Please advise seniors who are graduating in December 2011 that the deadline to submit applications for December graduation is Friday, September 9. Students may download the form at www.buffalostate.edu/registrar/documents/degap.pdf or complete the form at the Registrar's Office in Moot Hall. The minimum number of credits for an undergraduate degree is 120; some majors require more. Students should contact their advisers with questions.

In accordance with the UUP Agreement, a 1 percent pool has been established for distribution of discretionary salary increases. The 2011 award schedule, process outline, and nomination form are available on the Human Resource Management website. Average salary data and salary tables are also available at that site.

All employees in the UUP bargaining unit (faculty, librarians, and professional staff, including part-time and temporary employees) on the payroll as of June 30, 2011, are eligible for discretionary salary increase consideration.

Employees may self-nominate for a discretionary award by completing a nomination form and submitting it to their department chair, director, associate vice president, or other direct supervisor by Wednesday, September 7.

If you have questions regarding the discretionary process, please call Susan Earshen, associate vice president for human resource management, at ext. 3042.

We welcome the Class of 2015 to the Buffalo State academic community today during First-Year Convocation at 9:00 a.m. in the Sports Arena. If you are not one of the many marchers or campus volunteers who are assisting with the event, you can attend as an audience member or watch an online simulcast of the event from the following site: http://mediasite.suny.edu/mediasite/Catalog/catalogs/default.aspx. Simply click on the link, select First-Year Convocation, and then select First-Year Convocation 2011. Thank you for your participation!

Buffalo State faculty and staff members are invited to submit their recent publications or creative works for the fall 2011 display in the E. H. Butler Library faculty and staff scholarly exhibits case. If you are interested in being featured for the semester, please contact Barbara Vaughan at ext. 6317 or vaughabj@buffalostate.edu. A brief bio and a photo should accompany your submission.

ANGEL workshops have been scheduled for the fall semester. Dates, times, and registration information can be found on the CyberQuad web page.

TIAA-CREF representative Richard Thompson will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on the following days:

Wednesday, August 24
Tuesday, September 13
Wednesday, September 28
Thursday, October 20
Tuesday, November 1
Wednesday, November 30
Thursday, December 15

Sessions are by appointment only; all appointments will be held in E. H. Butler Library 210B between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Gain a greater level of confidence in your retirement portfolio. Visit TIAA-CREF online or call (800) 732-8353 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

Join Buffalo State College higher education and student affairs program alumni, students, and faculty, along with new and seasoned professionals in higher education, for a powerful one-day conference on Friday, September 9, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center. This year’s theme is “Social Justice and Social Agency in the Promotion of Access and Success: The Role of Student Affairs.” Our keynote speaker is Vasti Torres, professor of educational leadership and policy studies and director of the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University Bloomington. In 2007, Torres became the first Latina president of the American College Personnel Association, and she has been honored as a Diamond Honoree, a Senior Scholar, and a Wise Woman by ACPA. She also received the Contribution to Literature and Knowledge Award from NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education).

Cost
Graduate students $20
Professionals $40

Registration and Payment Information
Register online at www.buffalostate.edu/spa/x1059.xml.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Desimone, conference chair, at spaconference@gmail.com.

The fifth annual Bagels & Books Faculty Mixer will be held today, August 25, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. This event is meant to welcome you all back to another semester and allow you to share what captured your mind and imagination during the summer.

We ask that you bring a book you read this summer, or perhaps a favorite book, and leave it for someone else. (Get there early for the best selection!) We also ask that you include a note in the book offering some reflections.

A change for this year—the spotlight will be on faculty members attending. Come and share your thoughts!

This is a reminder that the fifth annual Bagels & Books Faculty Mixer will be held on Thursday, August 25, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. This event is meant to welcome you all back to another semester and allow you to share what captured your mind and imagination during the summer.

We ask that you bring a book you read this summer, or perhaps a favorite book, and leave it for someone else. (Get there early for the best selection!) We also ask that you include a note in the book offering some reflections.

A change for this year: the spotlight will be on faculty members attending. Anyone who would like to discuss the book they read should drop a quick note to Kevin Railey in order to be put on the agenda. Come and share your thoughts!

R.S.V.P. to Marnie Harris at ext. 5609 or harrismt@buffalostate.edu if you plan to attend.

The Grant Allocation Committee (GAC) is requesting proposals from individuals, departments, and student clubs and organizations for funding of programs, speakers, and events to take place during the 2011–2012 academic year.

The deadlines for submitting applications under this funding cycle are Friday, September 16, for fall 2011 and spring 2012 program proposals, and Friday, November 18, for spring 2012 program proposals.

An application for funding and complete details of requirements can be found online at www.buffalostate.edu/studentaffairs/x635.xml. New this year, in an effort to cut costs and in line with our efforts to go green, all proposals must be submitted electronically at studentaffairs@buffalostate.edu.

Questions about the GAC may be addressed to Daniel Vélez, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, Cleveland Hall 519, ext. 5550.