By Jerod Dahlgren

After months of planning and preparation, construction is about to get under way on Buffalo State’s new student housing project. The new 507-bed apartment-style dormitory, to be located on Lot L, will feature 124 four-bed apartments, each with single rooms and full kitchens, and main-floor common space with laundry facilities and activities. Construction is scheduled for completion in spring 2011.

With an increased need for on-campus housing, a new not-for-profit corporation, the BSCF Housing Corporation, was formed to expedite the financing and construction process.

“This is a project that is long overdue, and we are excited that it is moving forward,” said Stanley Kardonsky, vice president for finance and management. “While construction may be a nuisance for faculty, staff, and our commuter students, this new residence hall will reduce crowding in our existing dorms and eliminate the need to house students at the Adam’s Mark hotel. The end result will be a better overall experience for our students.”

To accommodate construction-site preparation, Lot L will be permanently removed from service on Wednesday, November 25.* Construction of the college’s new $48 million student housing project is scheduled to begin Friday, November 27.

The recent addition of 159 parking spaces in Lot R and the soon-to-be-completed 411-space expansion of Lot M will more than make up for the loss of 433 spaces in Lot L, Kardonsky said. The recently enacted freshman and sophomore resident-student parking ban also saves an estimated 475 spots.

Despite the surplus of new spaces, Kardonsky is advising everyone on campus to be patient in the coming weeks as students, faculty, and staff adjust to the new parking configuration.

“The removal of Lot L from service will undoubtedly require some adjustment on the part of our students, faculty, and staff,” said Kardonsky. “But once the expansion of Lot M is complete, there will be sufficient parking available on campus.”

To better accommodate faculty, students, and staff, an additional service is planned for those who park in lots along Rockwell Road and Letchworth Street. A free shuttle service linking Lots M, G, and C is planned and will be operational soon. The new shuttle, which will be known as the M-G-C Direct, will be available from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This schedule may be adjusted in response to user needs and demand, Kardonsky added.

Please check the Daily or www.buffalostate.edu/construction for a finalized shuttle schedule, pickup and drop-off sites, and service commencement date.

The overnight escort shuttle van, which currently serves the entire campus and is free to faculty, staff, and students, will also be enhanced with the addition of early-evening hours to its schedule. University Police will also increase patrols near Lot M, which will feature enhanced lighting.

Questions about student housing construction, Lot M expansion, or the new shuttle service may be e-mailed to VPFM@buffalostate.edu.

By Phyllis Camesano

November 23 marks the debut of Buffalo’s first college-community orchestra, the Buffalo State College Philharmonia, an initiative made possible by the vision and participation of the Buffalo State College Music Department.

The idea for a Buffalo State–based community orchestra grew out of the Music Department’s accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), which included the goal of creating a string program with an orchestra. Department chair Bradley Fuster approached Paul Ferington, who has been on the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conducting staff for 25 years, for his planning input and music direction of the orchestra. Within months the initiative was under way.

“From the start, we envisioned the orchestra as an education ensemble in which experienced players in the community would rehearse and perform with our Buffalo State College students,” said Ferington, who conducted the Niagara Community Orchestra for 12 years. He is now adjunct music professor at Buffalo State and music director of the philharmonia.

“We want our students who are studying to be music teachers and professional musicians to have a first-rate orchestra experience from which to learn and market themselves. At the same time, we want to create engaging, high-level performances for our audiences,” he said.

The 75-member ensemble includes seven Buffalo State faculty and staff members and 33 students, both music and non-music majors. Faculty and staff members are David Abbott, instructional support specialist, Physics (cello); Ellen Barnum, lecturer, Music (bassoon); Brad Fuster, chair and professor, Music (percussion); Meredeth Lavelle, senior staff assistant, Art Conservation (bassoon); Anna Mattix, lecturer, Music (oboe); Sheldon Tetewsky, senior research analyst, Center for Health and Social Research (trumpet); and Paul Zapalowski, lecturer, Music (double bass).

In addition to its educational value, the orchestra has proved to be a great collaboration of campus and community. Experienced but nonprofessional musicians from the region have been drawn to the orchestra as a way to continue to play their instruments. There is a retired nun who comes from Lockport every Monday for rehearsals; graduates of the Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory, who are now living at home in Western New York; a woman whose cello was stolen nine years ago when she was giving birth to triplets (she showed up at the audition with her father’s cello); a high school sophomore from City Honors; and many others who are balancing work and home life with the pursuit of their art and interest.

“Through our NASM accreditation, we are building our music program and our community,” said Fuster. “It is one more reason to study music at Buffalo State and live in Western New York.”

The debut concert features the world premiere of Revels for Orchestra by composer Steve Cohen, as well selections by Brahms, Glazunov, and Strauss II. The free performance will be held from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. For more information, call 878-6401 or visit www.buffalostate.edu/music.

Performances for 2010 include an April 13 “Informance,” which features a lecture and concert that chronicles the history of orchestra music, and in the fall, a concert of symphonic marches.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Ann C. Colley, professor of English, to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Professor. Distinguished professorships and librarian professorships constitute the highest rank bestowed on SUNY instructional faculty.

“It is wonderful to see SUNY honoring a teacher and scholar whose brilliance is surpassed only by her profound dedication to her work,” said Interim President Dennis K. Ponton. “Ann Colley is truly a distinguished professor, and I am delighted that she is being officially recognized as such. This distinction is a great honor for Professor Colley and for Buffalo State.”

Colley is a leading scholar of the Victorian period and the author of five groundbreaking and highly acclaimed books published by academic presses in the United States and England. One of her books was nominated for three awards. Chapters, articles, and editorships have also been part of her scholarly profile, as well as serving as chair of the Modern Language Association’s Executive Committee for the Victorian Period.

Because of her stature in the field of Victorian studies, Colley was invited to write the 2007–2008 review of nineteenth-century studies for the prestigious Studies in English Literature, a scholarly endeavor encompassing more than 250 books. She is continually requested for keynote speaking engagements at conferences and has delivered many papers at academic gatherings in the United States and abroad. She was a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Poland and the Ukraine. In addition to being a respected and engaged scholar, she is known for her encouragement of junior faculty.

“Dr. Colley is legendary in her chosen area of study, as well as in her classroom and on the Buffalo State campus,” said Arts and Humanities Dean Benjamin J. Christy. “Because of her knowledge and passion for the subject, Dr. Colley leaves a lasting impression on all those who enter her classroom or even have a chance encounter. Suddenly, the Victorian period is alive and relevant.”

The Distinguished Professorship is conferred upon individuals at SUNY’s state-operated campuses who have achieved national or international prominence and a distinguished reputation within the individual’s chosen field. This distinction is attained through significant contributions to the research literature or through artistic performance or achievement in the fine and performing arts. The candidates’ work must be of such character that the individuals’ presence will elevate the standards of scholarship of colleagues both within and beyond the individual’s academic field. It must also be of such quality that students and scholars on other SUNY campuses could and do benefit by lectures and seminars, or other appropriate presentations the faculty members might bring to them. Appointment constitutes a promotion to the SUNY’s highest academic rank and is conferred solely by the SUNY Board of Trustees. The expectation is that individuals so appointed will be accorded such support as is appropriate to the individual’s academic endeavor, consistent with the resources of the campus, including a salary above the mean salary for full professors.

“Dr. Colley’s academic, research, and teaching accomplishments manifest the promise of higher education,” said Interim Provost Kevin Railey. “We congratulate her and all SUNY distinguished professors for their achievements and contributions.”

By Tony Astran

New enrollment data for Buffalo State points to a strong year of growth for the college. Total enrollment is at its highest level since fall 2002. The academic profile for the incoming class rose significantly, and transfer enrollment increased nearly 20 percent from last fall.

Buffalo State’s enrollment is 11,714, an increase of 480 students (4.3 percent) from last year. Total undergraduate enrollment is 9,822—an increase of 451 students (4.8 percent) from last year and the highest total since fall 1992. Full-time graduate enrollment reached its highest in the history of the Graduate School, at 630. New freshman enrollment is 1,530—the third-largest class since fall 1990. And the 82 incoming students in the All College Honors Program nearly doubled the previous year’s total.

A number of academic departments also experienced dramatic student gains, most notably Communication, Theater, Criminal Justice, Technology, Biology, and Psychology. Student Personnel Administration also grew at the graduate level.

One area of concern is a larger-than-anticipated drop in the first-time, full-time retention rate, from 77.7 percent last year to 72.2 this year. According to Mark Petrie, associate vice president for enrollment management, the economy and the January tuition increase were the prime causes. Petrie said his office followed up with students and found that most did not leave because of dissatisfaction with Buffalo State. Half are now attending community colleges to save money, while most of the others are not enrolled in college at this time. Petrie hopes Buffalo State will consider pushing for more need-based tuition aid next year.

The economy also seems to have had a slight effect on the number of students living on campus. Total enrollment in the residence halls is 2,275, down 37 students (1.6 percent) from last year and the first decrease in 10 years.

“The economy is making a huge impact on students’ ability to live on campus,” Petrie said, “and we have a sizable number of students who could move back home and commute if financially pinched. But there’s still an increased demand for housing. The numbers should go back up.”

The struggling economy has, however, attracted more students to public education—allowing Buffalo State to increase its admission selectivity. SUNY categorizes selectivity levels of students from Group 1 (best) to Group 5 (lowest). Petrie said that 84 percent of incoming Buffalo State students were at Group 3 or better, up from 76 percent the previous year. The mean high school average for freshmen is 86.6, up from 86.2, and the mean SAT composite score rose 15 points, to 1,013.

“We’re still very much committed to access, but there’s also a direct correlation between the academic profile and retention,” Petrie said. “SAT scores normally only increase a few points each year, so this jump is huge for us.”

Nevertheless, with declines in the numbers of college-age students expected throughout the next decade, the large increase in transfer students comes at an opportune time. New transfer enrollment is 1,408, an increase of 223 students (18.8 percent) from last year and the largest transfer class in 30 years.

“It’s important to keep our enrollment up, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the state budget,” Petrie said. “Tuition dollars pay the bills. A continued focus on transfer students should help with retention rates, and we may strive to bring in more transfer students than first-year students over the coming years.”

Petrie said that he is monitoring two trends based on recent statistics. First, Hispanics continue to grow in number. “They’re the future of college enrollment in this country,” he said, “but unfortunately there’s a socioeconomic gap for many, and tuition keeps going up while federal and state support keeps going down. We’ll need to make sure more of them can get through college—specifically, four-year institutions.” Second, Petrie noted that 40 percent of students attending a four-year institution nationally are not at their first-choice school—up from 30 percent just four years ago. “This is a retention issue we’ll need to continue to better understand,” he said. “We want to help our students feel good about being here.”

By Mary A. Durlak

More than 200 first-year students are receiving at least one of four merit-based recruitment scholarships offered by the college: the All College Honors (ACH) Scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship, the Provost Scholarship, and the Dean’s Scholarship.

“The number of individual scholarships is close to 300,” said Mark Petrie, vice president for enrollment management, “but students who receive the All College Honors Scholarship also receive either the Presidential or the Provost scholarship.” This practice puts the ACH Scholarship total of either $4,000 or $3,500 closer to the college’s annual tuition of $4,970 for undergraduate state residents.

“Many colleges offer their honors students a scholarship that covers tuition,” said Petrie. The scholarship is awarded for four years as long the recipient continues to meet the requirements.

The purpose of giving these scholarships is to improve Buffalo State’s student academic profile—the average SAT score and high school GPA of incoming students. “We know there is a direct correlation between this information and retention and graduation rates,” said Petrie. Colleges report these rates, along with other data, to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Many people determine student success based on retention and graduation rates.

For all four scholarships, the minimum high school average is 90; the SAT (or corresponding ACT score) varies. The Presidential, Provost, and Dean’s scholarships are awarded automatically based on information entered into Banner when students apply. These three scholarships are funded out of the college’s operating budget.

“Everything is easier since Banner,” said Dean Reinhart, the associate director for admissions. “Every Friday, the system gives us a running total of how many Presidential, Provost, and Dean’s scholarships have been offered. We just verify that the information in Banner is correct before sending out an award letter.” Among students offered scholarships, the yield—or percentage of accepted students who submit a deposit to attend Buffalo State—is up this year, to about 20 percent, compared with 17 percent last year.

“We keep going until we run out of money,” said Reinhart. “Last year, Dr. Howard told us to offer Presidential Scholarships to anyone who met the criteria, and the college supplemented the scholarships with money from the College Foundation’s general scholarship fund.” So far this year, the number of students choosing to attend Buffalo State after being offered one of these scholarships exceeds the college’s goals. The total goal was 217 scholarships for first-year students; the actual number of scholarships being paid is 292.

The All College Honors Scholarship is funded entirely by private dollars donated to the Buffalo State College Foundation. Most are supported by fundraisers and individual donations, but in addition, many people have established endowment funds to provide ACH Scholarships. According to Reinhart, the criteria for ACH Scholarships is more complex, involving consideration of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in high school, co-curricular activities, and community involvement.

“The goals for Buffalo State come out of our MOU [memo of understanding] with SUNY,” said Petrie. The MOU calls for increasing the percentage of students from more-selective categories and decreasing the percentage from less-selective categories, with selectivity meaning test scores and high school averages.

It’s important to note that awarding scholarships based on academic achievement does not mean that recipients don’t need the money. Many of Buffalo State’s ACH students choose Buffalo State because it’s the best scholarship offer they receive, and financial aid is the main factor in their choice of colleges. Another important impact is that the scholarships enable the students to work less, making it possible for them to focus on their education and the broad college experience available at Buffalo State.

By Tony Astran

Buffalo State’s advisement policy will be strictly enforced through a pilot program this semester that will require more than 2,000 undergraduate students in select programs to meet with an adviser before registering for spring classes.

Students will receive a special PIN to access course registration in Banner upon completion of their advisement session. Campuswide enforcement of the policy will begin sometime next year.

Approved in 2004 by the College Senate and the president, the advisement policy requires the following students to receive advisement: new students (first-year and transfers), undeclared students, newly declared students, premajors, students on academic probation, and students who will have earned 90 credit hours by the end of the current term. Students in the select programs who meet any of these criteria must meet with their advisers before registration begins in November.

“Good academic advising is important to a student’s overall academic success here at Buffalo State,” said Kevin Railey, interim provost. “This pilot program targets specific groups of students whom we want to reach in order to ensure that they are on the best path to success and graduation.”

Planning and execution of the pilot program intensified this spring when associate deans determined that Banner was ready to implement an “Alternate PIN” system. The six-digit PIN, which is needed only for registration, will disappear once the student uses it.

“Many other colleges with Banner use this method, and it’s simply a part of their cultures now,” said Don Erwin, senior associate vice president for information services and systems. “I’m excited that we now have the technology to implement our academic initiative. The change will ultimately have a positive effect on students’ experiences at Buffalo State.”

Karen O’Quin, associate dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, believes communication to faculty and students will be the keys to success. She understands that the new requirement will increase faculty workload but also knows it will help departments better track their majors.

“It’s important that advisers see this as an opportunity to inform students that advisement involves much more than choosing courses,” O’Quin said. “The meeting is a time to discuss career choices, build a relationship for letters of recommendation, and identify any problems with the major early on so that the student doesn’t fall behind later.”

The Biology Department is one of several participating in the pilot program. Gregory Wadsworth, associate professor and department chair, said biology students were recently required to meet with advisers each semester. He has noticed a significant improvement in advisement and overall retention and thinks the pilot program will help even more.

“Advising can be time-consuming, but we see students who make mistakes [in course selections and career choices] that could have been easily prevented simply by seeing an adviser,” Wadsworth said. “That’s more frustrating to us than having to go through a few busy weeks of advisement.”

Departments are beginning to contact students who meet the advisement criteria. Department chairs will maintain lists of students and corresponding advisers, and faculty members are encouraged to communicate details about the new pilot program to students early and often. Erwin said messages will also be broadcast through the Daily, the Record, Banner, and ANGEL.

Upon conclusion of the drop/add period in January, Erwin and the associate deans will gauge the effectiveness of the pilot by surveying faculty and students. The program is expected to expand to all departments sometime next year once any issues are resolved. An advisement planning committee will assess the efficacy of the campuswide policy after a few semesters.

“The pilot program will help students get connected to the advisers,” Erwin said, “but the most important thing is that advisers spend quality time with students.”

By Mary A. Durlak

Its theme, “Financial Crisis and Reform,” makes this year’s Cross-Border Post-Keynesian Conference relevant to everyone. The conference, held every two years, will take place at the Burchfield Penney Art Center on October 9 and 10. “Post-Keynesian” refers to a subfield of economics whose practitioners seek to correctly interpret the key insights of twentieth-century economist John Maynard Keynes, considered by many to be “the father of macroeconomics.”

Keynes is widely known for his theories about the causes of recessions and depressions, and he advised Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

October marks the 80th anniversary of the famous stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression. Conference organizers have incorporated several cultural events relating to that period in America’s history. On Thursday, October 8, at 7:00 p.m., Anthony Chase, assistant to the dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, will introduce Cradle Will Rock, an award-winning 1999 film written and directed by Tim Robbins. Cradle Will Rock tells the dramatic story of a 1937 musical, directed by Orson Welles and produced by John Houseman, which was not allowed to open—and opened anyway.

“The reason we’re including these particular events,” said Ted Schmidt, associate professor of economics and finance and one of the conference organizers, “is that people have compared the current economic crisis to the Great Depression. It was a difficult period, and the arts expressed some of the frustration people felt.” With input from Don Metz, associate director of the Burchfield Penney, the conference committee explored ways to engage the museum and make the conference multidisciplinary.

The conference itself begins Friday at 9:00 a.m. Attendance at the conference is free for Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students; however, registration is required. The cost to attend the Friday evening reception and banquet is $30.

The keynote session, “Financial Crisis and Reform,” is free and open to the public and takes place on Friday at 4:00 p.m., with Schmidt serving as moderator. Panel members are Jan A. Kregel, a noted post-Keynesian economist who is a senior scholar at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College; L. Randal Wray, who also serves as a senior scholar at the Levy Economics Institute; and Robert Pollin, professor of economics and founding co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

“Professors Kregel and Wray are going to show us that Keynes and his followers are the only economists who understand financial crises,” said Joelle Leclaire, assistant professor of economics and finance and chair of the committee that organized the conference. “Their key insights on how they can be resolved are certain to generate lively discussion.”

On Saturday, a number of sessions are scheduled for the morning. In the afternoon, three events are free and open to the public. At 2:00, author and entrepreneur Mark Goldman, a lecturer with the History and Social Studies Education Department, will present “The Great Depression and Buffalo’s Arts Culture.” Afterward, Bruce Fisher, director of Buffalo State’s Center for Economic and Policy Studies, will moderate a panel discussion, “The Future of Capitalism.” The panelists are Curtis Haynes Jr., associate professor of economics and finance; Albert Michaels and Gary Marotta, professors of history and social studies education; and Michael Niman, associate professor of communication.

Charles Mancuso, professor of music, will introduce the conference’s closing event at 8:00 p.m. The 198 String Band will present “...Whose Names Are Unknown,” a multimedia representation intended to help the audience appreciate the “experience of the Great Depression and the national recovery policies of the New Deal.”

By Tony Astran

Campus Services will formally debut a sculpture designed to celebrate the dignity of labor during a public ceremony on Friday, October 2, at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Clinton Center.

Dubbed “Arc de Boot,” the 9-by-11-foot structure resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Its two columns consist of cast-iron molds of boots from Campus Services workers. The arch is topped with copper and straddles the pathway to the Clinton Center, which houses Campus Services offices.

Unlike most sculptures, this one is meant to be touched, said Terry Harding, director of Campus Services, and William Hoffman, ’05, the creator.

Harding first thought of the sculpture nearly 10 years ago, when old boots began piling up in his office.

“We provide steel-toed boots to those who work with heavy cargo,” he said. “Employees are reimbursed for new steel-toed boots as long as they bring in a receipt of purchase and turn in their old boots. I began to look at them more as symbols of the individuals’ work lives and pondered about some way to put them to use aesthetically.”

Together with Kenneth Payne, professor of fine arts, Harding began to plan the sculpture design in 2006. Payne suggested commissioning Hoffman, a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, because he witnessed Hoffman’s metal-casting skills in class.

“I initially came to Buffalo State for fine arts, but after taking several anthropology classes, my interests expanded to archaeology and sculpture,” Hoffman said. “When I was asked to design a monument for the front of the Clinton Center, I immediately thought of an arch. In the classic sense, an arch is a symbol of victory, praise, and honor. From an engineering standpoint, it is held together by the sum of its parts. Symbolically, the arch shows that the worker holds up the college and holds it together.”

Using liquid rubber, casting wax, sand, and a special resin, Hoffman worked for nearly two years to create more than 20 unique casts from workers’ old boots. After making hundreds of iron boots, he welded them into two 2-by-2 columns. A “test boot” with Hoffman’s signature sits just a few inches from the base.

Harding said the arch, which was erected during the summer of 2008, is made almost entirely of scrap metal from old iron radiators. He considers it a very tactile piece.

“The sculpture is made to touch; that’s the intent,” he said. “Even if you know nothing about the sculpture’s background, it speaks to you. It could represent working people anywhere.”

For Hoffman, “Arc de Boot” evokes tremendous pride. “It was an honor to create this sculpture,” he said. “It’s meant to be a tribute to the workers and give them a distinction, a voice. It’s easy to think about professors and administrators when you think of a college. But without the plumbers, cleaning staff, electricians, groundskeepers, maintenance staff, and so forth, it wouldn’t run.”

Likewise, Harding and his staff members are very proud of the sculpture. “This is a visual testament to what we do,” he said.

By Mary A. Durlak

Dance and spirituality, creating your own study-abroad experience, jazz, paper-cutting as a cultural expression, glaciers, and air pollution and economic development were all subjects explored by undergraduate researchers with the guidance of a faculty mentor during summer 2009.

Thirty-one proposals were submitted to the Undergraduate Research Office seeking funding through the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship (USRF) Program, which awarded 20 fellowships. Each fellowship provides a student stipend of $2,500, a faculty stipend of $1,000, and up to $500 for travel, supplies, and/or equipment to support the project.

“We were not able to fund all the highly rated proposals that the reviewers considered worthy of funding,” said Jill Singer, director of the Undergraduate Research Office, professor of earth sciences, and geologist. She is also past president of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), a national organization that works to strengthen undergraduate research at colleges and universities across the country.

The quality of the proposals has increased since the program began in 1999, according to Singer. Each proposal is reviewed and ranked by three to four faculty members who are experienced research mentors and who teach in the school from which the proposal originates.

“About two-thirds of the awards go to returning mentors,” said Singer, “and the remainder go to new faculty members that are just starting out as mentors to undergraduates conducting research. This proportion tells us that the USRF program appeals to experienced faculty mentors, but also succeeds in attracting faculty new to the campus.”

The names of the reviewers are not released. However, if a proposal is declined, the faculty mentor has an opportunity to discuss his or her proposal with Singer, who has served as a program director at the National Science Foundation.

The Undergraduate Research Office presents an orientation for faculty mentors and students, and both faculty and students submit a progress report and a report at the end of the eight-week program.

“The information provided in the reports is valuable both for ensuring that the project is on track as well as to support efforts to document the impact of the USRF program,” said Singer. “There is a lot of interest in evaluating student learning gains resulting from undergraduate research, and Buffalo State has contributed to this, particularly because our program is open to students in all academic areas.” Buffalo State’s efforts to develop instruments and a protocol for assessing the USRF were recently published in the CUR Quarterly.

Under the mentorship of Tao Tang, associate professor of geography and planning, economics major Lei Cai traveled to Beijing to study air pollution and its sources with graduate students from Capital Normal University in Beijing. Cai, who has a minor in planning, also designed a survey to find out if people who lived close to the pollution sources had greater opportunities for jobs or business development. In addition, the survey explored peoples’ concerns about the environment and economic development. Back at Buffalo State, Cai used GIS software to analyze the data and map the spatial patterns of pollution and the survey results.

Tara Nahabetian, assistant professor of design and coordinator of the metals/jewelry program, worked with undergraduate Vincent Pontillo. Nahabetian, who has served as a USRF mentor twice before, said she really enjoys the program. “It’s a closer mentoring relationship than you have in a classroom,” she said.

Pontillo researched paper-cutting traditions and styles from several cultures, Nahabetian said. “He is using industrial processes like laser-cutting on metal and rubber to create work inspired by paper-cutting.” Nahabetian believes that giving students in the visual arts an opportunity to take part in the USRF program is a “gem” offered by Buffalo State. “Students in the arts learn how to write a proposal and complete their commitment,” she said.

Cai and Pontillo, along with 18 other students, will present their work at the 12th annual Student Research and Creativity Celebration on April 30 and May 1, 2010. “The celebration is one way Buffalo State demonstrates its commitment to research and the valuable role provided by faculty mentors,” said Singer.

By Tony Astran

The ability to read and write, communicate effectively, think critically, and solve problems bolsters students’ potential for success beyond their time at Buffalo State. That is what the Philosophy Department believes and what it aims to provide for students with the new philosophy minor.

The 18-credit minor was approved in June and became available to students this semester. Students may take any six philosophy courses, but no more than 6 credit hours at the 100 or 200 level. Associate professor and department chair Kim Blessing said the lack of specific course requirements allows students flexibility to develop their philosophical skills alongside the requirements of their majors and is in keeping with the American Philosophical Association’s guidelines for philosophy programs.

“We’re always pushing the same kinds of skills and values in every class,” she said. “Students learn how to recognize and evaluate arguments, think critically, and communicate their position effectively.”

Blessing said that while students asked for the minor and some are beginning to sign up, others will soon be learning that they already qualify or are close to qualifying for the minor.

“According to Banner, 75 students had taken 12 or more philosophy credit hours as of spring, and 15 of those students already had 18 credit hours,” she said. “We’ll be notifying all of these students shortly.”

Blessing said many students tend to discover philosophy in later academic years, so the department is looking at ways to expose students earlier to philosophy, such as offering freshman-only classes. While Blessing welcomes more students to pursue the philosophy major, she believes the minor provides a “less intimidating and more accommodating option.”

“The philosophy minor complements any major on campus and deepens students’ understanding of other disciplines,” she said. “It provides a framework for general education and can help students see connections to other courses they’re taking.”

To broaden accessibility for the minor, the department recently added three new courses: PHI 107: Introduction to Mathematical Logic; PHI 347: Western Thought: Homer to Alexander; and PHI 351: Ethics Bowl. All satisfy Intellectual Foundations requirements. The department will offer a cross-department class, Biology and Values, in the spring.

Blessing is confident that student interest in philosophy will catch on with the addition of the minor. “We have a solid program and offer rigorous courses that help students think more clearly about issues and engage in fundamental questions about the human experience,” she said. “Philosophy offers students the chance to think deeply about things they’ve probably wondered about prior to coming to their first philosophy class.”