Buffalo State will embrace the arts next month with a number of special events across campus. But the Art on Campus Committee promotes artistic endeavors and supports the college’s collection of public artwork year-round.

For the sixth straight year, Buffalo State will join the nation in observing Arts and Humanities Month. Throughout October, the campus community will recognize and celebrate the positive impact the arts bring to our schools and communities.

Events include exhibitions, theatrical productions, musical ensembles and recitals, an Art Conservation Department Open House, Philosophy and Humanities colloquia, and more. A number of notable concerts also are slated during the month, including Spanish guitar virtuoso Esteban and the influential British ska band the English Beat.

“The fullness of Buffalo State’s participation in Arts and Humanities Month helps to establish the college’s position of leadership in creative expression throughout our region and the state,” said Benjamin Christy, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities.

But love for the arts on campus extends well beyond the month of October. Buffalo State has one of the largest, most comprehensive visual arts programs in the SUNY system and recently received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. And the campus is filled with intriguing sculptures, like Billie Lawless’s Cock-a-Doodle Do, outside Upton Hall, and Alice Aycock’s Universe Wheel, between Bacon and Cleveland halls.

The School of Arts and Humanities' Art on Campus Committee makes recommendations about the acquisition and placement of artwork on campus and also provides support and oversight in the maintenance of the college’s collection. Members include representatives of the five visual arts departments—Art Conservation, Art Education, Design, Interior Design, and Fine Arts—Campus Services, and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. Carolyn Fusco, executive assistant to the dean of the School of the Arts and Humanities, and Mary Wyrick, professor and chair of the Art Education Department, co-chair the committee.

In existence for more than 20 years, the committee has used its annual budget to add to the college’s permanent collection, mainly in the acquisition of outdoor sculptures. The committee also promotes art events, sponsors visiting artists, and hires a sculptor to maintain existing placements of art on campus. This sculptor compiles a yearly report with recommendations for needed upgrades and suggestions for additional sculptures.

Accomplishments in recent years include:

• The placement of the Peter Sheremeta sculpture located in the lobby of the Paul Bulger Communication Center—a gift from SUNY Distinguished Service Professor E. O. Smith.
• Support for major campus initiatives such asNew York Collects.
• Support for temporary outdoor sculpture shows in Upton Quad, and occasional sponsorship of exhibitions and visiting artists.

A once-familiar sculpture to Buffalo State, made possible by the committee, will soon return to Upton Quad. Five bronze dachshunds cast in 2002 by Hanna Vihriala (now Hanna Jaanisoo), a visiting artist from Finland, were stolen—but the Fine Arts Department kept the original mold. The new dogs from the Marking the Landscapecollection will soon be unleashed, possibly by this summer, and reinstalled with burglar-proof bases.

Also coming to campus this spring is a new arch sculpture in front of the Clinton Center. Constructed by Buffalo State alumnus William Hoffman, ’05, recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, the sculpture uses four cast-iron molds of boots from past Campus Services workers. Topped with copper and resembling the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the structure is designed to celebrate the dignity of labor and will serve as a welcoming path for visitors to the center.

“It’s a very textural piece. You can touch it, and even read the manufacturer names on some of the boots,” said Terry Harding, director of Campus Services. “The arch is meant to commemorate the lives of those who came before us. It’s a testament to the many ‘invisible’ employees who have worked behind the scenes to make the college ‘tick.’”

Receiving accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is not just about preparing for the Board of Examiners campus visit in April. Buffalo State began its preparations immediately after receiving its last reaccreditation in 2003. The process is a multiyear, year-round effort that requires enormous collaboration. And the endorsement itself is more than just a formality.

Ronald Rochon, dean of the School of Education and associate vice president for teacher education, says the upcoming site visit is a chance to showcase Buffalo State. “This is our opportunity to show external bodies our innovative approaches to pedagogy and programs,” said Rochon. “NCATE is part of our continuing evolution. The site visit allows us to demonstrate the changes we’re implementing.”

One of the first schools in the nation to receive accreditation, Buffalo State has laid claim to NCATE distinction since 1954, the year NCATE was founded. Today, NCATE accredits 632 colleges, and more than 100 others are seeking accreditation.

Provost Dennis Ponton said that seeking both institutional and disciplinary accreditation is a means for Buffalo State to validate the quality of its educational offerings and to ensure continued compliance with professional standards. “NCATE accreditation requires that both the institution and our teacher education programs demonstrate professional levels of excellence,” he said. “In this, the accreditation is similar to what we hold with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and with the New York State Board of Regents.”

Buffalo State’s NCATE coordinators recently began soliciting third-party comments about the college’s performance. All feedback, as well as documentation for the site visit, will be compiled by December 31. Buffalo State will stage a mock visit on January 23 and 24, and will make an electronic exhibit room available to the NCATE’s Board of Examiners (BOE) beginning February 11. The BOE will then visit the campus from April 12 to 16.

After the BOE’s visit, Buffalo State will receive a final report within 52 days. The college will submit a response within 30 days, and may also submit revised program reports responding to any concerns. By October 2008, the Unit Accreditation Board will render an accreditation decision.

Despite the rigors of preparing for the visit, Mary Todd, Buffalo State’s newly hired accreditation coordinator and associate professor of education, says preparation for the next reaccreditation always begins immediately following the last accreditation. “NCATE is not a one-shot deal,” she said. “We need to submit reports each year, and we get feedback and suggestions from the council in response. So besides the site visit, they’re regularly checking in as if to say, ‘Tell us what you’re doing to continually improve.’”

The BOE evaluates six areas: candidate knowledge, skills, and dispositions; assessment system and unit evaluation; field experiences and clinical practice; diversity; faculty qualifications, performance, and development; and unit governance and resources. Buffalo State will receive one of three accreditation decisions, depending on its performance: continued accreditation, accreditation with conditions, or accreditation with probation. If Buffalo State were to receive either of the latter two designations, NCATE would offer ample opportunities to address concerns within six to 18 months and receive full accreditation upon re-review.

“It’s not easy to maintain NCATE accreditation,” said Lori Quigley, associate dean of the School of Education and coordinator of NCATE accreditation. “Each professional education program within the teacher education unit has its own individual accreditations to focus on, in order to maintain national recognition by their specialized professional associations, or SPAs. Since last spring, 19 of these programs at Buffalo State submitted extensive reports to NCATE for review by SPA program evaluators. I truly commend the teaching faculty for their efforts to make our presentations look seamless.”

One reason why the Buffalo State community is able to communicate with one voice to NCATE is because of regular Teacher Education Council meetings. The council consists of faculty members who represent all academic departments as well as deans from each of the college’s four schools. They deliberate on program changes and state and federal mandates affecting teacher education institutions and candidates, and also make recommendations on how to improve and strengthen Buffalo State’s 68 teacher education programs.

Nevertheless, there is an incredible volume of documentation to manage. Quigley and Rochon say this is one of the main reasons why the college hired Todd, formerly the director of teacher education at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and an NCATE consultant while working at other institutions. Todd said the paperwork used to amount to tens of thousands of pages.

But because of Buffalo State’s long-standing history with NCATE, the council selected the college as one of 21 institutions in a pilot program designed to streamline the submission process for institutional reporting. “The pilot program puts our college in a leadership role,” said Rochon. As part of the changes, site visits are slated to take place every seven years as opposed to the current five years. And according to Todd, the streamlined approach makes data collection electronic, thereby reducing the amount of paperwork.

Regardless of any new changes, ongoing yearly reports, and the site visits, Todd says all things related to NCATE simply boil down to one focus: educating children. “You’ve got to prepare the best possible candidates to educate our children,” said Todd. “NCATE keeps us on our toes.”

----------------------------------------------------------------

Reminder: Graduates, parents, schools, and community organizations are encouraged to submit third-party feedback about the School of Education’s performance for the upcoming NCATE accreditation review.

Buffalo State’s current strategic plan is nearing its end, and the 2008–2013 Strategic Plan is beginning to take shape. Providing direction for efforts to advance Buffalo State’s reputation as “a national leader in public higher education,” the strategic plan establishes realistic goals and objectives that are consistent with its governing ideas and assigns a time frame for each.

The plan also establishes a means to communicate these goals and objectives to the institution’s constituents. It additionally ensures the most effective use of the institution’s resources by focusing on priorities and providing a baseline from which to measure progress.

History

Prior to the 2003–2008 Strategic Plan, Buffalo State had other planning structures, most recently the College Priorities Task Force. Under President Howard’s leadership, the administration sought ways to be more inclusive, participative, open, and respectful of existing governance systems. Over a 12-month period beginning in 2001, more than 800 faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community leaders contributed to the creation of the strategic plan, which was finalized in October 2002.

Five Strategic Directions

Guiding the plan are five strategic directions:

1. Quality learning experiences. Buffalo State will engage students in rigorous learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom, that heighten their aspirations and transform their lives.

2. Research, scholarship, and creativity. Buffalo State will support and expand opportunities for research, scholarship, and creative expression.

3. Regional leadership and service. Buffalo State will position itself as a leading educational, economic, and cultural partner, contributing to the vitality of the region.

4. Academic and institutional distinctiveness.Buffalo State will develop initiatives to support programs and activities that distinguish the college.

5. Institutional leadership, governance, and responsiveness. Buffalo State will empower leadership at all levels, promote representative and inclusive governance, and provide superior services to the campus community.

According to Dorcas Colvin, associate vice president for policy and planning, variations of the five strategic directions may remain in place when the strategic plan is updated, but the College Planning Council has recommended a particular focus on the first strategic direction—quality learning experiences. “The plan is definitely not a shelf document,” she said. “It’s vital for the direction of the institution.”

Stakeholders Conference

On October 12, about 125 members of the Buffalo State community will gather at the Adam’s Mark hotel to launch the next strategic planning process. Participants will include the College Planning Council, department chairs, program managers, administrative support professionals, maintenance staff, College Senate representatives, University Police officers, and students. Once major components of the plan are in place, the College Planning Council will seek further input from the external community.

One of the challenges—but perhaps also the greatest benefit—of the strategic plan is that it needs to be in synch with the SUNY Memorandum of Understanding as well as other major planning initiatives, such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Educationaccreditation review. “These are all joint goals,” said Colvin. “We cannot create the strategic plan in isolation.”

Results from the 2003–2008 Strategic Plan

The 2003–2008 Strategic Plan effected many changes. In Colvin’s opinion, the reorganization of the schools and the creation of University College are the most visible. But she also points to a number of other improvements, including the creation of the College and Community Partnerships Office and defining what makes Buffalo State distinct, as well as better assessment and new leadership initiatives.

At the same time, the next plan needs to address issues that continue to be challenging. Colvin cites advisement, course availability, and academic standards and rigor as three areas of likely focus for the next strategic plan.

“Student achievement and success is proposed as a major focus,” said Colvin. “Buffalo State wants to improve its reputation, and that is ultimately tied to the students we graduate. Better-prepared graduates should lead to better recruiting, grants, and fundraising.”

Get Involved

In her role, Colvin enjoys the opportunity to talk with many people across campus and find out what they are thinking. “As each year passes,” said Colvin, “there is both sameness and renewal. We have long-standing faculty and staff who offer continuity, and also new employees and students who offer fresh perspectives.”

Keeping that in mind, Colvin understands the importance of the planning ahead, as the new strategic plan will shape the next five years of Buffalo State’s future. Resources will be allocated according to it, which “will affect the work of the institution,” said Colvin. “Give feedback when asked,” she says to all faculty and staff. “Pay attention to the plan. Get engaged and involved.”

The authors and editors of a newly published book that examines the intersection of tribal America, government, and the media will sign copies of the book today at 12:15 p.m. in the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore, and at 7:00 p.m. at Talking Leaves Books, 3158 Main Street, Buffalo.

Written and edited by Kara Briggs, an award-winning journalist and writer; Ron Smith, professor and chair of the Communication Department; and José Barreiro, author, scholar, and activist, Shoot the Indian: Media, Misperception and Native Truth is a provocative collection of important speeches, original research, and news reports. Illustrated by Navajo artist Frank Salcido and prefaced by former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the book was published under the auspices of Buffalo State College’s American Indian Policy and Media Initiative.

Shoot the Indian examines a number of significant issues of national and historic import, as well as those especially germane to Western New York. A speech by Senator Daniel K. Inouye to the Tribal Leaders Forum of the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians in San Diego on January 8 speaks to the ongoing issues of Native sovereignty and stimulating economic growth. A chapter by Michael Niman, associate professor of communication, looks at the local anti-gaming movement directed solely against Native gaming.

The book includes the final speech by the late John C. Mohawk, noted Haudenosaunee scholar, author, and professor in the Center for the Americas at the University at Buffalo, “Reclaiming Traditional Knowledge for Our Futures,” delivered at the 2006 conference in Washington, D.C., “Hear Our Story: Communications and Contemporary Native Americans.” Mohawk died as the book was being prepared for publication.

The American Indian Policy and Media Initiative, sponsored by the Communication Department, provides an independent, academic venue to address the intersection of the journalistic practices of mainstream media and their representation of American Indians, as well as a range of public policy issues affecting American Indians, such as taxation, sovereignty, government jurisdiction, gaming, repatriation, archaeology, and cultural policy.

Activities of the initiative include:

• Public forums, lectures, conferences, and presentations on topics focusing on mainstream media and public policy issues related to American Indians.
• Media analysis projects focusing on research and examination of topics similar to those associated with the public forums.
• Media planning seminars to help tribal leadership and other Indian entities develop comprehensive strategic communication programs.
• An educational component that involves students and faculty in research, planning, and training activities.

The initiative also stands as a practical implementation of the commitment of both the Communication Department and Buffalo State to diversity, community involvement, and professional service.

The Buffalo State College Music Department continues its popular free concert series this fall, showcasing a captivating collection of musical performances that intersperse old favorites with exotic offerings. The free series features music students, faculty, and local musicians. All concerts will be held in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall unless otherwise noted.

“We have top-notch musicians on campus and premier concert venues to share with the community,” said Bradley J. Fuster, chair and associate professor. “With most concerts lasting an hour to an hour and a half, these concerts make for an easy, enjoyable evening out. Dinner on Elmwood and you’re all set.”

Concert highlights are as follows. For more information, call (716) 878-6401.

October 16, 8:00–9:00 p.m.
Wind Ensemble
“Not your usual Sousa,” said Ricky Fleming, conductor and assistant professor. “This is a great update on what’s new in concert band.” Forty-five student musicians perform a lively, eclectic mix of compositions that includeNitro by Ticheli and Suite Concertante by Nelhybel.

October 22, 8:00–9:00 p.m.
Student Ross V. Coons Percussion Recital
Spiky, rhythmically charged, and intriguing compositions by Darius Milhaud, John Cage, Paul Smadbeck, and Elliott Carter. Coons will be accompanied by Bryan Boyce, assistant professor, on piano.

October 23, 8:00–9:30 p.m.
Jazz Ensemble
The 20-piece ensemble, comprising some of Buffalo State’s finest musicians, will perform old favorites like “Fly Me to the Moon,” with big band vocalists, funk, and Latin. Ricky Fleming conducts.

October 28, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Chamber Choir and Chorale Concert
Selections by Josquin des Prez, Tchaikovsky, Szymanowski, Dvorak, Brahms, and Larson.

November 15, 8:00–9:00 p.m.
Wind Ensemble
Forty-five student musicians evoke a range of moods from epic to whisper as they perform works that include the upbeat Lancaster March by local composer John Ricca, and Robert Spittal’s reflective Pacem (A Hymn for Peace) with lyrical trumpet solo. Ricky Fleming conducts.

November 28, 8:00–9:00 p.m.
Percussion Ensemble
Western New York musicians and educators engage the audience in an exhilarating rhythmic adventure as they perform pieces by contemporary composers George Andrix, Henry Cowell, Gareth Farr, Sydney Hodkinson, and Nigel Westlake. Clarinet solo by Ben Christy, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities. Percussion solo by Brad J. Fuster, chair and associate professor. Concert to be held in the Savage Theater Arts Building.

November 29, 8:00–9:00 p.m.
Jazz Ensemble
Hard swing and sultry ballads in the style of the great Count Basie. Ricky Fleming conducts.

December 4, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Messiah
Buffalo State College student musicians; faculty; and alumni soloists, choirs, and orchestra perform Handel’sMessiah at St. Stanislaus Church, 123 Peckham Street, Buffalo. Repeat performance, Friday, December 7, 7:00 p.m. at the New Mt. Ararat Temple of Prayer, 971 Jefferson Avenue at Best Street.

December 5, 8:00–9:00 p.m.
Wind Chamber Ensembles
Flute, clarinet, and trombone and tuba student ensembles perform. Crystal Reinoso, professor of music, on clarinet.

The Admissions Office will host the first of two Fall Open Houses for prospective students and their families on Saturday, September 29, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Sports Arena. Refreshments will be served. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the campus, meet with faculty and student support services, discuss financial aid options, and explore career opportunities. For more information, please contact Carolyn Murphy, ext. 6339.

The second Fall Open House will be held November 10.

A new bachelor of arts degree has been approved by the state and will be offered by the English Department in fall 2008. The B.A. in writing will provide students who are keenly interested in the craft of writing with the opportunity to develop their talent. The degree consists of a selection of writing courses balanced with complementary courses in literature, communication, and television arts. Writing majors will be able to choose from a range of offerings according to their interests and talents.

Unlike most writing programs, this new major is not focused exclusively on creative writing. Students will learn to write fiction, poetry, and screenplays; however, other concentrations will include professional writing, journalism, and literary nonfiction genres such as the personal essay, memoir, and nature writing. One of the unique and most exciting aspects of the writing major, according to Ralph Wahlstrom, associate professor and chair of the English Department, is its collaboration with the Communication and Theater departments and the new television arts major. Wahlstrom calls it “the beginning of a truly interdisciplinary program.” And he expects it to be popular.

“Writing is the most often requested major when students visit our department for open house,” he said. “No other regional college offers a similar program.”

Like students studying other arts, writing majors will take part in studio and workshop classes where they will collaborate with their instructors and peers to improve their skills. Students will also learn to recognize excellent writing, to understand theories of writing, and to shape writing for different purposes and audiences. They also will use contemporary writing technology extensively, including computer- and Web-based writings tools.

An institutional task for Buffalo State College in academic year 2007–2008 is to prepare a Periodic Review Report (PRR) for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The commission is the unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the middle states region.

Middle States accreditation is available to higher education institutions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Middle States provides the primary regional accreditation for Buffalo State College, with the first accreditation awarded in 1948. Accreditation, once awarded, is periodically validated by the college giving evidence of continuing compliance with Middle States standards for accreditation. The current 14 standards address the following areas.

Standard 1: Mission and Goals

Standard 2: Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal

Standard 3: Institutional Resources

Standard 4: Leadership and Governance

Standard 5: Administration

Standard 6: Integrity

Standard 7: Institutional Effectiveness

Standard 8: Student Admissions and Retention

Standard 9: Student Support Services

Standard 10: Faculty

Standard 11: Educational Offerings

Standard 12: General Education

Standard 13: Related Educational Activities

Standard 14: Assessment of Student Learning

The accreditation cycle requires institutional response in three major ways.

1. Institutions develop and submit a comprehensive self-study, which is followed by a visit of a peer-evaluation team to the campus. This occurs for initial accreditation and usually on a 10-year cycle for reaccreditation. Buffalo State’s last site visit was in academic year 2002–2003.

2. Institutions prepare and submit a mid-term Periodic Review Report (PRR) in the fifth year following an accreditation visit. Buffalo State’s PRR is due to Middle States by June 2, 2008.

3. Institutions annually reply to certain Middle States areas so that a yearly Institutional Profile (IP) is prepared. With the assistance of Yves Gachette,director of institutional research, I submit Buffalo State’s IP in April of each year.

Buffalo State’s primary task in 2007–2008 is to prepare and submit the PRR. The Buffalo State committee responsible for preparation of the PRR is co-chaired byRob Delprino, associate professor of psychology, andStephen Chris, senior psychologist with the Counseling Center.

Members of the committee are:

Dorcas Colvin, associate vice president for policy and planning, Strategic Planning

Yves Gachette, director, Institutional Research

Scott Johnson, assistant dean, First-Year and Academic Support Programs, University College

Maureen Lindstrom, assistant director, Information Commons, E. H. Butler Library

Rosalyn Lindner, associate vice president for curriculum and assessment, Academic Affairs

Maria Pacheco, associate professor, Chemistry

David Pomerantz, associate professor, Exceptional Education

Kevin Railey, associate provost and dean, Graduate School

Deborah Renzi, coordinator of field education, Social Work

Kerran Sanger, associate professor, Communication

Buffalo State’s PRR will be a document of approximately 50 pages that includes the following sections.

1. Executive summary: A brief overview of Buffalo State and a summary of major changes and developments since the decennial accreditation.

2. A summary of Buffalo State’s response to recommendations from the 2002–2003 team report and institutional self-study. Buffalo State PRR will address follow-up to recommendations in the six study topics in the 2002–2003 self-study. The six topics are:

Topic 1: Programs and Services for First-Year Students

Topic 2: Programs and Services for Commuter Students

Topic 3: Distinctive and Pivotal Undergraduate Educational Experiences

Topic 4: Creating an Intellectually Vital Environment for Graduate Studies

Topic 5: Course Scheduling and Availability

Topic 6: Recognizing Student and Faculty Success in the Teaching and Learning Process

3. A brief narrative identifying Buffalo State’s major challenges and/or current opportunities. This section will also include appropriate updates relating to many of the 14 Middle State’s standards.

4. An analysis of enrollment and financial projections for the next five years.

5. Evidence that outcomes assessment processes for both institutional effectiveness and student learning are in place at Buffalo State and that results are being used at the institution.

6. Evidence that institutional planning and budgeting processes are linked at Buffalo State.

Items submitted to support the PRR typically include catalogs, financial statements, assessment plan, strategic plan, and other documents if needed to support the PRR text.

Middle States will assign Buffalo State’s PRR to two external reviewers (usually provosts at similar, but not SUNY, institutions). The lead external reviewer will consult with the second reviewer and prepare an external reviewer’s report, which is forwarded to Buffalo State and Middle States. A financial associate appointed by Middle States will prepare a financial analysis. These reports will be completed in September 2008, and the Middle States Commission will meet in October 2008 to discuss the reports and to make a decision on continuing the college’s accreditation.

Buffalo State will use the PRR to validate continued compliance with accreditation standards and to assess institutional progress since the last evaluation visit. It also provides opportunity for campus dialogue about the institution. The committee preparing Buffalo State’s PRR will circulate a draft report and seek comments from the campus in early 2008. I encourage your participation in this important effort as Buffalo State validates its accreditation with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The College Senate Curriculum Committee has forwarded to the president for review and approval a recommendation for the honors policy revision. Any course already approved in the respective Intellectual Foundations cognate area may be offered as an honors section, provided that it fulfills the criteria outlined, as demonstrated by a course syllabus submitted to the All College Honors Program director. The four cognate area courses would also have new names reflective of their inclusion in Intellectual Foundations:

HON 101 - Humanities Seminar (H)
HON 101 - Humanities Foundations Seminar (Q)

HON 102 – Natural Science Seminar (M)
HON 102 – Natural Science Foundations Seminar (K) (L)

HON 103 – Arts Seminar (A)
HON 103 – Arts Foundations Seminar (J)

HON 302 – Social Science Seminar (S)
HON 202 – Social Science Foundations Seminar (Y)

At the September 2007 meeting of the College Senate, a motion was approved to explore alternatives for sharing information between Senate meetings. This motion does not eliminate the production and approval of full minutes of Senate meetings.

The agenda and formal materials from the September 2007 meeting have been posted on the College Senate Web site in a preliminary response to this motion. In addition, senators and other campus constituents are invited to participate in an online forum to consider podcasting future Senate meetings.