SUNY Information Security Policy mandates that all SUNY institutions annually provide and track security awareness training for all faculty and staff members.

During the spring 2017 semester, more than 450 Buffalo State staff members, Dean’s Office faculty and staff members, the president, her staff, and her cabinet completed SANS training.

During the fall 2017 semester, Buffalo State continues to make information security awareness training a priority by offering training to more than 500 full-time faculty members, including full-time NSL employees who have research or faculty titles and possess a Buffalo State account.

The week of November 13, participants will receive an e-mail indicating their registration in the training system. The e-mail will contain a link to the SANS training system. (The link will be visible and will begin with https://sso.securingthehuman.org/suny….) Participants will be redirected to the SUNY sign-in page, where they will select “Buffalo State” from the drop-down menu and log in with their Buffalo State credentials.

The training consists of eight separate titles, each containing a short video presentation (3–5 minutes) followed by a three-question quiz. The eight videos do not have to be completed at one time; the system will save participants’ progress for completion at a later date. Faculty members will have until Thursday, January 25, to complete the training. Participants who complete all the training assessments will be able to print a certificate of completion.

Please contact Melissa Miszkiewicz, director of RITE strategic partnerships, or visit the RITE Information Security Training website for more information.

The panel discussion "Diverse Organizations: Supporting Future Leaders" will take place Tuesday, November 14, during Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Bulger Communication Center West.

The panel will feature professionals highlighting the important roles that diverse organizations play in the professional development of students and professionals.

Tamu Brown-Hutchinson, president of the National Black MBA Association of Western New York, will answer questions and offer professional expertise regarding her role and the mission of her organization.

Michael Quinniey, cofounder and chairman of Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc., will also serve on the panel, take questions, and explain how he was led to his current career path.

Please join us as we support our students as they move forward in recognizing their professional goals.

Please download and post the flier (PDF, 385 KB).

Please join us for the critically acclaimed Audrie & Daisy, the next film in our Beyond Boundaries: Dare to Be Diverse screening and discussion series, on Thursday, November 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Audrie & Daisy is based on the true story of two high school girls who were assaulted by boys they knew. This urgent real-life drama examines the ripple effects on families, friends, schools, and communities when two underage young women find that sexual assault crimes perpetrated against them have been caught on camera and spread online.

From the acclaimed filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk (The Island President, The Rape of Europa), Audrie & Daisy takes a hard look at American teenagers coming of age in this new world of social media bullying, spun wildly out of control. The film made its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Andrea Nikischer, assistant professor of adult education at Buffalo State College, and Amanda Nickerson, professor of counseling, school, and educational psychology and director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention at the University at Buffalo.

"Audrie & Daisy indicts a culture where sexual assault is rife, and where its perpetrators all too often escape any legal or other punitive consequences." —Variety

Watch the trailer.

Visit the event’s Facebook page.

Beyond Boundaries: Dare to Be Diverse is sponsored by Buffalo State’s Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Communication Department, and Burchfield Penney Art Center, and the PBS P.O.V. Series. All films are free and open to the public.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

In the ongoing effort to provide relevant and meaningful professional development opportunities for Buffalo State College, the Professional Development, Faculty Development, and RITE Instructional Design and Training offices invite all faculty and staff members to participate in a survey to help assess and improve professional development program offerings, structures, logistics, and motivations. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. 

Please contact Jonathan Hulbert, director of leadership and organizational development, 878-4432, with questions. The survey will close Friday, December 15.

For a few brief hours this week, I left our Buffalo State College community to visit Lafayette International Community High School...

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

After meeting with a group of outstanding staff members who applied for the position of assistant dean of conduct and community standards, I am pleased to announce that Janelle A. Brooks has been appointed to the position.

Please join me in congratulating Ms. Brooks.

The Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo and Buffalo State’s museum studies program have partnered to bring an informative and heart-stretching exhibition to Buffalo...

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

Winterim, the period between fall and spring semesters when a variety of activities are held on campus to support the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of faculty and staff, will be held January 16–19, 2018. Winterim is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and learn from one another. If you have a skill or talent you would like to share with the campus community, please complete and submit the Winterim Session Submission form by Tuesday, December 5. Please contact the Professional Development Office, 878-5364, with questions.

I am pleased to announce the inaugural issue of the Assessment Matters newsletter (PDF, 818 KB) from the Institutional Effectiveness Office. I invite you to read about the many exciting assessment initiatives happening on campus.

Finals Week for fall 2017 will take place Monday, December 11; Tuesday, December 12; Wednesday, December 13; and Thursday, December 14. In accordance with DOPS Policy I:16:01, the purpose of Finals Week is to provide a single class meeting during which faculty and students have an extended period of uninterrupted time to conduct appropriate end-of-course activities.

The Finals Week schedule is designed for classes that meet more than once a week during the semester. Classes (evening or day) that meet only once a week have sufficient time for final evaluation; therefore, they follow their regular schedules (exams to be scheduled during Finals Week).

The following regulations govern Finals Week:

A. All instructors are expected to meet their classes at the scheduled time during Finals Week and to choose an appropriate activity that reflects the academic goals of the course and the intent of Finals Week, for example, an exam, review, critique of papers, course summation, or individual presentations or demonstrations.

B. Instructors will not schedule a final exam before Finals Week. Instructors may not change the date or time of their final class periods during Finals Week. In case of emergencies, instructors should confer with their appropriate dean and notify the Academic Affairs Office, 878-3838.

C. Finals are scheduled for one-hour-and-50-minute periods. Instructors are not to increase or decrease the scheduled finals time.

D. In case of emergencies that would close the school, finals scheduled for the time of the closing will be rescheduled, as appropriate.

E. Faculty members must post office hours during which they will be available to meet with students during Finals Week.