Learn how to locate, adopt, modify, create, and share open educational resources (OER) and open access textbooks during this workshop on Tuesday, February 14, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 316. The presentation will include a brief overview of Creative Commons licensing and a demonstration of accessing OER databases containing peer-reviewed course materials. Presented by Beth Burns.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2744.

Students can learn how to spend a semester studying at one of Buffalo State's four partner universities in Australia or our partner university in England during this information session on Thursday, February 16, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center South 2. Students will find out how courses taken there fulfill requirements here, how financial aid applies, about scholarships that are available, and about other creative ways students fund their overseas experiences. Please encourage them not to miss out on these life-changing and career-enhancing opportunities!

Jing Zhang, assistant professor of elementary education and reading, will share her research as part of the Emerging Scholar series on Friday, February 10, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. This series of presentations provides early-career faculty with an opportunity to share their intellectual work with the rest of the campus.

Zhang investigated potential learning outcomes when a family literacy program with language supports was provided to Chinese immigrant families. An eight-week (two hours per week) literacy program was implemented in three Chinese community centers in Ontario, Canada. This study has shown that a family literacy intervention, adapted for use with Chinese preschoolers and their parents, can have a significant and positive impact on children’s literacy development in both English and Chinese. Further, it was shown that specific home literacy environments in Chinese and in English are related to children’s literacy development in both languages. In Chinese, the number of Chinese reading materials in the home had the greatest impact on children’s Chinese receptive and expressive vocabularies. In English, the age at which the child was first read to in English had the greatest impact on children’s English expressive vocabularies, their letter-sound production knowledge, and their early reading ability.

Students can learn how they can spend a month studying in Salamanca, Spain, this summer during an information session on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. Students will witness the Salamanca experience via a video presentation, hear from former program participants, and find out about financial aid and scholarships and how the 6 credits earned in Salamanca fulfill requirements at Buffalo State. 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 1969.

Do you want to try e-books in your courses? This presentation will introduce you to the collection of e-book materials in the library, such as ebrary and the EBSCO e-book collection. Learn how to access e-books and how to bring them into your courses. Presented by Mark McBride and Al Riess on Thursday, February 9, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 314.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2755.

Students can learn how financial aid applies to National Student Exchange and overseas programs, how they may qualify for additional aid, and the timeline for processing aid applications during an information session on Thursday, February 9, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center East 2. Students will learn about scholarships that are available and other creative ways they might finance participation in exchange programs and study abroad. Please encourage them not to miss this workshop!

Students can learn about the benefits of exchange and study abroad and about the more than 200 campuses they can choose through the National Student Exchange and the 600-plus overseas programs in 60 countries, sponsored by the State University of New York, during an information session on Tuesday, February 7, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center South 2.

Students will learn how to select a program, how to determine the best time to go, how coursework applies to requirements at Buffalo State, about the application process and cost, and how financial aid and scholarships can assist them in participating in one or more of these life-changing and career-enhancing experiences.

The Women's Studies Interdisciplinary Unit is planning its fifth annual exhibition to recognize the artistry and creativity of Buffalo State College women during Women's History Month. The exhibition will be on view in E. H. Butler Library's lobby display cases during the month of March. We are seeking artistic and creative works from female faculty, staff, students, and alumni. If you have an item you would like to lend to the exhibition, please contact Barbara Vaughan, ext. 6317. The last day for submissions is Monday, February 27.

Tell your students considering graduate school to take a free practice entrance exam with Kaplan Test Prep. The following tests will be offered on Wednesday, February 15, in the Science Building: MCAT (6:00 p.m.), LSAT (6:15 p.m.), and GRE (6:30 p.m.). Registration is required. To sign up or for more information, students should call the Career Development Center at ext. 5811 or stop by Cleveland Hall 306.

Do you have an outstanding student worker? One who has gone above the call of duty? Would you like to recognize him or her for his or her hard work? If the answer is yes, then nominate your student as the “Student Employee of the Year” at Buffalo State College!

The SEOTY Award recognizes the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of students who work while attending college. Work-study students and student assistants must meet the following criteria:

• Undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a degree program at Buffalo State College
• Employed for a minimum of three months full time or six months part time from June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2012 (anticipated)

Nominations must be submitted electronically. Nominees are evaluated on initiative, quality of work, reliability, contribution to the employer, and disposition. Nomination forms can be found on the Career Development Center website.

Questions? Contact Lynn Rogers, student employment coordinator and senior career counselor, ext. 5811.