Late last year, the provost and I put out a call for volunteers to serve on the Social Justice Subcommittee of the President's Equity and Campus Diversity Council. This subcommittee would continue the great work of what was called the Social Justice Task Force under the leadership of SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Drew Kahn and Professor John Cabra.

The response was, quite frankly, overwhelming, and the provost and I are excited to know that so many people from the campus community wanted to take part in this important work. While we could not accept everyone who applied to serve on this subcommittee, we have kept the names of those who initially expressed interest and will be reaching out as opportunities are presented.

It is with great excitement that I present to you the members of the Social Justice Subcommittee. Please join me in congratulating and supporting them in this great endeavor.

Co-chair: Yanick Jenkins, Director, Educational Opportunity Program
Co-chair: Laura Hill Rao, Director, Civic and Community Engagement Office

Naila Ansari, Assistant Professor, Theater Department
Sherrie Bernat, Nurse Practitioner, Weigel Wellness Center
Kerry Brogan, Instructional Support Technician, Information Technology Services
Maria Brzykcy, Office Assistant 1 (Keyboarding), Admissions Office
John Cabra, Professor, International Center for Studies in Creativity
Carol DeNysschen, Chair and Professor, Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department
Kristin Fields, Director, Continuing Professional Studies
Frances Gage, Associate Professor, Art and Design Department
James Golden, Assistant Professor, Social Work Department
Judith Harris, Lecturer, Exceptional Education Department
Michael Heflin, Assistant Dean of Inclusion and Equity, Dean of Students Office
Melissa Holland, Director of International Education, Global Engagement
Jonathan Hulbert, Director of Leadership and Organizational Development, Professional Development Center
Drew Kahn, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, Theater Department; Director, Anne Frank Project
Jason Knight, Associate Professor, Geography and Planning Department
Eric “Luke” Krieg, Professor, Sociology Department
John Mack, Assistant Clinical Manager, Weigel Wellness Center
Terri Massenberg, Complex Director, Residence Life Office
Mark Norris, Associate Director of Web Administration and Editor, Marketing and Communications Office
Alice Pennisi, Associate Professor, Art and Design Department
Tristin Salter, Academic Coordinator, Continuing Professional Studies
Joshua Scarbrough, Complex Director, Residence Life Office
Vida Vanchan, Associate Professor, Geography and Planning Department
Marcus Watson, Assistant Professor, Individualized Studies
Amy Wilson, Chair and Associate Professor, Higher Education Administration Department
Agnieszka Zak-Moskal, Title III Activity Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Planning Office

The SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT²) has issued observations and recommendations on webcam requirements for remote instruction. This statement is intended to raise awareness ​around issues of privacy, equity, and inclusion.

The statement recognizes faculty concerns that many students choose to not activate their camera​s. There are many reasons for not requiring cameras​, such as maintaining student privacy, low bandwidth, and outdated technology. The statement encourages faculty members to interact with students using polls, chats, and other functionality within web-conferencing technologies. 

FACT² endorses the City University of New York’s Guidelines Requiring the Use of Cameras during Live Classes, which recommend that faculty members offering classes through web​-conferencing ​technologies cannot require that students turn on their cameras during live classes unless there is a pedagogical need to do so.

SUNY FACT² recommends that any requirement of student live webcam use be disclosed to students before course registration and included in the syllabus, along with information on how to seek a reasonable accommodation for disability-related limitations on webcam use. The ultimate decision regarding student camera use rests with individual faculty members.

To support faculty in this recommendation, the Teaching and Learning Center will offer the workshop “Teaching Remote Synchronous: Tips and Strategies” on Wednesday, January 27, at 1:00 p.m. This workshop will provide an overview of issues and strategies related to delivering remote synchronous instruction.

I encourage you to read the full statement on the SUNY FACT² website and participate in any upcoming campus workshops that are listed on the Workshop Registration System website.

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 meeting scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, will be held electronically via webinar. Members of the public may view the board meeting via Zoom videoconference online or join by phone at (929) 205 6099 US (New York).

Minutes of the board meeting will be transcribed and posted on the College Council website.

Meeting ID: 917 7361 8655
Passcode: 772780

Agenda

1. Call to Order - Linda Dobmeier, Council Chair
2. Action Items - Linda Dobmeier
   Approval of the Minutes: November 17, 2020
3. Chair’s Report - Linda Dobmeier
4. President’s Report - Kate Conway-Turner
5. Committee Reports
6. Announcements - Kate Conway-Turner
7. Executive Session (If Needed)
8. Adjournment - Linda Dobmeier

I am pleased to invite the campus community to the annual celebration honoring our colleagues who are in their 25th year of service to SUNY. The event will take place virtually on Thursday, April 29, at noon.

Employees crossing the 25-year mark this year:

Laura J. Barnum, Finance and Management
Stephen C. Burgeson, Hospitality and Tourism
Theresa M. Cinotti, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
James C. Fowler, Intercollegiate Athletics
M. Scott Goodman, School of Natural and Social Sciences
Daniel R. Harris, University Police
Timothy G. Hoyle, Copy Center
Sara H. Mann Kahris, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
Thomas J. Kostusiak, Performing Arts Center
Peter W. Loehr, Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership
Joseph M. Lofft, Information Technology Exchange Center
Andrew D. Nicholls, History and Social Studies Education
Nancy B. Paschke, Marketing and Communications
Romeyn Prescott, Information Technology Exchange Center
Brendan F. Rooney, Information Technology Services
Raquel J. Schmidt, Exceptional Education
Pamela Schuetze-Pizarro, Psychology
Matthew T. Taylor, University Police
Nanette Tramont, Communication
Carol A. Wannemacher, Psychology
Rita M. Zientek, School of the Professions

In 2017, we began celebrating those members of our Buffalo State community who have achieved 25 years of service in SUNY, not just at Buffalo State. If your name is not listed above and you have achieved 25 years of service in SUNY this year, please contact Melissa Slisz, staff assistant in the President’s Office.

Buffalo State College's official web products are mandated to be accessible to all. To ensure ADA accessibility, college websites are designed and developed in adherence with the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA standards. Please note that web accessibility requirements extend to include all images, documents (including PDFs), videos, and applications residing on college web pages, as well as any third-party products connected to sites.

Each area with a web presence is responsible for ensuring that the content, images, documents, and videos found on their site are compliant with WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards. This web accessibility page explains how to complete an ADA check and also provides resources for closing compliance gaps, including specific guidance for PDF and Microsoft Office documents. 

Marketing and Communications web staff members provide accessibility training as part of their regular Drupal training. The team also runs ADA checks on all Drupal sites on a rotating basis; findings are shared with primary web contacts (PWCs) for any needed remediation.

ADA compliance is a campuswide effort, and we appreciate your diligence in helping fulfill this mandate. Please feel free to contact Melissa Meehan, web services director, with questions.

As we prepare for a safe and healthy spring 2021 semester at Buffalo State College, department heads and supervisors should communicate with their staff members regarding their expectations for a return to campus for operational needs. Department heads and supervisors must ensure that staff members using alternative work arrangements have an approved plan on file.

These required protocols related to the COVID-19 public health emergency will help ensure a safe and productive semester for the campus community:

Personal Protective Equipment
Employees must wear face masks. Please wear your mask placed over your nose and mouth at all times, including in classrooms, conference rooms, and other spaces, even when 6 feet of social distancing exists. If you do not have a face mask, please call the Environmental Health and Safety Office at (716) 878-4038.

Physical Distancing
While the “orange” and “yellow” zone restrictions in Erie and Niagara counties were lifted by Governor Cuomo on January 27, the important measures of decreased density and social distancing remain in place. 

Keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools available to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19 virus and to slow its spread. Since people can spread the virus before they feel sick, it is important to distance from others whenever possible, even if you have no symptoms.

Those of us on campus must follow these physical distancing practices to the greatest extent possible:

• Stay at least 6 feet from other people at all times.
• Do not gather in groups.
• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.

Screening
Any employee who has not been regularly reporting to campus since the end of the fall semester (Thanksgiving break) and who will now have an on-campus presence is required to complete the Employee COVID-19 Daily Screening Questionnaire beginning two weeks before returning to the workplace. Employees must complete the daily screening, which arrives via e-mail, for travel history, COVID-19 history, and COVID-19 symptoms. 

As was required in fall 2020, all faculty and staff members must view the New York State Return to Work video (password: employeesback) and acknowledge that they have done so.

Surveillance Testing
During spring 2021, all faculty and staff members who live on campus or who plan to be on campus regularly (including for instruction, co-curricular activities, or meetings) are required to complete COVID-19 surveillance testing on at least a weekly basis:

• Faculty or staff members who do not report to campus in a given week are not required to participate in testing that week.
• In a change from the fall 2020 testing procedure, you will not receive an e-mail notification that you have been selected for testing. Instead, if you are coming to campus, you are required to report to the Sports Arena during the available testing times to complete a surveillance test on at least a weekly basis.    
• Those who have had a positive PCR test (nasal swab) should not participate in surveillance testing for 90 days from the date of their positive test. Upon conclusion of the 90 days, please resume surveillance testing. Please send notice of a positive PCR test to hrcovidresponse@buffalostate.edu.

To understand what to expect during the testing process, please watch this brief video. Please e-mail hrcovidresponse@buffalostate.edu or call Human Resource Management at (716) 878-3042 if you have questions.

Please continue to review the Campus Updates section of the college's Coronavirus Information website for the most up-to-date announcements and resources.

Thank you for continuing to do your part to keep our campus community safe and healthy.

In accordance with new guidance (PDF, 202 KB) from the State University of New York, Buffalo State College will conduct weekly COVID-19 surveillance (pool) testing of the entire on-campus population throughout the spring 2021 semester.

Starting Monday, February 1, all students who will live on campus, take at least one class on campus, use services on campus (e.g., library, gym, dining), or work on campus are required to participate in weekly testing. Commuter students with a 100 percent remote schedule—and who will not come to campus under any circumstances for the spring 2021 semester—are exempt from weekly pool testing. The spring 2021 testing schedule for students is online. Students will receive direct communications from Student Affairs regarding additional testing expectations and instructions.

Employees who are required to report to campus to complete some or all of their work obligation in a particular week are required to participate in weekly testing. If an employee does not report to campus in a given week, he or she is not required to participate in testing that week. The spring 2021 testing schedule for employees is online. Employees with questions about weekly pool testing should contact Human Resource Management at (716) 878-3042 or hrcovidresponse@buffalostate.edu.

Weekly surveillance testing will add an additional layer of protection for our campus community as we continue to work together to stay safe and healthy. Our plan to restart operations for the spring 2021 semester has been approved by SUNY and is now posted on the Coronavirus Information website. I encourage all members of the Buffalo State community to stay informed and regularly review the Campus Updates and COVID-19 Case Dashboard sections of the website.

Just as we did in the fall, I’m expecting all Bengals to remain vigilant this semester. Wear a mask, wash your hands, commit to physical distancing, and avoid social gatherings. Although statewide and regional positivity rates have decreased in recent weeks following a worrisome holiday surge, we all need to do our part to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and its impact on our campus.

Be well and be safe.

This academic year, like no other, has been challenging for many Buffalo State College students. For students in quarantine from COVID-19, there is an increased feeling of isolation and stress. The “Support a Student” (PDF 184 KB) initiative is an opportunity for faculty and staff members to provide a small act of kindness during challenging times. A $15 donation will provide a quarantined student with a gift bag containing Bengal cookies, hot chocolate, a mug, popcorn, and more, but most importantly, a message from you. Please consider supporting this initiative. Registration and donating are easy and quick. This effort is made possible through the support of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, the Weigel Wellness Center, and Institutional Advancement. Together we can help our students through these difficult times.

Last year, we introduced “Faculty Engaged,” a new multimedia project to highlight the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty. We had set out to release six episodes throughout the 2019–2020 academic year, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our schedule before the final two installments could be produced. Fortunately, we gathered footage and interviews for our final two subjects before social distancing became the norm, and today we are excited to share our sixth episode. 

We spoke with Pixita del Prado Hill, professor of elementary education, literacy, and educational leadership, to learn more about the many ways she connects with a global community of educators and mentors students, both inside and outside the classroom...

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

The Grant Allocation Committee (GAC) requests proposals from individuals, departments, and student clubs and organizations for funding of programs, speakers, and events to take place during the 2021–2022 academic year.

The deadlines for submitting applications under this funding cycle are Friday, April 30, for fall 2021 program proposals; Friday, September 24, for fall 2021 and spring 2022 program proposals; and Friday, November 12, for spring 2022 program proposals. Applications for funding and complete details of requirements may be found on the Student Affairs website. All proposals must be submitted electronically to marzolam@buffalostate.edu.

Questions about the GAC may be addressed to Amanda Marzolf, administrative assistant 2, 878-4704.