One of the most exciting features of the new Bengal Success Portal is the Student Progress Report. This early intervention tool enables faculty members to inform advisers and students about signs of academic difficulty early on in the term (at about the three-week mark). Advisers can then take steps to reach out to students so that they can make positive changes to their academic habits while there is still time to turn things around.  

On September 18, the Student Progress Report will deploy to all instructors for the first time. An e-mail notification with the link will be sent to all faculty members. Instructors will be able to view their class lists and mark whether a student has encountered an issue (by raising a “No Show/Has Not Attended” flag or a “General Concern” flag), or award students “kudos” for a job well done. Students will receive e-mails, and students' advisers will be made aware of this feedback as well. If a cause for concern is identified, students will know that actions need to be taken. By the same token, advisers can then conduct proactive outreach to assist students in helping them to meet their academic goals.

Instructors, please watch out for the Student Progress Report and complete it when you receive it. Your feedback just might be that extra little “nudge” that students need to put them on the path to success!

As required under the Higher Education Opportunity Act, this message shall serve as official notification to the campus community regarding illegal file sharing and copyright infringement.

Do you use your campus computer to share music, movies, or software over the web? Did you know that you may be violating federal copyright law?

Copyright infringement carries both civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the U.S. Copyright Office website, especially its FAQs.

Although there are legitimate uses for file sharing and peer-to-peer technologies, please be aware that the campus Policy on the Use of Electronic Resources prohibits the use of the network for copyright infringement or software piracy. When you log in to a machine on the campus network or connect to the campus wireless, you are responsible for the use of your computer and your connection. Please see the RITE website for guidelines regarding the use of the campus secure wireless network.

If we receive a complaint identifying your computer as sharing copyrighted materials, we’ll meet with you to help you remove the offending materials and software. Repeat complaints will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Clear violations of the Electronic Resources policy that are not promptly remedied may result in termination of network access for the person(s) at fault and referral for disciplinary actions as appropriate.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) websites have information about their current activities and some background on why they are working to prevent the theft of creative content. Please see the RITE website for more information on peer-to-peer file sharing and copyright infringement.

There are legal alternatives. Several legal sources of online content can be found on the Educause website.

Please know that we are here to assist you. We hope you have a productive semester.

The WNY Women’s Foundation, the Alliance Advisory, and Buffalo Niagara 360 cordially invite you to Gender Synergy for Better Business: Appreciating Differences Because We’re Better Together (PDF, 188 KB), on Monday, September 25, at 600 Delaware Avenue, in Buffalo.

Caitlin Pemble, director of agency talent acquisition and development initiatives at Guardian Life Insurance Company, will lead an informative discussion on the power of gender differences in the workplace. The discussion will close with effective applications to leverage these differences and transform organizations to create more productivity and success.

Choose from one of two sessions:

Session 1: 4:30–5:30 p.m.
or
Session 2: 6:15–7:15 p.m.

Networking and cocktails: 5:30–6:15 p.m.

More information and registration details may be found online. Seating is limited. Register today.

The Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Communication Department, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center are pleased to announce the Beyond Boundaries: Dare to Be Diverse film screening and discussion series schedule for the fall 2017 semester.

The first film will be the critically acclaimed Dalya's Other Country, directed by Julia Meltzer, on Thursday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The film tells the nuanced story of members of a family displaced by the Syrian conflict who are remaking themselves after the parents separate. Effervescent teen Dalya goes to a Catholic high school, and her mother, Rudayna, enrolls in college as they both walk the line between their Muslim values and the new world in which they find themselves.

In October we will welcome local filmmakers Scott Sackett and Paul Lamont with their powerful new documentary Lake of Betrayal: The Story of Kinzua Dam, and in November, we will screen the multiple award-winning film Audrie & Daisy. All films begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center and are followed by a discussion panel. Films are free and open to the public. Please share our schedule widely.

Dalya's Other Country, POV 2017, 75 minutes
Watch the trailer.
Visit the Facebook event page.
Download the flier (PDF, 553 KB).

Buffalo State's official websites are designed to be accessible to all, including users with vision, motor, or hearing impairments. The college endorses the guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as the standard for accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

As previously noted, our sites have been compliant with Section 508, sub-part B, 1194.22. We are now being asked by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to enhance our sites to be compliant in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA for all websites. This update includes all Microsoft Office documents and PDFs. This heightened standard is immediate and establishes a new minimum requirement for accessibility for websites, web applications, Microsoft Office documents, and PDFs to ensure compliance.

Each area with a web presence on campus is responsible for ensuring that its content and images are compliant with the standards outlined within WCAG 2.0 Level AA. The associated Microsoft Office accessibility web page and PDF accessibility web page explain how to format accessible documents.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please feel free to contact RITE with questions.

I am pleased to announce the following appointments to the 2017–2018 Committee on Undergraduate Retention:

Chair: Mark Severson, Dean, School of Natural and Social Sciences

Maria Brickhouse, Coordinator, Academic Center for Excellence, Educational Opportunity Program
Anthony Chase, Assistant Dean, School of Arts and Humanities
Connie Cooke, Director, Financial Aid
John Draeger, Associate Professor, Philosophy; Director, Teaching and Learning Center
Brian Dubenion, Interim Director, Student Life
Bradley Fuster, Associate Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness
Yves Gachette, Director, Institutional Research
Dwight Hennessy, Professor, Psychology
Jevon Hunter, Woods-Beals Endowed Chair, School of Education
Kimberly Kline, Chair and Professor, Higher Education Administration
Heather Maldonado, Assistant Provost, Academic Success
Amy McMillan, Associate Professor, Biology
John Siskar, Senior Adviser for Educational Pipeline Initiatives, Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education
Gregory Wadsworth, Associate Professor, Biology
Aimee Woznick, Director, Academic Commons
Susan Wright, Director, Student Accounts

Ex Officio: Daniel Vélez, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Ex Officio: Melanie Perreault, Provost

The Committee on Undergraduate Retention provides recommendations to increase the persistence, retention, and graduation rates of undergraduate students.

The committee’s charge is as follows:

1. Review, gather, and interpret information from other institutions or external programs that can illuminate these concerns.
2. Investigate and review best practices that currently exist on the Buffalo State campus.
3. Review Buffalo State current information and quantitative data available related to this issue.
4. Gather new information or survey portions of the campus community to provide insight into this issue.
5. Develop recommendations that are relevant to all or selected portions of the campus student community.
6. Make recommendations on short-term and long-term goals related to higher persistence, retention, and graduation rates.
7. Submit proposals that address retention needs to the President’s Cabinet.
8. Report at the end of each semester (orally and in writing) on the state of undergraduate persistence, retention, and graduate rates and the impact of current or new programs to address these issues.
9. Advise the cabinet on the continuation, development, or elimination of programs that affect persistence, retention, and graduation rates.

I am pleased to announce the membership of the 2017–2018 President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity:

Co-chair: Lisa Morrison-Fronckowiak, Director, Student Accessibility Services
Co-chair: KeunYoung Oh, Associate Professor, Fashion and Textile Technology

Katherine Bertel, Academic Outreach and Engagement Librarian, Butler Library
Atta Ceesay, Assistant Professor, Political Science
Mary Codick, Secretary 1, Teacher Certification
Adrienne Costello, Associate Professor, English
Nicholas DeMarsh, Women’s Soccer Coach, Intercollegiate Athletics
Eve Everette, Assistant Director, Anne Frank Project
Peter Gabak, Director of Major Gifts, Institutional Advancement
Shashi Gayadeen, Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice
Ruth Goldman, Assistant Professor, Communication
Kristen Helling, Assistant Director, Student Life
Carlos Jones, Associate Dean, School of Arts and Humanities
Eric Krieg, Chair and Professor, Sociology
Paula Madrigal, Assistant Director of Prevention and Health Promotions, Weigel Wellness Center
Roswell Park, Director, Academic Affairs
Amy Pedlow, Assistant Chief of Police, University Police
Holly Quicksey, Director of Educational Pipeline Initiatives, Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education
Vida Vanchan, Associate Professor, Geography and Planning
Jing Zhang, Assistant Professor, Elementary Education and Reading

Administrative Liaison: Karen Clinton Jones, Chief Diversity Officer
Staff: Jason Parker, Diversity Program Coordinator; Monet Lewis, Graduate Assistant, Equity and Campus Diversity

The President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity was established in 1996 at Buffalo State College to address discrimination, harassment, and campus climate issues as they relate to recruitment and retention of students, faculty, staff curriculum development, and student life on campus. The president receives and reviews recommendations from the council. The chief diversity office provides administrative support for the council.

The Equity and Campus Diversity Office, along with SUNY statewide, cordially invites you to attend the fifth annual SUNY Pride Conference, hosted by SUNY Oneonta, on October 27 and 28 in the Hunt College Union. With a keynote performance by award-winning slam poet Kit Yan, SUNY Pride offers educational sessions, community building, a drag ball, and an open mic on Friday night.

Call for Papers and Presentations
This year’s theme is "Artivism: Creative Expression for LGBTQIA Resistance and Healing." Information on submissions can be found on the SUNY Oneonta website. The submission deadline is Saturday, September 23.

Registration
Registration for the conference is now open. The registration fee is $25 for non-SUNY Oneonta students and $60 for non-SUNY Oneonta faculty or staff members and the general public. (Registration is free for SUNY Oneonta students and employees.) The registration deadline is noon Friday, October 20.

This event is sponsored by the Gender Sexuality Resource Center, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Student Life and Leadership @ Hunt College Union, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association with fiscal support from the Fund for Oneonta.

The executive team at Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges has informed Buffalo State that it will conduct a strategic review of its organization and will not accept nominations for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 2018; therefore, Buffalo State will not accept student nominations for the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges award this academic year.

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to have lunch with more than 100 members of the Buffalo State College Peterson Society...

Please follow my blog at http://kateconwayturner.tumblr.com.