Waitlists for fall 2013 will be turned off on the second day of classes, which will be 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, August 27. When waitlists are turned off, students will no longer be able to put themselves on a waitlist; however, students who are already on waitlists will continue to have an opportunity to register for the class if a seat becomes available before the end of registration for the term. Fall 2013 registration ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 2. Additional information on waitlisting can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

In memory of Donald L. O’Brien, professor emeritus of elementary education and reading who died on August 17,  the School of Education has set up a scholarship fund that will be used to provide a one-time scholarship to an elementary education major.

Dr. O’Brien became coordinator of Buffalo State’s reading program in 1975, and he was instrumental in the establishment and continuation of the Reading Center. He was much loved by his students not only because he was a caring mentor who was always generous with his time, but also because he was passionately dedicated to the advancement of literacy. Many graduates of his program became faculty members at higher education institutions across the country, including Wendy Paterson, dean of the School of Education.

To make a donation, please visit Giving to Buffalo State and designate your gift to "School of Education Dean’s Fund: O'Brien."

UUP-represented employees who wish to change their health insurance plan for the remainder of 2013 have until Friday, August 30, to do so. We encourage you to return the completed option transfer form to Cleveland Hall 410 as soon as possible. The effective date of the new coverage will be September 1, 2013.

Please review the new health insurance rates and the negotiated NYSHIP changes carefully before you decide whether to change insurance carriers or to remain with your current carrier for health insurance coverage.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

Note: The annual Option Transfer Period will be held at the end of the calendar year, and you will have the opportunity to review health insurance plan options and rates for 2014.

Please call the Employee Benefits Office at ext. 4821 with questions.

Buffalo State Dining is excited to announce the addition of Jamba Juice to the Campbell Student Union Food Court. Jamba Juice Classic Smoothies are made with real whole fruit, 100 percent fruit juice, sherbet, and frozen yogurt. Jamba Juice All Fruit Smoothies are made with real whole fruit and 100 percent juice. Each smoothie is nondairy, vegan, and chock full of antioxidants like vitamin C.

Try a smoothie sample today from noon to 1:00 p.m. at Jamba Juice in the Campbell Student Union Food Court.

For more information on Jamba Juice, visit www.jambajuice.com.

The evaluation of online teaching involves many of the same criteria used in evaluating face-to-face teaching, but it also necessitates the use of additional criteria based more directly on the online environment. Learn about best practices for evaluating online teaching. Examine research-based tools, rubrics, and checklists designed to provide constructive peer feedback on the design and instruction of online courses. Discuss guidelines for developing effective departmental practices for evaluating online courses. Presented by Sue McMillen on Thursday, September 12, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 117. A light lunch will be provided.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3245.

This lab will be devoted to answering questions and assisting faculty with making their course materials more accessible. It provides an opportunity for individual assistance on a drop-in basis. Bring your questions and a flash drive with your files. Join us on Friday, September 13, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 104.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3278.

Today’s tools for online collaboration are readily available and relatively simple to use. Blackboard Collaborate is a live web-conferencing application that allows exciting, new approaches to support a twenty-first-century teaching and learning environment. Join us and learn how easily Collaborate allows you to import PowerPoint slides or share your computer screen or a particular window with participants while interacting with students through chat, webcam, and microphone. Presented by Meghan Pereira and Todd Benzin on Thursday, September 12, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Bulger Communication Center 104. This workshop will be repeated on Monday, September 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Register for the Thursday, September 12, workshop.

Register for the Monday, September 16, workshop.

Learn to save annotations and images created while teaching with a SMART Technologies interactive white board. Insert your drawing or writing as an image into a Microsoft Office document or save it as a screen capture in SMART Notebook software. See how to convert your writing into typed text in a Word or Excel document. Presented by Sue McMillen on Friday, September 13, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. in the Professional Development Center, E. H. Butler Library 181B.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3263.

Learn to record video of all actions that take place while working on a SMART Technologies interactive white board. See how to add audio with a microphone so that the video is ready to be shared with colleagues and students. This is a convenient way to record solutions to homework problems in a fully accessible format. Presented by Sue McMillen on Friday, September 13, from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. in the Professional Development Center, E. H. Butler Library 181B.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3261.

Computer hardware plays a lesser role in the majority of everyday computer use. We are beginning to see more software become available through cloud computing (e.g., Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud). In a way, computing power has become more like a utility that you pay for as you use it, and we are switching to a model that off-loads most of the computing work to the Internet. How does this new model change the way we work, teach, and learn in higher education? This discussion will be facilitated by Ken Fujiuchi on Wednesday, September 11, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Professional Development Center, E. H. Butler Library 181B. A light lunch will be provided.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3284.