Through National Student Exchange, students have the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year at one of 200 participating colleges or universities at affordable tuition rates. Please contact Christine Cali, ext. 4328, to schedule a class visit. Provide your students with this possibility for enriching their college experience and let them know about the upcoming information session on Tuesday, February 5, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Classroom Building B118.

Buffalo State Dining is thrilled to introduce Shop on Campus, its new online store. Shop on Campus allows students, faculty, and staff the ability to purchase family-style meals, party catering packs, and much more!

Rediscover the pleasures of family-style dining with the help of Buffalo State Dining. Select your dinner from a wide range of options including rotisserie-style whole baked chicken, sushi, fresh salads, Subway subs, pizza and wings, and Salsarita's. Our family meals serve four and allow you and your family dinner in no time! Simply place your order online and let Buffalo State Dining know what time you would like to pick it up.

Visit our website today and let Buffalo State Dining bring your family together with a delicious family-style meal tonight!

In support of Governor Cuomo's Executive Order declaring a state public health emergency in response to the severe flu season, the Empire Plan has enhanced the flu shot benefit for enrollees who have not yet been vaccinated.

Effective February 1 through May 31, Empire Plan enrollees and their dependents can receive a paid-in-full influenza vaccination at the following national pharmacies:

• CVS
• Rite Aid
• Safeway
• Target
• Walgreens

Flu vaccines received at other pharmacies or administered by out-of-network physicians will be covered under the basic medical program, subject to the reasonable and customary charges, but not subject to deductibles or coinsurance. Enrollees who choose to be vaccinated at a nonparticipating pharmacy or by a nonparticipating physician must submit a claim for reimbursement.

If you have not received your flu shot, present your Empire Plan Benefit Card at one of the above pharmacies to receive the benefit with no copayment.

For more information about the benefit enhancement, please call the Empire Plan toll free at (877) 769-7447 and select the "medical program" option or visit www.cs.ny.gov/ebd. Click on What's New? for the most up-to-date information.

Create a teaching portfolio as part of your promotion and tenure process. Teaching portfolios are one way to document both growth in teaching and changes in course content and pedagogy. Sample portfolios from a variety of academic areas will be shared. Presented by Sue McMillen on Tuesday, February 12, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3091.

Buffalo State is engaging in an effort to promote accessibility of course materials in classes, including face-to-face, online, and hybrid. This hands-on session will focus on how to use Microsoft Word effectively to create accessible content. Bring a flash drive with one of your course syllabi in Word. Presented by Meghan Pereira, Sumana Silverheels, and Beth Burns on Tuesday, February 12, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 316. This workshop will be repeated on Friday, February 22, from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.

Register for the February 12 session.

Register for the February 22 session.

Examine different types of clicker questions, discuss their potential pedagogical benefits, and share ideas for their applications. Presented by Sue McMillen on Monday, February 11, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Professional Development Center, E. H. Butler Library 181B.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=3099.

The Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Office is accepting nominations for the 2013 Student Leadership and Humanitarian Awards. Unless otherwise noted, completed nominations must be returned to the Dean of Students Office, Campbell Student Union 311, by 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 15. Further details can be found on the Student Life website. For additional information, please call the Dean of Students Office at ext. 4618.

Student Leadership Awards

Mildred Keller Campbell Leadership Award: The Mildred Keller Campbell Leadership Award recognizes a Buffalo State student whose work has had a positive impact on student life and who has excelled as an extracurricular leader among students on campus. The award is offered annually to an undergraduate student based on the nominee's leadership credentials in accordance with established criteria. A plaque and award citing the recipient’s distinction is presented at a ceremony held during the spring semester; the recipient may receive a monetary award, pending availability of funds. Nominees must be undergraduate students with at least 24 credits completed at Buffalo State and minimum GPAs of 2.5. All nominees should have a strong record of extracurricular leadership at Buffalo State, demonstrated through personal development, campus organizational leadership and citizenship, and community service.

Phillip Santa Maria Award for Student Leadership in Equity and Campus Diversity: For 25 years, Phillip Santa Maria served as dean of students at Buffalo State. During his tenure, he was recognized both on campus and throughout the community for his leadership on a variety of diversity and social justice issues. The Phil Santa Maria Award for Student Leadership in Equity and Campus Diversity was established in his honor and is given annually to recognize students who exemplify Santa Maria’s commitment to service, social justice, and diversity. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to submit nominations of student leaders who exemplify his commitment to service, social justice, and diversity through promoting respect for diversity and individual differences in their activities, projects, discussions, or leadership with student organizations and groups for this purpose. All undergraduate and graduate students at Buffalo State who are in good standing are eligible to apply. Nominations must be submitted to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, by Friday, February 22.

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges: For nearly seven decades, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges has assisted in the tradition of furthering the aims of higher education by recognizing and rewarding academic excellence on a national level. Buffalo State is among the 1,900 institutions participating in this national program. Students selected for inclusion in Who's Who are entitled to a free lifetime reference/placement service when seeking postgraduate employment or fellowships. A certificate citing the recipient’s distinction is presented at a ceremony held in the spring. Nominees must be an undergraduate junior or senior with at least 24 credits completed at Buffalo State and a minimum GPA of 3.0, or a graduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5. All nominees should have a strong record of extracurricular leadership at Buffalo State, demonstrated through personal development, campus organizational leadership and citizenship, and community service.

Humanitarian Awards

Luis M. Antonetti Student Humanitarian Award: The Luis M. Antonetti Student Humanitarian Award recognizes a Buffalo State undergraduate student who has demonstrated personal character through encouragement of nonviolent beliefs and actions, volunteer service both on campus and in the community, and an ability to reach out to others with broad cultural acceptance. A plaque and award citing the recipient’s distinction is presented at a ceremony held in the spring; the recipient may receive a monetary award, pending availability of funds.

Minnie and Joe Engel Student Humanitarian Award: The Minnie and Joe Engel Student Humanitarian Award recognizes a Buffalo State undergraduate student who has demonstrated personal character through altruism, volunteer service, and the giving of oneself to the campus and the larger community. The Engel Humanitarian Award recognizes the full measure of a person’s worth, not just as a scholar but also as someone whose efforts on behalf of others define a quality of character that embodies core values that merit recognition. A plaque and award citing the recipient’s distinction is presented at a ceremony held in the spring; the recipient may receive a monetary award, pending availability of funds.

Phillip Santa Maria Memorial Award: The Phillip Santa Maria Memorial Award recognizes a Buffalo State undergraduate student who has demonstrated a well-rounded character, exhibiting not only scholastic achievement but also active participation in campus life at Buffalo State and in the Western New York community and a desire to improve the world. A plaque and award citing the recipient’s distinction is presented at a ceremony held in the spring; the recipient may receive a monetary award, pending availability of funds.

Lecture-discussion: My Appreciation of Watercolor: A Personal View with Kathy Gaye Shiroki, part of the International Center for Watercolor Lunchtime Lecture Series. Friday, March 1, 12:30–1:00 p.m.

John Cage: New River Watercolor Series
In 1988, John Cage produced four series of watercolor paintings at Mountain Lake Workshop at Horton Center. Inspired by his belief in Zen Buddhism, Cage experienced the world by freeing his mind and self from control. He explored the idea of chance to construct his watercolor compositions and used feathers to paint instead of conventional brushes.

Enjoy lunch at the Burchfield Café before attending the lecture. Watercolor presentations are held on the first and third Fridays from February 15 to May 17 in the conference room. Admission is free with gallery admission. Lectures are free for Buffalo State staff, faculty, and students.

Do you know of a faculty or staff member who you feel could benefit from a significant leadership development experience? Do you feel that you might benefit from such an experience? The Emerging College Leaders Program (ECL) is now accepting nominations and applications for its 2013 cohort for the program in late May.

The ECL is a weeklong program for 16 faculty and professional staff members who are interested in developing their potential as leaders. Participants may have never held leadership positions, or they may be an intermediate supervisor, head a small unit, or aspire to a new leadership role. The program includes a series of workshops, self-assessment tools (including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, FourSight, and the Leadership Practices Inventory), and individual development plans. Two follow-up meetings assess progress on achieving individual leadership development goals.

Further information, as well as nomination and application forms, can be found on the Professional Development website. The nomination deadline is Thursday, February 14; applications are due Monday, February 25.

The first two spring fitness programs of the Bengals Recreation and Intramurals division start next week, Monday February 4.

Body sculpting with Amy will take place every Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Buckham Hall A209 and A210.

Yoga classes are offered every Tuesday at 5.30 p.m. and every Thursday at 4:00 p.m., also in Buckham Hall A209 and A210. Patrick is the instructor; sessions last one hour.

All fitness classes are free of charge and open to Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff. Information regarding additional fitness classes, such as Zumba, will follow soon.

For more information, e-mail Rudy Pompert.