Strategic Plan 2009–2013
Buffalo State embarked on a planning process through a stakeholder’s conference in October 2007. At that time, the framework for the college’s next strategic plan (2009–2013) was established.

Since then, the plan has been further developed by efforts of the College Planning Council, Innovation/Creativity/Efficiency Task Force groups, the President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity, the College and Community Partnerships Office, the Research and Creativity Council, the Service Learning Oversight Committee, Student Affairs, Institutional Advancement, and vice presidents.

All members of the college community are invited to review the draft Strategic Plan 2009–2013. Mechanisms for this are as follows:

• The draft Strategic Plan 2009–2013 is available at www.buffalostate.edu/strategicplanning. A Web response process is available for individuals to use in offering feedback on the entire plan or parts of it.
• The College Senate Academic Plan Committee will hold two open forums to facilitate discussion of the plan. The forums are scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 117 and Friday, February 6, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210
• The College Senate Academic Plan Committee will present the plan to the College Senate Friday, February 13. Final discussion will occur at the March 13 College Senate meeting.
• All campus units (departments, centers) are encouraged to discuss the draft Strategic Plan 2009–2013 and to provide feedback to Maryruth Glogowski, E. H. Butler Library. Glogowski is the College Planning Council designee to collect feedback.
• Special sessions and processes will be implemented to solicit feedback on the plan from students.

Campus timeline for review and adoption of the plan:

• February 1–March 15: Collect feedback
• March 16–31: Revise plan and prepare final version
• April 1: Final adoption

I encourage the entire campus community to engage in this process of review and adoption of the Buffalo State Strategic Plan 2009–2013.

By Tony Astran

Unfortunately for today’s college students, the job market is bleak, tuition and other costs continue to rise, and a reliance on loans is the norm for many. But when it comes to managing credit, there are some factors students can control.

“The ABCs of Credit Card Finance,” a pilot program that launches today, aims to train students to become “finance mentors” to fellow students on campus. Spearheaded by Charles Kenyon, dean of students, and Jill Norvilitis, associate professor of psychology, the program is designed to encourage smart money-management habits, such as responsible credit card use, making budgets, and avoiding or eliminating debt.

Five students will be trained today during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.). Through funding made possible by the Grant Allocation Committee, student finance mentors will receive a stipend of $150 for every 75 students they present to during the semester. They will work through a supervisor, Kristen Catalano, assistant director of student life, to connect with student organizations on campus.

“Peer counseling will be an effective way to teach students good habits,” Kenyon said. “We live in a society of indebtedness at all levels, and it’s hard to get students to think frugally. They will hopefully be more attentive when they hear one of their fellow students providing the training.”

The training incorporates PowerPoint slides and a curriculum provided by the Center for Student Credit Card Education Inc., which explains credit reports and scores, identity theft, and the consequences of irresponsible credit card use. The curriculum also includes a Schumer Box—named for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer—that helps students consider multiple factors when choosing a credit card, such as annual percentage rates, annual fees, and grace periods.

“The presentations will help the student finance mentors develop leadership, promotion, and communication skills,” Norvilitis said.

Each student who attends a presentation will receive a booklet with helpful information, such as a table that shows how increasing credit card payments by even $10 a month compounds into faster savings. Gail Wells, director of student life, secured a donation of 2,000 booklets from Citibank.

A recent survey by the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups found that two-thirds of college students have at least one credit card and will graduate with more than $2,600 in credit card debt. A similar study by Norvilitis points to a general lack of financial literacy as the No. 1 reason for credit card debt.

“What students choose to do now will help their independence in the future,” Kenyon said.

“Debt saddles you, makes you less free, and changes life choices that you might otherwise have available,” Norvilitis added. “It’s why a student might take an unsatisfying job just because it pays more. It’s disheartening to hear students tell me they need to take a semester off because of financial problems.”

Kenyon and Norvilitis are also coordinating three speaker sessions on campus during Bengal Pause on February 3, March 10, and April 7 on topics such as debt avoidance, debt collection, and salary negotiation. In addition, they are working with the academic deans to find ways to incorporate the training with existing courses.

Norvilitis said that while only 10 to 15 percent of college students will have serious debt problems, it’s 10 to 15 percent too many. With the training, she hopes, students will learn to make wise financial choices.

“One or two thousand dollars in debt may not sound overwhelming to a student, but it can be a lot of money relative to income,” Norvilitis said. “With this program, I hope students will gain a basic foundation of money-management skills and a desire to continue good habits.”

By Phyllis Camesano

Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of March, will speak about her new bestseller, People of the Book, at a lecture and book signing hosted by the Art Conservation Department at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 5, in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. Leslie Zemsky, who organized the event, will introduce the author.

Inspired by Brooks’s years as a Wall Street Journal war correspondent in the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans, People of the Book traces the history of an ancient Hebrew illuminated manuscript—the famed Sarajevo Haggadah—as it survives centuries of purges and wars, thanks to people of all faiths who risked their lives to safeguard it.

History and adventure unfold through the perspective of heroine Hanna Heath, a rare book expert and conservator, who has landed the job of a lifetime: researching and conserving the legendary Sarajevo Haggadah. In its pages, Heath discovers a series of artifacts that propel her investigation, taking the reader back to the life and times of the people of the book: the Muslim librarian in Sarajevo who saved it from the Nazis during World War II, the Venetian ecclesiastical censor who in a fit of rage protected it from destruction, the scribe who wrote the text, and the mysterious illuminator whose striking illustrations grace its pages.

“Geraldine is not only a gifted writer; she is also an engaging speaker,” said Zemsky. “While she has spoken to standing-room-only crowds on two occasions at the Chautauqua Institution, this will be her first time speaking in Buffalo. The enthusiastic support of a wide variety of co-sponsors is testament to what will be a very memorable talk at Rockwell Hall.”

Australian-born Brooks made her fiction-writing debut with Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague, which was published in 10 countries and recognized as a 2001 New York Times Notable Book of the Year. For her second novel, March, Brooks received the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in fiction. Published in January 2008, People of the Book is a New York Times bestseller.

The event will include a display of Haggadoth from the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, manuscripts from Temple Beth Zion’s Cofeld Museum, and information from the Art Conservation Department about the conservation of cultural treasures like these. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the Rockwell Hall Box Office and Talking Leaves Books, by phone at (716) 878-3005, or online. Group discounts are available.

Co-sponsors of the event include the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Buffalo Seminary, the Bureau of Jewish Education, the Chautauqua Institution, the University at Buffalo Department of English, the Jewish Community Center Book Fair, Just Buffalo Literary Center, the National Federation for Just Communities, Nichols School, the Park School, Talking Leaves Books, Temple Beth Am, Temple Beth Zion, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and WNED.

By Phyllis Camesano

The Music Department has received full accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), an honor bestowed on less than 2 percent of the institutions that apply. The distinction elevates Buffalo State College as a destination for music students and marks 100 percent accreditation of eligible programs in the School of Arts and Humanities, headed by Dean Benjamin C. Christy.

To sustain the distinction, students and faculty can look forward to continued positive improvement in the department, including a new recital hall in the former space of the Burchfield Penney Art Center, on the third floor of Rockwell Hall.

“The department has worked diligently to achieve this recognition,” said Bradley J. Fuster, chair of the Music Department. “We are enthusiastic about the roadmap the accreditation process has provided in reshaping the department now and going forward, and what this distinction means for Buffalo State College.”

While the final NASM report was overwhelmingly positive, it did recommend improvement in several areas:

The biggest issue cited was the need for an appropriate recital hall for faculty and student solo and chamber performances. Recommendations for renovating the old Burchfield Penney space are now before the State University Construction Fund. In 2013, NASM members will return to see that this requirement is being fulfilled.

The report also recommended that the department formalize and increase its ongoing commitment to inclusion. A standing diversity committee to identify opportunities and talent has been instituted. In the spring, respected Portuguese composer Tomás Henriques will join the faculty. Henriques is one of the world’s foremost experts in electric and digital music.

With regard to continued expansion of the department’s size and scope, steps are being taken toward accepting string majors, including the formation of a chamber orchestra and the Clara String Quartet, with four Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra members serving as faculty in residence.

In several areas, the report indicated the need to address workload and communication challenges that have arisen as the department continues to evolve and grow. To that end, members of the Music Department and the School of Education are outlining plans for working together in a clearer fashion, and facilitating and enhancing regular communication between faculty and students.

Fuster was hired in 2005 with the primary objective of leading the department through the accreditation process, including changes necessary to fulfill arduous NASM requirements. The stage had been set in 2004, when the department, at the recommendation of NASM, separated from Performing Arts, which also included theater and dance. Fuster took up the charge, revamping degrees, deactivating outdated courses, and changing credit requirements. When Christy became dean of the School of Arts and Humanities in 2007, the move toward accreditation gained further momentum.

By Tony Astran

The Buffalo State campus has been predictably quiet the past few weeks during winter break. But inside Moot Hall, it’s been busier than ever.

Staff members from the Admissions Office were simultaneously preparing welcome packets for new spring 2009 students while also deciding whom to accept for the fall semester. And according to Dean Reinhart, interim director of admissions, getting in is no cinch these days.

“We’re becoming a more competitive institution,” he said. “Last fall, our first-year-student applications hit above 10,000, and our acceptance rate was 44 percent, which is on par or better than other local colleges.”

Reinhart sees a continuing boost to Buffalo State’s academic profile in the next few years, coupled with the college’s ongoing commitment to access. According to Institutional Research data, the average Buffalo State first-year student finished high school with an 86.2 average and an SAT score of 998, two of the highest totals to date.

But with conservative recruiting goals for the next few years and a greater focus on retaining current students, Reinhart said there could be fewer acceptances and higher yields. “The numbers of high school grads, particularly locally, are beginning to drop,” he said. “We slightly over-enrolled this year because we knew budget cuts were on the horizon. But it didn’t hurt our academic profile.”

Some of the recent success with boosting the academic profile can be attributed to the numerous mailings managed by the Admissions Office. Prior to an admission decision, a prospective student might receive as many as 13 different pieces of mail, ranging from open house reminders to the Buffalo State viewbook and a variety of informational postcards. In collaboration with the College Relations Office, the Admissions Office also recently began targeting junior-year high school students with a special mailing that includes a helpful timeline checklist for searching for and applying to colleges.

And the mailings don’t end there. Over the winter break, Admissions Office staff members were preparing a host of materials for accepted fall 2009 students—all while still making decisions on incoming applications and trying to help other students enter Buffalo State for the first time this spring.

Reinhart is quick to point out the many collegewide initiatives that have helped attract more students in recent years, such as the new Dean’s Scholarship, continued strong support for the Educational Opportunity Program and the All College Honors Program, nearly 100 percent accreditation of eligible academic programs, and new and renovated buildings.

But he and his staff have tried to do their part, too. More Saturday tours are offered than ever before, leading to an increase in campus visits. A recent hire (Renee Conners-Wilkins) has been trained to thoroughly understand SUNY transfer guidelines and articulation agreements, which in turn helps prospective transfer students feel more confident about making a smooth transition to Buffalo State. And, as reported in October, the Admissions Office is focusing heavily beyond Western New York to attract new students.

The Admissions Office continues to work diligently as Buffalo State’s competitiveness continues to steadily increase. But statistics aside, Reinhart said it’s hard to describe a “typical” Buffalo State student.

“What I can say, though, is that a typical Buffalo State student must be comfortable with a few things,” he said. “He or she must be comfortable with no teaching assistants in classes; a medium-sized campus; an abundance of diversity throughout campus, classes, and residence halls; and a variety of solid academic programs from which to choose.”

By Mary A. Durlak

The new interdisciplinary microscopy lab, located in the Science Building, went online in fall 2008. “It’s the finest microscopy lab in all of SUNY,” said Gary Solar, associate professor and chair of the Earth Sciences and Science Education Department.

“We have 12 student stations, and all the equipment is new as of 2008,” he said.

The college’s Investments in the Future fund paid for the room’s renovation and the equipment, which includes 10 petrographic microscopes, eight stereo microscopes, a comparison scope bridge, and two research-grade microscopes.

“The optical quality is the same on the student and research microscopes,” said Solar, “but the research units have more features.”

The room has been outfitted with a computer teaching station, a projector, a whiteboard, new furniture, and an air conditioner, which is necessary to reduce the risk of heat-related damage to the delicate mechanisms in the microscopes.

The lab was proposed jointly by the Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences and Science Education departments. A driving force behind the proposal was the need for equipment to support the college’s new master’s program in forensic science, according to Scott Goodman, associate professor and chair of the Chemistry Department. Also, many of the microscopes used in the geology program were obsolete; replacement bulbs were no longer available. Gregory Wadsworth, associate professor and chair of the Biology Department, said biology students will use the lab in a senior-level microscopy course.

The new microscopes can be equipped with cameras and software that enable the entire class to share what one student sees. Randal Snyder, associate professor of biology, teaches an ichthyology class in which students might use a microscope to examine a fish’s bones to determine its age, because fish bones grow like rings on a tree. “Sometimes you can tell if a fish population is healthy by seeing how large they are for their age,” said Snyder.

The petrographic microscopes enable geologists to look at thin slices of rock (typically 0.03 millimeters) at magnifications ranging from 40x to 400x. These microscopes are compound polarizing microscopes that filter and bend light rays, revealing different minerals as different colors. The colors make it possible for researchers to identify the mineral. The magnification also reveals other characteristics of the rock, which in turn enables geologists to decode its history and thereby reveal something of the earth’s 4-billion-year-old story.

The comparison scope bridge, a $10,000 item, can be affixed to two petrographic microscopes to enable a forensic scientist to compare two specimens at once, making it easier to determine if the items are identical. “This lab goes a long way to furthering interdisciplinary research efforts,” said Goodman. “We’re very excited about it.”

By Melissa Meehan

The new college Web site, launched late last semester, is very different than the site it replaced. As people get accustomed to using the new site, they are noticing small and large changes.

The new home page has received praise for its modern look, streamlined navigation, and concentrated focus on the prospective student. But the Web team has fielded several inquiries about changes in navigation.

Using MyBuffState
The redesigned site features a new section called MyBuffState, which includes audience pages for faculty and staff and current students. Both pages contain a toolbox, located in the upper left corner, with audience-specific links to Banner, Degree Navigator, ANGEL, and e-mail.

“I use the toolbox page as my home page, making it easy to access e-mail,” said Warren Gleckel, interim chair and associate professor of educational foundations. “I like the use of ‘MyBuffState’; prospective students who have been searching the Web for college information will have encountered this with other college sites.”

Formerly in the main navigation as well, links to athletics and the library appear at the bottom of every page of the new site, including MyBuffState. This new “destinations” content area also includes links to the bookstore, the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the Career Development Center, and the Performing Arts Center. News and announcements, links to academic resources, and administrative offices also appear in MyBuffState.

“I miss the convenience of having the link to the library at the top of the page. It would be a ‘user friendly’ touch not to have to scroll down to the bottom of the page,” said Cheryl Albers, associate professor of sociology.

Finally, MyBuffState paves the way for a campus portal, but it is not yet a portal. “Web sites are always a work in progress, but I would like to be able to personalize the MyBuffState experience,” said Barbara Sherman, assistant professor of computer information systems.

Reaching the Prospective Student
With MyBuffState now in place, the new college home page is geared primarily for the prospective student but also serves as a gateway for parents, alumni, and friends of the college.

“It’s been pared down so that the viewer isn’t overwhelmed by choices and links. The slideshow is fresh and interesting, and I like all of the images and links on the bottom of the page,” said Meredith Lavelle, senior staff assistant in the Art Conservation Department.

New Flash slideshows on the home page give visitors a better feel for campus, while the application process is addressed specifically on the home page in “Getting Started.”

“Adding Web 2.0 content at the bottom of the home page allows our prospective students to connect even more as they make their decisions. I would encourage campus to help support 2.0 by adding compelling content to our community applications,” said Dean J. Reinhart, interim director of admissions.

As the new site matures, look for a wider variety of content—video, new blogs, community-submitted pictures—all designed to engage site visitors in different ways.

“I especially like the sequence of changing photos. I would like to see less written material and more video segments that provide testimonials and personal stories,” said Marian Deutschman, interim director of college and community partnerships.

Your Feedback Is Welcome
Express your own thoughts about the site: visit the Web team blog and leave an anonymous comment, send e-mail to the Web team, or call or visit the College Relations Office at 878-4201, Cleveland Hall 307.

Also, consider becoming a Web tastemaker. As you have time, take applications for a spin and tell us what you like, don’t like, don’t understand, want more of, etc. Please contact Sue Zilliox, Web graphic designer in College Relations, to volunteer.

The Student Life Office will provide eight weeks of co-curricular programs and events for the entire Buffalo State campus starting August 24. Weeks of Welcome (WOW) is structured to complement and embrace the curricular experience. Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate.

Most activities are free or subsidized. Opportunities include excursions to area shopping malls, numerous local festival trips, a Buffalo Bisons baseball game, amusement park day trips such as Darien Lake and Marineland, group travel to Canada, cultural/spiritual awareness activities, building tours, guest speakers, and workshops.

For more information, please visit the WOW Web site.

During the fall semester, the Buffalo State College campus will continue to undergo many significant construction projects. Some of the most visible changes are taking place in the Campbell Student Union, Cassety Hall, and the Caudell Hall Annex.

Construction crews are expected to complete Phase I of the Union’s $7.3 million renovation by January 2008, bringing a retail food court to the main lobby, coffee and juice bar to the upper lobby, and wireless café in the nearby lower level. The new food court will offer a variety of choices, serving American, Asian, Mexican, and other cuisine.

Construction crews hope to complete updates to the Union’s exterior brickwork early in the fall semester. Faculty and staff will continue to see scaffolding near the entranceways until the work is finished. Phase II projects, slated to begin in early 2008, include the transformation of the Union’s upper level into a new residential dining area.

As construction continues in the fall, many food services in the Union will still be available, including Plaza Café, Plaza Corner Deli, Grill 155, and Starbucks Bakery. Food service provider Sodexho also will offer two “Café a la Carte” kiosks for added convenience. One will be located in Moore Complex and will be open during the evening hours. A second kiosk, whose location will be determined, will offer food during morning, afternoon, and evening hours. According to Bob Karski, retail operations manager for Sodexho, the kiosks will offer “grab and go” items such as sandwiches, salads, chips, bottled water, and soda. 

Cassety Hall will return to its roots as a dormitory in November. It opened as a residence hall in 1949 but most recently housed student organizations and a few faculty offices. According to Stan Medinac, associate vice president for facilities planning, the dorm-ready interior provided a cost-effective solution for much-needed additional housing. The entire cost of reconstruction is estimated at $2.9 million. Upon its reopening, Cassety Hall will accommodate nearly 150 students.

As a result of Cassety Hall’s transformation, student organization offices relocated to the fourth floor of the Campbell Student Union, and faculty moved into the new Caudell Hall Annex, near the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and parking lots U and T. The modular unit has an O-shaped floor plan and offers the same amenities as most other campus buildings, including 17 offices, a large classroom, a kitchenette, a copy center, Internet hookups, and air conditioning. Current occupants include members of the Fine Arts and Art History departments, the ROTC Program, Title III staff, and members of the Strategic Planning Office.

Most construction work will occur during the morning hours and last until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. Noise interruptions to surrounding buildings should be minimal. For more information or questions, please contact Steve Shaffer, manager of design and construction, Facilities Planning, ext. 6034.

Construction updates on the science and mathematics complex, the technology building, and the stadium project will appear in future issues of the Bulletin.

Dennis M. McCarthy and Roswell Park IV have received the 2007 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service, honoring their exceptional service to Buffalo State College and the State University of New York.

Chancellor’s Awards are system-level honors conferred to provide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. “The Awards for Excellence are particularly rewarding for those chosen because they have been nominated by their colleagues on campus and viewed as role models among their peers,” said former SUNY Chancellor John R. Ryan when he announced the awards in May.

McCarthy, associate dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, has served Buffalo State in many positions since joining the college in 1977 as an associate professor of theater. He was appointed associate dean in 1993 and agreed to serve as interim dean of Arts and Humanities three times. He has contributed greatly to the campus by serving as architectural liaison on three major renovation projects: Rockwell Hall Auditorium, the Savage Theater and Communication Building, and Warren Enters Theatre in Upton Hall.

As director of Academic Support Programs, Park manages five interrelated offices that provide the college’s primary developmental, tutorial, and support services for students. He also serves as coordinator of the individualized studies program, a position that allows him to devise academically sound degree programs that are customized to meet the diverse needs and objectives of individual students. Both positions reflect his commitment to students’ academic success and lifelong learning, a dedication evidenced during his first position at the college, assistant to the director of lifelong learning, in 1979. In 1981, he became director of adult and evening student programs and assumed responsibility for both in his current position in 2000.

Both men are known across campus for their integrity, compassion, and service to all members of the college community. The awards will be formally presented at the college’s Academic Convocation ceremony on September 20 in Rockwell Hall Auditorium.