I am pleased to announce that Jayme S. Riter has been appointed director of student accounts for Buffalo State College. Ms. Riter has served as interim director of the Student Accounts Office since May 2018.

Ms. Riter began her service to Buffalo State as a student assistant in the Parking Services Office in 1988. She was the business manager for parking services for 11 years, and director for 19 years. During her tenure as interim director of student accounts, she retained all her parking services responsibilities, excelling in dual roles. Ms. Riter also directed the college’s University Police Student Assistants (UPSA) program and served as accreditation manager for the University Police Department.

She holds two degrees from Buffalo State College: a bachelor of science in criminal justice and a master of science in multidisciplinary studies with a concentration in public relations.

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Riter to her new position.

Because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency and state and federal bans on large meetings or gatherings, and pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 220.1 issued on March 12, 2020, suspending the Open Meetings Law, the Buffalo State College Council special session scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2020, will be held electronically via webinar. Members of the public may view the board meeting via Zoom videoconference online or listen by phone at (646) 558-8656 (New York).

Meeting ID: 897 5360 0451
Password: 076542

Minutes of the meeting will be transcribed and posted on the Buffalo State College website.

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Naming of Buildings and Grounds
   a. Resolution to remove name from Porter Hall/assign a temporary name
3. Adjournment

As our country continues to face an imperative racial reckoning, many communities, including institutions of higher learning, have been confronted with historical and painful reminders of a world that once embraced slavery and a United States history that includes the enslavement of generations of African Americans. Statues and monuments that once stood to honor individuals for their contributions to society—while ignoring their racist pasts—are under close examination, and some have been toppled or removed as today’s citizenry seeks to tear down the symbols, policies, and structures that support systematic racism. Racism is the foundation that has created decades of discriminatory, unjust, and brutal behaviors with current manifestations persisting today. While the decision to remove disturbing symbols of our past is often wrought with controversy, the removal of these racist relics provides communities with an important opportunity to heal and to forge a path toward equity together.

Earlier this month, Buffalo State College was confronted with one of those painful reminders. Late last week, it was brought to my attention that Peter Buell Porter—the eponym of Porter Hall, a residence hall on campus—and his wife were slave owners. Heralded for his heroics as a soldier during the War of 1812 and his roles as a businessman and lawyer, Porter served as a U.S. congressman, U.S. secretary of war, and New York secretary of state. Buffalo State’s first high-rise residence hall was named after Porter in 1980. Regrettably, history also shows that when Porter’s wife, Letitia Breckenridge, moved to Buffalo, she brought with her from Kentucky five enslaved African Americans, maintaining their enslaved servitude to work on their property in New York.

Upon learning of this upsetting fact, and after consultation with Buffalo State College Council Chairman Linda Dobmeier, we requested that the College Council’s Naming of Building and Grounds Committee review the matter and consider removing Porter’s name from the building and renaming the residence hall Bengal Hall until a new permanent name can be identified. That committee met on Wednesday and unanimously recommended the change to the full College Council, which will vote on a resolution regarding the issue during a special session on Friday, July 31. Upon approval by the College Council, implementation of the new temporary name can take place immediately. Signage and references to Porter Hall in all publications and websites will be phased out in the coming weeks and months.*

Additionally, I have charged Daniel DiLandro, head of archives and special collections, and Steve Peraza, assistant professor of history and social studies education, with conducting a thorough review of all other named buildings and facilities on campus to ensure that no other connections to slavery are memorialized. I have asked for their review to be completed by the end of the semester in order for the College Council to review the findings and take any necessary action during this academic year. Should further buildings or facilities be identified, we will work with the College Senate to engage students, faculty, staff, and alumni on a collaborative renaming process.

This is undoubtedly a challenging time in our nation’s history as we work together not only to overcome a historic pandemic but also to confront and deconstruct centuries of discrimination and oppression. Nevertheless, I am steadfast in my belief in the promise of our Buffalo State College community, what we stand for, and our collective fight for social justice.

*This paragraph was updated after initial publication to better reflect SUNY policy and procedures regarding temporary renaming of buildings and spaces. Only new permanent names of buildings and spaces on campus require approval by the Board of Trustees.*

Residence Life will move in over 1,600 Bengals in August. Move-in days will take place Tuesday, August 11; Sunday, August 16; and Wednesday through Saturday, August 19–22. We invite members of the Buffalo State community to volunteer to assist with check-in for new resident students. If you are interested, please submit your information online and a representative from Residence Life will follow up with your assignment. Remote volunteer training sessions will be held Monday, August 17, at various times; please mark your calendars. Please call Residence Life at 878-3000 for further information or with questions.

As we respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and plan for the new fiscal year during these uncertain and unprecedented times, I am writing to provide a 2020–2021 budget implementation update to the campus community.

The pandemic has created significant budgetary challenges, severely affecting the economy of New York State. SUNY System Administration has informed the campuses that it is not known whether the state will be able to provide direct tax support as usual. As a result, for the 2020–2021 fiscal year, SUNY will provide us with only enough of our allocation for six months of operations, with the intent to provide the balance of operating funds at a later date.

This allocation change, combined with an increasing dependency on tuition revenue and campus enrollment shortfalls, will make it necessary for Buffalo State to continue to leverage its college reserves; however, this approach can sustain operations only for the short term.

As we manage this challenging situation, we all must continue to very efficiently and effectively manage our resources. We must optimize all funds, from all funding sources, and continue to curtail costs to essential needs related to health and safety, and critical costs related to continuity of operations. 

Please continue to follow the Buffalo State Spending Control Procedures (PDF, 420 KB) for the COVID-19 public health emergency. These procedures apply to salaries, Other than Personal Service (OTPS) expenses, and capital projects.

To assist with the important campus objective of closely managing resources, account managers should actively monitor and stay within their account allocations. We encourage active monitoring at the division and account levels, using SUNY Business Intelligence (BI) data. The Financial Management Office will provide regular reporting at the division level. Please also continue to use cross-divisional planning to maximize resources. This will position the campus to embrace strategic opportunities and help us ensure our financial future. 

Thank you for your cooperation and support during these challenging times. Questions about this budget update may be addressed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu.

I would like to thank Chairman Linda Dobmeier and the members of the Buffalo State College Council for meeting on Friday and taking quick action to remove the name of Peter Buell Porter, a documented slave owner, from our residence hall and approving the building’s temporary name of Bengal Hall. Because the new name is temporary, we can move forward immediately—before the State University of New York Board of Trustees review—with changing signage and online references to the former Porter Hall. We will, however, still notify the State University of New York Board of Trustees of the College Council’s action today so the matter can be reviewed at an upcoming trustee meeting. As we look for a permanent name for Bengal Hall and review additional campus buildings and facilities for any connections to slave ownership, it is important to note that any new permanent names for these spaces, including Bengal Hall, will require SUNY Board of Trustees approval. I have charged Chief Diversity Officer Crystal Rodriguez, who will work alongside our College Senate, with developing a process to engage students and the campus community at large regarding the renaming of Bengal Hall and any other buildings that may emerge. Again, I thank the College Council for its action and steadfast commitment to Buffalo State College and our mission of supporting social justice for all.

In May, we shared a number of stark budget scenarios for our 2020–2021 fiscal year in which we projected deficits ranging from $11 million to $27 million based on variables related to state funding, tuition, fees, and enrollment. I had hoped to have a clearer picture of our budget to share with you by August 1, but many things remain uncertain.

As you have read over the past few weeks, Congress and the White House continue to negotiate the terms of the next federal stimulus package related to the COVID-19 pandemic. New York State officials have warned that if significant funding for state and local governments is not included in this package, the Division of the Budget will need to cut state aid to agencies, schools, and local governments by at least 20 percent this year in anticipation of a projected $14 billion shortfall, with an even larger statewide budget deficit looming in 2021–2022. We continue to hope that funding for state governments and higher education will be included in the next stimulus bill, but we must also prepare for the possibility of a 20 to 25 percent reduction in state aid ($4 million to $5 million).

We also remain in flux with regard to tuition and fee rates for the upcoming academic year. The State University of New York Board of Trustees is carefully reviewing SUNY’s entire budget outlook and all options available before imposing any additional financial burden on our students and their families regarding a decision on tuition rates for this fall and spring. 

And of course, as you know, enrollment levels have been difficult to project over the past few years because of varying demographic trends—and this was before factoring in the contributing challenges in our current environment. Although there have been encouraging signs this summer—including a freshman class that at this time is tracking ahead of our goal, and stable numbers at the graduate level—our year-over-year enrollment decline, a severely shrinking transfer pool, and struggles with retention continue to create revenue challenges for us.

While we may avoid the worst-case scenario outlined in May, we will absolutely still be facing a significant budget deficit this year. Yesterday, Vice President for Finance and Management Laura Barnum shared an update on 2020–2021 budget implementation, stressing the need to efficiently and effectively manage and monitor our limited resources and adhere to strict spending control procedures (PDF, 420 KB).

Vice President Barnum will provide a preliminary budget forecast for the upcoming year during the September meeting of the College Senate, followed by a full annual budget update at the October Senate meeting. By the fall, many of the variables outlined in this message will be solidified, and we will then begin the difficult work of further reducing our expenses.

As we prepare to restart operations and welcome students back to campus this month, I want to again recognize our dedicated faculty and staff members for their amazing efforts as we navigate these difficult circumstances and deliver on the promise of a Buffalo State College education. Thank you for your continued patience and support.

As we look forward to the return of students and the start of the fall semester, we want to make sure that students are ready and prepared to meet the academic challenges. If you are aware of students in need of laptops or other types of technology, please have them contact Jeffrey Ventura, associate director of athletics, for assistance.

While all students are encouraged to provide for their own technical needs, Butler Library has a limited supply of laptops to lend to students. 

StudyQuad in Butler Library will have a limited number of computers for student use. Please direct your students to check the Butler Library website for more information. In addition, please ask your students to contact their academic departments to determine if they have a computer lab and the best way to access it. 

Please review the following websites for more information:

• Keep Learning
• Coronavirus Information

New York State enacted legislation in 2018 requiring all employers, including Buffalo State College, to ensure that their employees complete sexual harassment prevention training by October 9, 2020. The following training requirements meet all New York State requirements for sexual harassment prevention training. The Equity and Campus Diversity Office is offering the following options to comply with this requirement:

1. 2020 Recertification: Staff and Faculty Who Completed the 2019 Sexual Harassment Training
If you completed the 2019 Sexual Harassment Training, you need to complete only the 2020 Recertification training by October 9, 2020. 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 15 and 20 minutes to complete. Once you log in to Blackboard and access the training folder, please read all the directions and complete the required actions described.  

2.  2020 Certification: New Staff and Faculty Who Have Not Completed the 2019 Sexual Harassment Training
If you have not completed the 2019 Sexual Harassment Training, you need to complete only the 2020 Certification training by October 9, 2020. 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. Once you log in to Blackboard and access the training folder, please read all the directions and complete the required actions described.  

3. Employees Who Do Not Have Access to Blackboard
For employees who do not have access to Blackboard (for example, Facilities staff members), the Equity and Campus Diversity Office is coordinating options to complete the training with your supervisor. Please contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, 878-6210, for more information.

Accessing the 2020 Recertification and Certification Training
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.

Until recently, much of the discussion around supporting students has been COVID-19 related. I wanted to also share some of the ways we are supporting students who continue to be traumatized by systemic racism, police brutality, and the tangential impacts of the pandemic as they begin the semester. These programs and services also demonstrate some of the many ways the college continues to engage in supporting our values related to social justice. Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Equity and Campus Diversity are providing several outlets and spaces for students to be in community and receive support.

Community Circles
Wednesday, September 9
Earlier this summer, the Restorative Justice Center (housed and coordinated by Student Conduct and Community Standards) held a community circle to discuss the impacts of George Floyd’s killing, systemic racism, and the Black Lives movement. The next student online circle will focus on voting and the upcoming election.

The Restorative Justice Center, the Dean of Students Office, and the Civic and Community Engagement Office will host “Voting: Rights, Registration, Suppression, and the 2020 Election,” an online community circle, on Wednesday, September 9, via Zoom videoconference. This circle will address many questions that our students have about voting in America. Two circles will be held—one at noon and one at 7:00 p.m.—to accommodate participants; please register to attend only one circle.

The community circle is a restorative justice framework that provides space for discussion, action planning, and addressing harm at the group and individual levels. The circles are facilitated by a wide variety of faculty and staff members on campus and from the greater Buffalo community. It is a format that the campus has adopted in consultation with students, faculty, and staff given our focus on social justice.

Registration will be open until 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 4. The meeting ID and password will be e-mailed to all registrants on September 9 before the sessions. Please note that select faculty and staff members will be present to participate in the discussion, and trained restorative circle facilitators will be present as well. Questions can be directed to Student Conduct and Community Standards, 878-3051.

Conversations with 'Hef' (Michael Heflin, Assistant Dean of Inclusion and Equity)
Thursday, August 27
4:00 p.m.
The first in a series of programs featuring social justice concerns and the Black experience in America. Participants will view the video “8:46” by Dave Chappelle and respond to questions related to the social justice movement centered on the death of George Floyd. In an open dialogue, participants can share their thoughts, feelings, and reactions about the program after viewing the video. Students can register through the events section of the Student Leadership and Engagement website. This program is hosted by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office in collaboration with the Residence Life and the Student Leadership and Engagement offices. Questions can be directed to heflinma@buffalostate.edu

Weigel Wellness Programs
The Weigel Wellness Center’s Counseling Office has developed specializing support groups and workshops to assist students who have been affected by system racism. Students can contact Weigel Wellness at 878-6711.

Supporting Communities of Color Workshop
This workshop focuses on exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized communities. This program will take an intersectional approach to identifying the various ways that these communities are uniquely affected by national crises including racism. Additionally, facilitators will offer strategies for self and community care aimed at improving and maintaining mental wellness.

This one-session, online workshop will be offered as live presentations and in pre-recorded format to allow students to access at their convenience

Counseling Group for Students of Color
This group will focus on creating a safer and confidential space for group members to discover, explore, and empower themselves by addressing the intersectionality of their identities as it affects their mental health, well-being, interpersonal relationships, and resilience. This will be a facilitated group appropriate for students of color who have been negatively affected by racism and are open to here-and-now opportunities for growth, healing, and connection.

If you have additional ideas or questions, or if you need information about these programs, please e-mail the Dean of Students Office or call 878-4618.

I hope you share these important opportunities with students. Students needing ongoing or one-on-one support may be referred to Michael Heflin, assistant dean of inclusion and equity; the Dean of Students Office; or the Weigel Wellness Counseling Center.