Open enrollment for the 2010 NYS Flex Spending Account is Monday, September 21, through Monday, November 16, 2009. The program offers two benefits:
The Health Care Spending Account (HCSAccount) allows employees to set aside from $100 to $4,000 annually in pretax salary to pay for health care expenses not reimbursed by insurance.
The Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount) allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 annually for child care, elder care, or other dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. There is an employer contribution, which provides up to $800 for employees in eligible negotiating units who enroll in the DCAAccount. The employer contribution is based on salary and is available to state employees who are M/C or represented by CSEA, PEF, UUP or NYSCOPBA. Pending conclusion of negotiations and ratified contracts, the employer contribution may also be available to state employees in other negotiating units.
Participants currently enrolled in the HCSAccount or DCAAccount must re-enroll to continue benefits in 2010.
Apply online at www.flexspend.state.ny.us or call the Flex Spending Account hotline at (800) 358-7202.

Internationally renowned educator, author and scholar, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, will speak on campus this Thursday, September 24 during Bengal Pause at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. Her presentation, “The Language of Cultural Diversity and Education,” is free and open to the public. Two of Dr. Ladson-Billings’ critically acclaimed books will be available for purchase. Click here to view and print the flyer for this event.

As previously announced in the Daily (http://www.buffalostate.edu/dailyarchive.xml?tyear=2009&tmonth=8&date=8/... ), the Lot R-1 expansion (north of Houston Gym) is well underway. To finish the project, the south portion of the lot will be closed this week (dates may be adjusted according to weather) so that it and the new portion (former site of tennis courts) can be repaved and striped.

The north portion of the lot (Lot R, 213 spaces) will remain open, the current south portion of the lot (Lot R-1, 139 spaces) will close for a week, and the contiguous new portion (former site of tennis courts, 158 new spaces) should be complete in early October.

Questions about this project can be e-mailed to VPFM@buffalostate.edu. Please refer to www.buffalostate.edu/construction for the latest information about current and upcoming construction.

The Burchfield Penney Art Center is very pleased to announce its fall schedule of art classes for children and adults beginning the week of October 12.

Led by artists and art educators, the fall program offers a new Saturday format for children age 6-12 featuring artists Jo Ann Brenner, Adam Weekley, Patrick Robideau and Cassondra Argeros, two Wednesday morning programs for children with Claire Poth and an adult painting workshop with Becky Koenig on Thursdays.

For a complete schedule of classes and registration form, visit http://www.yournewburchfieldpenney.com/?select=programs&data=listings.

Katie Kelly runs the museum's studio classroom programs and can be reached by email at kellymc@buffalostate.edu.

Studio classroom programs at the Burchfield Penney are supported by First Niagara.

Join a faculty tour to discover ways to integrate the Burchfield Penney Art Center with your course curriculum using inquiry methods and interactive learning strategies. The tour will be structured to connect to the academic areas of the participating faculty.

The Campus Services Department invites the campus community to attend a dedication of sculpture created to acknowledge all College maintenance personnel, to be held in front of the Clinton Center on October 2nd at 11:30 a.m. All are welcomed.

Interested in going to graduate school in history? Unsure if graduate school is for you? The Department of History and Social Studies Education is conducting a workshop on the graduate school experiencein history. Topics include how to find a graduate program, the application process, what to expect in graduate level classes, coping strategies, and potential pitfalls.

Learn how to create data files in SPSS, including data collected from short surveys or existing records/data, as well as longitudinal data collected over a period of time.

September 22, 12:15 – 1:30, Butler 316

To register go to
http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=1995

Additional information is available at http://www.buffalostate.edu/professionaldevelopment/x590.xml

Submitted by: Sue McMillen, Faculty Development Director

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center (VSLC) will host a Volunteer Fair in the Campbell Student Union lobby on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Students, faculty, and staff will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from area not-for-profit agencies to discuss available volunteer opportunities. Please encourage students to attend this event; all majors are welcome. Watch for more information and a list of attending agencies on our Web site.

Buffalo State will celebrate Constitution Day today, Thursday, September 17. Our Academic Convocation speaker, Dr. Gene Nichol, will address the campus regarding the significance of the Constitution in the Bonnie and Vern L. Bullough Academic Convocation Address. Nichol's speech will be followed by a campuswide forum on the topic of the charge of equal justice and the U.S. Constitution in Bulger Communication Center East 2 at 3:00 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend both events.