From the Interim Vice President for Finance and Management
The SUNY Office of General Counsel advises that all college offices should be notified of the procedures to follow regarding the receipt of legal papers of any kind by a campus employee. Accordingly, Buffalo State’s procedures are as follows:

The associate vice president for finance and management/comptroller is the college’s official liaison to the Office of General Counsel for the purpose of receipt of service of legal papers on the college, notification of the area of the college affected (required to respond), and decision about who should notify SUNY counsel, the attorney general, or other parties. When legal papers of any kind are served upon a campus employee or the college, the campus liaison should be contacted immediately and the legal papers should be forwarded to the liaison.

If the associate vice president for finance and management/comptroller is unavailable, the referral should be made to the assistant vice president for finance and management.

This procedure is especially important when legal papers request personnel files or information on students or are requests made under the USA Patriot Act. Various other rights, such as those afforded by FERPA, the Personal Privacy Protection law, and collective bargaining agreements are involved in those situations.

From the Interim Vice President for Finance and Management
In compliance with the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, employees of Buffalo State College should be aware of and must adhere to the policy stated below:

• The unlawful use, possession, manufacture, dispensation, or distribution of controlled substances in all Buffalo State College work locations is prohibited. The term “controlled substance” means a controlled substance in Schedules I through V of Section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21USC812).
• Employees who unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, or use a controlled substance will be subject to disciplinary procedures consistent with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Employees must notify the Human Resource Management Office of any criminal conviction for a drug-statute violation occurring in the workplace or at a work site no later than five working days after such conviction. An employee so convicted will be required to satisfactorily participate in a state-approved drug-abuse assistance or rehabilitation program as a condition of continuing employment.
• No employee will report for work or will work impaired by any substance, drug or alcohol, lawful or unlawful. “Impaired” means under the influence of a substance such that the employee’s motor senses (i.e., sight, hearing, balance, reaction, or reflex) or judgment either are or may be reasonably presumed to be affected.
• Medical testing may be done if the college has a reasonable suspicion that an employee is unable to perform job duties due to the misuse of alcohol, controlled substances, or prescription drugs.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available on campus for employees who wish to seek assistance in dealing with drug- or alcohol- related problems as well as a variety of other concerns. Information on current EAP coordinators can be found on the EAP website.

Questions regarding the Policy on Alcohol and Drug Use in the Workplace should be referred to Emmanuel J. Hillery, associate director of human resource management, at ext. 4822.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The next meeting of the College Senate for the spring 2012 semester will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 13, in E. H. Butler Library 210.

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
The call for nominations for the upcoming at-large Senate election began Monday, March 12, and continues until 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 26. Three at-large College Senate positions will become vacant on August 27. Two seats are for three-year terms and are open to all faculty and librarians. The remaining seat is for a two-year term and can be held by a faculty or professional staff member (in keeping with last year’s amendment of the Senate bylaws).

Current at-large senators are eligible for reelection. Nominees are asked to provide a short statement about their interest, which will be posted on the College Senate electronic voting website. The election will begin on Monday, April 2, and continue through Friday, April 6.

Individuals running for a senator position in another election may not also run for an at-large position while the other election is being conducted. If the other election concludes during the period when nominations are still being accepted, eligible individuals may self-nominate.

If you are interested in being a candidate, please contact Vince Masci, ext. 5139. We look forward to your participation in the vital process of campus governance.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee recommends that all units (schools, PSC, support staff) conduct their elections for next year’s College Senate between now and the beginning of spring break, after which the collegewide at-large elections will be held. Under the Senate bylaws, candidates are limited to running for one seat at a time. In other words, candidates may not run for a unit seat and an at-large seat simultaneously. At-large elections will be held the week of April 2; the call for candidate nominations began March 12 and continues through March 26.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The next meeting of the College Senate for the spring 2012 semester will be held at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow in E. H. Butler Library 210. The agenda is posted on the home page of the College Senate website.

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
Three at-large College Senate positions will become vacant on August 27. Two seats are for three-year terms and are open to all faculty and librarians. The remaining seat is for a two-year term and can be held by a faculty or professional staff member (in keeping with last year’s amendment of the Senate bylaws).

The call for nominations begins Monday, March 12, and continues until 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 26. Candidates' statements will be posted on the College Senate website. Elections will begin on Monday, April 2, and continue through Friday, April 6.

Current at-large senators are eligible for reelection. Nominees are asked to provide a short statement about their interest, which will be posted on the Senate electronic voting site.

Individuals running for a senator position in another election may not also run for an at-large position while the other election is being conducted. If the other election concludes during the period when nominations are still being accepted, eligible individuals may self-nominate.

If you are interested in being a candidate, please contact Vince Masci, ext. 5139. We look forward to your participation in the vital process of campus governance.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee recommends that all units (schools, PSC, support staff) conduct their elections for next year’s College Senate between now and the beginning of spring break, after which the collegewide at-large elections will be held. Under the Senate bylaws, candidates are limited to running for one seat at a time. In other words, candidates may not run for a unit seat and an at-large seat simultaneously. The formal call for at-large nominations begins March 12.

From the Interim Vice President for Finance and Management
I am pleased to announce that Therese Locher has accepted an appointment as assistant to the director of campus services. In her new role, Terri will be responsible for coordinating procurement functions to meet the extensive operating needs of Campus Services and Facilities operations. This is especially important because of the increased procurement activity associated with furnishing our new facilities that will be coming online. Her considerable skills and experience in purchasing will also be well utilized in support of the department’s primary functions, including mechanical and custodial maintenance, business services, central stores, fleet management, environmental health and safety, and other critical facilities business functions. Her new office is Clinton Center 229, and her new campus phone is ext. 5012.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The next meeting of the College Senate for the spring 2012 semester will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 9, in E. H. Butler Library 210. The agenda is posted on the home page of the College Senate website.