Per agreements between New York State and CSEA, employees in Bargaining Units 02, 03, and 04 are reminded to use their remaining Deficit Reduction Leave accruals for Fiscal Year 2011–2012 before March 31, 2012. Unused Deficit Reduction accruals will not be carried over.

Are you interested in or already using clickers? Join Lou Liguore, Turning Technologies' clicker representative, as he presents an overview of Turning Technologies' latest response solutions. This is your chance to increase your knowledge of response technology and discover how clickers can help transform your learning environment. Learn how other instructors assist their students in the learning process as pedagogical stories are shared. Assess learning anywhere at any time. Join us on Wednesday, February 8, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Professional Development Center (E. H. Butler Library 181B).

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2772.

The Buffalo State College Liberty Partnerships Program, in conjunction with Tapestry Charter High School, is recruiting Buffalo State students to take part in a meaningful rite of passage program for young women. The Legacy Project is designed to teach young girls about culture, identity, and sisterhood to promote a successful transition to responsible adulthood.

We will explore the history of African Americans, cultural identity, and the use of language as well as media depictions of women. A mentoring position awaits you! There are various levels of involvement. Share what you can spare!

Please e-mail bonitotc@buffalostate.edu or call ext. 3842 to sign up or to request additional information.

If you have considered learning to meditate, now is your opportunity. As little as five to 10 minutes of meditation a day can make a difference in your life.

Meditation is a natural state of the human mind—at rest, open, alert. The basic meditation technique will be presented at the start of each short meditation session (15 minutes). Undertaken as a steady practice, meditation allows the mind to relax and settle. It encourages our inherent qualities of stability, clarity, and mental strength to emerge.

Every Tuesday (ongoing) at 5:30 p.m. in Weigel Health Center 203. Bring your own cushion or use one of our chairs. Introductory instruction will be offered followed by a brief period of meditation practice. All students, faculty, and staff are invited. For more information, contact Trudy Stern, ext. 6711.

Attention, all recognized funded or unfunded United Students Government (USG) organizations:

In order for your organization to receive a budget for the 2012–2013 school year, your organization treasurer must attend the USG budget request meeting on Thursday, February 2, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center North. If an organization treasurer cannot attend the meeting, a member of the executive board must attend in his or her absence, and the organization treasurer must make an appointment to meet with the USG treasurer.

During the meeting, organization budget request packets will be distributed, the process explained, and questions answered. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the USG treasurer with any questions regarding the meeting.

*Important Note*
Only USG organizations that have been recognized through USG for at least two full semesters are eligible to receive a budget for the 2012–2013 school year.

USG is funded by the mandatory student activity fee.

Buffalo State Dining is now offering a WOW Deal of the Day every Wednesday at a select location in the Campbell Student Union Food Court from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Today's WOW Deal will be offered at Smashed Burger. Enjoy a single Smashed Burger, small curly fries, and a fountain beverage for only 4.99!

For more information on WOW Deals and Buffalo State Dining, visit our website.

The new College Senate–approved service-learning course designation is off to a great start this semester, and students are reporting being able to identify the 25 service-learning designated courses in Banner during registration. 

Service-learning designation requests are now being accepted for fall 2012 courses and must be submitted by Friday, February 10. 

The College Senate–approved service-learning criteria are as follows:

1. Students meet an identified community need through service in partnership with organizations, schools, or other community groups. The course requires a minimum of 10 hours of service for designation (for a 3-credit course); however the VSLC recommends at least 15 hours of community-based work.
2. The service experience relates to the subject matter of the course and is clearly described in the syllabus.
3. Students are provided structured opportunities to reflect critically on their service experience through writing, discussion, presentation, artistic endeavors, or similar means. 
4. At least 15 percent of the final grade for the course must be based on academic assignments that explicitly link the community service to the academic content of the course.

We strongly encourage faculty members to discuss their plans with their chairs since there is no formal department chair approval needed. Participation in the Service-Learning Faculty Fellowship Program is also strongly encouraged to learn successful strategies and pedagogy. 

The designation process is as follows:

1. Faculty submit a Service-Learning Designation Request Form and syllabus demonstrating the criteria outlined above.
2. Members of the Buffalo State Service-Learning Oversight Committee will review the form and syllabus.
3. If approved, faculty members and department chairs will be notified.
4. Once a course is approved, a syllabus must be kept on file in the VSLC each semester the course is taught as service learning.

Approved service-learning courses will be reflected as service learning in the Notes section of electronic and paper course listings only for the sections submitted as service learning. Service-learning participation will also be recorded on student transcripts.

Additional information and designation request materials are available on the VSLC website. Feel free to contact Laura Hill Rao, VSLC coordinator, ext. 5811, or Gary Welborn, chair and associate professor of sociology and faculty coordinator for service learning, ext. 6428, with any questions.

In its next film series presentation, the Buffalo State Sustainability Council shares fascinating new research revealing the crow to be among the most intelligent animals on earth. Join us for this enlightening film that reviews recent studies and opens our eyes to an understanding of this often ridiculed and maligned bird. We follow the researchers and their corvid subjects to discover that these incredibly social birds have an intelligence rivaling that of the primates. Tuesday, February 14, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center West 2 (second floor).

Full-time positions are available right now within the National Clandestine Service of the CIA. All students are invited to attend this session, especially those who are interested in a career in government and international relations. Open to undergraduate and graduate students in all majors.

Information about the summer 2013 undergraduate internship program will also be available.

Thursday, February 23
12:15–1:30 p.m. or 4:00–5:00 p.m.
E. H. Butler Library 210

For more information, contact the Career Development Center.

GEICO will host an information session on its 2012 paid professional Summer Internship Program at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 2, in E. H. Butler Library 210.

Students majoring in business, computer information systems, and economics and finance are encouraged to apply, but the program is open to all majors with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher who will be seniors in the fall 2012 semester.

To be considered for an interview, students must submit their résumés by 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 10, to askorca@buffalostate.edu with GEICO in the subject field.

Questions? Please contact the Career Development Center.