I am pleased to announce the appointment of Bradley Fuster as special assistant to the provost for innovative learning. Fuster will assume administrative leadership of online, hybrid, and distance education at Buffalo State. He will chair the Online Advisory Committee; work with faculty, librarians, instructional designers, student affairs personnel, and administrators to craft and revise relevant policies and procedure; explore potential areas of pedagogical enhancement and strategic enrollment growth; promote the infusion of high-impact and best practices in classroom and online pedagogy; and work to lower textbook and course material costs for students. Fuster joined the faculty in 2005 as founding chair of the Music Department, where he increased enrollment and quality, achieved initial and reaccreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), created endowed music scholarships, and implemented an online master of music education degree program. He also served Buffalo State as interim associate vice president for enrollment management and interim chief information officer. Fuster will continue teaching in the Music Department and the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program.

As the summer comes to an end, I have been thinking about the many ways I tell the Buffalo State story...

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Two major changes to nearby roadways have affected travel to and from the Buffalo State campus, and traffic delays are expected with the start of the academic year. The campus community is reminded to allow for extra time when traveling to and from campus.

In June, the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) began a long-term project to replace the Elmwood Avenue bridge over Route 198. This project will run through fall 2016.

North-south traffic on Elmwood Avenue has been reduced to one lane in each direction over the bridge. The off-ramp from Route 198 East onto Elmwood Avenue will remain open, as will the off-ramp from Route 198 West to southbound Elmwood Avenue; however, traffic has been slowed because of the lane restrictions. For more information on the Elmwood Avenue project, please visit the DOT website.

The DOT has also instituted several changes to Route 198 following the Delaware Park accident in May. The speed limit has been reduced to 30 m.p.h.; lanes have been narrowed; stop signs have been installed at the foot of on-ramps; and traffic signals and crosswalks will be installed near Delaware Park. More information on this project is available online.

Buffalo State does not manage these projects, but the campus community should expect delays on surrounding roadways. Please remember to account for these traffic changes in your daily routine and allow yourself additional travel time.

I encourage the Buffalo State community to nominate deserving colleagues for SUNY Chancellor’s Awards and Buffalo State President’s Awards for Excellence. Guidelines can be found on the Academic Affairs website.

Please visit the Nomination Resources – Celebrations of Excellence section for helpful resources and tips for assembling nomination dossiers.

Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence
Nominations for the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching are due to the provost by September 15 each year. Please submit nominations electronically to Carolyn Martino, assistant to the provost.

Due Date:  September 15, 2015 (academic year 2015–2016)

Nominations with supporting materials for Distinguished Teaching Professor or Distinguished Service Professor, or for the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Professional Service, Librarianship, Scholarship and Creative Activities, or Faculty Service are due to the provost, Cleveland Hall 519, by the third Monday in October each year. When possible, please submit nominations electronically to Carolyn Martino.

Due Date: October 19, 2015 (academic year 2015–2016)

Please note: Nominators for SUNY Chancellor’s Awards should prepare their nomination letters in the format of a Summary Presentation, as specified in the SUNY Award guidelines (PDF). The Buffalo State Nomination Checklist Cover Sheet (PDF) should be the first page of all nomination packets.

President’s Awards for Excellence
Nominations with supporting materials for the President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement; the Advancement of Equity and Campus Diversity; Career Achievement for Faculty; Career Achievement for Professional Staff; Faculty and Staff Mentoring; Librarianship; Research, Scholarship, and Creativity; Service to the College; Teaching; or as an Undergraduate Research Mentor are due to the provost, Cleveland Hall 519, by the first Monday in March each year. When possible, please submit nominations electronically to Carolyn Martino.

Due Date: March 7, 2016 (academic year 2015–2016)

In the last week, several people have asked me if I’m looking forward to the new academic year...

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I am pleased to announce that Patrick D. Crosby will join the Student Success Office as the new COMPASS program coordinator. His appointment is effective September 1.

Crosby comes to Buffalo State from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he has served as assistant director of programmatic initiatives and student development for a high-touch, intrusive academic coaching program since April 2014. Crosby also served as student programming coordinator for the University at Buffalo's Intercultural and Diversity Center from June 2012 through May 2014. In that position, he supervised graduate student programming staff, advised student clubs and organizations, and assessed program performance. Crosby’s experience in these positions and his background with Campus Labs as a CollegiateLink support specialist in 2012 will serve him well in his new position.

Crosby has three degrees from the University at Buffalo—a bachelor of arts in media study and a bachelor of arts in communication, as well as a master of education in higher education administration.

As academics walk through the world, we test hypotheses in formal and informal ways...

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During the last year, our shift toward a larger residential presence on campus has become more apparent...

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As we approached the first week of classes, the entire campus community was energized in preparing for the start of the new academic year...

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I will address the Buffalo State College community at a Fall Forum on Tuesday, September 29, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. I will present highlights from the previous academic year and set the direction forward for the upcoming strategic planning process. All members of the faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and to join me in a reception following the presentation to greet our new faculty and staff members.