Please join me in extending our warmest retirement wishes and many thanks to Thomas C. Koller, officer in charge of intercollegiate athletics, during a farewell celebration on Monday, May 10, between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the Houston Gym. To ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety measures, attendees must select a 30-minute time slot to visit, and event capacity will be monitored. RSVP to select a time to join us.

Mr. Koller, who will retire from Buffalo State College on June 26, announced his retirement on April 2. Please read more about his many years of service to the college and the Western New York community, and please join me in thanking him for his outstanding work and commitment to Buffalo State. We offer him our very best wishes for a wonderful retirement.

I am pleased to invite the campus community to join me for Buffalo State College’s 25 Years of Service Celebration, an annual event to celebrate those employees who are in their 25th year of service at Buffalo State College or SUNY, on Thursday, April 29, at noon. This year’s event will be held virtually. Links to the ceremony and the commemorative program, featuring photographs and short biographies of the honored individuals, are available on the President’s Office website. On behalf of the entire Buffalo State community, I heartily thank this year’s honorees for their many years of dedication and service, and I congratulate them on reaching this significant milestone in their careers.

I am pleased to invite the campus community to join me today, April 29, at noon, for Buffalo State College’s 25 Years of Service Celebration, an annual event to celebrate those employees who are in their 25th year of service at Buffalo State College or SUNY. The event will be held virtually. Links to the ceremony and the commemorative program, featuring photographs and short biographies of the honored individuals, are available on the President’s Office website. On behalf of the entire Buffalo State community, I heartily thank this year’s honorees for their many years of dedication and service, and I congratulate them on reaching this significant milestone in their careers.

The Information Technology Office is preparing to implement OneDrive sync for faculty and staff. This will allow our campus to eventually move away from personal network shares to OneDrive use exclusively. This change will benefit everyone on campus.

• IT will not have to back up your files while reimaging or replacing a desktop or laptop. This alone saves at least a day in the setup process, resulting in you receiving your equipment faster.
• All Buffalo State account holders have access to files from off campus; anywhere there is an Internet connection.
• All Buffalo State account holders may place files on their local hard drive for work where there is no Internet connection.
• All Buffalo State account holders may share documents with each other.

This won’t happen all at once but over several weeks, as we engage across all campus departments. IT will reach out to individual offices each week to schedule the activity for the following week. You will then receive a date that the change will take place. You likely will not even know that the change occurred.

When your department is scheduled, you will receive information about what has changed, how to sync your files, how to work on your files offline, and more. Please contact the IT Help Desk with any questions and check the IT News Page for IT news and information.

President Conway-Turner announced to the graduating Class of 2021 and the Buffalo State community last month that our annual spring Commencement ceremonies will take place virtually on Saturday, May 15. This decision was made to keep our community safe against the continuing threat of COVID-19. Since then, the college’s Commencement Committee and planning teams have focused on presenting meaningful virtual ceremonies for each academic school and developing an in-person component to mark this most momentous occasion. I am happy to announce two important updates and a call for volunteers.

Ceremony Start Times and Links

• School of Arts and Humanities Baccalaureate Ceremony: noon
• School of Education and Individualized Studies Baccalaureate Ceremony: noon
• School of Natural and Social Sciences Baccalaureate Ceremony: noon
• School of the Professions Baccalaureate Ceremony: noon
• Graduate School Ceremony: 2:00 p.m.

Links for each ceremony and an online ceremony program booklet will be posted on the Commencement website on May 15.

Department chairs and program directors who are preparing virtual post-ceremony celebrations, please take note of ceremony start times to aid in your planning. All ceremonies are expected to run for approximately one hour. As a reminder, in-person or on-campus department gatherings are not permitted per current health protocols.

Commencement Stage Walk May 3–7
We have planned a special weeklong in-person event in the Campbell Student Union Plaza designed to recognize this year’s graduating class. During the week of May 3–7, graduates will have an opportunity to walk across a stage set up in the plaza and be photographed in their academic regalia alongside college leadership. In this way, we will be able to honor the requests of graduates to walk across the stage while following safety protocols. A professional photographer will be on hand to capture the moment, with photo package order forms available on site. Off-campus guests, however, are not allowed to participate in the Commencement Stage Walk.

Students interested in participating must register in advance and adhere to on-campus mask and surveillance testing protocols. Please direct students to the Commencement website for details and to register for a time slot.

Call for Volunteers!
What would our Buffalo State Commencement celebrations be without the support of our wonderful Bengal family? Volunteers are needed to make the Commencement Stage Walk event a success. Faculty and staff members who are interested in and comfortable coming to campus are invited to volunteer for one or more shifts throughout the week of May 3.

A variety of volunteer shifts, ranging from 90 to 120 minutes, are available starting at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 5:30 p.m. (On Tuesday, May 4, the last shift will extend until 6:30 p.m.) Volunteer duties include graduate check-in and photo orders, assisting graduates entering and exiting the stage, and assisting with queuing. Volunteers will receive a confirmation email with their assignments and reporting instructions. Masks, daily symptom checker, and weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing protocols will be in place for all volunteers, event staff, and students to create a safe and fun occasion for all participants.

Faculty and staff volunteers are encouraged to wear their academic regalia or Buffalo State gear to add to the festivities, though it is not required. Academic Affairs is unable to offer regalia loans because of continuing public health concerns.

Please register using the Commencement Stage Walk Volunteer form (log-in required).

Thank you for your continued support of our students and for honoring the graduating Class of 2021!

I am honored to announce the recipients of the 2020–2021 Student Leadership and Humanitarian Awards. These students have been selected for their outstanding leadership and their dedication and selfless service to Buffalo State College and the greater community. Students were nominated by faculty, staff, and peers for their academic and extracurricular involvement both on and off campus. The following students were recognized for their outstanding efforts and achievement at the Student Leadership and Humanitarian Awards Ceremony on April 27.

President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student

• Gabriella McKinley, Theater

President’s Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student

• I’Jaz J. Eberhardt, Multidisciplinary Studies, Data Science and Analytics Track

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

• Kelly Glowny, Childhood Education and Mathematics
• Lila Rollo, Social Work
• Matei Shwartz, Creativity and Change Leadership

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence - Special Award for Overcoming the Odds

• Victoire Grace Karambizi, Biology

Mildred Keller Campbell Student Leadership Award

• Renae Marten, Childhood Education

Phillip Santa Maria Equity and Campus Diversity Award

• William Roberts, Psychology

Louis Antonetti Student Humanitarian Award

• Camden Gradwell, Television and Film Arts, English

Minnie and Joe Engel Student Humanitarian Award

• Hannah Kalmeyer, Psychology

Phillip Santa Maria Student Humanitarian Award

• Hannah Kalmeyer, Psychology

As President Conway-Turner announced on March 23, it is Buffalo State College’s intention to return to normal in-person operations for the fall 2021 semester. With COVID-19 vaccinations more readily available and all New Yorkers age 16 or older now eligible for the vaccine, the college is planning for a robust fall semester with in-person classes, vibrant campus life, and a return to the workplace for faculty and staff.

As guidance from the Governor’s Office continues to evolve, allowing places of employment to increase density, we will plan to safely transition away from remote operations during the summer months, and we expect to welcome all employees back to campus by Monday, August 2. The health and safety of our campus community will remain our No. 1 priority. We will be vigilant in adhering to guidelines from New York State, state and local health departments, and SUNY System Administration as operations progress toward an anticipated return for fall 2021.

Buffalo State will phase in employees’ return to the workplace in stages and in a coordinated manner. Guidance for returning to in-person operations has been developed to provide details about this process. Before workers return, supervisors will develop safety-oriented plans for the return to in-person operations for the Buffalo State offices or departments they oversee. Supervisors will notify employees who are currently working remotely about when and how to return to in-person operations on campus.

The campus community has met many challenges during the COVID-19 public health emergency, while continuing to provide outstanding service and support to our students. Thank you for your continuing dedication.

Questions about guidance for the return to in-person operations may be addressed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu.

Our campus community was provided with details of the new Institutional Planning Advisory Committee (IPAC) in the Daily Bulletin on March 15. The role of IPAC will be to serve as a conduit between multiple areas of the college, serve as the coordinating body of strategic planning initiatives, and provide leadership in the following ways:

• Oversee the iterative strategic planning process and its implementation.
• Monitor and adjust the ongoing strategic planning process to meet the college’s needs. 
• Strengthen and focus the analytics required for planning, assessment, and student success. 
• Regularly communicate assessment and planning progress to faculty, staff, and students.
• Share information and assessment results with the Institutional Effectiveness Committee for possible inclusion in the Middle States Self-Study materials. 
• Develop recommendations for actions and goals within the broad parameters of the strategic plan and the college’s mission for submission to the president and cabinet. 

Kim Barron, assistant vice president for institutional effectiveness and planning, and I will serve as co-chairs of IPAC. We will work with the following individuals, who have generously offered their time and talent to serving as IPAC members:

• Philip Badaszewski, Assistant Dean, Residence Life Office
• William Benfanti, Associate Vice President for Government Relations, Institutional Advancement Office
• Elisa Bergslien, Associate Professor, Earth Sciences and Science Education Department
• Andrew Binder, Director of Operations, Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall
• Emily Boyce, Associate Professor, Music Department
• Curtis Brickhouse, Director of Student Affairs Operations, Student Affairs
• Kelly D’Aloisio, Director, Financial Management Office
• Robert Delprino, Professor, Psychology Department
• Ann Emo, Chair and Professor, Theater Department
• Katrina Fulcher, Associate Professor, Speech-Language Pathology Department
• Tiffany Fuzak, Research Analyst, Institutional Effectiveness and Planning Office
• Michelle Hockett, Associate for Institutional Research, Institutional Research Office
• Jonathan Hulbert, Director of Leadership and Organizational Development, Professional Development Center
• Yanick Jenkins, Director, Educational Opportunity Program
• Lin Xia Jiang, Professor, Art and Design Department
• Kim Kline, Professor, Higher Education Administration Department
• Carolynn Krupp, Director of Institutional Planning, Institutional Effectiveness and Planning Office
• David Loreto, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Admissions Office
• Charles Lyons, Director, E. H. Butler Library
• Gabriel Marshall, Assistant Vice President and Senior Adviser for Student Success and Retention, Academic Affairs
• Ashley Martin, Director of Student Achievement Programs, Academic Success
• Amy McMillan, Director, Muriel A. Howard Honors Program
• Melissa Meehan, Director of Web Administration, Marketing and Communications Office
• Kristen Mruk, Associate Director, Student Leadership and Engagement Office
• Laura Hill Rao, Director, Civic and Community Engagement Office
• Sarah Reid, Campus Planner, Campus Planning Office
• Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney, Chief of Staff and Chief Diversity Officer, President’s Office
• Bhakti Sharma, Associate Professor, Art and Design Department
• Deborah Silverman, Chair and Associate Professor, Communication Department
• Gary Solar, Chair and Associate Professor, Earth Sciences and Science Education Department
• Amitra Wall, Associate Provost, Academic Affairs
• Amy Wilson, Chair and Associate Professor, Higher Education Administration Department
• Student Representative (to be determined)

We are planning our first meeting for early May. Updates on IPAC activities as well as opportunities for the campus community to communicate with IPAC will continue to be provided in the Daily Bulletin. Please direct questions to Kim Barron and watch for updates in the Daily Bulletin.

I have accepted the Campus Culture and Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Study report from the President’s Institutional Innovation Advisory Council (IIAC). The final report is now available online via SharePoint (employee log-on required). I thank the IIAC, the focus group facilitators, and all members of the campus community for their contributions to this important study.

I encourage anyone who has questions about the findings to attend one of the following virtual open forums or to contact IIAC chair Jonathan Hulbert.

Thursday, May 6, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Friday, May 7, 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 11, 3:00–4:00 p.m.

The cabinet and I recognize the critical challenges to be addressed and the vital opportunities to be leveraged as presented in the study. The findings and recommendations are valuable tools that will illuminate our path as we move forward. Over the summer, members of the senior administration and I will identify and prioritize the recommendations found within the report and communicate with the campus community early in the fall.

This report represents deep campus reflection. It is through reflection and courageous change that Buffalo State College will continue to serve as an equitable and inclusive educational engine for social and economic mobility that is responsive to our new realities. As the uncertainty of our world and of higher education has been further heightened because of COVID-19, our urban-engaged campus will use the study and other explorations as opportunities to amplify our community’s strengths with new and innovative practices. The means to creating a brighter future for Buffalo State and its students can be found within our amazing community. Together, we will maximize our strengths and address our challenges.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the Buffalo State College University Police Department (UPD) and campus officials are working closely with law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels in an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Buffalo State College sophomore Saniyya Dennis, 19, who has been missing since Saturday, April 24.

UPD will continue to post advisory updates on its website as information becomes available. We ask everyone in the Buffalo State community to keep Saniyya and her family in your thoughts during this time of tremendous heartache. Please check the UPD website regularly for updates, and please remember that any information that may be of assistance to the investigation should be reported immediately to UPD at (716) 878-6333 or police@buffalostate.edu. Information can also be shared through the University Police anonymous tip line at (716) 878-3166 or by calling the NYS Missing Person’s Clearinghouse at (800) 346-3543.