A teaching circle for BSC 101 instructors will be held Tuesday, March 15, 12:15–1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 181B. This professional development session will focus on resources and strategies for teaching college freshmen. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch.

Employees in the CSEA, PEF, Council 82, and NYSCOPBA bargaining units are reminded that any vacation accrual balances that exceed 40 days on April 1, 2011, must be adjusted downward to stay within the maximum allowed by the NYS Attendance Rules and the Agreements between the Public Employee Unions and the State of New York.

If your vacation balance exceeds 300 hours (for employees who work a 7 1/2-hour day) or 320 hours (for employees who work an eight-hour day), you may wish to request to use vacation time prior to April 1 to avoid losing leave accruals.

You are invited to attend Li Ning's Collection: Inspiration by Nature, March 6 to 12 in the Bacon Student Art Gallery (Upton Hall 234). Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Li Ning will give a presentation, Thursday, March 10, at 6:00 p.m. in Upton Hall 230. A reception will immediately follow.

Li Ning is a visiting associate professor of fashion design from Beijing University of Technology. Her fashions will be featured in the upcoming Runway 4.0 event sponsored by the fashion technology program on Saturday, April 16.

“Working with Writers for Whom English Is Not Their First Language,” presented by Wendy Scott, will be held Wednesday, March 16, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. This workshop will cover information for dealing with non-native speakers in the classroom. It will focus mainly on writing, but other language uses, such as speaking and listening, will also be addressed.

To register, please contact Chris at ext. 5451, or e-mail kesslemj@buffalostate.edu.

Tuesday Talks. Brown bag lunches with a purpose from noon to 1:00 p.m.

Spring 2011 Schedule:
February 8; Strategic Plan; BUTL 181B
February 22; Process Improvements, say what?; BUTL 181B
March 8; The Academic Plan & You; BUTL 208
March 22; How to say “No”; BUTL 181B
April 5; Change Agents; BUTL 181B
April 12; Let’s Discuss DSI!; BUTL 181B
April 19; Academic Rigor Defined!; BUTL 181B
May 3; The Art of Negotiations; BUTL 181B
May 10; Campus Communications; BUTL 181B

Speak out!

R.S.V.P. to woodruom@buffalostate.edu

Submit your best weather-related photos—images that convey a feeling of the weather at the time of the photograph. Win one of three prizes: first prize is a Galileo thermometer and barometric ball; second prize is a handheld wind and temperature meter; and the third place prize is a wireless rain gage. 

Please submit your photo entries to vermetsj@buffalostate.edu. The submission deadline is April 15. Photos may be submitted by Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff. Photos must be submitted in a digital format and must have been taken by you. Cell phone photos are not acceptable. Submission of photos allows us unrestricted use. This contest is sponsored by the Geography and Planning Department.

Visit the new Burchfield Cafe at the Burchfield Penney Art Center and enjoy a selection of sandwiches, sweets, and soups from Elmwood Avenue's Globe Market. Today's soup of the day is tomato basil (vegetarian). Today's panini is grilled brie and apple. Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff enjoy 10 percent off of all purchases.

Next Thursday, February 10, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center South, students can learn how financial aid applies to overseas programs, how they may qualify for additional aid, and the timeline for processing aid applications. They will find out about scholarships that are available and other creative ways that students finance participation in programs abroad. Please encourage them not to miss this workshop!

Smartphones have quickly reached the mainstream. They are now affordable enough that a majority of students are coming to college with a smartphone in hand. Many educators are looking at new ways they can integrate smartphones into the curriculum in order to take advantage of the mobile computing power in a learning environment. We will talk about various smartphones, what they are capable of, and what is possible on our campus. Refreshments will be provided on Wednesday, February 9, noon–1:00 p.m., in the Professional Development Center (E. H. Butler Library 181B). Presented by Ken Fujiuchi. Registration is not required.

The Buffalo State College Association of Faculty and Staff of African Descent (AFSAD) invites all to a Black History Month celebration, Sunday, February 13, in the Performing Arts Center of Rockwell Hall at 6:00 p.m.

Come, with friends and family, and enjoy an exciting evening of songs, dances, music, and readings presented by talented faculty, staff, students, and community partners, as we honor and commemorate the achievements of African Americans throughout our nation's history. Admission is free.

This program is partly funded by the FSA Founders Fund and the Grant Allocation Committee.