New York requires Buffalo State College to communicate the following information on agency responsibilities and standards:
The internal control standards define the minimum level of quality acceptable for internal control systems in operation and constitute the criteria against which systems are to be evaluated. These internal control standards apply to all operations and administrative functions (both manual and automated), but are not intended to limit or interfere with duly granted authority related to development of legislation, rule making, or other discretionary policy making in an agency.
General Standards
Specific Standards
Audit Resolution Standard
Prompt Resolution of Audit Findings. Managers are to (1) promptly evaluate findings and recommendations reported by auditors, (2) determine proper actions in response to audit findings and recommendations, and (3) complete, within reasonable time frames, all actions that correct or otherwise resolve matters brought to management's attention.
Public Officers Law
In addition, all state employees must abide by the laws governing ethical behavior contained in the Public Officers Law.
While many private companies and professional associations have their own codes of ethics, state code differs from these in that the state code is also the law. Like private codes of ethics, state code is a list of proscribed activities. The following is a summary of its provisions:
New York State employees are prohibited from engaging in any activity that is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of their duties in the public interest, accepting other employment that would impair their judgment in the exercise of their official duties, or disclosing confidential information gained from their state positions.
State employees cannot use their official positions to secure unwarranted privileges for themselves or others. State employees with financial interests in a business entity should not engage in any transaction between the state and that entity that might be in conflict with the proper discharge of the employee's official duties. State employees also must avoid making personal investments in enterprises that might directly involve decision making or that might create a conflict of interest.
State employees cannot, by their conduct, leave the impression that they can be influenced based on their family relationship, rank, position, or influence. Nor should they act in a way that raises a suspicion among the public that they are likely to be engaged in acts that are in violation of their public trust.
No full-time state employee, any firm or association of which he or she is a member, or any corporation which he or she owns or controls can sell goods or services to any person, firm, or association that either is licensed or has its rates set by the state agency by which he or she is employed.
Violations of certain restrictions on business and professional activities or the financial-disclosure filing requirement may result in a maximum fine of $10,000. In lieu of a fine, the commission may refer the matter for criminal prosecution. Upon referral and conviction, a violation may be punished as a Class A misdemeanor.
Under Section 94(13) of the Executive Law, assessment of a civil penalty is final unless modified, suspended, or vacated within 30 days of imposition.
For any violations of Sections 73, 73-a, or 74, the Ethics Commission also may recommend that the appointing authority take disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from employment. Where applicable, discipline must be taken in accordance with the provisions of Section 75 of the Civil Service Law or the particular collectively negotiated agreement between the employee's union and the state.
Contact Gary Phillips, associate vice president and comptroller, at ext. 4312 with questions about the Internal Control Act or Public Officers Law.
The College Senate will meet at 3:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210 on the following dates, with two exceptions noted below:
Fall Semester
September 14
October 19
November 16
December 14 (2:00 p.m. start)
Spring Semester
February 15
March 14
April 11
May 9 (2:00 p.m. start)