I am pleased to announce that Kevin Miller, professor of exceptional education, will be the interim dean of the Graduate School for the coming year. I look forward to working with Dr. Miller to further the goals of graduate education at Buffalo State College.
Registration is open for the 2016 ACE Women's Network State Conference, New York State’s leadership event for women in higher education, held June 23 and 24 at Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady, New York. This statewide conference, titled "Success: No Permission Necessary," offers inspiration, education, and information to help you move your career forward, all in one place.
The event begins Thursday, June 23, at 5:00 p.m. with regional meetings and dinner with friends. Conference sessions take place Friday, June 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The keynote speaker is Sarah Angel-Johnson, interim chief PMO executive and chief alumnae officer with Girl Scouts of America.
For more information, please visit the New York State ACE Women's Network website.
At its May 6, 2016, meeting, the College Senate voted to strongly recommend to the president that the following Involuntary Leave Policy, proposed by the Student Health Advisory Committee, be adopted.
April 30, 2015
WHEREAS, there are times when the academic, social, and personal pressures associated with a campus environment create difficult challenges for individual students;
WHEREAS, Buffalo State provides a Health Center and a Counseling Center to address the physical and emotional needs of students or refers students to off-campus facilities and service providers when needed;
WHEREAS, despite these efforts at support, some students cannot adequately be helped by available facilities and/or refuse to accept recommended emotional and/or medical treatment;
WHEREAS, the unrelieved pressures of coping with the demands of college life may cause some students to be unable to function effectively in the residential or college community—that is, without harming others or disrupting the college community; and
WHEREAS, the student judicial process is available to address behavior that has already occurred there is at the same time a compelling need to prevent harmful behavior before it occurs by responding to information that indicates a student’s intention to engage in harmful behavior,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the college adopt a policy allowing the placement of a student on involuntary leave of absence following a prescribed set of procedures as delineated in the Student Health Advisory Committee’s proposed Involuntary Leave Policy.
I hereby authorize the adoption of the Involuntary Leave Policy recommended by the Senate, effective with the fall 2016 semester. I charge the provost and the vice president for student affairs with joint responsibility for implementation of the policy; communication of the policy to faculty, students, and staff; and oversight to ensure compliance with this policy moving forward.
At its May 6, 2016, meeting, the College Senate voted to forward to the president the following recommendation from the Standards for Students Committee regarding new certificate programs at Buffalo State College to ensure that the college is in compliance with SUNY policy. The Senate further recommended that a review of all current certificate programs be undertaken to ensure compliance in all areas.
WHEREAS, many departments and programs at Buffalo State currently have, or are interested in developing, certificate programs;
WHEREAS, SUNY has detailed criteria that address certificate and advanced certificate program creation and approval that is readily available and regularly updated on SUNY’s Academic Affairs’ Academic Program Planning website;
WHEREAS, Buffalo State, as a SUNY institution, must follow SUNY policy; and
WHEREAS, creating a duplicative local policy may lead to administrative inefficiency on campus and non-compliance with changes to SUNY policy,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Buffalo State:
I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate regarding new and existing certificate programs at Buffalo State College. The policy becomes effective for new certificate immediately. I charge the provost with the responsibility of reviewing all current certificate programs and making adjustments to bring all programs into compliance by the beginning of the fall 2016 semester.
At its May 6, 2016, meeting, the College Senate voted to forward to the president the following revisions to the DOPS Distance Education Policy for review and consideration. The changes involve several language revisions, including a name change to Distance Education Policy.
BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: IV:07:00
Date: May 2016
Subject: Distance Education Policy
It is recognized that the offering of distance education courses and programs has the potential to significantly affect the institution’s student population, curriculum, and modes as well as venue of instruction. While the technologies involved in distance education are constantly changing, for the purpose of this document, it is sufficient to recognize that their use takes three broad forms: 100% online (asynchronous or synchronous), combined online (asynchronous and synchronous), and hybrid/hybrid plus (delivered online and in a classroom) as defined in DOPS Policy IV:07:03 on Instructional Modalities. The current recommendations are designed to apply to all forms of distance education.
I. Rights and Responsibilities of the University and Faculty
A. Course Approval and Enrollment
1. All courses offered through distance education formats must meet the academic quality standards set by SUNY Buffalo State. No fundamental distinction exists between the review and approval processes for traditional and distance education courses.
2. All courses offered through distance education will be determined in the same manner as on-campus courses.
3. Course enrollments for distance education classes will be determined and approved in the same manner as enrollments in on-campus classes.
B. Academic and professional employees will be provided with opportunities to learn the technology necessary to conduct any distance education courses they are asked to teach.
C. Course-related materials containing personally identifiable student information for distance education classes should be as confidential as the medium allows consistent with appropriate student access and SUNY and state policy.
D. It is understood that faculty members will continue to create traditionally expected course-related materials, such as syllabi, assignments, and tests, for students in their program or department regardless of the method of dissemination, and use of such materials in classroom/instruction will be without the expectation of royalty payments (refer to the section dealing with intellectual property right).
E. Courses and course materials will meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
F. If a specific technology is needed for a course, faculty must inform students of hardware and software requirements in addition to prerequisite level of computer expertise.
G. Faculty should provide adequate, individualized, and timely interaction with students.
H. Faculty who teach online will provide synchronous office hours online.
I. The college will provide students with online access to appropriate library resources, administrative processes, technological assistance, and student support services.
II. Rights and Responsibilities of Students
A. Students enrolled in distance education courses are required to have access to the Internet.
B. Students can expect to be informed of hardware requirements, software requirements, and the prerequisite level of computer expertise necessary for their courses.
C. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations must identify themselves to the Disability Services Office.
D. Students can expect to receive adequate, individualized, and timely interaction with faculty members and, where appropriate, fellow students in distance education courses.
E. Students will have access to appropriate library resources, technological assistance, and student support services.
III. Specific Rights and Responsibilities Related to Intellectual Property and Copyright of Distance Education Course Materials at SUNY Buffalo State.
A. Overview
All copyrights to any works (including intellectual creations stored on printed age, videotape, CD-ROM, or any other medium) produced by academic or professional employees will be assigned using the definitions of and according to the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York.
B. Clarification
1. Except as limited below in paragraphs III B 2 and B 3, it is understood that intellectual property created by a faculty member or professional employee will remain the property of faculty member or professional employee for perpetuity or so long as the law allows.
(a) Any rebroadcast or redistribution of materials developed by academic or professional employees will require permission from the individuals who created the materials.
(b) A distance education course, like any other course, is the intellectual property of the faculty member who creates it, and the use of such property is contingent upon gaining the permission of the individual who created the course.
(c) Permission to revise or use recorded distance education classes and related materials can be granted only by the instructor responsible for its production.
(d) Where two or more individuals are involved in the planning, design, or composition of a distance education course, it is recommended that the parties involved assign ownership through contractual agreement.
2. The college is the sole owner of intellectual property when it expressly directs a faculty member or professional employee to create a specified work, or the work is created as a specific requirement of employment, such as might be included in a written job description.
3. The college and faculty member or professional employee are joint owners of intellectual property when the college has contributed support or facilities that go beyond what is traditionally provided. Such arrangements should be clarified through contractual agreement.
IV. Resources
Distance education resources will be adequate to meet external accreditation standards set by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the New York State Department of Education, the State University of New York, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. More specifically, SUNY Buffalo State will, within the available budget:
A. Provide academic and professional employees with appropriate instructional technologies for distance education classes.
B. Provide instructors with needed supplies as well as clerical, technical, instructional design, computing, multimedia, and library support services.
C. Implement a series of development activities for academic and professional employees to encourage them to examine educational possibilities in distance education and to receive training in the use of various technologies. The purpose of the activities is to improve teaching effectiveness and competence and increase employees’ comfort level with the pedagogy and technology of distance education.
I hereby approve the changes to the Distance Education Policy recommended by the College Senate. These changes are effective immediately. I charge the provost with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the policy changes; communicating the new policy to all faculty, staff, and students; and, where necessary, retraining of faculty and staff responsible for policy implementation.
POLICY SUMMARY
The college does not discriminate against employees, applicants for employment, or students based on religion or national origin.
Policy Statement
No person shall be expelled from or refused admission as a student to an institution of higher learning for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to register for or to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements on a particular day or days.
Applicability
Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend or participate in classes on a particular day or days, shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.
Definitions
The term “religious belief” shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes, which is not disqualified for tax exemption under Section 501 of the United States Code.
Responsibility
It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements that he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
Procedure
RELATED INFORMATION
Documents and Forms
SUNY Buffalo State Policy on Discrimination Based on Religion
Equity and Campus Diversity Policies
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office Name: Equity and Campus Diversity
Office Address: 415 Cleveland Hall, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-6201
Fax: (716) 878-6234
Website: equity.buffalostate.edu
E-mail: eeoequity@buffalostate.edu
REVISION HISTORY
Date of change: 5/31/2016
Brief description of edit: updated to 2016–2017
APPROVAL
SUNY Legal
Erin Alonzo, associate vice president for enrollment management, has taken leave effective June 1, 2016, through September 11, 2016. I am pleased to announce that she delivered two healthy babies, a boy and a girl, on June 1, the first day of her leave. I know you will all join me in wishing her and her twins all our best.
During this period, Daniel C. Vélez, associate vice president for student success, will serve as officer in charge of the Enrollment Management unit. Any inquiries regarding enrollment management may be directed to him at 878-3640 or velezdc@buffalostate.edu.
POLICY SUMMARY
The college does not discriminate against employees, applicants for employment, or students based on religion or national origin.
Policy Statement
No person shall be expelled from or refused admission as a student to an institution of higher learning for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to register for or to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements on a particular day or days.
Applicability
Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend or participate in classes on a particular day or days, shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.
Definitions
The term “religious belief” shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes, which is not disqualified for tax exemption under Section 501 of the United States Code.
Responsibility
It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements that he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
Procedure
RELATED INFORMATION
Documents and Forms
SUNY Buffalo State Policy on Discrimination Based on Religion
Equity and Campus Diversity Policies
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office Name: Equity and Campus Diversity
Office Address: 415 Cleveland Hall, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-6201
Fax: (716) 878-6234
Website: equity.buffalostate.edu
E-mail: eeoequity@buffalostate.edu
REVISION HISTORY
Date of change: 5/31/2016
Brief description of edit: updated to 2016-2017
APPROVAL
SUNY Legal
We are pleased to invite the campus community to attend presentations from the inaugural class of Fostering Innovation in Teaching with Technology scholars on Friday, June 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Butler Library 210.
The Fostering Innovation in Teaching with Technology Academy is a weeklong intensive hands-on faculty development event jointly sponsored by Resources for Information, Technology, and Education (RITE) and the Professional Development Center designed to foster a “community of practice” focused on advancing teaching with technology at Buffalo State. This year, a group of full-time faculty and staff members were selected to collaborate with instructional technology and design specialists to develop a variety of novel teaching resources intended to enhance teaching and learning in their courses.
Please join us to learn more about the exciting and transformative accomplishments of the inaugural class of FITT scholars and their shared experience.
FITT Scholars and Projects
Seth Oyer, Assistant Professor, Communication Department
Goose Chase: Explore online scavenger hunts to enhance interactive experiences for students.
Eric Dolph, Assistant Professor, Interior Design Department
Virtual Reality: Investigate 3-D modeling software in a virtual reality environment to enhance spatial understanding using Google Cardboard.
Amy McMillan, Associate Professor, Biology Department
Flipped Classroom: Create instructional videos and identify additional supplemental media; establish best practices.
Maria Pacheco, Associate Professor, Chemistry Department
Open Educational Resources: Develop faculty guide for OER adoption in their courses; apply creative commons license and share with the Buffalo State community.
David Abbott, Instructional Support Specialist, Physics Department
Open Educational Resources: Digitize homework assignments and identify OERs to enhance student comprehension.
Tim Bryant, Assistant Professor, English Department
Multimedia: Transform written assignment to incorporate digital/multimedia components in a way that can be reviewed by other students and published online.
Kathleen O’Brien, Director, Campus House; Lecturer, Hospitality and Tourism Department
Digital Badges: Develop and design a digital credentialing system using Blackboard Achievements to recognize student competency in specific skills.
Resources for Information, Technology, and Education (RITE) is pleased to announce that testing on the installation and use of the Adobe Creative Cloud application suite has been completed. We are now planning for the campuswide rollout of Creative Cloud to be completed before the start of the fall 2016 semester. For information on the rollout plan and schedule, and to ensure that your department is included, please visit the RITE News page.