I am pleased to announce the membership of the 2019–2020 Buffalo State College Commencement Committee:

Chair: Theresa Janczak, Associate Professor, Exceptional Education
Vice Chair: Jane Cushman, Chair and Associate Professor, Mathematics
Immediate Past Chair: Lorna Pérez, Associate Professor, English
Secretary: Catherine Cook, Secretary 2, Academic Affairs

Patricia Alessandra, Commencement Director for Academics, Academic Affairs
Jozef Bajus, Associate Professor, Art and Design
Carol Beckley, Associate Professor, Theater
Ashley Goodwin, Assistant Director, Student Leadership and Engagement
Margaret “Marnie” Letzelter, Executive Assistant to the Dean, Graduate School
Michael Lewis, Director, Events Management
Camilo Maldonado III, Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
Alexander Nazarenko, Professor, Chemistry
Crystal Rodriguez, Chief of Staff, President’s Office
Ramona Santa Maria, Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems
Suparna Soni, Assistant Professor, Political Science
Rita Zientek, Interim Dean, School of the Professions

Graduate Student: Jazmene Mobley

The Commencement Committee is responsible for advising the president, the provost, and other appropriate college administrators on matters pertaining to Commencement; planning and implementing Commencement ceremonies and related events; submitting  proposed actions and changes of a substantive nature to the president for his or her consideration; disseminating information about Commencement throughout the institution to appropriate departments and other interested constituents; and making recommendations to the president for Commencement speakers, if necessary. Members of the committee serve as institutional advocates and champions for Commencement activities.

The campus community is invited learn more about Buffalo State’s facilities master plan during an information meeting on Tuesday, October 8, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 215 (Newman Lecture Hall).

Interim Provost James Mayrose will open the presentation with an overview and status update of the college’s strategic plan, goals, and new academic initiatives. Vice President for Finance and Management Laura Barnum will follow with a presentation of the college’s updated facilities master plan, which includes a number of new projects in the conceptual and design phases. VP Barnum will also share information about recent studies regarding space and classroom utilization and student-housing demand. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The Teaching and Learning Center, Instructional Design and Training Department, and Professional Development Center encourage all faculty, staff and administrators to take part in relevant professional and leadership development opportunities throughout the fall 2019 semester. We have created this calendar of events for October and early November workshops as a central source of information for trainings, workshops, presentations, and other opportunities for professional development on campus. Individual events will also continue to be announced in the Daily Bulletin.

The Teaching and Learning Center, Instructional Design and Training Department, and Professional Development Center encourage all faculty, staff and administrators to take part in relevant professional and leadership development opportunities throughout the fall 2019 semester. We have created this calendar of events for October and early November workshops as a central source of information for trainings, workshops, presentations, and other opportunities for professional development on campus. Individual events will also continue to be announced in the Daily Bulletin.

The Teaching and Learning Center, Instructional Design and Training Department, and Professional Development Center encourage all faculty, staff and administrators to take part in relevant professional and leadership development opportunities throughout the fall 2019 semester. We have created this calendar of events for October and early November workshops as a central source of information for trainings, workshops, presentations, and other opportunities for professional development on campus. Individual events will also continue to be announced in the Daily Bulletin.

New York State enacted legislation in 2018 requiring all employers, including Buffalo State College, to ensure that their employees, including work-study students, graduate assistants, and students assistants, complete sexual harassment prevention training by October 9, 2019.

The Equity and Campus Diversity Office is offering the following options to comply with this requirement:

1. Online Sexual Harassment Prevention Training:
   All Buffalo State employees, including work-study students, graduate assistants, and student assistants have access to the training through Blackboard Learn, where participants will view two sexual harassment prevention training videos, and review and acknowledge that they have read and understand Buffalo State’s policy and procedures on sexual harassment. All parts of the online training are conducted through Blackboard Learn after they log in under “My Organizations.”
2. In-person sessions are available for those employees who do not have access to Blackboard Learn (for example, Facilities staff members). For more information, please contact Karen Jones, chief diversity officer and Title IX coordinator, 878-6210.

Online Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
The following training meets all New York State requirements for sexual harassment prevention training. Employees can complete the online training in their offices or anywhere else that they have access to Blackboard Learn at a time that is convenient for them. The training takes between 45 minutes and one hour to complete.

This online training is composed of three sections:

1. Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Part 1
   This video explains the definition of sexual harassment and provides examples of harassing conduct.
2. Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Part 2
   This interactive video features quizzes and case studies.
3. Acknowledgment
   After completing the second video (Part 2), participants must read the Buffalo State Policy on Sexual Harassment  (PDF, 137 KB) and acknowledge that they have read and understand the policy.

Accessing the Videos
The sexual harassment prevention training videos may be accessed through the "My Organizations" section of Blackboard Learn. The training link is titled "New York State Sexual Harassment Learning Modules." Completing the training videos and reviewing Buffalo State’s Policy and Procedures on Sexual Harassment complies with the college’s obligation to provide the sexual harassment prevention training and your requirement as a New York State employee to receive and complete sexual harassment prevention training.

For more information, please visit the Equity and Campus Diversity website or review the list of frequently asked questions. For all other questions, please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, 878-6210.

I am pleased to announce the membership of the 2019–2020 President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity:

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

Katherine Bertel, Academic Outreach and Engagement Librarian, Butler Library
Atta Ceesay, Associate Professor, Political Science
Mary Codick, Secretary I, Teacher Certification
Mohan Devgun, Chair and Professor, Engineering Technology
Eve Everette, Assistant Director, Anne Frank Project
Ruth Goldman, Associate Professor, Communication
Kristen Helling, Student Resource Coordinator, Dean of Students Office
Carlos Jones, Associate Dean, School of Arts and Humanities
Paula Madrigal, Assistant Director, Prevention and Health Promotions
Roswell Park, Director, Individualized Studies Program
Amy Pedlow, Assistant Chief of Police, University Police
Steve Peraza, Assistant Professor, History and Social Studies Education
Celestine Simmons, Secretary 1, Muriel A. Howard Honors Program
Vida Vanchan, Associate Professor, Geography and Planning
Jeff Ventura, Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Information, Intercollegiate Athletics
Jing Zhang, Associate Professor, Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership

Administrative Liaison: Karen Clinton Jones, Chief Diversity Officer
Michael Heflin, Director, Equity and Campus Diversity
Laurie Graziano, Secretary 2, Equity and Campus Diversity Office
Graduate Assistant: Katlyn Keane 

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

I invite all members of the campus community to participate in one of the signature events at Buffalo State, the Anne Frank Project’s annual Social Justice Festival. This free event will take place on campus October 2 and 3, and is open to the public. The festival features lectures, activities, and performances from visiting artists and scholars, as well as Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students. The full schedule (PDF, 2.7 MB) can be found on the Anne Frank Project website.

Members of the campus community are invited to submit applications for the President's Professional Development Award by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 18. For more information about the award criteria and recipient selection process, or to submit an application, please visit the Professional Development website. 

Award Description
Professional development opportunities enrich the experiences of all employees. These opportunities allow us to build on our expertise, identify best practices, and network with others. While it is well understood that professional development opportunities are critical to our success, funding is sometimes limited or otherwise not available. To support these efforts, I have dedicated funding for professional development opportunities for Buffalo State campus employees. I have also convened a committee of faculty and staff members who will review the requests for funding and determine the award recipient to support professional development opportunities for Buffalo State campus employees.

Please contact the Professional Development Center with questions about the President’s Professional Development Award.

The division of Student Affairs is excited to announce that Homecoming and Family Weekend will take place the week of October 20–27

All students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families are invited to join us for a week of fun, friends, and a chance to celebrate our Bengal community! This year's theme is Bengal Fever and will include the following signature events: 

• Bengal Pause: Homecoming Kickoff
• Alumni Concert and Reception
• Student Organization Lip Sync Battle
• Pep Rally and USG’s Bengal BBQ
• Bengal March through Campus
• USG Carnival
• Scholar-Donor Breakfast
• Bengal and Bagel Breakfast
• Football vs. Union College
• Class of 1969 50th Reunion
• Bengal Alumni Brunch
• Family Brunch

More Information on this year's schedule and registration for events can be found on the Homecoming and Family Weekend website.

Department Door Decoration Contest
In addition to attending our events during the week, we encourage campus departments to join in on the Bengal Fever by participating in the Homecoming Door Decoration Contest. Offices that participate will be eligible to win an office pizza party sponsored by the division of Student Affairs.

Doors are to be decorated by Monday, October 21, with judging to take place Tuesday, October 22, during Bengal Pause. Decorated doors will remain on display throughout the week of Homecoming. Judging will be based on best overall design and best use of the theme, Bengal Fever. Winners will be announced at the Pep Rally on Thursday, October 24.

Please register online for the Department Door Decoration Contest, and contact Student Leadership and Engagement with any questions regarding Homecoming.