Commencement is just days away, students have finished their finals, and the campus community is gearing up for graduation day. We're all connected through a common bond because of Buffalo State. Whether we are students, faculty or staff members, alumni, or parents, we each play an important role in this annual tradition.

We are excited to introduce a new interactive website and social media tool, bengalpride.buffalostate.edu. The site is designed to promote school spirit among students, faculty, alumni, and the campus community. Using feeds from Twitter, Instagram, and manually submitted messages, the site displays submitted messages, tweets, and photos based on the hashtag #bengalpride.

Help us celebrate the achievements of our students and alumni! Send your congratulations to the Class of 2013. Tweet your message or share your Instagram photo using #bengalpride and see it on our spirit wall at bengalpride.buffalostate.edu. Don't have either? You can submit a message right on the wall.

Share in the excitement with the Class of 2013. Be part of the conversation.

The Computing and Technology Services technology purchasing support staff strongly advises all departments to submit all technology purchase support requests at least three days in advance of the purchase requisition deadlines for the end of the fiscal year published by Procurement Services. Because of factors such as vendor delays in providing quotes, additional lead time is required to ensure that purchase requisitions for hardware and software can be prepared and sent on for your authorization before the deadlines established by Procurement Services.

For computing technology purchasing support, please contact the CTS technology purchasing support staff at ctspurchasing@buffalostate.edu.

Thank you to all faculty, staff, and friends who plan to assist with Commencement this Saturday, May 18, on the Buffalo State campus. All Commencement marchers and volunteer ushers should have by now received letters confirming their registration and providing reporting instructions.

Marchers with questions or changes to their plans, please contact Patricia Alessandra in the Academic Affairs Office.

Ushers with questions or changes to their plans, please contact Mary Beth Wojtaszek in the Events Management Office.

Thank you very much for helping to honor the Class of 2013.

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Buffalo Section and Buffalo State Interior Design Department present "Illuminating Gab Nite" today, May 15, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the lobby of Upton Hall. IGNITE is a public event designed to bring the professional practicing design community into Buffalo State for interaction with the Interior Design Department's students of lighting.

Drinks and appetizers will be served as you, your guests, and the design community circulate through a dozen of our young designers' work. At the end of the event, the IES Buffalo Section Scholarship will be awarded to the project receiving the highest evaluation during preprogram judging.

Lighting practitioners come from a variety of disciplines, but they have one commonality—a passion for lighting that becomes a fire within. Join us as we chat with students of lighting. IGNITE the WNY lighting community!

Please contact Paul Mercier, lecturer of interior design, for additional information.

April 27 was National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Thirty-four drop-off locations in Western New York, including Buffalo State, accepted all prescription and over-the-counter medications from residential homes—no questions asked—for proper disposal. A total of 4,148 cars went through all the sites, turning in an astounding 12,604 pounds of drugs! Thank you to everyone who participated in this effort.
 

Join us for Plein Air Watercolor Painting: In and around Burchfield’s Home at the Center with Rita Argen Auerbach, part of the International Center for Watercolor, on Saturday, May 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Studio Classroom. 

Charles E. Burchfield found inspiration and motivation for painting outside his home. His home is also our museum. Participants will investigate around the grounds at the Burchfield Penney. The session will begin with a demonstration, followed by individual instruction while painting, and conclude with a group critique. The watercolor workshop is for artists of all levels. Participants are asked to bring their own painting supplies.

Rita Argen Auerbach, a Buffalo State distinguished alumna, is an internationally recognized award-winning artist whose watercolors are represented in numerous museums and corporate and private collections in this country and abroad.

Cost: $45 for "not yet" members; $35 for Burchfield Penney members. Join online or call ext. 3547 for membership information.

To register for this class, contact Kathy Gaye Shiroki, ext. 3549, or visit the Burchfield Penney website to download the registration form.

A crucial conversation is defined as a discussion between two or more people where stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. This tends to be the precursor to crucial confrontations. What are the signs? What preparation is needed to handle the situation? When, where, and how do you use the seven principles? Do honesty, respect, and courage have an impact on conversations? Participants are invited to take the next step in this interactive workshop about conversation (in the workplace, for example) when the stakes are high. Presented by Rita Zientek, interim dean of the School of the Professions, and Ottilie Woodruff, director of staff development. Light lunch provided.

Date: Tuesday, May 21
Time: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Location: Bulger Communication Center N2B

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3163.

Weigel Health Center will host a Professional Development Series on Tuesday, May 21, featuring "LGBT Issues," presented by Charlene Vetter, psychologist in the Counseling Center, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and "The Art of Mindfulness," presented by Susan Nierenberg, nurse practitioner with Weigel Health Center, and Kim Dobson, psychiatrist in the Counseling Center, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. This series is open to the college community. RSVP to ext. 6711 if you plan to attend.

Buffalo State is engaging in an effort to promote accessibility of course materials in all classes. This session provides an opportunity for individual assistance as you work toward making your syllabus and other course content accessible. Bring your questions and a flash drive with your Word or PowerPoint files. Come for any portion of the help session in Bulger Communication Center 104. No registration is necessary. 

Drop-in help will be available on Monday, May 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The list of raffle winners from Buffalo State’s Ice Cream Social held on Friday, May 10, is now available. Please call Melissa Slisz, staff assistant in the President's Office, at ext. 4102 to claim your gift. Congratulations to our raffle winners, and thanks to everyone who came out for this great event!