Graduate students must apply for May 2010 graduation by Monday, February 1. Graduate students planning to graduate in August 2010 who wish to participate in May Commencement and be listed in the Commencement Book must also apply for graduation by February 1. Graduation applications are available in the Graduate School Office, Cleveland Hall 204, or online.

All students interested in learning more about children's books with a global theme are invited to attend a meeting of the newly formed Global Book Club. The first meeting is Tuesday, February 2 from 9:25 to 10:40 a.m. in Bacon Hall 222. We anticipate reading/evaluating/discussing global picture and chapter books and, later in the semester, reading them to children on the West Side of Buffalo. It is a great opportunity to learn more about our Buffalo State community and read some wonderful books. You can be part of developing a love of reading in children and adolescents! For more information, contact Kim Truesdell.

Anthony Mullen, 2009 National Teacher of the Year, 2009 Connecticut Teacher of the Year, and a special education teacher at Greenwich High School (Greenwich, Connecticut) will present "Recovering Lost Students" on Wednesday, February 3. Mullen’s keynote will connect the link between learning and emotional health, especially as these concepts relate to the highly vulnerable, at-risk student population in schools.

The Buffalo State Literacy Center is offering tutoring in reading and writing for K-12 children of Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students this spring. Please call ext. 5917 or e-mail garasyka@buffalostate.edu for more information. Sessions begin in February and spaces are limited.

The Buffalo State Alumni Association has teamed up with Liberty Mutual to offer defensive driving classes to Buffalo State faculty, staff, alumni, and students on Saturday, February 20, and Saturday, April 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 219.

The Education Alumni Chapter is alive and well! A core group of alumni, spearheaded by Lindsey Seitz, '06, are hosting their second official meeting on Wednesday, February 3, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416. Faculty and staff who are interested in getting involved with the chapter are invited to attend. Chapter members will be discussing their constitution, goals, and future direction. Feedback and suggestions are gladly welcomed and encouraged. Light refreshments will be served. To R.S.V.P., contact Leslie Day.

Stop by the Retail Food Court and try out our newest options. Subconnection has a morning bagel bar with freshly whipped, flavored cream cheeses and lox bagels. Hours of operation are 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Pomodoro's Pizza is now featuring a garden toss daily at lunch. Customize a fresh salad with your favorite toppings and dressing. We will toss it and dress it for you, or take it to go with the dressing on the side. The cost is $5.85 for the salad, a breadstick, and a 20 oz. fountain drink.

Yesterday, January 25, 2010, Howard Zemsky, chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, announced the finalists for the eighth president of Buffalo State College. During the first two weeks of February, professional staff and other groups will have specific times to hear from the three finalists. You will be given opportunities to provide your feedback regarding each candidate. Your comments are a vital part of our evaluation of each candidate.

It's not too late to submit your recent publication or creative work to be featured in the 2010 spring display in E. H. Butler Library's Faculty/Staff Scholarly Exhibits case! Please fill out the faculty/staff scholarly exhibits application form. Note: A photo (Bruce Fox in Instructional Resources takes nice pictures) and short bio are required. Contact Barbara Vaughan at ext. 6317 with any questions.

The make-up session for those new students who did not fulfill the Buffalo State orientation requirement (required for all new matriculated students) will be held February 5, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center South.