We are looking for a few good students who want more out of touring a foreign country than photos of well-traveled sites. If this is you, please consider a field course in Malaysia this summer. The course will run collaboratively with a field course from the University of Malaya.

American and Malaysian university students will design and conduct collaborative group projects according to their interests, and make a presentation of their findings at the University of Malaya. If you have an interest in either water resource management, water quality, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, or regional and small town development, please consider joining us this summer.

Aside from your projects, you will have an opportunity to experience the sites and sounds of Malaysia and return home with an accomplishment to be added to your resume. If you are interested, please contact either Kim Irvine or Stephen Vermette no later than March 4.

Enjoy a taste of African cuisine during lunch, 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in Resident Dining. Some of the menu options are peanut soup with chicken, thyme and lime chicken, jollof rice, African vegetable curry, and more. Resident Dining is open to students, faculty, and staff. Bengal Bucks, meal swipes, flex dollars, cash, and credit are accepted for payment.

In celebration of Black History Month, the African and African American Studies Interdisciplinary Unit (School of Natural and Social Sciences) invites the Buffalo State community to a lecture by Kathleen Gabel, former assistant managing editor of Allafrica Global Media, today, Wednesday, February 16, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 313.

Ms. Gabel worked in Washington, D.C., South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Liberia. She will speak about "African Media." This event is free and open to the public.

In celebration of Black History Month, the African and African American Studies Interdisciplinary Unit (School of Natural and Social Sciences) invites the Buffalo State community to a lecture by photojournalist Brendan Bannon, today, Wednesday, February 16, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 313. The event is free and open to the public.

Bannon, founder of Daily Dispatches, has worked in Kenya (where his project is based), South Sudan, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo, India, and other countries. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Daily Telegraph, the Independent, and other well known papers.

Financial accounting can be a blizzard of numbers causing the most diligent of students to lose their way. Accounting: Making it Your Business is the next session in the Workshops to Success series sponsored by the Academic Skills Center (ASC) of University College and offered free to Buffalo State students. Tutor Carol Reed will take you through the basics of accounting to prepare you for your exams and make you more confident in dealing with this sometimes bewildering subject.

Note to Buffalo State instructors: Please encourage your students to attend, perhaps by giving them extra credit for participating. Students can sign an attendance sheet which we will forward to you. If you have any questions, call the ASC at ext. 4041.

Date: Thursday, February 24. Time: 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. (Bengal Pause). Place: South Wing 320 (Computer Lab). Presenter: Carol Reed.

You heard right! Sign up today for hula hoop classes sponsored by the Buffalo State Employee Assistance Program and Buffalo State Recreation and Intramurals. Wednesdays, noon to 1:00 p.m.; Fridays, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. First come, first served. No charge. Limited space available. Contact the Fitness Center at demarsna@buffalostate.edu. Enjoy!

Want to get into shape, but you don't know where to start? Start at the Buffalo State Fitness Center! FC 101 is a fun and easy class for beginners. Six weeks of group classes offered from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. every Saturday morning. Work with a personal trainer who will teach you how to use the Life Fitness machines as well as all the cardio equipment. Ask questions, and even get a basic program to get you started. Don't worry about the crowd. The gym will only be open for the clients who sign up ahead of time.

Contact Nick DeMarsh to reserve your place. Cost is $20 check or money order to Buffalo State College 900715.

Thursday, February 24, is the deadline day for submitting a Provost’s Incentive Grant application. Provost’s Incentive Grants can help with funding for the research or creative activities of tenured and tenure-track faculty members.

Awards of up to $1,500 can assist with travel, purchase of materials, conference fees, and other support for scholarly, research, and creative activities. Research and creative activities should be accomplished from March 15, 2011, to March 15, 2012.

A selection committee of representatives from the faculties of the four schools will review all applications and recommend awards based on the criteria of benefit to the faculty member’s professional development, benefit to teaching, and service to the academic department.

Selection criteria and application submission instructions can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, or viewed online at www.buffalostate.edu/professionaldevelopment (under “faculty development,” then “funding options”). Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 24.

Service-learning connects your course learning objectives with real community need. Exchange ideas and discuss your course curriculum with the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center staff and community organization representatives. Identify opportunities to engage students in active, hands-on academic service projects in the neighborhoods surrounding Buffalo State. Lunch will be provided. Thursday, February 24, 12:15–1:30 p.m., in the Professional Development Center (E. H. Butler Library 181B).

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2428

Campus Services Employee Recognition Citations will be presented to five Campus Services staff members at the ninth annual Hank Mann Awards, Friday, February 18, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the Bengal Room, Sports Arena 226. Honorees include Brenda Peacock, campus services administration; Bernard Cook, custodial services; Larry Draper, mailroom; Ronald Nuwer, custodial services; and Fred Kozak, automotive services. The citations recognize those who provide invaluable "behind the scenes" services to the campus community.

Each honoree will receive an award underwritten by an endowment from Dr. Horace "Hank" Mann, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of exceptional education. The event is open to everyone.