American Heart Association CPR/AED classes are offered at Weigel Health Center free of charge for faculty, staff, and students. During the class, you will learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and provide relief to a choking victim. Skills are taught for use with adults, children, and infants. The class is completed in two and a half hours.

Classes are scheduled at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates:

• Thursday, March 8
• Thursday, March 15
• Thursday, March 22
• Thursday, March 29
• Monday, April 2
• Monday, April 9
• Monday, April 16
• Monday, April 23
• Monday, April 30

Reserve a spot in one of these classes or obtain additional information at lifesupport@buffalostate.edu.

If you would like to schedule a more convenient time for you and three others, contact us to arrange a class that fits into your schedule.

Get ready for spring break! Take an additional 25 percent off already-reduced clearance items March 5 through March 18 at your campus bookstore.

Don't forget a good book! The Nook Color is now only $169 and the new 8GB Nook Tablet only $199.

Travel in style: the new Vera Bradley spring colors have arrived!

While you're shopping, visit our newly remodeled Starbucks cafe!

This is a vendor demonstration of two SPSS products: Text Analytics for Surveys and Modeler Premium. It includes a question-and-answer session. Join us on Thursday, March 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., in E. H. Butler Library 181B. A light lunch will be provided.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2761.

Last semester, student e-mail changed to the Google Apps for Education environment. What does that mean for faculty and students? Learn about features in the new student e-mail platform and about the apps that students can now access. Talk about how these collaborative tools can be used in your classes. This workshop will be offered in E. H. Butler Library 316 on Tuesday, March 13, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Presented by Mark McBride and Andy Chambers.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2746.

Commencement marchers and volunteer ushers may now register to participate in Commencement by accessing the following links:

Marcher registration. Contact Patricia Alessandra with marcher questions. Marcher regalia rental order deadline is April 7.

Volunteer usher registration. Contact the Events Management Office with volunteer usher questions.

Visit the Commencement website for answers to your and your students' Commencement questions.

Buffalo State's 140th Commencement will take place on Saturday, May 12, in the Sports Arena. The ceremonies will honor December 2011 and January 2012 graduates and May 2012 and August 2012 degree candidates. Please dedicate a few hours that day to help celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of the Class of 2012 and welcome their guests to campus.

Thank you.

Effective April 1, 2012, NYSHIP will offer the Opt-Out Program to PBANYS-represented employees. This program will allow eligible employees who have other employer-sponsored group health insurance to opt out of their NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. The annual incentive payment is $1,000 for waiving individual coverage or $3,000 for waiving family coverage.

If you are currently enrolled in NYSHIP and wish to participate in the Opt-Out Program, you must elect to do so during the Special Option Transfer Period March 1 through March 30.

The complete Opt-Out Program description, including eligibility requirements and enrollment forms, is available in Cleveland Hall 410 or on the Human Resource Management website.

Please call Human Resources at ext. 4821 with questions or for more information.

The student chapter of the American Marketing Association at Buffalo State College (the Marketing Club) will host Carl Camardo on Thursday, March 8, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Chase Hall 341. Camardo is the hiring manager for GEICO. Refreshments will be served. Please tell students.

The student chapter of the American Marketing Association at Buffalo State College (the Marketing Club) will host Carl Camardo on Thursday, March 8, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Chase Hall 341. Camardo is the hiring manager for GEICO. Refreshments will be served. Please tell students.

In compliance with the PBANYS collective bargaining agreement ratified on January 31, 2012, there will be a NYSHIP rate change effective April 1, 2012. As a result of the rate change, there will be a Special Option Transfer Period from March 1 to March 30, 2012.

The new health insurance rates effective April 1, 2012, for PBANYS employees are

Empire Plan
$43.90 (individual); $158.19 (family)

Community Blue
$42.94 (individual); $194.23 (family)

Independent Health
$55.04 (individual); $190.43 (family)

PBANYS employees who wish to change their health insurance plans during the Special Option Transfer Period have until Friday, March 30. If you wish to change plans, complete and return the option transfer form to Cleveland Hall 410 as soon as possible. No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

Please call Human Resource Management at ext. 4821 with questions or for additional information.

The SUNY Learning Network (SLN) is offering several upcoming Quality Matters training opportunities. What is Quality Matters? From the Quality Matters website: 

Quality Matters (QM) is a faculty-centered, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses. QM is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received national recognition for its peer-based approach and continuous improvement in online education and student learning. QM subscribers include community and technical colleges, colleges and universities, K-12 schools and systems, and other academic institutions.

There are three primary components in the Quality Matters Program: The QM Rubric, the Peer Review Process and QM Professional Development.

SLN Workshop: Applying the Quality Matters Rubric
Faculty can register online. This full-day workshop runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon and continues from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Workshop Locations and Dates
QM – TC3 –  March 2
QM – Schenectady – March 5
QM – Adirondack  – March 12
QM – Monroe –  March 16
QM – FIT – March 23
QM – Rockland – April 26
QM – Jamestown – April 27