President Aaron Podolefsky and Ms. Ronnie Podolefsky cordially invite you to attend the Campus Holiday Party on Friday, December 10, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Bulger Communication Center lobby. R.S.V.P. to sliszma@buffalostate.edu by December 7. Download printable invitation (PDF).
Too often we are reminded by reports of tragedy that safety awareness is a shared concern for all members of our campus community. These incidents increase our awareness of the risk created by students who are troubled or disturbed and demonstrate the need to report to a campus official when concerns arise about any students’ potential for harm.
At Buffalo State, the dean of students convenes a Students of Concern Care Team to respond whenever a student’s behavior creates cause for concern. The Care Team has developed an online reporting process to make it easier for the campus community to alert the team about non-emergency student concerns. The reporting form can be accessed at http://www.buffalostate.edu/deanofstudents/x618.xml. The Care Team will investigate reports and determine appropriate action or referral. All emergency concerns must be directed solely to University Police at ext. 6333.
Questions about the Care Team can be addressed to Charles B. Kenyon, dean of students, at ext. 4618.
In order to establish more complete and protective safety standards, a new version of the New York State Fire Code was adopted by the NYS Division of Code Enforcement and Administration.
One of the biggest changes to the code involves space heaters. Beginning December 28, 2010, all space heaters must be plugged directly into an electrical outlet. They cannot be plugged into power strips or extension cords. Make sure your space heater has a cord that is long enough to reach an outlet, or contact Campus Services to request having an additional outlet installed if needed.
In addition, the code now requires that no combustible material be located within three feet of a space heater. This is to prevent accidental combustion of surrounding materials.
We are required to abide by these new rules. If you have any questions, please contact David Pawlak, fire safety coordinator, at ext 5447.
From the President
I am pleased to announce the updated membership for the 2010–2011 Buffalo State College Commencement Committee:
Chair: Joseph Marren, Associate Professor, Communication
Co-Chair: Myrtle Welch, Assistant Professor, Elementary Education and Reading
Patricia Alessandra, Senior Staff Associate, Academic and Student Affairs
Sarbani Banerjee, Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems
Mark Bausili, Registrar, Registrar’s Office
Elizabeth Benson, Assistant to the Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Peter Carey, Chief of Police, University Police
Nancy Chicola, Chair and Associate Professor, Elementary Education and Reading
Thomas Coates, Director, Events Management
Bonita Durand, Chief of Staff, President’s Office
Lee Ann Grace, Assistant Dean, International and Exchange Program
Andrea Guiati, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Modern and Classical Languages
Deborah Insalaco, Associate Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
Kim Jackson, Assistant Dean, Strategic and Enrollment Planning, Graduate School
Lydia Kawaler, Manager, HRIS/Personnel Operations, Human Resource Management
Melaine Kenyon, Director of Instructional Technology, Instructional Resources
Jodelle Magner, Associate Professor, Mathematics
William Raffel, Associate Professor, Communication
Jean Salisbury, Secretary 2, University College
Raquel Schmidt, Associate Professor, Exceptional Education
Deborah Silverman, Assistant Professor, Communication
James Sobol, Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice
Amitra Wall, Associate Professor, Sociology
Gail Wells, Director, Student Life
Rita Zientek, Associate Dean, School of the Professions
Student Representative: Keshia Johnson, Graduate Assistant, Graduate School
This committee serves as an advisory committee to the president, reviewing and forwarding recommendations for procedural and operational changes to the Commencement ceremonies, as well as other processes involved with Commencement.
From the Vice President for Finance and Management
On Wednesday, November 10, University Police questioned a person on campus who was reported to have entered a lecture hall under false pretenses to sell students discounted tickets to a comedy club. This message is a reminder to all faculty, staff, and students that Buffalo State College prohibits solicitation on campus unless the vendor is authorized, in which case the solicitation would be limited to a table in Campbell Student Union.
According to the UPD report, a well-dressed individual interrupted a class in Bulger Communication Center. The person announced that he had been authorized by Events Management in Cleveland Hall and was offering discounted tickets to a popular comedy club in Manhattan. Several students purchased the tickets, which were verified as legitimate by the comedy club. The person was questioned by UPD and released with a warning for unauthorized solicitation on the campus.
If a solicitor—regardless of apparent legitimacy—approaches you or appears in your classroom, please contact University Police immediately at ext. 6333. Any information about similar recent occurrences should also be reported to UPD.
From the Vice President for Student Affairs
President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Student
One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be awarded the President’s Medal. The President’s Medal is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State College. This award is given to a student who, through use of his or her natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the college’s mission statement. The recipients will deliver the student address at Commencement. A grade point average of at least 3.5 is required for consideration for this award. Only students graduating December 2010, May 2011, or August 2011 will be considered.*
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
The Chancellor’s Award is the highest honor bestowed by SUNY upon a student. This award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with achievement in areas such as athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and career achievement. Although there is no prescribed grade point average for this award, it is assumed that recipients will have high academic achievement. Award recipients will be recognized at a spring ceremony in Albany and at Commencement. Only students graduating between June 2010 and May 2011 will be considered.*
*Information will be verified with the Registrar.
Nominations are being sought for both awards. Students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member. Candidates must have demonstrated the qualities recognized by each award.
Selection criteria are similar for each award; however, to be considered for the President’s Medal a grade point average of 3.5 or higher is required. A student may be nominated for either or both awards.
Selection Criteria for Both Awards
Academic Performance: Documented via grade point average, honors received, rank in class, research, and other scholarly projects.
Citizenship: As measured by college and community service, the quality of extracurricular activities, and/or involvement in professional organizations.
Leadership/Creativity: Documented local, state, national, or international recognition for excellence (i.e., recipient of major national scholarships/athletic awards and/or recognition by national and international associations and honor societies). For Graduate Students: Documented by activities related to the discipline of graduate degree program or other college service leadership in a professional organization, or community outreach activities related to the field of study.
More information and nomination materials are available online. Nominations and supporting documentation must be delivered to Academic and Student Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 20, 2010.
Those with questions or concerns regarding the application process are encouraged to call Daniel Vélez at ext. 5550.
From the Vice President for Finance and Management
The following employees retired from Buffalo State College between June and September 2010. We thank them for their years of dedication and wish them well.
FACULTY
Gary W. Heiman, Professor, Psychology
STAFF
Vicky Ann Arent, Keyboard Specialist 1, Intercollegiate Athletics
Frank J. Arnold, Laborer, Campus Services
Paul J. Baryza, Electrician, Campus Services
Deborah Daly, Secretary 1, Computer Information Systems
Gary O. Danner, University Police Officer 2, University Police
Henry J. Gorko, Campus Public Safety Officer, University Police
Debra Heisler, Secretary 2, School of Natural and Social Sciences
Aaron Hudson, General Mechanic, Campus Services
Mary Ann Hurliman, Secretary 1, Registrar's Office
Sharon A. Johnson, Supervising Janitor, Residence Life
Egon Knips, Carpenter, Campus Services
Nelson R. Locher, Senior Mail and Supply Clerk, Mailroom
Diana M. McNerney, Secretary 1, Art Conservation
Mary A. Osborne, Secretary 1, Educational Opportunity Program
Carolyn L. Paige, Calculations Clerk 2, Student Accounts
Ronald Parker, Janitor, Custodial Services
Karen M. Partridge, Janitor, Custodial Services
Carol A. Phillips, Calculations Clerk 2, Accounts Payable and Travel Services
Sheila K. Pragel, Secretary 2, ITEC
Cynthia A. Przybysz, Keyboard Specialist 1, Speech-Language Pathology
Thomas W. Schleer, Maintenance Supervisor 1, Campus Services
Maxine Smith, Calculations Clerk 2, Student Accounts
Joseph G. Territo, Supervisor of Grounds, Campus Services
Joseph M. Vasi, Jr., Cleaner, Campus Services
Lucy A. Weber, Secretary 1, Campus Services
Nancy L. Westley, Secretary 1, Speech-Language Pathology
Nancy W. Williams, Secretary 1, Earth Sciences and Science Education
Celebrate, Serve, Imagine.
–The Promise of Buffalo State
The College Council and faculty of Buffalo State College are honored to present the inauguration of Aaron Podolefsky, Ph.D., as the eighth president of Buffalo State College.
Friday, October 29
3:00 p.m. (Doors open at 2:15 p.m. Guests should be seated by 2:45 p.m.)
Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall
Reception to follow at the Burchfield Penney Art Center.
Please note: Check in for registered marchers will take place on the third floor of Rockwell Hall no later than 2:15 p.m. Due to the complexity of organizing the procession, we regret we will be unable to accommodate late arrivals. A complete list of registered marchers can be found online.
For additional event details, please visit the Inauguration website.
From the Chair of the College Senate
The next meeting of the College Senate will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 12, in E. H. Butler Library 210, not Classroom Building C122. Please make note of this change.
From the Vice President for Finance and Management
All student, faculty, and staff personal and academic information is private and confidential, and is protected by various state and federal laws. Buffalo State College employees must, by law, protect the privacy of this information.
Failure to protect personal and academic information may result in legal action against offending employees. Employees accused of failure to protect confidential information that results in harm to an individual may not be covered by the Public Officer's Law, and therefore not defended by New York State.
Examples of personal information that must be kept confidential: Social Security number, health information, disability status, etc. Faculty and staff must ensure that information contained on the Current Employee Change Form is kept confidential.
Examples of academic information that must be kept confidential: grades, class schedule, student ID number, etc. Faculty and staff members may not post test scores or grades using any portion of a student's name, Social Security number, or student ID number. Faculty and staff must refrain from providing students' parents with information related to their student's academic performance or other personal information, unless given permission to do so by the student.
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