The 2013–2014 “Conversations in and out of the Disciplines” series for the fall semester concludes Friday, December 6, as Mark Fulk, associate professor of English, presents "William Gilpin, Eliza Knipe, and the Limits of Picturesque Aesthetics in the English Lake District, c. 1780" at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320. A short, informal wine-and-cheese reception will be held after the talk. Everyone is welcome.

We are also pleased to announce that Camille Holmgren, associate professor of geography and planning, Anthony Chase, assistant dean of arts and humanities, and James Cercone, assistant professor of English and coordinator of the English education program, will share their work in the spring (dates TBA).

Take a break from studying and join us in E. H. Butler Library for the following stress-free activities during finals week:

Therapy Dog
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 9, 10, and 11
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Dogs don’t stress out about finals, and neither should you. Let Buddy, a licensed therapy golden retriever, teach you to unwind as he comes to Butler Library during Buffalo State’s Critique and Evaluation Period to perform tricks and accept head-rubs. Buddy’s owner, Daphne Finnegan, brings her therapy dog to area residents through her practice, My Buddy and Me.

Study Break
Tuesday, December 10
5:30–7:30 p.m.
The Alumni Association will once again hold a study break in the library during exam week. Take a break and enjoy cookies and orange juice in the library lobby.

See the library's blog for more information about upcoming events.

This talk will focus on our varying reactions to change in the workplace. How to cope and thrive during these turbulent times involves having tools and strategies. If you have some strategies or if you need some assistance with strategies, come and share your thoughts on Tuesday, December 10, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 181B.

Snacks and drinks provided.

Tuesday Talks: Brown-bag lunches with a purpose!

Take 25 percent off the entire store (excluding textbooks and convenience) on Thursday, December 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Incredible Black Friday Nook pricing starting at $39.99. Please stop by. Music by Andrea Guiati. Refreshments will be provided.

The New York State minimum wage will be increased to $8 an hour in January 2014. The increase will be extended to all SUNY Buffalo State employees on the work-study and student assistant payrolls. Effective January 2, 2014, hourly rates for all student employees currently below $8 will be increased to meet the new minimum wage.

If you have questions about student assistant hourly wages, please call the Payroll Office at ext. 4124.

The Burchfield Penney is once again a host site for the Artists in Buffalo’s annual Holiday Open Studios and Galleries, a great way to shop local this holiday season and support Western New York artists and the Burchfield Penney. The sale will be held Friday, December 6, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Burchfield’s Café is open all weekend with holiday specials, including Jerry’s famous eggnog.

More than 30 artists will be featured:

Jackie Albarella
Aremel Soaps
Art FX Glass
Avalon
Sarah Blackman
Bliss Designs
Buffalo Art Prints
Buffalo Gal Organics
Burchfield Penney Museum Store
C Designs and Illustrations
Rosanna Cappellino
Linda Kissel Collignon
DaVoria
David Day
Julia Duax-Skop
Mike Duflo
Evolve Designs Artisan Jewelry
hm2jewelry by Heather Mordaunt
justbeachy
Mike Killelea
Temi Kucinski
Alison E. Kurek
Junko McGee
Margaret McGowan
Ronna Mink
Mundo Images
Patrice Nash
roadkiln
chary l. robbins
Evette Slaughter
Pat Sorbini
Studio Hart
Woodman Farms
Zenjoy

More information is available on the Burchfield Penney website.

The third annual Peace, Love, and Grant Street—featuring many of the shops, restaurants, and services on Grant Street—will take place Thursday, December 5, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. A trolley will be available to transport shoppers, stopping in front of the Student Apartment Complex and running down Grant Street. The event will include live outdoor music, food trucks, holiday arts and crafts, and an appearance by Santa. Michelle Bae's AED 100 class will host a contemporary tea ceremony at the Buffalo State Community Academic Center (CAC), 214 Grant Street. We hope to see you there! Please visit the CAC website or call ext. 3289 for more information.

Please join us in celebrating Computer Science Education Week today, December 3, during Bengal Pause (noon–1:30 p.m.) in the Technology Building main lobby. Encourage your students to stop by to play video games or interact with digital stories developed by CIS freshman students. Recognize the tremendous job growth in the computer industry, which is causing a shortage of computing professionals in the United States. Discover what women and minorities have contributed to computer science. Learn about local technology companies and job opportunities, the CIS undergraduate program at Buffalo State, and computer science education in general. Stop by for refreshments and enter your name in a raffle drawing.

Due to a recent staffing reduction, Computing and Technology Services is no longer able to offer “while you wait” processing of tests or surveys. Please plan ahead. This is particularly critical during final exams. Items dropped off before 4:00 p.m. will be available for pickup at 10:00 a.m. the next business day.

The scanning drop-off and pickup location will also be changing for the spring semester. Look for updates in the Daily Bulletin beginning in January.

Please join the Great Lakes Center for the seminar "Understanding Effects of Changes in Land Use, Environmental Parameters, and Habitat Characteristics on the Benthic Macroinvertebrates in the Walker River, Nevada," presented by Knut Mehler of the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada, today, December 4, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Classroom Building B309. Students, staff, and faculty are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.