In honor of Valentine's Day, Buffalo State Dining is offering scrumptious treats for you and your sweetheart! Try our gourmet white and dark chocolate-covered strawberries. Only $15.39 per dozen and $7.69 per half dozen. Also, try our delicious Valentine's Day–themed mini cupcakes. Only $6.89 per dozen.

Place your order today at Spot Coffee in the Campbell Student Union.

For more information on Buffalo State Dining, please visit our website.

Buffalo State College is implementing the Blackboard Mobile Learn app for ANGEL – No-Cost Option, which was developed by Sprint. With the No-Cost Option, this app will be available only to Sprint customers with Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and Palm webOS devices. In addition, you may also use the app with iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch devices regardless of your carrier on any wireless network. Come and check out the features that are available on the Blackboard Mobile Learn app for ANGEL and learn more about how you and your students can access this app and be a part of the Mobile Pilot. This workshop will be a BYOD (bring your own device). Register for one of the upcoming sessions through CyberQuad.

The deadline to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for the spring 2012 semester is Tuesday, February 28. Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State faculty and professional or classified employees.
   
• Part-time and/or temporary Buffalo State faculty and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
   
• Full-time Research Foundation employees provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses per semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours per academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received. Contact Human Resource Management, ext. 4821, for applications and program guidelines.

McGraw-Hill recently published the 10th edition of Applying Anthropology: An Introductory Reader, coedited by Buffalo State president Aaron Podolefsky with Peter J. Brown and Scott M. Lacy.

The book, which is used in introductory anthropology courses at hundreds of colleges and universities each year, is a collection of readings including examples of applied research and classic articles in all areas of anthropology. 

Podolefsky earned a Ph.D. with distinction in anthropology from Stony Brook University. He has published widely in the field, and is a fellow of the American Anthropological Association, elected by the organization's executive committee in recognition of his significant contributions to the field.

Buffalo State's 2010–2011 Annual Report is available exclusively online. The report features the news highlights of the past academic year and includes the institution's financial information and honor roll of donors.

The Buffalo State Alumni Association relies on volunteer support to make the Bengal 5K Scholarship Run successful. A variety of opportunities are available. Each role is critical to the success of the event.

We are currently seeking 160 volunteers to fulfill the following responsibilities:

Pre-race

• Pre-race packet pickup at Fleet Feet Sports on Thursday, March 29
• Pre-course preparations on Friday evening, March 30

Race Day (Saturday, March 31)

• Registration setup and check-in
• Start/finish lines
• Traffic control
• Water stations (three stations)
• Post-race reception

To volunteer, please complete the volunteer interest form. If you have any special conditions, please indicate this on the form. General volunteer times will be from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. Please note that some volunteer opportunities are available before race day. More information is available on the Alumni Association website. Please contact Landrum Beard, ext. 6001, with questions.

Have you advised a graduate student who deserves recognition for his or her outstanding research or applied scholarship? If so, please nominate him or her for an Outstanding Master's Thesis or Outstanding Master's Project. The Graduate Advisory Council has been accepting nominations for several weeks, so don't let your students miss out on this wonderful honor.

Applications will be accepted for students who have graduated in December 2010, May 2011, August 2011, or December 2011. Nominations may be made by thesis or project advisers, or by students themselves. Additional reviews are required from the department chair and one external evaluator (external to the thesis or project committee). Guidelines and forms are available on the Graduate School website.

The deadline for submission of nominations and evaluation forms to the Graduate School (Cleveland Hall 204) is Friday, February 10. Please direct questions to Kevin Railey, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, at ext. 5609.

Check out the new University Police department website, which has been updated and enhanced. See the “Services” section to learn about available assistance, the “Campus Safety” section to see relevant statistics and information, and many more. In addition, a new section posts the crime and fire blotters. 

UPD extends its thanks to the College Relations Office for assistance with this web update.

Buffalo State Dining's Balanced U program is a holistic approach to food and nutrition. It’s based on one concept—we eat food. To help students, faculty, and staff understand how food plays into health, Balanced U consists of monthly subjects that act as an educational opportunity to focus on food topics of interest to our customers. February's monthly subject is "Proud to Look Good."

Ever heard the saying “You are what you eat?” It’s really true, on the inside and on the outside. If you consistently eat junk food, you are going to look and feel terrible. The right foods, full of vitamins, minerals, and good fats, help keep your skin glowing, your hair shiny, and your nails long and strong. If everything is healthy on the inside, it shines through on the outside. If you still think eating for beauty is vain, consider this: at worst, eating well will help control your weight, and at best, it can have many other positive impacts on your life.

Join Buffalo State Dining today in Bengal Hall, located in the Campbell Student Union, from noon to 2:00 p.m. for our Balanced U Proud to Look Good party. Try foods from our Balanced U station that are guaranteed to help you look your best! Plus, receive recipes and tips on how to eat healthy all year long. 

Enter with a meal swipe or lunch door price of $8.39.

For more information on Balanced U, visit www.dineoncampus.com/bsc and click on the Total Health tab!

Employees in the CSEA and PEF bargaining units are reminded that any vacation accrual balances that exceed 45 days on April 1, 2012, must be adjusted downward to stay within the maximum allowed by New York State attendance rules and the agreements between the public employee unions and the State of New York.

If your vacation balance exceeds 337.50 hours (for employees who work a 7½-hour day) or 360 hours (for employees who work an 8-hour day), you may wish to request to use your vacation time before April 1, 2012, to avoid losing leave accruals.