Effective January 1, 2012, Computing and Technology Services will be replacing the program used for test scoring and survey analysis of data collected on scanner forms (bubble sheets). In general, the resulting output won’t change from the current version, but the new program provides more flexibility.

We are asking faculty to help us validate the consistency of the results between the old and new programs.

When you turn in your scanner forms, ask us to walk you through the changes and run both versions of the program with your forms. We’re also looking for a little feedback about the changes.

The most significant changes in the new version include:

A. The formats of the control and answer key sheets have been changed to reflect new options.

B. Users can select just the output they really need–and have it delivered via e-mail, as a printed report, or both.

C. The format of the output data files has changed.
Each response sheet is now on a single record (row) in the data files.
Both plain text and comma delimited file formats are available.

D. Use of the identification number field on the student sheets has changed. 

E. For survey analysis, blank and multiple responses are now ignored in all calculations.

F. The frequency distribution of test scores grouped in whole number ranges has been removed from the test scoring reports.

G. The option of entering a weight (or multiplier) to change the value of each question is no longer available.

We will run the old and new versions through the end of the fall semester, and will retire the old version as of January 1, 2012. We encourage faculty to take advantage of this time to transition to the new version. Please contact Tom Killian at ext. 5122 if you have any questions.

The Buffalo State Sustainability Council continues its film series with the screening of Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators on Tuesday, November 8, from noon to 1:15 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. The recent delisting of gray wolves as a protected species has created a firestorm of reaction in the scientific world. Top predators hold a key to life itself. Can people and predators coexist? Can we afford not to? Birds, butterflies, beaver, antelope, wildflowers, and frogs—could their survival possibly be connected to top predators like the wolf and cougar? This award-winning documentary from Green Fire Productions follows the science behind trophic interactions and effective methods to mediate wildlife-human interactions. The 60-minute film will be followed by a short discussion.

Join the Buffalo State Bengal, students, faculty, staff, and alumni in the Student Union Quad on Tuesday, October 18, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. for the "Crowd in the Quad" gathering to be captured on video for Buffalo State’s 2011 e-holiday card. The first 150 attendees will receive a free Buffalo State T-shirt.

What will happen during the event? We’ll simply gather in the quad, get a bit organized, and yell out “Happy Holidays from Buffalo State!” Be sure to wear your orange sweatshirts, T-shirts, Bengal athletic gear, and orange-and-black scarves, hats, etc.

Rain date: Thursday, October 20, 12:15–12:45 p.m.

Questions? Contact College Relations, ext. 4201, to learn more. See you there!

Composed of students from many different nations, Buffalo State understandably prides itself on its diversity. Chartwells has recognized the school's multiculturalism and as a result has incorporated Fresh Fusions into the Student Union Food Court. Fresh Fusions is a concept designed to explore authentic international cuisines and traditional recipes from different nations on a rotating basis according to students' voices.
 
Buffalo State Dining proudly presents Bluw at Fresh Fusions! Bluw is a spot where flavors come to life by melding Asian cultures and secret ingredients while maintaining the highest emphasis on the freshness and culinary techniques to preserve traditional recipes. Bluw is committed to charming each guest's individual palate with artistically prepared Asian traditions.

Bluw offers a variety of sushi, all reasonably priced from $4 to $6. You will also find classic Asian dishes such as General Tso's chicken, vegetarian stir fry, beef with broccoli, and three types of pad thai dishes.

Stop by the Student Union Food Court today for free samples from noon to 2:00 p.m. The official Bluw launch will be Monday, October 17.

Students can learn about the Business and Cultural Practices in India program, scheduled for January 5–13, 2012, during this information session on Wednesday, October 19, at 3:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East 2. Program highlights include visits to businesses in New Delhi and Mumbai, lectures at local universities, interaction with Indian students, and tours of monuments of cultural and historical significance such as the Taj Mahal and Bangalore Palace.

The 12th annual Faculty and Staff Research and Creativity Fall Forum is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, in the Houston Gym. The poster sessions will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with remarks beginning at 12:30 p.m. A buffet lunch will be provided for all participants and attendees. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Distinguished alumnus Stephen Musolino, ’76, certified health physicist with the United States Department of Energy (DOE), will present “Monitoring Radiation from Fukushima” at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, October 18, in Bulger Communication Center East 2.

Musolino, a national authority on the security of radioactive materials and radiological emergency response, spent three weeks in April at Yokota Air Base, some 25 miles northwest of downtown Tokyo and 150 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi reactors that were damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in March. Musolino worked as an assessment scientist, living on the base and working around the clock to assess field measurements of radiation as part of a DOE consequence management team deployed to monitor the radioactive releases and protect U.S. personnel and assets.

He will discuss his experiences and present the results of the DOE assessments of the environmental measurements. His talk is free and open to the public.

Open enrollment for the 2012 NYS Flex Spending Account (FSA) is Friday, October 14, through Monday, November 14. The account offers two benefits: the Health Care Spending Account (HCSAccount) and the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount). 

The HCSAccount allows employees to set aside from $100 to $4,000 annually in pretax salary to pay for health-care expenses not reimbursed by health insurance.

The DCAAccount allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 annually for child care, elder care, or disabled dependent care expenses on a pretax basis. Please note: The current DCAAccount employer contribution ends at the end of 2011. Future availability of the employer contribution depends on the outcome of negotiations between the state and the unions that participate in the program. For employer contribution updates, please call (800) 358-7202. 

Participants currently enrolled in the HCSAccount or DCAAccount must reenroll to continue benefits in 2012.

Paperless enrollment is quick, easy, and secure. For program details or to enroll in the Flex Spending Account, visit www.flexspend.ny.gov or call the FSA hotline at (800) 358-7202.

The 2011–2012 “Conversations” lecture series begins Friday, October 21, as Peter Ramos, associate professor of English, presents “Beyond the Deep Image: James Wright's Vallejo and the Ethics of Translation.” Each talk in the series will be on a Friday from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320. Colleagues, friends, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students are welcome.

Please also mark your calendars for the second and third talks in the series: on November 18, John Abromeit, assistant professor of history, will present “Max Horkheimer and the Foundations of the Frankfurt School,” and on December 9, Lisa Berglund, associate professor of English, will present “Secular Bibles: Annotations in Early American Dictionaries.”

“Conversations” will continue in the spring, featuring work by Kyeonghi Baek, assistant professor of political science, John D. Draeger, associate professor of philosophy and humanities, and Philip B. Ogle, department chair and professor of fine arts.

Join us in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall on Friday, October 14, at 9:00 p.m. for the start of a new concert series! This first concert will feature opening act Raccoon Fighter from Brooklyn, New York, followed by JoyWave, an up-and-coming band out of Rochester. This concert is free for Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff, and $5 for all others. We hope to see you there!