Finals Week for fall 2018 will take place Monday, December 10; Tuesday, December 11; Wednesday, December 12; and Thursday, December 13. 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 will 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.

I am pleased to announce the members of the Civic Action Plan Implementation Committee. This committee is charged with assessing the progress and completion of the outcomes and goals identified in the four priority areas of the Buffalo State College Civic Action Plan:

• Developing a shared language and culture
• Broadening community input and deepening community impact
• Enhancing supports for faculty, staff, and students
• Expanding coordination of civic and community engagement

Chair: Laura Hill Rao, Director, Civic and Community Engagement Office
Nidiam Berrios, President’s Graduate Assistant for Civic Engagement
Patrice Cathey, Director, Precollegiate Academic Success Center
Lisa Morrison-Fronckowiak, Director, Student Accessibility Services
Ruth Goldman, Assistant Professor, Communication
Joy Guarino, Associate Professor, Theater
Abdollah Hajikandi, Assistant Director of Academic Services, Educational Opportunity Program
Paula Madrigal, Assistant Director of Prevention and Health Promotions, Weigel Wellness Center
Heather Maldonado, Assistant Provost, Student Success
Catherine Mazzotta, Assistant Professor, Social Work
Maureen McCarthy, Program Director, Community Academic Center
Kathleen McNerney, Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
Wendy Paterson, Dean, School of Education
Yola Monakhov Stockton, Assistant Professor, Art and Design
Jean Strait, Assistant Vice President for Educational Pipeline Initiatives
Gary Welborn, Associate Professor, Sociology
Peter Yacobucci, Associate Professor, Political Science
Stephanie Zuckerman, Director, Career Development Center

The call for proposals is open for the 2019 NYS ACE Women's Network annual conference, to be held Thursday and Friday, April 4 and 5, in Cooperstown, New York. The submission deadline is Monday, December 3. This conference speaks to all women in higher education and promotes vibrant conversations between and among women across the state in an effort to promote change at our institutions, in our communities, and across the state.

This year’s conference theme is “Seize Your Brilliance: Opportunities Are Waiting.” Conference organizers are seeking presentations, abstracts, papers, symposiums, workshops, cases, panels, and interactive roundtable topics that represent the best contemporary thinking about women and leadership from a diverse range of perspectives.

Proposals should include the following:

• Presentation title
• Presenter(s) information (name, title, brief bio)
• Presentation description (no more than 250 words)
• Learning outcome(s)
• Time requested for the presentation (e.g., 45 minutes maximum)
• Presentation format (e.g., presentation, abstract, paper, symposium, workshop, case, panel, or  interactive roundtable topics)
• Other information reviewers should have
• AV needs

All proposals must be submitted via e-mail to nys.owehe@gmail.com.

For more information on the conference, please visit the NYS ACE Women's Network website.

I am pleased to announce that Scott Goodman, professor of chemistry, has agreed to a three-year appointment as director of undergraduate research. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Goodman and thanking Jill Singer for her many years of distinguished service and leadership in this role.

I am pleased to announce the following appointments to the 2018–2010 Community Policing Advisory Committee:

Co-chair: Crystal Rodriguez, Chief of Staff, President’s Office
Co-chair: Robert Warren, Associate Professor of Biology       

Maria Brickhouse, Coordinator of the Academic Center for Excellence, Educational Opportunity Program
Peter Carey, Chief of Police, University Police                                
Jerod Dahlgren, Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
Jill D’Angelo, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice                      
Patrick Freeman, University Police Officer 1, University Police     
Michael Heflin, Director of Equity and Campus Diversity
Karen Clinton Jones, Chief Diversity Officer, Equity and Campus Diversity
Paula Madrigal, Assistant Director of Prevention and Health Promotions, Weigel Wellness Center
Joan McCool, Director of the Counseling Center, Weigel Wellness Center
Richard Myers, University Police Officer 2, University Police                                           
Amy Pedlow, Assistant Chief of Police, University Police
Amy Rosen-Brand, Associate Director of Student Accessibility Services                  
Sarah Young, Dean of Students

Students: Bryanna Fisher, Joseph Parisse      

The Community Policing Advisory Committee serves in an advisory role to the president and the vice president for finance and management on the community-oriented policing philosophy and problem-solving initiatives of the Buffalo State campus community in partnership with the University Police Department.

The committee represents the Buffalo State community in creating, evaluating, and implementing a community-oriented policing philosophy designed to create an environment that focuses on crime prevention, problem solving, and education through partnerships among University Police, students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. The committee is charged as follows:

• Review the issues involved in community policing, campus safety, and crime on campus.
• Develop ways to increase student, faculty, and staff input in University Police functions and initiatives.
• Identify ways to enhance positive interactions between the University Police and its constituents.
• Review complaints, trends, and statistics over regular intervals to determine the effectiveness of community policing programs and highlight any issues that need addressing.
• Act as an advocate for University Police to the campus community and administration to support community policing initiatives.
• Coordinate activities and share information with the Campus Safety Forum.
• Provide advice on other police-related issues brought to it by the president or the vice president for finance and management.
• Provide recommendations to the president and the vice president for finance and management on ways to enhance community policing on campus. Recommendations should include performance indicators or assessment strategies to help evaluate the outcomes of the recommendations, as well as an estimate of the financial and human resources needed to implement the recommendations.
• Provide a report to the president.

I am pleased to announce the membership of the 2018–2019 Campus Safety Forum:

Chair: Sarah Young, Dean of Students

Patrick DeWind, Senior Database Administrator, Information Technology
Gail Gauda, Associate Registrar, Registrar’s Office
Lisa Krieger, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Management
Paula Madrigal, Assistant Director of Prevention and Health Promotions, Weigel Wellness Center
Andrea Nikischer, Assistant Professor of Adult Education
Amy Pedlow, Assistant Chief of Police, University Police
Robert Warren, Associate Professor of Biology

Undergraduate Student Representatives: Victor Inwang, Lakeram Jairam, Nathalia Joshua, Elise McKinney
Graduate Student Representatives: Perry Angoy, Tevin Liao

The Campus Safety Forum is charged with reviewing current campus policies and procedures for compliance and making recommendations for their improvement, if and where appropriate, related to (1) educating the campus community, including security personnel and those persons who advise or supervise students, about sexual assault; (2) educating the campus community about personal safety and crime prevention; (3) reporting sexual assaults and interacting with victims during investigations; (4) referring complaints to appropriate authorities; (5) counseling victims; and (6) responding to inquiries from concerned persons. The Safety Forum reports in writing to the college president on its findings and recommendations at least once each academic year.

I am pleased to announce the following updates to the Buffalo State College Planning Council (CPC) for the 2019–2021 cycle:

Co-chair: Melanie Perreault, Provost
Co-chair: Joseph Marren, Chair of the College Senate; Professor of Communication

William Benfanti, Associate Vice President for Government Relations and Alumni Engagement, Institutional Advancement
Emily Boyce, Associate Professor of Music
Janelle Brooks, Assistant Dean of Student Conduct and Community Standards, Dean of Students Office
Jerod Dahlgren, Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
Frederick Floss, Chair and Professor of Economics and Finance
Jason Grinnell, Chair and Associate Professor of Philosophy
Kimberly Kline, Professor of Higher Education Administration
Eric “Luke” Krieg, Interim Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Academic Affairs
Lisa Krieger, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Management
Maureen Lindstrom, Librarian, Butler Library
Sarah Reid, Facilities Planner, Facilities Construction and Maintenance
Crystal Rodriguez, Chief of Staff, President’s Office
Amy Rosen-Brand, Associate Director of Student Accessibility Services
Christopher Shively, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership
Vida Vanchan, Associate Professor of Geography and Planning
Ralph Wahlstrom, Chair and Professor of English
Rita Zientek, Associate Dean, School of the Professions

Joseph Cicatello, President of United Students Government
Raymond Wagner, President of the Graduate Student Association

The CPC is charged with monitoring and assessing the progress and completion of all goals associated with the Buffalo State urban-engaged campus strategic plan (2016–2021).

1. The CPC will review progress on all elements of the goals assigned to members of the cabinet.
2. The CPC will set up a timeline for all cabinet members to report the status of goals under their direction.
3. The details of the report that will be submitted to the CPC will be defined by the CPC but will include a written report; documentation of progress toward completion of goals; when appropriate, efficacy of the project being described; how the goal is meeting the specific goal or element within the strategic plan; and any budgetary issues related to the goals.
4. The CPC will provide a written summary report to the president on or before June 15 of each year indicating the progress toward goals, any recommendations related to specific goals, and any changes related to the goals based on the CPC's review of information provided by the supervising unit. The president will meet with the chair and/or members of the CPC to receive and discuss this summary report.

Information technology acquisitions can affect multiple users across campus and have implications for other technology purchases. To prevent unexpected, negative consequences, we have developed the Information Technology Purchases/Acquisitions Policy (PDF, 126 KB). This policy, which is effective immediately, establishes conditions under which a contemplated information technology acquisition is subject to review and approval through governance by the Information Technology Office.

This policy is applicable for both administrative and academic initiatives, regardless of whether the technology is free or procured through any type of funding (e.g., grants, operating dollars). Please use the project request form to consult with the Technology and Planning Outreach Office (Project Management) in the initial phases of any significant technology planning to first obtain a needs assessment, a feasibility study, and ultimate approval.

We appreciate the campus community's adherence to this policy as we continually move to create better efficiencies campuswide.

I am pleased to announce that Carole Miller-Canestrari, senior EOP counselor, has received the President's Caring Bengal Award. Ms. Miller-Canestrari was nominated for the award by Neil O’Donnell, senior EOP counselor; Jude Jayatilleke, senior academic adviser, EOP; and Jocelyn Tejeda, EOP counselor. I am so pleased to recognize Ms. Miller-Canestrari, and I encourage the entire campus community to join me in thanking her for her exceptional effort to make Buffalo State a great place to live, learn, and work. Her award profile can be viewed on the Professional Development website.

The President's Caring Bengal Award, initiated in December 2017, recognizes supportive colleagues in our Buffalo State community who not only transform the lives of our students but also help create a caring and collegial environment for our faculty, staff, and administrators.

Nominations for the President’s Caring Bengal Award are open until Monday, December 3, and will be posted in the Daily Bulletin. For more information about the award criteria and recipient selection process, please visit the Professional Development website.

I am excited to announce that the Professional Development Center is now accepting nominations for its 11th cohort of Buffalo State staff and faculty members for the Emerging College Leaders (ECL) program. Since 2005, Buffalo State has offered the ECL program, which is intentionally designed to enhance the leadership capacities of staff and faculty members at all levels of the institution. Buffalo State recently received the Leadership Development and Diversity Award for its ECL program from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).

Any staff or faculty member can be nominated or self-nominate to participate in this program by completing the online nomination form. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, December 14. Those interested in participating in the ECL program must receive approval from their supervisor or department chair. Ten to 12 of the nominees will be selected to participate in the ECL program by their respective vice president or dean. 

The ECL program’s six competency development workshops will be distributed across the spring 2018 semester. This year, each workshop will conclude with different meetings between the ECL cohort, the president, cabinet members, and other campus leaders to provide the ECL cohort with an in-depth understanding of the college’s structure, challenges, unique characteristics, and priorities. The cohort will meet on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on February 22, March 1, March 15, April 5, April 19, and May 3. The scope of the program will include assessments, feedback, a group project to address an institutional challenge, and two 90-minute cohort meetings during the fall 2019 semester to support participants’ continued leadership development. As a result of the ECL program, faculty and staff members will

• increase their self-awareness and mindfulness as leaders;
• maximize current leadership skills and reflect on skills in need of development;
• explore and understand the complexities of leadership in higher education;
• enhance skills in problem solving, interpersonal communication, delivering feedback, and conflict management;
• create a personal leadership development plan; and
• design systems to support future leadership, personal, and professional goals.

For more information about the ECL program, please visit the Professional Development Center’s website. Please contact Jonathan Hulbert, director of leadership and organizational development, or Rebecca Catalano, professional development assistant, with questions.