Don't miss the premiere of a short video featuring students and faculty mentors talking about research opportunities at Buffalo State and the impact of undergraduate research. The video, filmed by Kraig Adams, a Buffalo State undergraduate majoring in television and film arts, will be shown during the opening reception of the Student Research and Creativity Celebration on Friday, April 27, in E. H. Butler Library. After its premiere, the video will be available on the Undergraduate Research website. The opening reception also showcases works of art created during the Year of the Arts.

The complete schedule and program for the celebration is now available on the Undergraduate Research website (pdf format; use the link in the upper-right corner).

This year's event includes more than 375 presentations, performances, and art exhibitions featuring the work of more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students. Encourage your students to attend the celebration and see what great things their talented classmates are doing!

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center invites students, faculty, and staff to attend the Celebration of Service tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. A visual and poster presentation highlighting some of this year's successful volunteer and service-learning activities will kick off the celebration from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and an awards ceremony from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. will recognize outstanding achievements. Join us to celebrate and recognize service projects throughout the year.

Today is the last day to submit nominations for the annual Celebration of Service awards for outstanding volunteer and service-learning projects. Students, community partners, faculty members, and classes who participated in fall 2011 and spring 2012 semester service-learning projects can be nominated for awards, along with students and student groups who have participated in volunteer activities this year.  

Information and the nomination web form can be found on the VSLC website. Contact the VSLC for more information, ext. 5811.

The Small Business Development Center presents "Survive and Thrive: Essentials for Starting Your Own Business," a workshop covering all the essential information needed to start a business, on Wednesday, May 23, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Burchfield Penney Art Center (second floor). Specific topics will include creating a business plan; competition analysis; and tax, legal, and insurance issues. The workshop is free for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and U.S. military veterans and $20 for all others.

Registration will take place immediately before the workshop from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. To register in advance, please visit the SBDC website or call ext. 4030.

To better serve Buffalo State students at this busy time of year, the Writing Help Center is providing extra tutors and expanding its Sunday hours from noon to 5:00 p.m., effective immediately. The Writing Help Center is a free "drop-in" service located in E. H. Butler Library 157B. Tutors are prepared to work with students in fulfilling college writing requirements until the center's last day of operation on Wednesday, May 9. We also assist instructors with tutoring contracts.

The Writing Help Center's new hours are Sunday noon–5:00 p.m., and Monday–Thursday noon–5:00 p.m. and 6:00–9:00 p.m.

For further information, please call the College Writing Program at ext. 5451.

Join a campuswide brown-bag discussion about content area literacy and the Common Core Learning Standards on Friday, May 11, from 11:00 a.m. to noon in Bacon Hall 116B. Discussion questions will include the following:

• What does “close reading” look like in your content area?
• How should we prepare teacher candidates to teach close reading?
• How should we define and operationalize the terms literacy, text, informational text, and narrative text?
• What next steps should we take?

The facilitators are Ellen Friedland, Pixita del Prado Hill, Jevon Hunter, and Sue McMillen. After registering, you will receive resource documents and an e-mail link to a video to watch in preparation for the discussion.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2843.

From the Accounts Payable and Travel Services Office
As mentioned in a previous Daily Bulletin announcement, all SUNY campuses are currently undergoing a conversion to the Statewide Financial System. It had also been mentioned that during this conversion a possibility existed of depletion of the college's Petty Cash Advance account. At this time, our Petty Cash Advance account has been temporarily depleted. Our office has been in touch with SUNY Administration to obtain the date in which our Petty Cash Advance account will be replenished; however, we have not received a firm answer at this time.

This will affect the college community in the following ways:

1. We will not be able to issue travel advances. Airfare and train arrangements can still be obtained through Albany Travel.
2. We will not be able to issue general reimbursements under $250 to college employees. Authorized reimbursements over $250 will be issued through the quickpay method and will be sent directly to home addresses.
3. Prepayment of conference registration fees can be completed by our office only if the conference (organization) accepts credit card payments. If an individual needs to immediately pay for a conference that does not accept credit cards, the payment can be made through quickpay; however, the payment will be mailed directly to the conference administrator from Albany without additional correspondence (registration forms). The final option for immediate registration payment is for the registering individual to pay the conference administrator directly and then request reimbursement after the conference is completed.

We will keep the campus community informed on this situation. Another announcement will be submitted once the Petty Cash Advance account has been replenished.

If you have any questions concerning this submission, please call our office at extension 4117.

Everyone needs a study break, even faculty and staff. Why not break with Buffalo State Dining and take advantage of our great limited-time deals!

2.mato: Enjoy a delicious 16 inch margarita pizza for only $10.99. Originally priced at $14.99.

The Strip: Get a dozen wings for only $7.99 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Originally priced at $8.99.

Smashed Burger: Buy a Smashed Burger T-shirt for only $5. Originally priced at $10. Get a 10 percent discount on your entire Smashed Burger order when you wear your T-shirt at the time of purchase.
 
Bluw: Buy a Bluw T-shirt for only $5. Originally priced at $10. Get a 10 percent discount on your entire Bluw order when you wear your T-shirt at the time of purchase.
 
Spot Coffee/Starbucks: Pick up your coffee frequency card. Buy any five espresso coffee drinks get the sixth tall one free!

Study Break deals available from Monday, April 23, through Saturday, May 12.

For more information on Buffalo State Dining, friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website.

Students are invited to participate in a research study investigating students' conceptions and attitudes toward academic rigor. Focus-group interviews will be held on Tuesday, April 24, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in E. H. Butler Library 133B and on Wednesday, April 25, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 208. Free pizza and soda will be served. Students must be 18 years of age to participate. Questions can be directed to John Draeger, associate professor of philosophy and humanites and CASTL coordinator.

University College is seeking nominations to recognize outstanding students, faculty, and staff participants of First-Year Programs.

Outstanding Faculty or Staff Contribution to First-Year-Student Success
This award will go to a faculty or staff member who demonstrates excellence in teaching and/or advising in first-year programs. The awardee will receive $500 for scholarship or research. The money can be used for travel expenses to a professional conference or for research materials.

Outstanding First-Year-Student Scholarly or Creative Achievement
This award will go to a student who demonstrates superior academic accomplishments. The awardee will receive $250 a semester during his or her sophomore year for textbooks and supplies.

Outstanding First-Year-Student Contribution to Campus Life
This award will go to a first-year student who demonstrates a significant contribution to a campus organization. The awardee will receive $250 a semester during his or her sophomore year for textbooks and supplies.

Nominations will be accepted until Friday, May 11. To nominate someone for any of these awards, please visit the First-Year Awards page.