Zoom Video Communications has informed Buffalo State College that the college has drastically exceeded its storage limit. This appears to be from the storing of meeting session recordings in Zoom’s cloud. To address this issue, we have shut down the Zoom Cloud storage capability and are recommending that all recordings be stored directly in OneDrive. Please refer to the resources listed below to guide you through the OneDrive setup process.

• OneDrive for PC
• OneDrive for Mac
• How to upload files to OneDrive
• How to share files in OneDrive

As of April 6, all members of our campus community will be eligible to receive the COVID 19 vaccine. As a result, Buffalo State College is working with SUNY System Administration and the New York State Department of Health to acquire vaccines for our campus population. Weigel Wellness Center is anticipating that Buffalo State will receive a shipment of vaccines very soon—possibly as early as this week. The college will send an e-mail message with information on how to sign up to receive the vaccine, with instructions. There will be an electronic link to sign up for vaccine appointments to be administered on campus.

We ask that you continue to remind students about signing up for and receiving the vaccine, as messages are released to the campus community. Getting as many students, faculty, and staff members vaccinated as possible before the end of the academic year is one way we can continue to progress toward a more standard fall semester.

Statistical Analysis System (SAS) analytics software is up for renewal. As part of our IT software assessment process, we are asking for user feedback. This is a very important part of the software assessment and is your chance to voice your perspective on the product.

Please take the SAS Analytics Sofware Assessment. Responses are due by Thursday, April 15. Thank you.

I am pleased to announce that Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney, chief of staff and chief diversity officer, has been named a 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award finalist. Presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, the ATHENA Awards is the region’s most prestigious event recognizing the professional accomplishments of exceptional individuals and organizations dedicated to the advancement of women. In her diversity role, Ms. Rodriguez-Dabney assists Buffalo State College in eliminating barriers based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and various differences through intentional, more productive policies. Her award profile is posted on the Buffalo Niagara Partnership website.

The 30th annual ATHENA Awards will be held in a live virtual format on Wednesday, April 28, at 11:30 a.m. All members of the Buffalo State community are invited to view the event free of charge, but you must register in advance. Click on “tickets,” and then register under the heading “2021 Athena Corporate Champion Guest RSVP.”

The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations has announced that alternative work arrangements (the state’s telecommuting pilot program) have been extended to July 2, 2021. As a result, Temporary Work Location/Flexible Work Schedule Agreements at Buffalo State College will remain in effect until this date. It is not necessary for employees to submit requests for extension of these agreements.

Department heads and supervisors must ensure that staff members using alternative work arrangements have an approved plan on file.

Terms of the original, approved agreements will remain in effect as follows.

The employee agrees to and understands the following:

• I am responsible for creating a work plan, including hours worked and work performed, and I must submit my signed document to my supervisor or manager.
• I will be available for work-related discussion online or by phone.
• I will need to use my own equipment, supplies, and telephone/Internet connection to perform job duties.
• I must continue to fulfill my professional obligation and must continue to meet the performance expectations of my position.
• If I do not produce a work product and my essential functions are not performed, I will charge my leave accruals in order to be paid.
• In the event of any circumstances that make work from an alternative location impracticable, my supervisor may require me to report to the regular work site OR charge appropriate leave accruals.
• I am subject to the same federal and state laws, policies, and procedures applicable to employees at the regular college work site.
• The college is not liable for injuries to third parties at the alternative work location or liable for damages to the employee’s personal or real property.
• Any approved temporary request is subject to revision, suspension, or revocation based on future guidance by the college or the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and/or SUNY or the Research Foundation of SUNY.
• These protocols will be in place only as current circumstances involving the COVID-19 pandemic warrant.

Should you have concerns that you are unable to continue the terms of the approved agreement, please contact your supervisor immediately. Thank you.

I am excited to announce the next Elevating Student Success in Our Current Environment Series, “One Year Later: Unmasking the Student Experience,” a student panel moderated by Luke Haumesser, associate director of student leadership and engagement, on Tuesday, April 20, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. This series is co-sponsored by the Title III Task Force and the Professional Development Center. Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

What does student success mean at Buffalo State College? What are the individual ways that we cultivate student success at the college, and how can we as individuals apply these practices to our own work to support the students we serve? Join us as we learn from our colleagues their definition of student success and the specific practices we as staff or faculty members can apply to better support the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of our students. Each conversation will involve a 10-to-15-minute presentation from a staff or faculty member focused on his or her definition of student success and effective practices that others can apply to their work with students. These conversations will then be followed by a 45-to-50-minute facilitated conversation by a member of the Title III Task Force about how we can apply these practices to our individual work with students. We will also discuss similar practices colleagues found to be effective and build off of the ideas presented to elevate these practices across campus.

I have charged the President’s Institutional Innovation Advisory Council (IIAC) with conducting a Committee Mapping Project. The purpose of this project is to gather information on all campus committees, subcommittees, task forces, councils, and other appointed groups to identify how they function both independently and together to advance the mission of Buffalo State College. The goal is to improve committee structures, eliminate duplication of work, ensure diverse and inclusive campus representation, and enhance overall efficiency.

An electronic form will be sent to all deans and vice presidents today, April 12, to distribute to chairs of divisional, campuswide, departmental, and shared governance committees (including ad hoc), task forces, councils, and subcommittees with a request that committee chairs complete the form by Friday, April 30. The IIAC will follow up as needed with committee chairs and members throughout spring and summer 2021 to collect additional information.

In the fall, we will present the results of the Committee Mapping Project to the campus community to inform discussion and planning and to further improve our committee structures and efficacy. Thank you for your cooperation.

The following message was sent to all students on April 9:

Bengals: 

As you may know, the State of New York recently passed legislation legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Although this is state law, it is important to understand that there are federal restrictions when it comes to SUNY and other college campuses, and that this state legislation does not change the fact that marijuana and other drugs are still not permitted on the Buffalo State College campus.  
 
Chancellor Malatras recently shared information with campuses regarding marijuana use and SUNY policies, which included the following: 

• While New York state law authorizing adult use of cannabis by those age 21 and older became effective immediately, SUNY remains bound by its federal requirements under the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and the Drug-Free Workplace Act.  

• Pursuant to federal requirements and existing SUNY policy, the use, possession, cultivation, or sale of cannabis in any form remain prohibited on SUNY campuses and subject to code of conduct or disciplinary actions. This prohibition covers all SUNY property in public or in dorms or offices, including university-owned and leased buildings, housing, and parking lots and at all SUNY events or while conducting university business, except for approved academic research. 

Of special note is that marijuana cannot be possessed or used on campus, regardless of recreational or medical use. As noted above, this is because the campus is bound by regulations through the federal government’s Drug-Free Schools and Drug-Free Workplace acts (PDF, 134 KB). Students who are found in possession or using marijuana will still be subject to charges under the campus code of conduct. 

It is also important to remember that there are safety considerations for the campus community and that impairment while engaging in various activities can put you or others at risk. Should a student be found impaired when reporting to a campus job or participating in campus functions, classes, etc., it may be a violation of employment or conduct policy; however, should you be in a situation where you or someone you are with is in danger because of drug use, you can call for assistance and be considered exempt under the Amnesty Policy.  

The campus will share updates on this matter as information becomes available. In the meantime, I encourage you to use the various health and wellness resources located on our Weigel Wellness website and continue to learn the facts about marijuana use. 

I hope you are continuing to find ways to keep yourself well, and please remember to reach out to us if you need assistance in any way. I know it has not been an easy academic year, but as President Conway-Turner recently announced, we are hopeful that our campus community will be able to come together in person for fall 2021. 

Be well, Bengals, and best wishes as you move toward the end of the spring semester.

Please join the Counseling Center for the webinar "Faculty Conversations with the Counseling Center: Supporting Student Mental Health" on Thursday, April 22, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.

During this challenging time, we know that many students are coping with increased stress, anxiety, social isolation, and difficulty adjusting to online classes. This virtual workshop will provide faculty and staff members with information and strategies to support students who are facing mental health concerns associated with being a college student during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workshop Agenda

• Present information and data related to the impact of the pandemic on student mental health
• Facilitate discussion with attendees on their observations and experiences with students in the past year
• Discuss strategies that may be helpful in working with students in distress
• Provide resources for students, faculty, and staff

Advance registration is required. Participants will be e-mailed the Zoom meeting link one hour before the start of the program.

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.