Come and see the first in a series of presentations by students sharing their transforming experiences traveling to Rwanda with the Anne Frank Project earlier this month. The following presentations will be held Thursday February 2, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Flexible Theatre (Donald Savage Theater Building):

Kara Ashby, “Rwanda and Reconciliation”
Lewis Sepulveda, “Rwanda: Redefining Family”

For more information regarding the Rwanda trip, please visit www.theannefrankproject.com/student-blogs-rwanda-2012.html or call Drew Kahn, professor of theater, at ext. 5221.

"Accounting: Making It Your Business" is the first session in the Workshops to Success series sponsored by the Academic Skills Center of University College and offered free to Buffalo State students. In this seminar, tutor Carol Reed will guide students toward a better understanding of this intricate subject and help prepare them for the upcoming accounting exam. Note to Buffalo State instructors: Please encourage your students to attend, especially if research is part of their assignments. Consider giving students extra credit for participating. Students can sign an attendance sheet that we will forward to you. If you have any questions, please call the ASC at ext. 4041.

Date: Monday, February 6
Time: 12:15–1:15 p.m.
Location: Classroom Building C116
Presenter: Carol Reed

In honor of Black History Month, the Student Life Office and the Association of Faculty and Staff of African Descent (AFSAD) will present an exhibit titled A Celebration of African American Faculty and Staff Accomplishments, to be showcased during the month of February. The exhibit will be located in the upper lobby of E. H. Butler Library. The purpose of the exhibit is to draw the campus’s attention to the accomplishments of Buffalo State’s African American faculty and staff members in the areas of scholarship, college service, and community involvement. Hal Payne, vice president for student affairs; Dolores Battle, professor emerita of speech-language pathology and former senior adviser to the president for equity and campus diversity; and Ron Stewart, professor of sociology, are among the faculty and staff members who will be featured in the exhibit.

An opening reception will take place on Thursday, February 9, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in the library's upper lobby. During the reception, visitors can view the exhibit while selected faculty, staff, and students read from written works as part of the 23rd National African-American Read-In and Book Exchange.

Please bring a copy of your favorite book(s) written by an African or African American author to exchange for a different title or author you may not have read. Faculty, staff, and student speakers will read excerpts from books and other texts by African and African American authors.

Please contact Theresa A. Harris-Tigg, vice president of AFSAD and committee co-chair, ext. 5415; Wendell P. Rivera, treasure of AFSAD and committee co-chair, ext. 4436; or Richard A. Harris, assistant director of student life for commuter and minority student services, ext. 4631, for more information.

Teacher Education Council (TEC) meetings for the spring semester will be held on Fridays in Cleveland Hall 418 on the following dates. Guests are always welcome.

February 10
1:00–2:30 p.m.

March 9
1:00–2:30 p.m.

April 13
1:00–2:30 p.m.

May 11
Noon–1:30 p.m. (Please note the time change for this meeting only.)

Many faculty members find teaching general education courses to be especially challenging. Students may lack the disciplinary knowledge necessary to meaningfully engage in course content and may resist investing too much energy in a course they are hoping to “get out of the way.” While “watering down” course content is unsatisfying for all concerned, it isn’t always clear what a professor is to do. Moreover, students may appear to be uninterested in connecting or applying the course content to other disciplines (which is arguably one of the aims of general education). Come and have a light lunch and explore the complexities of teaching general education courses. Facilitated by John Draeger, Lisa Hunter, and Sue McMillen. Attend either discussion.

To attend on Wednesday, February 8, noon–1:30 p.m., register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2731.

To attend on Thursday, February 9, 12:15–1:30 p.m., register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2732.

Join your colleagues for a look at the challenges of mobile applications and tablet computing in the education field during this session on Wednesday, February 22, at noon in E. H. Butler Library 181B.

At the 2011 Mobile World Congress, Google CEO Eric Schmidt noted that for every baby born that year, 30 Android phones would be activated. As more people incorporate these devices into their lives, it also disrupts many of the traditional teaching methods. Students can use their mobile apps as graphing calculators, but they can also use the same devices to look up answers. At the same time there is a growing trend to incorporate these devices into our education. We will discuss some current trends and challenges these technologies pose to the education field. Presented by Ken Fujiuchi. A light lunch will be provided.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2757.

ACM 590: The Subprime Mortgage Crisis and Markov Chain Models in Credit Risk Management. This five-week, 1-credit course offered by the professional applied and computational mathematics program (PACM) will meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. from February 29 to April 11.

ACM 590 is an introduction to mortgage lending and the practice of measuring and managing consumer credit risk. Students will be introduced to Markov chain theory and SAS programming while reliving the collapse of the U.S. mortgage industry in 2007 and 2008 and understanding the origins of the Great Recession.

Prerequisites: Linear Algebra, Statistics I and II, and Introduction to Programming (or instructor permission). Suggested coursework: Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics.

Students can learn how to spend a semester studying in Siena, Italy, during this information session on Tuesday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. Students will witness the Siena experience via a PowerPoint presentation, hear from former program participants, find out about financial aid and scholarships and how courses taken in Siena fulfill requirements at Buffalo State, and sample authentic Italian refreshments. Family members and friends are also welcome to learn more about how their students can partake in an experience that has been transforming students' lives since 1961.

A more abbreviated information session on Siena will also be offered on March 6 at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center West 2.

Students can find out how to earn 8 undergraduate credits studying Chinese language and culture in Beijing this summer during this information session on Thursday, March 1, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East 2. Two prior semesters of Chinese language study are required. Students will also learn about the excursions included in the program, how financial aid applies, and about scholarships that are available. Please encourage them not to miss out on this exciting opportunity to develop skills in an important world language and to experience the beauties of China!

Students can find out how to earn 6 to 10 undergraduate or graduate credits studying French in Quebec this summer during this information session on Thursday, February 23, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East 2. Students will meet the director of the language school where they would study, as well as learn about how financial aid applies and about scholarships that are available. Please encourage them not to miss out on this affordable way to develop their language skills!