The Graduate Advisory Council announces a call for nominations for Outstanding Master’s Theses and Outstanding Master’s Projects. The purpose of these awards is to recognize outstanding student research and applied scholarship. Up to three thesis awards and three project awards will be made. 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. 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.

Banner Illegal Repeat checking prevents students from registering for a third repeat of a nonrepeatable course, in addition to stopping students from registering for a nonrepeatable course that they have already received sufficient credit for. Students who have a compelling need to take a course for a third time (e.g., fulfilling the Basic Communication requirement or a major requirement) may petition to be allowed to register for a third attempt of a course.

Under Buffalo State’s new initiative to use Banner to enforce illegal repeats, if a student receives an approved petition, he or she must show that approved petition to the instructor of the section of the course for which the student would like to register. The instructor must then grant a “Repeat Hours” override in Banner, and the student must then register in Banner for the section by CRN before the registration deadline.

Turtles Can Fly, the fourth and final film in the second annual International Cinema Club film series, will be shown on Friday, March 30, starting at 5:30 p.m. in Warren Enters Theatre. This award-winning film was the first film made in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The story centers on a 13-year-old named Satellite who organizes groups of children to find and disarm unexploded land mines so the mines can be sold. The film will be introduced by Chantal Kross, an undergraduate student from Suriname, and presented by Donn Youngstrom, associate professor of theater. A question-and-answer period will follow.

"An Endangered Future: Children and Poverty” is the theme for the four films shown at Buffalo State as part of the second annual International Cinema Club during the 2011–2012 academic year. Sponsored by Project FLIGHT, the Buffalo State Equity and Campus Diversity Office, United Nations Television, and the Buffalo State Theater Department, these four films are a continuation of the spirit of Buffalo State’s well-known Anne Frank Project.

“An Endangered Future: Children and Poverty” is the theme of the four films being shown at Buffalo State as part of the second annual International Cinema Club during the 2011–2012 academic year. Sponsored by Project FLIGHT, the Buffalo State Equity and Campus Diversity Office, United Nations Television, and the Buffalo State Theater Department, these four films are a continuation of the spirit of Buffalo State’s well-known Anne Frank Project.

The third film, International Perspectives on Children in Poverty: Jordan, Egypt, Malawi, Burundi, Morocco, will be shown Friday, February 10, in Warren Enters Theatre starting at 5:30 p.m. It will be introduced by Papa Jean Soumare, an undergraduate student from Senegal, and presented by Aimable Twagilimana, professor of English at Buffalo State. Before the film, Betty Cappella and Geraldine Bard, co-directors of Project FLIGHT, will make a PowerPoint presentation on their recent trip to South Africa. A question-and-answer period will follow.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The College Senate Office wishes everyone safe, healthful, and happy holidays and a happy new year. The next meeting of the College Senate will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, February 14, in E. H. Butler Library 210.

From the Chair of the Buffalo State Council
SUNY Buffalo State has finalized the formation of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee charged with selecting the college’s ninth president.

We have assembled a terrific group of individuals who will bring a diverse set of perspectives to the selection process. I am confident that our search advisory committee will work diligently to identify the best possible candidates for the college and the community.

Committee members are as follows:

Chair
Howard A. Zemsky, Managing Partner, Larkin Development Group; Chair, Buffalo State Council

Buffalo State Council Representatives
Melissa Brinson, Council Member
Linda A. Dobmeier, Vice President, Dobmeier Janitor Supply Inc.
Charles J. Naughton, Attorney, Clayton & Bergevin

Faculty Representatives
Lisa Marie Anselmi, Chair and Associate Professor, Anthropology
Nancy A. Chicola, Chair and Associate Professor, Elementary Education and Reading
Wanda M. Davis, Chair and Professor, Higher Education Administration
Pixta M. del Prado Hill, Associate Professor, Elementary Education and Reading
Kevin F. Mulcahy, Chair and Associate Professor, Hospitality and Tourism
Jennifer D. Ryan, Associate Professor, English
Stephen F. Saracino, Professor, Design
Gary S. Solar, Chair and Associate Professor, Earth Sciences and Science Education

Student Representatives
Kevin Murray, Undergraduate Student
Thomas Waters, Graduate Student

Administration Representative
Daniel C. Vélez, Associate Vice President for Student Success

Professional Staff Representative
Melaine C. Kenyon, Director, Instructional Technology

Support Staff Representative
Earl W. Morris, Highway Equipment Operator, Campus Service

Alumni Association Representative
Marsha D. Jackson, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Erie Community College

Buffalo State College Foundation Representative
Paul Lamparelli, President, Lamparelli Construction

Chancellor's Representative
Virginia Horvath, President, SUNY Fredonia

Non-Voting Member
Chancellor’s Liaison
Kenneth P. O’Brien, SUNY Board of Trustees

Administrative Support
Campus Liaison
Bonita R. Durand, Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Buffalo State Council

Secretary to the Search Committee
Melissa A. Slisz, Staff Assistant, President’s Office

In accordance with guidelines established by the SUNY Board of Trustees, the committee was established by the SUNY Buffalo State Council to solicit and evaluate nominations and applications for the position of college president. The committee will submit a list of qualified candidates to the Buffalo State Council, and the council will send a list of acceptable candidates to SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher for her review and consideration. Chancellor Zimpher will then make her final recommendation to the SUNY Board of Trustees, which maintains the legal authority to appoint the president. All search committee members are required to sign a confidentiality agreement to help protect applicants, which in turn helps ensure a professional process and a successful outcome.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The College Senate elected Pixita del Prado Hill, Wanda Davis, Jennifer Ryan, and Gary Solar to the Presidential Search Advisory Committee on Friday, December 13. We look forward to a serious and successful search.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The College Senate Office wishes everyone safe, healthful, and happy holidays and the very best for 2014. The final meeting of the College Senate for the fall 2013 semester will be held at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, December 13, in E. H. Butler Library 210. Please note the one-hour earlier start time due to the president’s holiday party. The meeting agenda is posted on the home page of the College Senate website.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The results of the schools' elections for the presidential search committee are as follows:

School of Education
Nancy Chicola, Chair and Associate Professor, Elementary Education and Reading

School of Arts and Humanities
Stephen Saracino, Professor, Design

School of the Professions
Kevin Mulcahy, Chair and Associate Professor, Hospitality and Tourism

School of Natural and Social Sciences
Lisa Marie Anselmi, Chair and Associate Professor, Anthropology

Four additional faculty positions will be filled by a vote of the College Senate on December 13. Thank you to all faculty members who ran, voted, or will serve.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The College Senate Office wishes everyone safe and happy holidays. The final meeting of the College Senate for the fall 2013 semester will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 13, in E. H. Butler Library 210. Please note the one-hour earlier start time due to the president’s holiday party. The meeting agenda will be posted on the home page of the College Senate website.