Registration for intersemester ends at 11:59 p.m. in Banner on Tuesday, January 5. Additional deadline information is available on the Registrar's website.

UUP employees are reminded that applications for 2010-2011 Individual Development Awards must be submitted no later than January 7, 2011. This joint labor/management program is intended to assist employees in the UUP bargaining unit in developing their full professional potential and in preparing for advancement by funding professional development activities. The maximum award is $1,000. Applications from those who have not been funded previously are encouraged.

The Ross B. Kenzie Family Presidential Scholarship Fund provides an annual, renewable scholarship to academically talented minority students entering Buffalo State College. Sponsored by Ross Kenzie, vice chair of the Buffalo State College Foundation Board of Directors, and his family, the fund was established to enhance diversity at the college. Preference is given to students seeking admission to the All College Honors Program. The current annual award of $2,220 is augmented with an additional $500 each semester one of the scholarship recipients makes the dean’s list. Twenty-five students are currently funded.

The first issue of Nutrition Provision—the Dietetics and Nutrition Department’s newsletter—is now available online. If you have comments or questions about our new newsletter, please contact me via e-mail at OHSY@buffalostate.edu or at ext. 5913.

Campus network maintenance is scheduled for Tuesday, December 28, between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. Brief (5–10 minute) interruptions in network connectivity can be expected during this time.

The grading window will close tomorrow, Wednesday, December 22, at 9:00 p.m. Detailed documentation for entering grades is available online. Assistance is available by calling the Computing Help Desk from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at ext. 4357. If you have questions about grading, please call the Registrar's Office at ext. 4811.

On behalf of the Alumni Office, the College and Community Partnerships Office, and the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center, many thanks to all who donated toiletries for the kids and families of the Asarese Youth Center on Rees Street. More than 100 bags were filled and will be distributed this week. In addition the Center for Health and Social Research, the Graduate School, Admissions Office, and an anonymous community member, made very generous donations that will further make the Asarese children’s holiday season a little brighter. Happy holidays to one and all!

Employees who wish to change their health insurance plan for the coming year have until Friday, December 31, 2010. The coverage effective date is January 6, 2011. We encourage you to complete the option transfer forms as soon as possible.

If the weather cooperates tonight, you will be able to observe a total lunar eclipse! This eclipse will be visible from North America and is additionally special because it falls on December 21, the Winter Solstice. A partial eclipse of the full moon will begin at 1:33 a.m., and the total eclipse will begin at 2:41 a.m., reaching mid-eclipse at 3:17 a.m. The total eclipse will end at 3:53 a.m. with the subsequent partial eclipse ending at 5:01 a.m.

Interrupting your grading to develop your syllabus for next semester? Wondering what you can do to increase student engagement in intellectual activities? Looking for a fun and interesting learning opportunity for your students next semester?