Please join me in congratulating the following employees who were recognized for their extraordinary service to students, the college, and the community at the annual Student Affairs celebration in May. A new award—Outstanding Student Affairs Campus Partner—was implemented this year to recognize a faculty or staff member (or department) outside the division who has been an outstanding partner with Student Affairs on a significant initiative or program to improve the Buffalo State experience for students. More information about the awards is available on the Student Affairs website.

2018–2019 Award Recipients

Service to College and Community Award
Taronish Irani, Senior Counselor/Psychologist, Weigel Wellness Center

Service to Students Award
Ashley Goodwin, Assistant Director, Student Leadership and Engagement

Caring Colleague Award
Jamie Brown, Head Softball Coach, Intercollegiate Athletics

Outstanding Student Affairs Campus Partner Award
Karen Edmond, Field Education Coordinator, Social Work

Registration is open for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Teaching and Learning Certificate Program.

Designed and delivered by SUNY faculty and staff with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, the program has been designed to help faculty members and others involved in teaching and learning in higher education develop new mindsets and strategies for more inclusive and equitable practices in classrooms and other learning environments. The certificate provides evidence that participants have attained a basic set of essential skills and knowledge needed for teaching a diverse student population.

The first two courses, “Critically Reflecting on Diversity and Teaching in SUNY” and “Meeting Students Where They Are,” begin August 27. The other four courses take place in fall 2019 and spring 2020. Each course is offered twice during this time. If you are interested in the certificate, you must take the “Critically Reflecting” course and two of the other five courses. If you are not interested in the certificate, you may take any of the courses as stand-alone courses. The courses are not sequential; you may take them in any order you like. All courses take place online in Blackboard and are asynchronous, so you do not need to log in at a specific time. Each course lasts six weeks and requires anywhere from two to four hours a week to complete.

A discount is available if you register for three courses at the same time. SUNY CPD membership points may be used to pay for this program.

Please contact Chris Price with questions.

The Professional Development Center is accepting nominations for its second cohort of Buffalo State managers for the Manager LEAPP Program: Leading, Empowering, and Accelerating Professionals’ Performance. The LEAPP Program is for any manager at Buffalo State College who is interested in improving his or her self-awareness as a manager, improving communication with employees, effectively delivering employee feedback, and managing employee performance. This program will specifically help individuals improve how they manage employees at a SUNY institution and navigate labor relations policies and procedures.

Eighty-five percent of managers who participated in the first cohort of this program indicated in the outcomes assessment that they increased their knowledge or further improved in each management competency focus area either “a great deal” or “considerably” as a result of the program.

Any Buffalo State manager can be nominated or self-nominate to participate in this program by completing the online nomination form. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, August 9. The 12 nominees selected to participate in the LEAPP Program must have approval from their respective supervisors and vice presidents.

Managers in the LEAPP Program will complete two assessments to build self-awareness as a manager, complete six workshops, and be supported by a community invested in their ongoing manager development. As a result of the LEAPP Program, managers will

• increase their self-awareness of communication, decision-making, and management style preferences to identify strengths and areas for development as a manager;
• enhance skills in communicating with employees, delivering feedback to employees, and managing employee performance within the boundaries of labor relations policies and procedures;
• understand the complexities of labor relations in SUNY from multiple stakeholder perspectives and how to effectively navigate different situations;
• create and implement a personal management development plan; and
• engage in a community of managers who will work together to support each other in resolving challenges.

For more information about the Manager LEAPP Program, participant expectations, and the course schedule, please visit the Professional Development website. Please contact Jonathan Hulbert, director of leadership and organizational development, with questions.

The SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the University Faculty Senate welcome proposals for the 2019 diversity conference “SUNY 2030: Envisioning Change in an Evolving Landscape,” to be held December 3–5 at the Albany Marriott Hotel, 189 Wolf Road, in Albany, New York. The deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 20. Conference information and proposal guidelines are available on the Equity and Campus Diversity website.

The SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the University Faculty Senate welcome proposals for the 2019 diversity conference “SUNY 2030: Envisioning Change in an Evolving Landscape,” to be held December 3–5 at the Albany Marriott Hotel, 189 Wolf Road, in Albany, New York. The deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 20. Conference information and proposal guidelines are available on the Equity and Campus Diversity website.

This week, Graduate School admissions faculty and staff members will begin using Slate, the college’s new enterprise customer relationship management (CRM) system. This new software system will manage and maintain client communication streams, track applications and other records, and generate usable analytics. The Graduate School will use Slate to manage the review and acceptance of graduate applications for spring 2020. Slate contains a workflow built for the review of applications and allows users to manage all communication to and from applicants.

One of the most reputable CRMs on the market, Slate is used by nearly 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide and is designed specifically for higher education environments. Even more advantageous is that it integrates with Banner.

Thank you to the Information Technology and Graduate School staff members who conducted the hard work needed to assist the college in implementing this project on time, continuing to realize greater efficiencies, improve our business processes, and continue the onboarding of new and relevant technologies.

We are excited to welcome all new faculty and staff members to the Buffalo State College community. New Faculty and Staff Orientation will begin with a breakfast on Thursday, August 22, at 8:30 a.m. in the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center. All new faculty and staff members have been invited and are welcome to attend.

Orientation will focus on informing new employees of the college’s history, our core values, our mission, teaching and scholarship, community involvement opportunities, and campus policies. New faculty and staff members will also have an opportunity to meet campus constituents from different departments and divisions. All new employees are strongly encouraged to attend orientation, and supervisors are encouraged to provide employees with the opportunity to participate.

Please contact Rebecca Catalano, professional development assistant, 878-5364, with questions.

The Professional Development Center is accepting nominations for its second cohort of Buffalo State managers for the Manager LEAPP Program: Leading, Empowering, and Accelerating Professionals’ Performance. The LEAPP Program is for any manager at Buffalo State College who is interested in improving his or her self-awareness as a manager, improving communication with employees, effectively delivering employee feedback, and managing employee performance. This program will specifically help individuals improve how they manage employees at a SUNY institution and navigate labor relations policies and procedures.

Eighty-five percent of managers who participated in the first cohort of this program indicated in the outcomes assessment that they increased their knowledge or further improved in each management competency focus area either “a great deal” or “considerably” as a result of the program.

Any Buffalo State manager can be nominated or self-nominate to participate in this program by completing the online nomination form. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, August 9. The 12 nominees selected to participate in the LEAPP Program must have approval from their respective supervisors and vice presidents.

Managers in the LEAPP Program will complete two assessments to build self-awareness as a manager, complete six workshops, and be supported by a community invested in their ongoing manager development. As a result of the LEAPP Program, managers will

• increase their self-awareness of communication, decision-making, and management style preferences to identify strengths and areas for development as a manager;
• enhance skills in communicating with employees, delivering feedback to employees, and managing employee performance within the boundaries of labor relations policies and procedures;
• understand the complexities of labor relations in SUNY from multiple stakeholder perspectives and how to effectively navigate different situations;
• create and implement a personal management development plan; and
• engage in a community of managers who will work together to support each other in resolving challenges.

For more information about the Manager LEAPP Program, participant expectations, and the course schedule, please visit the Professional Development website. Please contact Jonathan Hulbert, director of leadership and organizational development, with questions.

Registration is open for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Teaching and Learning Certificate Program.

Designed and delivered by SUNY faculty and staff with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, the program has been designed to help faculty members and others involved in teaching and learning in higher education develop new mindsets and strategies for more inclusive and equitable practices in classrooms and other learning environments. The certificate provides evidence that participants have attained a basic set of essential skills and knowledge needed for teaching a diverse student population.

The first two courses, “Critically Reflecting on Diversity and Teaching in SUNY” and “Meeting Students Where They Are,” begin August 27. The other four courses take place in fall 2019 and spring 2020. Each course is offered twice during this time. If you are interested in the certificate, you must take the “Critically Reflecting” course and two of the other five courses. If you are not interested in the certificate, you may take any of the courses as stand-alone courses. The courses are not sequential; you may take them in any order you like. All courses take place online in Blackboard and are asynchronous, so you do not need to log in at a specific time. Each course lasts six weeks and requires anywhere from two to four hours a week to complete.

A discount is available if you register for three courses at the same time. SUNY CPD membership points may be used to pay for this program.

Please contact Chris Price with questions.

The campus community is invited to attend the following open presentations by candidates interviewing for the position of senior adviser on student success and retention. The senior adviser ensures that effective data collection and analysis are occurring in all areas, that this data is well coordinated, and that evidence-based recommendations are made to the leadership of retention, the provost, and the vice president for student affairs. Feedback sheets will be provided at each presentation.

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Dr. Maldonado
Thursday, August 15
1:00 p.m.
Bulger Communication Center 216

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Dr. Morton
Friday, August 16
1:00 p.m.
Bulger Communication Center 216

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Dr. Marshall
Wednesday, August 21
1:00 p.m. Caudell Hall 209