MetLife Financial Services will conduct the workshop "Achieving Financial Freedom One Step at a Time," led by Jason Bird, on Thursday, October 17, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210.

You'll learn how to

• create a financial strategy for the future,
• minimize the impact of taxes,
• protect your net worth.

RSVP at jbird@buffalo.nef.com. Space is limited. Lunch will be provided.

"Bengal Basics: On Your Way to an A," is a workshop series by the Academic Skills Center that provides quick and easy strategies to improve your GPA today!

Is That Due Today? Time-Management Tips in College
Quick, easily applicable tips that keep your life in order!
Tuesday, October 15
12:15–1:15 p.m.
Bacon Hall 217
Presenter: Keith Fulcher

Call ext. 4041 to reserve your spot or schedule a tutoring appointment.

The International Student Affairs Office has officially established an International Student Orientation Fund that can receive donations at any time. The purpose of the initiative is to have funding that can cover the cost of taxi rides from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport to Buffalo State for international students when they arrive to move into their rooms. (International students will obtain a receipt for reimbursement.)

This program will apply only to those international students who have made prior reservations to live on campus.

The campus community is warmly invited to make donations to this special fund by calling the International Student Affairs Office at ext. 5331 or sending e-mail to Jean Gounard, director of international student affairs.

If you are connected to first-year students in MAP-Works, then this workshop, "Getting to Know MAP-Works," is for you. Learn about this powerful tool and how it will help you help students in need. MAP-Works is our web-based retention program, and a "direct connect" is an individual who has been designated to be a resource for a group of first-year students. Learn how to follow up with your students concerning their responses to the survey and direct them to appropriate resources.

Choose one of the following:

Wednesday, October 16, Noon–1:00 p.m., E. H. Butler Library 318
Tuesday, October 22, 3:00–4:00 p.m., E. H. Butler Library 318
Wednesday, October 23, 9:00–10:00 a.m., E. H. Butler Library 318

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/default.asp?cat=46&month=10&year=2013.

On behalf of the Buffalo State Campus Intercultural Communications Committee, the International Student Affairs Office is delighted to invite all internationally minded faculty, staff, and students to attend our well-known weekly International Student Social Hour, which allows all international students, scholars, and their friends to meet informally.

This special get-together takes place every Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Assembly Hall 1 of the Campbell Student Union.

Coffee, tea, and other light refreshments are graciously shared.

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday, October 16.

As previously announced, the initial phase of the Deficit Reduction Plan for UUP-represented employees is being implemented. UUP employees paid over 12 months will have their biweekly gross pay reduced by 2.5 percent beginning in the paychecks dated September 25, 2013. Employees paid over 10 months (such as part-time lecturers) will have their biweekly gross pay reduced by 2.019 percent beginning September 25.

Interim President Cohen has designated the following dates to be used as Deficit Reduction Leave (DRL). UUP employees are entitled to take off two of these dates as their unpaid DRL:

Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014

UUP employees should work with their supervisors or department heads to obtain approval for two days of DRL, selecting from the dates designated by the president. Supervisors are reminded that, although operational needs must be considered, we are required to allow UUP employees to have the two days off for DRL.

We are awaiting instructions from SUNY on how to document the DRL days on attendance records, and we will make an announcement prior to the first DRL designated date.

For UUP employees who are eligible to accrue vacation leave credits, the maximum accumulation has been increased to carry over an additional two days of vacation credits for January 1, 2014. This is a one-time exception to the 40-day limitation. An employee’s total vacation credits shall not exceed 42 days on January 1, 2014.

Please contact Susan Earshen, associate vice president for human resource management, ext. 3042, if you have questions regarding the Deficit Reduction Plan for UUP-represented employees.

The Great Lakes Center is pleased to release the third issue of our newsletter (PDF). The main goal of these newsletters is to give our friends, colleagues, and the campus community an update on our activities for the past six months.

This issue focuses on some of the new projects we have been working on, including two that are planned for the Niagara River. It gives an update on the first group of students in the GLES master's programs. Also included is an article on migratory birds.

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for future editions of the newsletter, please send an e-mail to greatlakes@buffalostate.edu with the subject "Newsletter mailing list add." The newsletter is also always posted on our website.

The 2013–2014 "Conversations in and out of the Disciplines" series continues at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 18, as Mayra Vélez-Serrano, assistant professor of political science, presents “Puerto Rico: The Next 51st State? Reasons, Consequences, and Prospects” in Ketchum Hall 320. A short, informal wine-and-cheese reception will be held after the talk. Everyone is welcome.

Please also mark your calendars for the other talks this fall: Julie Wieczkowski, assistant professor of anthropology, will present "Feeding Ecology of the Tana River Mangabey of Kenya" on Friday, November 22; and Mark Fulk, associate professor of English, will present "William Gilpin, Eliza Knipe, and the Limits of Picturesque Aesthetics in the English Lake District, c. 1780" on Friday, December 6. Both talks will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320.

Please tell students about Graduate School Fair 2013 on Tuesday, October 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall.

Students from all majors will have the chance to meet with more than 60 graduate school representatives from across the country. Representatives from disciplines including social work, health and sciences, arts, medicine, and business will be present to answer questions about their prospective programs. This is a unique opportunity for students to learn about the application process, admission requirements, and financial aid opportunities from recruiters. Career counselors will also be present to answer questions.

This event is free and open to all Buffalo State students and alumni. Faculty and staff members are also welcome to attend. For more information, call the Career Development Center at ext. 5811 or stop by Cleveland Hall 306. A list of participating schools is available on the CDC website.

Jeffrey Otterstein from VALIC Financial Advisors will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Tuesday, October 22. Sessions are by appointment only between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416.

Gain a greater level of confidence in your retirement portfolio. To schedule an appointment, please register online.