For those who have scheduled a pickup for the Homecoming and Family Weekend Food Drive, please note that student-athletes will be at your office on Friday, September 27, between noon and 1:00 p.m. (not Thursday during Bengal Pause). If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Tom Koller, senior associate athletics director, ext. 6514.

CDHS College Partnership Development is now accepting submissions for 2014 partnership projects. The request for proposals can be viewed on the Center for Development of Human Services website.

Printed copies will be available soon from our offices in Bacon Hall 103 and 114. For more information, please contact Gail Daniels, director, at ext. 4816. We look forward to hearing from you.

Through National Student Exchange, students have the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year at one of the 200 participating colleges or universities at affordable tuition rates. Please contact Christine Frezza, ext. 4328, to schedule a class visit. Please provide your students with this possibility for enriching their college experience and let them know about the upcoming information session on Tuesday, October 8, and Thursday, October 10, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Classroom Building B119. Thank you.

The Exceptional Education Department is proud to announce that three faculty members have been honored with 2013 President's Awards for Excellence:

Lisa Rafferty, associate professor, received the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Awilda Ramos Zagarrigo, assistant professor, received the President's Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement.

Lynne Sommerstein, lecturer, received the President's Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Equity and Campus Diversity.

All three will be honored during the Faculty and Staff Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, October 3, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

Initial July 1, 2013, departmental budget allocations for state-appropriated accounts are now posted. Please note that the initial allocations are based on last year’s budget levels. Discussions with vice presidents and deans are taking place now as to final allocations for this year. Managers can access departmental information using the SUNY Management Resource Tool (SMRT) application. If you have a question about inquiry access to a departmental account, please call the Budget Office at ext. 4312 for additional information.

The Equity and Campus Diversity Office announces the launch of a Diversity Dialogue Series, created by graduate student intern Lavere Foster, beginning Thursday, September 26.

“Let’s Talk about SEX-uality,” a discussion led in cooperation with the Pride Center of WNY, begins in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall at 5:00 p.m. The series on sexual identity includes in-depth discussions and interactions, workshops, speakers, and free food.

The following dialogues will also take place this semester. Each dialogue will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays:

Disability Awareness: Looking Beyond Disabilities
October 10

Gender Equality: Balancing the Scale in the 21st Century
November 7

SES: Students Education Students/SocioEconomic Status
November 14

Race: Are We So Different?
December 5

Faculty and staff members, please encourage students to attend these informative, educational, and illuminating conversations. You’re welcome, as well!

Journey's End Refugee Services will bring its interactive tour, "A Refugee's Journey," to campus Tuesday, October 8, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Cleveland Hall 205. This tour is a one-hour conversation with three Journey's End clients who will reflect on their experiences as refugees in Buffalo, within the refugee community, and as part of Journey's End.

Journey's End provides refugees of Western New York with resources and support and is committed to welcoming and supporting refugees in order to help them become healthy, independent, contributing members of the community.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Buffalo State to hear personal stories of struggle and success from area refugees. The School of Education, event sponsor, is committed to building a global mindset and international opportunities for all of our faculty, staff, and students. Join us and find opportunities to engage with West Side community members and organizations—our neighbors!

Space for this event is limited; RSVP to Tamara Horstman-Riphahn no later than October 6 to secure your seat.

Chris Shively, assistant professor of elementary education, will share his research, “Taking the Next Step: What Should Happen after My Students Collect Science Data,” on Friday, October 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. 

Shively has examined the narratives associated with science lessons taught by seven preservice science teachers (PSTs). His talk uses sociocultural theory to explain why the seven teachers did not design and teach science lessons that enabled their kids to communicate with each other about the data they collected during the science lessons. Shively explains how grades and high-stakes exams contributed to this phenomenon. For more information about Shively, please visit his website.

CORRECTION APPENDED
Faculty and staff members are encouraged to participate in the annual Orange Crush Homecoming and Family Weekend Food Drive to benefit the Buffalo State Food Pantry. Student-athletes will be canvassing offices and departments on Friday, September 27, between noon and 1:00 p.m. to pick up nonperishable foods such as peanut butter, tuna, pasta and pasta sauces, cereals, and canned fruit and soup. If you're interested in donating, please contact Tom Koller, senior associate athletics director, ext. 6514. Deadline for reserving a pickup is today at 4:00 p.m.

The McNair Scholars Program at Buffalo State is seeking high-achieving undergraduate students from all majors, especially in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). The program prepares students for graduate study through a variety of scholarly and research activities. Please inform any student you feel qualifies for this program. Students can be referred to the McNair Office, Science Building 253, where applications are now available. Review of applications will begin Friday, December 6, and continue until all available positions are filled. For more information, please call ext. 3411 or e-mail Jennifer Johnson.