Get into Homecoming spirit by participating in the first-ever Faculty/Staff Miniature Shopping Cart Float contest. The first 15 offices to reply via e-mail or call Tom Koller at 6514 will receive a miniature shopping cart. It's your job to decorate the cart in the category of Best Use of Theme (Paws To Roar). We'll be in offices on Sept. 16 to judge the carts. Winning office gets lunch delivered! So get your colleagues together and call now at 6514, or reply at kollertc@buffalostate.edu to be one of the first 15 offices to reserve your miniature shopping cart! Homecoming: Sept. 30-Oct. 2

Friday, September 24 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., Butler Library 210. GradPortal is a free, web-based tool to assist students interested in pursuing graduate education particularly in science, technology, engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. GradPortal links students to faculty members and research support that matches the students' interests. The GradPortal Website will be demonstrated followed by Q & A session. Faculty/staff who advise students and interested students are encouraged to attend. RSVP by September 20 to ext. 5601 or by e-mail at gradoffc@buffalostate.edu. Refreshments provided.

Enrollment data for Fall 2004 will be frozen for reporting to SUNY on Sept 17. As you know, enrollment data sent to Albany impacts our budget.You may help in maximizing our reported enrollment by: (1.) Expediting processing of all late registrations, independent studies, etc. so they arrive at the Registrar's Office as soon as possible but not later than noon on Sept 17. (2.) Reviewing class rosters for students sitting in class who are not on the roster. Refer these students immediately to the Registrar's Office to get a form to register late.

Please be aware that we have made a change to our antivirus settings for faculty/staff e-mail. You will likely notice an increase in the number of "disinfected" e-mail messages coming through on Outlook. Those messages are informational only, and can be ignored/delted. (An attempt to remove the disinfected messages before they hit your mailboxes resulted in ineffective virus scanning. We hope to try that option again with the next version of Exchange.)

Wireless Internet access is now available on campus! Wireless access points have been installed in the Butler Library StudyQuad and in the Student Union, where wireless service is available in the Fireside Lounge, Commuter Lounge, Assembly Hall, and the surrounding hallway. Your campus network account is all that‘s required for access. For more information, see the Butler Library Web site at: http://www.buffalostate.edu/library/studyquad/laptops.html

StudyQuad, Butler Library's new study facility, provides a safe place for students, faculty, and staff to work late at night. It is equipped with 50 computers, a scanner, printers, and photocopier. It has study tables, comfortable seating, and group study rooms. In addition to being open all hours the library is open, StudyQuad has extended hours. When the library is closed, StudyQuad is accessible through a side entrance with the presentation of a valid Buffalo State ID card. For StudyQuad information and hours: http://www.buffalostate.edu/library/studyquad/

You are encouraged to nominate deserving colleagues for Chancellor's and Distinguished Teaching and Service awards. Guidelines may be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office. Nominations and supporting materials for the Distinguished Teaching Professor, Distinguished Service Professor, Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching; Professional Service; Librarianship; Scholarship and Creative Activities; and Faculty Service must be submitted by October 18, 2004. For more information, contact Academic Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, ext. 5901.

The college Web site officially gets a new look the second week of September--but you can preview the site now. Visit the "new site" spotlight on http://www.buffalostate.edu for more information.

The freeze file date for Fall 2004 enrollment is Sept 17, when all registration data is frozen for reporting to SUNY. Enrollment data has a direct impact on our budget. You can help in maximizing our reported enrollment by: 1. Encouraging and assisting students in completing their registrations no later than the first week of classes, Aug 30-Sept 3. Registration ends at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept 3. Registration hours are posted at http://www.buffalostate.edu/sabre/students/. 2. Expediting processing of all paper registrations, such as independent studies, etc.

Please be advised that there is specialized SABRE assistance for faculty, staff, and students. For the best service, please contact the appropriate location for SABRE assistance. Faculty and staff should contact: sabresupport@buffalostate.edu; 878-3434; www.buffalostate.edu/sabre/facstaff. Students should contact: studentsabre@buffalostate.edu; 878-4811; www.buffalostate.edu/sabre/students; or go to the Registrar's Office.