Currently, due to a recent retirement and travel volume, we are experiencing a delay in processing travel reimbursements. Currently, this delay is four to five weeks. Our office staff understands and recognizes the burden of out of pocket expenses due to travel and will do our best within this situation to expedite payments. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate your patience in this matter.

Buffalo State College celebrated the opening of its new Dr. Margaret E. Bacon, ’41, Student Art Gallery in Upton Hall in October. Bacon, a longtime supporter of the college, recently donated $300,000 to furnish the first-floor space, which will be devoted exclusively to the display of student art. In addition, a portion of the funds from the gift will be used to bring noted artists to campus to share their insights with students.

The clothing giveaway this past Saturday at the Asarese Youth Center proved to be another great success. Many thanks to all of the student, faculty, and staff volunteers for spending the day setting up, sorting clothes, and assisting people who came in to obtain the hundreds of donated items. The Buffalo State College campus community and our friends in the Buffalo community were extremely generous in their donations of much appreciated warm clothing and other useful items. More than 100 families were helped through this annual effort. A special thanks goes to Maureen McCarthy, an AmeriCorps ABLE worker from the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center, and Mike Milovich, Asarese Youth Director, for their coordination. The annual event is planned via the combined efforts of the College and Community Partnerships Office, the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center, and the Alumni Affairs Office.

Faculty will enter their fall 2010 grades using Banner. The grading window will open Monday morning, December 13, at 10:00 a.m., and close Wednesday, December 22, at 9:00 p.m. In preparation, faculty are encouraged to log on to Banner to be sure that all of their courses are listed under their account. Detailed documentation for entering grades is available online. Additionally, assistance is available by calling the Computing Help Desk Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at ext. 4357. If you have any questions about grading, please call the Registrar's Office at ext. 4811.

Gifts galore! Don't miss out. Come discover the handcrafted ceramic bowls, silk scarves, sterling silver earrings, wood items, photographs, and paintings. These are only a few of the items available for sale today, December 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and tomorrow, Thursday, December 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come to the Czurles-Nelson Gallery, buy that holiday gift and support our Art Education, Design, and Fine Arts students at the same time.

To prepare for fall 2010 grading, please check all your course rosters in Banner, including independent studies, project courses, or course by contracts for accuracy. Please contact the Registrar’s Office at ext. 4811 with discrepancies before the grading window opens on December 13.

Students requesting a letter grade in place of a pass/fail grade should submit a Substitution for Pass/Fail form no later than Tuesday, December 21.

All faculty and staff are invited to attend a webinar, Advise and Teach Veterans: Overcome Disability Issues, Promote Success, on Monday, December 20, 1:00–2:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hal 418

Relaxation Night is a large-scale biannual event offering an abundance of activities to help students reduce stress and be at their best for finals week. Relaxation Night is scheduled for Friday December 10, 7:00–10:00 p.m., in the Campbell Student Union.

Please join us on Thursday, December 9, for our annual holiday customer appreciation sale. Save 20 percent on all clothing, gifts, and trade books. Refreshments will be served!