Happy new year from Buffalo State's Employee Assistance Program. For many of us, it is time for renewals and resolutions—time to reflect on taking better care of ourselves. A free hour-long workshop will be held in E. H. Butler Library 210 January 13 at 12:15 p.m. This seminar will focus on the connection between our physical and mental health and wellness, and ways we can tune into ourselves to lead more balanced lives. Be good to yourself and come check it out!

To help students succeed in a challenging job market, the Career Development Center is hosting Experience 2011 and Job Fair 2011. Experience 2011: Interview and Networking Skills for Future Professional Success is Thursday, March 3, from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. Students will learn how to maximize their effectiveness at job fairs, networking events, and other professional functions. Sponsored by the Career Development Center, the Business Department, Alumni Affairs, and the American Marketing Association student group.

Nominations for the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service will be accepted through this Friday, January 7, in Cleveland Hall 505. The SUNY system-level award recognizes superior performance and extraordinary achievement by employees in the classified service. Nominees should be individuals who continuously demonstrate outstanding achievement and skill, and who also demonstrate excellence in activities beyond the scope of their job descriptions.

The change to the definition of undergraduate class levels for the spring 2011 semester, approved in the May 13, 2010, issue of the Bulletin, was implemented on December 23, 2010. The redefined levels are outlined below in an extract from the Bulletin:

Buffalo State's Employee Assistance Program is invested in your improved health and wellness! Have you been thinking about joining Weight Watchers, but don’t know how you will fit it in? We want to bring Weight Watchers to you, right here on our campus. If there is interest from a minimum of 15 faculty or staff members, we will move forward with this initiative. More details to follow. Please e-mail me with your interest and I will forward you information on meetings and fees. Meetings will tentatively begin the first week of February during Bengal Pause.

New York State’s Purchasing Card program through Citibank provides a valuable payment system that enables agencies to efficiently pay vendors and reduce order processing costs. Although most cardholders use their cards regularly or occasionally, some cards are issued but remain unused over long periods. In order to minimize inactive card use and limit the state’s liability, a revised usage policy developed jointly by the Office of General Services, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, and Citibank with the concurrence of the Office of the State Comptroller is now in effect.

Please follow the link to the online procurement card manual on the Procurement Services website for details.

The first of our Solar System Series, "Mercury and Venus: The Interior Inferiors," explores the two planets closer to the sun than Earth. Learn how to view these planets, why they exhibit phases, and what we have learned from robotic exploration.

Shows run Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. now through April 9. Adult admission is $6 and Buffalo State students are free. Reservations are strongly recommended by calling ext. 4911 or e-mailing planetarium@buffalostate.edu.

Visit www.fergusonplanetarium.net for more information about upcoming shows and other discounted admission prices.

All faculty, staff, and students are invited to join the Newman Center for Friday morning masses during the Lenten season. Father Patrick Zengierski will celebrate these masses at 8:00 a.m. in the Newman Center Chapel at 1219 Elmwood Avenue. We hope to see you there!

"There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open." —Nike

That's what we're all about: running for enjoyment and for the benefits that come along with it. Buffalo State Runners (BSR) encourages individual running and serves to regroup and motivate runners.

The greatest motivation to run and run harder is to train for a race. This group will attend races of our choosing at least once a month, or as agreed upon. Because the options are so vast, race distances will be debatable. For those with a spirit of adventure, a post-race trip around the race location will be arranged.

Members may train individually, but group training runs will be scheduled for any upcoming races.

This group will be exactly what its members make of it. So let's make it fun and inspirational!

You can join us on Facebook or by e-mailing kernact01@mail.buffalostate.edu.

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
—John Bingham

View sample teaching PowerPoint presentations designed for maximum learning without using bulleted lists. Learn optimal slide design principles and discuss their implications for teaching with PowerPoint. Be willing to “think outside of” the bulleted list. Presentation by Sue McMillen, Thursday, March 17, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Professional Development Center, E. H. Butler Library 181B). A light lunch will be provided.

Register online.