President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Student
One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be awarded the President’s Medal. The President’s Medal is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State College. This award is given to a student who, through use of his or her natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the college’s mission statement. The recipients will deliver the student address at Commencement. A grade point average of at least 3.5 is required for consideration for this award. Only students graduating in December 2011, May 2012, or August 2012 will be considered.*

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
The Chancellor’s Award is the highest honor bestowed by SUNY upon a student. This award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with achievement in areas such as athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and career achievement. Although there is no prescribed grade point average for this award, it is assumed that recipients will have high academic achievement. Award recipients will be recognized at a spring ceremony in Albany and at Commencement. Only students graduating between June 2011 and May 2012 will be considered.*

Nominations are being sought for both awards. Students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member at Buffalo State College. Candidates must have demonstrated the qualities recognized by each award. Selection criteria are similar for each award; however, to be considered for the President’s Medal a grade point average of 3.5 or higher is required. A student may be nominated for either or both awards.

Selection Criteria for Both Awards
Academic Performance: Documented via grade point average, honors received, rank in class, research, and other scholarly projects.

Citizenship: As measured by college and community service, the quality of extracurricular activities, and/or involvement in professional organizations.

Leadership/Creativity: Documented local, state, national, or international recognition for excellence (e.g., recipient of major national scholarships or athletic awards and/or recognition by national and international associations and honor societies). For graduate students: Documented by activities related to the discipline of graduate degree program or other college service leadership in a professional organization, or community outreach activities related to the field of study.

More information and nomination materials are available online. Nominations and supporting documentation must be delivered to the Academic and Student Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, by 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 19.

Those with questions or concerns regarding the application process are encouraged to call Daniel Vélez at ext. 5550.

*Information will be verified with the Registrar's Office.

EDU 121: Tutoring for Diverse Language Learners will be offered during J-Term. It is a hybrid course with a hands-on service-learning component. The hands-on clinical portion will meet from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. For more information, please call ext. 4864.

Memberships begin at $45, and valuable benefits include unlimited general admission to the Burchfield Penney, enrollment in the Empire State Museum Reciprocal Program, museum mailings, invitations to special events—and participation in a community of passionate Western New York art supporters. Through December 24, each membership purchase comes with two extra gifts: a limited edition poster and a Burchfield Penney reusable tote bag. Memberships at the $125 level also receive a $25 gift certificate to Oliver’s Restaurant. For membership information, call ext. 3547. For more on the benefits of membership, visit www.BurchfieldPenney.org.

Visit the Museum Store at the Burchfield Penney during the Twelve Days of Burchfield and receive a discount each day leading up to Christmas Eve:

December 11 – children’s gifts
December 13 – pottery
December 14 – stationery
December 15 – scarves and ties
December 16 – jewelry
December 17 – books
December 18 – Burchfield prints and posters
December 20 – handbags and wallets
December 21 – holiday gifts, candy, and ornaments
December 22 – wood and glass
December 23 – any one item
December 24 – any one item

No additional discounts apply.

For more information, call the Museum Store at ext. 3595.

The Museum Store is open during gallery hours:

Tuesday–Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00–5:00 p.m.

Introducing Bready, the first and only gluten-free bread machine specially designed for people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. At long last, bread lovers who can't tolerate gluten can enjoy delicious breads and desserts!

Bready products are now being served in Bengal Hall, resident dining located in the Campbell Student Union. Join us today to try free Bready samples from noon to 2:00 p.m. Enjoy gluten-free bread, pasta, chocolate cake, and hamburger buns!

Enter with a meal swipe or door price of $8.39.

For more information on Bready or any Buffalo State College dining location please visit www.dineoncampus.com/bsc.

The fall 2011 Learning Community Symposium will be held today, December 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. Students from each Learning Community have been selected to present their scholarly and creative work. This fall, the Learning Community program involved about 170 students and 50 faculty and professional staff members in eight learning communities. For more information about Buffalo State Learning Communities, please visit www.buffalostate.edu/firstyearprograms/x460.xml.

Join the Burchfield Penney for a Holiday Happy Hour and Museum Store Open House with music by Mary Ramsey and Friends on Friday December 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Mary Ramsey, lead singer-violist for the internationally acclaimed folk-rock group 10,000 Maniacs, will bring her voice, strings, and friends John Lombardo and Nelson Starr to the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The group will perform a melody of traditional Celtic music, holiday favorites, and selections from their celebrated body of self-penned songs.

Ramsey and Lombardo, of the critically acclaimed folk duo John and Mary, have been writing and performing music together for over two decades. Ramsey has worked with such well-known artists as Billy Bragg, Alex Chilton, Warren Zevon, Jules Shear, Jackson Browne, and Buffalo's Ani DiFranco and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Admission is free for Burchfield Penney members, $10 for "not yet" members.

The Graduate Advisory Council announces a call for nominations for Outstanding Master’s Theses and Outstanding Master’s Projects. The purpose of these awards is to recognize outstanding student research and applied scholarship. Up to three thesis awards and three project awards will be made. Applications will be accepted for students who have graduated (or will graduate) in December 2010, May 2011, August 2011, or December 2011. Nominations may be made by thesis or project advisers, or by students themselves. Additional reviews are required from the department chair and one external evaluator. Guidelines and forms are available on the Graduate School website.

The deadline for submission of nominations and evaluation forms to the Graduate School (Cleveland Hall 204) is Friday, February 10, 2012. Please direct questions to Kevin Railey, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, at ext. 5609.
 

The Buffalo State College Literacy Center (Bacon Hall 227) is offering free one-on-one literacy tutoring for children (grades K–12) of Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff. Sessions are Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:45 p.m. There are 10 sessions and one parent conference throughout the spring 2012 semester. Sessions begin in early February. Slots fill quickly, so register soon! Please call ext. 5917 or e-mail garasyka@buffalostate.edu to register.

Avoid becoming frazzled by final papers and final exams. The Academic Skills Center has a couple of remaining Eleventh-Hour Workshops to get you through the stress of CEP week:

Fending Off Failure—If you fear you may fail a course, there still may be things you can do to turn things around—with Lauren Copeland—Wednesday, December 7, 2:15–3:15 p.m., South Wing 320

Write It Right—A last-minute workshop on writing and revising those final papers—with Catherine George—Tuesday, December 13, 2:00–3:00 p.m., South Wing 320

Tutoring in individual subjects is always available at the Academic Skills Center, where our staff of professional tutors can help students in all areas of study.

We are located in South Wing 330. Call ext. 4041 or ext. 5303 to make an appointment.