At its May 8, 2020, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the DOPS Policy for Skills and Competencies Infused Courses, Policy IV:13:00, presented by the College Senate Curriculum Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: IV: 13:00
Date: July 23, 2008
Subject: Skills and Competencies Infused Courses

The skills and competencies of writing, information management, and critical thinking are infused in certain courses within an undergraduate student’s program of study. Courses that are infused with these competencies carry the designations writing infused (WI), critical thinking (CT), and information management (IM). Courses no longer carry the designation writing intensive (W). All students are responsible for successfully completing courses in their major or equivalents that infuse these competencies. Students should meet with an academic adviser to identify courses within their majors that satisfy these requirements.

Students must take a minimum of two WI courses and one CT and one IM course in their programs of study.

The student learning outcomes (SLOs) for WI, CT, and IM skills and competencies can be found on the College’s Intellectual Foundations website.

The process to designate a course as WI, CT, and/or IM is as follows: departments upload the course proposal and IF 2014 narrative to the online management system for SIFOC review.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and charge the provost with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy change and for communicating the change to the campus community.

At its December 11, 2020, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the DOPS Policy for Change of Grade, Policy Number: I:16:07, presented by the Standards for Students Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: I:16:07
Date: Updated March 2014 
Subject: Change of Grade Policy  

In case of a clerical error or other extenuating circumstance resulting in an incorrect grade, a request for a grade change must be submitted according to the following policies and procedures. This policy applies to both undergraduate and graduate students. This policy does not apply to incomplete (I), in-process (IP), grade delayed (N), grade not submitted (X), or withdrawn (W) grades.

Appropriate reasons for grade changes may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Demonstrable arithmetic, editing, or factual error in calculating the grade
2. Omission of assignments or parts of assignments in calculating the grade 
3. A grade demonstrably based on impermissible factors unrelated to student performance, such as discrimination, bias, retaliation, or retribution

Inappropriate reasons for grade changes may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Saving a student from some academic penalty such as dismissal, probation, warning, or academic integrity problem
2. Enabling a student to graduate
3. Enabling a student to maintain academic eligibility for financial aid
4. Enabling a student to graduate with academic honors or meet some other established minima
5. Personal issues unrelated to academics
6. Enabling a student to maintain academic eligibility for athletics or any other co-curricular activity
7. Managing enrollment levels in order to preserve programs or revenue, or to increase retention rates

Steps and time frames for each step of the student grade change process:

The instructor of record will submit a change of grade request to the appropriate associate dean (with a copy to the department chair) by the 10th week of the following spring or fall semester. A written justification articulating a reason for the requested grade change will be included.   

1. In the event that the original instructor is incapacitated or otherwise unavailable, a grade change may be submitted by the department chair by the 10th week of the following spring or fall semester.   
2. If the request is approved, the appropriate associate dean will forward the grade change form to the Registrar’s Office within one month of receipt.   
3. Final grade determination by the campus that is consistent with the principles, policies, and procedures included in this document will be made within the time frame outlined above.  
4. Extensions to the time frame outlined above will be considered for extraordinary circumstances such as arithmetic, editing, or factual error.    
5. No changes will be permitted after a student’s degree is conferred except to correct a documented college error.  

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and charge the provost with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy change and for communicating the change to the campus community.

At its December 11, 2020, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the DOPS Policy on Commencement, presented by the Standards for Students Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number:
Date: TBD
Subject: Commencement

Commencement is a ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate student degree completion. The intent of the following is to provide consistent and clear definitions and information for the Buffalo State College community regarding Commencement and to support students’ successful progress toward graduation. This policy clarifies differences between Commencement and graduation and serves as a resource in developing and updating administrative policies and procedures that identify eligible candidates and support the planning and execution of the annual Commencement ceremonies.

Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not necessarily constitute graduation. Commencement is the public celebration of that accomplishment, but it is a ceremony, not the actual graduation itself.

A Commencement Committee, appointed by the college president, is responsible for advising the president, provost, and other appropriate college administrators on matters pertaining to Commencement. The Registrar’s Office is responsible and maintains undergraduate and graduate student academic records (which are used to determine eligibility). Commencement procedures and protocol are outlined and executed by administrative offices including Academic Affairs, Events Management, Information Technology, the Graduate School, and the Registrar’s Office.

Definitions:

• Graduation: Occurs when the Registrar’s Office or the Graduate School completes a successful degree audit and awards the degree.
• Graduation Term: Refers to the academic semester of graduation or degree application for graduation: August (summer), December (fall), January (J-Term), or May (spring).
• Graduating Class: Includes recent graduates and current degree applicants who are eligible to participate in Commencement according to the Commencement Ceremony Eligibility Policy and academic standing.
• Commencement: The annual ceremony that honors the current graduating class.
• Level: Undergraduate or graduate student.

Eligibility

Undergraduate Commencement is for students who graduated in August or December of the previous calendar year or January of the current calendar year, as well as current May bachelor's degree candidates. Undergraduate students who have earned 101 credits will be invited and must accept the invitation in order to participate.

Undergraduate students who have not met the aforementioned eligibility requirements for Commencement but are interested in participating with the current graduating class may apply to participate for early Commencement if they have 90 earned credits by the spring degree application deadline. When applying, the student should demonstrate a realistic and achievable plan for completing the remaining required credits for graduation by the end of the following summer session. A committee will review applications for early participation in Commencement and notify students of a decision.

The Graduate School Commencement is for graduate students who graduated in August or December of the previous calendar year or January of the current year, as well as current May and August candidates for master’s degrees, certificates of advanced study, and graduate certificates. Graduate students will be eligible to participate in the current Commencement ceremony when they have achieved the aforementioned graduation or candidacy status.

The degrees recognized during Commencement are as follows:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Science in Education
• Master of Arts
• Master of Music
• Master of Public Administration
• Master of Science
• Master of Science in Education
• Certificate of Advanced Study
• Graduate Certificate

Undergraduate and postbaccalaureate certificate completion may be recognized at the departmental level.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and charge the provost with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy and for communicating the policy to the campus community.

Please join us at Campus House on Friday, May 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to celebrate and thank Heather Maldonado for her significant impact and tenure at Buffalo State College, as we send her off to become vice president for student development at Keuka College. Contributions to a group gift (please contact Joy Guarino) or a donation in Heather's name to the Fund for Buffalo State through the Buffalo State College Foundation would be welcome. A champagne toast and light refreshments will be served; cash bar.

The next Bengal Business Forum is scheduled for Monday, May 24, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. This virtual meeting will provide an update on the college budget, detailed outcomes from the 2021–2022 Strategic Resource Planning Process, and a report on Buffalo State College’s governmental advocacy efforts.

The Bengal Business Forum provides an opportunity for members of the campus community to learn about and engage with relevant business and administrative matters at the college. It is a place for issues updates, information sharing, and in-depth discussion about financial, administrative, and operational topics.  

All members of the campus community are welcome to attend. Please register online to receive the Zoom information and meeting agenda.

We look forward to seeing you at the May 24 Bengal Business Forum.

Last week, Vice President for Finance and Management Laura Barnum provided a comprehensive overview of Buffalo State College’s financial picture during the College Senate’s final meeting of the 2020–2021 academic year. Admittedly, the condition of Buffalo State’s budget has improved over the past year thanks to short-term relief from a temporary infusion of federal funds—although our much-discussed long-term structural concerns remain. The need to stabilize our enrollment issues and continue to develop innovative approaches to operations, including new programs, is paramount.

In my budget update in December 2020, we projected a full depletion of our central reserves and a deficit of nearly $15 million for the 2020–2021 academic year. That projection was based on anticipated reductions to our state budget allocations for 2020–2021, along with our long-standing structural deficit from enrollment declines and unfunded salary increases. Since that time, welcome federal stimulus packages in December 2020 and March 2021 greatly improved the New York State budget landscape, directing critical—albeit temporary—funds to our campus.

As late as March 29, 2021, we were expecting reductions to our state budget of up to $5 million this fiscal year, as well as reductions of nearly $3 million to university-wide programs, such as EOP. Fortunately we had to absorb only a $1 million (5 percent) reduction to our state budget this year. Additionally, thanks to $15.7 million in temporary institutional grants from the first two phases of the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), we are projecting a $9.4 million surplus for the 2020–2021 fiscal year. And an additional $15.1 million (one-time funding) for 2021–2022 from the third phase of HEERF will give us a projected surplus of $4.1 million next year. These funds will allow us to replenish our reserves at a level that will help us manage any unexpected costs as well as allow us to provide funding for necessary investments to improve our long-term financial sustainability.

While our short-term financial picture is a welcome improvement from what we had been bracing for, we still have significant challenges ahead. Tuition increases are paused for the foreseeable future; there is no new funding for negotiated salary increases; and enrollment challenges continue because of regional demographic changes and decreased student retention rates. We continue to project a long-term structural deficit of $11 million–$12 million (and growing) annually.

A gradual closing of the “TAP gap”—the difference between state Tuition Assistance Program funding for students and actual tuition costs—which was initiated in April’s New York State budget agreement, may eventually bring $3 million to $4 million annually in additional funds to Buffalo State by 2023–2024. But while those funds will eventually be a welcome addition, our collective work internally to align our revenue and expenditures remains critical. Spending constraints will remain in place in 2021–2022, as will our efforts to identify new efficiencies and develop new revenue streams through innovation and philanthropy. My aim is to meet our budgetary shortfall by using all the innovation we can muster while minimizing the stress on campus operations, processes, students, and employees. Change is hard, but our future success requires collaboration and a clear focus on what is needed for long-term stability.

Vice President Barnum will provide an overview of the 2021–2022 Strategic Resource Planning Process at the virtual Bengal Business Forum on Wednesday, May 24. She will share an overview of the investment proposal outcomes and an update on our campus innovation and optimization efforts. I encourage you to attend the virtual meeting.

Over the last year, campus units have continued to adapt to better serve our campus community, meet our campuswide strategic priorities, and align our work with existing and anticipated financial resources. This has included reorganization and consolidation within divisions. The restructuring within Academic Affairs to develop the new School of Arts and Sciences, for example, will provide interdisciplinary and collaborative opportunities for our students, faculty, and programs. The division of Student Affairs has realigned staff to better address programming focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion while streamlining costs. And operations within Finance and Management have been reorganized and consolidated to optimize services while generating cost savings. These are examples of significant divisional changes that better serve our campus.

We continue to leverage technology in ways that meet our needs while creating cost savings. Changes in technology have affected every portion of our campus—every department and all divisions. We have invested in open educational resources to help reduce the cost of education, and we continue to develop technological tools to get needed classroom resources into the hands of our students at the lowest possible costs. Campuswide, we have digitized or are digitizing many operational procedures, including e-procurement, e-signature, electronic travel systems, elements of Banner, and communication with prospective students. Streamlining our work in cost-effective ways is a significant priority across campus. So, too, is engaging in serious collaboration across divisions to best meet campus goals. Our ability to secure and maintain financial security for our campus depends on everyone in all divisions and units doing their part.

As we close out this unprecedented academic year, I want to thank you for your incredible dedication to your work, our institution, and our students. Your selflessness and perseverance continue to help Buffalo State and our students soar. I wish you and your families a restful summer.

SUNY System Administration recently announced, after careful deliberation, that all university-sponsored undergraduate international travel (study-abroad and faculty-led student activities) for fall 2021 is canceled because of the ongoing pandemic. This continuation of the current suspension of international undergraduate study and travel is driven by SUNY's ongoing commitment to the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. SUNY will again launch the COIL Global Commons for summer 2021. Faculty members interested in learning more about online intercultural exchange, collaborative projects, or serving on planning subcommittees for 2021 can view the details of last year's program.

At its April 9, 2021, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the DOPS Policy for Teacher Certification, Policy Number 1:03:00, presented by the chair of the Instruction and Research Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: 1:03:00
Date: TBD
Subject: Policy on Teacher Certification

Buffalo State College maintains a Teacher Certification Office that serves as a resource for Buffalo State College students, faculty, staff, and administration and the community on all topics relating to New York State teacher certification.

Upon completion of an approved educator preparation program at Buffalo State College, students are eligible to receive a college recommendation for New York State teacher certification. Candidates must complete a Release Authorization Form, which allows the Buffalo State Teacher Certification Office to use the candidate’s Social Security number to provide the college recommendation to the New York State Education Department. The form is available on the Teacher Certification Office website.

Candidates who are recommended for NYS teacher certification must complete any additional items required by the New York State Education Department at the time that the candidate applies for New York State teacher certification. These may include but are not limited to the following: fingerprint clearance through the NYS Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability, successful completion of the appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, and completion of workshop requirements. The requirements for New York State teacher certification are subject to change at any time and without notice.

The Teacher Certification Office also verifies completion of Buffalo State’s New York State approved educator preparation programs for graduates who apply for certification in other states.

Additional information regarding the requirements and process for New York State Teacher Certification may be found on the Teacher Certification Office website.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and charge the provost with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy change and for communicating the change to the campus community.

At its April 9, 2021, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the DOPS Policy on Academic Misconduct, Policy Number: VII: 04:00, presented by the chair of the Instruction and Research Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: VIII: 04:00
Date: Updated 2020 
Subject: Academic Misconduct Policy  

All Buffalo State students are expected to display honesty and integrity in completing course requirements and following college academic regulations. “Academic misconduct” refers to any form of plagiarism, fraud, or cheating in connection with academic coursework and is inconsistent with the aims and goals of Buffalo State College.

Examples of Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to the following:

• Aiding in academic dishonesty. Knowingly taking action that allows another student to engage in an act of academic dishonesty including but not limited to completing an examination or assignment for another student or stealing an examination or completed assignment for another student.
• Cheating. Includes but is not limited to (1) use of any assistance not authorized by the course instructor(s) in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the course instructor(s) in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3) stealing tests or other academic material belonging to the course instructor(s).
• Falsifying academic materials. Fabricating laboratory materials, notes, reports, or any forms of computer data; forging an instructor’s name or initials; resubmitting an examination or assignment for reevaluation that has been altered without the instructor’s authorization; or submitting a report, paper, materials, computer data, or examination (or any considerable part thereof) prepared by any person other than the student responsible for the assignment.
• Misrepresenting documents. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any college or official document, record, or instrument of identification.
• Plagiarizing. Copying or receiving material from any source and submitting that material as one’s own, without acknowledging and citing the particular debts to the source (quotations, paraphrases, basic ideas), or in any other manner representing the work of another as one’s own.
• Purchasing academic assignments. Purchasing an academic assignment intended for submission in fulfillment of any course or academic program requirement.
• Selling academic assignments. Selling or offering for sale any academic assignment to any person enrolled at Buffalo State. No person shall offer any inappropriate assistance in the preparation, research, or writing of any assignment, which the seller knows, or has reason to believe, is intended for submission in fulfillment of any course or academic program requirement.
• Submitting previously submitted work. Submitting academically required material that has been previously submitted, in whole or in substantial part, without prior and expressed consent of the instructor.
• Turnitin.com. Faculty may require students to use textual similarity detection software (e.g., Turnitin.com) in courses at Buffalo State College. This software may be used as an educational tool to assist students in learning how to properly cite resources, decrease instances of academic misconduct, or assist in the identification of acts of academic misconduct.

I. General Considerations
Statement on Notification
Students will be provided with information about academic misconduct in the Handbook of Student Policies and during Orientation. In addition, it is good practice for instructors to provide notification about academic misconduct policies and potential sanctions for engaging in academic misconduct to students in their classes. Instructors should include a clear statement about academic misconduct in their syllabi. Instructors also may wish to provide abbreviated statements about academic integrity for individual assignments, exams, or projects.

Statement on Due Process
No sanction for any alleged instance of academic misconduct may be imposed unless the student has been apprised of the allegation, the sanction, and the procedures of due process that are available under this policy. Neither the instructor nor the student should be represented or accompanied by an attorney at any point in the proceedings. Throughout the entire process the student is expected to continue attending classes and complete all coursework.

Statement on Timeliness 
Academic days are defined as days when classes are in session as defined by the Academic Calendar. With the agreement of all principals and the Academic Standards Office, proceedings may continue during non-academic days.

Composition of Academic Misconduct Committee
The Academic Misconduct Committee serves as the body of appeal in the Academic Standards Office sanctions review process. The committee is composed of the following members:

• The director of academic standards (chair)
• The associate dean(s) from each instructional school
• The dean of students, or designee
• The chair of the College Senate Committee on Standards for Students, or designee
• The chair of the College Senate Committee on Student Welfare, or designee

Resolution of Academic Misconduct Allegations
When an instance of suspected or alleged academic misconduct by a student arises, it shall be resolved according to the following procedures. These procedures assume that many questions of academic misconduct will be resolved through consultation between the student and the instructor (a process known as consultative resolution, as explained below). At the request of the instructor or the student, the department chair (or designee) may also be involved in the resolution of an academic misconduct allegation during the consultative resolution process.

It is recommended that the instructor consult with the department chair and/or associate dean(s) and that the student consult with the Academic Standards Office for guidance and assistance.

II. Consultative Resolution

Step 1
If an instructor has reason to believe that a student may have committed an act of academic misconduct, the instructor shall notify the student suspected of academic misconduct within 10 academic days of discovery of the alleged incident by email to the student’s Buffalo State address. The department chair shall also be notified via email of the academic misconduct allegation.  This notification will include a copy of the Academic Misconduct Policy and Procedures.

If an individual other than the instructor, including other students, faculty, or staff members, has reason to believe that a student may have committed an act of academic dishonesty, the individual shall notify the instructor within 10 academic days of discovery of the alleged incident.

The instructor will meet and consult with the student within 10 academic days of the date of notification. At the request of the instructor or the student, the department chair may also be present at this meeting. During the meeting, the instructor will inform the student of the alleged incident. This meeting may take place via videoconference or similar technology if the principals are unable to travel to campus. At the meeting, the student will have the opportunity to explain any alleged misconduct, to present evidence of innocence, or give information relevant to the investigation. If the student fails to attend the consultative meeting, the instructor has the authority to reach a decision without consulting the student directly.

Once the alleged incident has occurred, if the student withdraws from the course, the academic misconduct investigation will proceed. If academic misconduct did occur, the student’s course registration will be reinstated and the earned grade will be applied.

If the timing of the incident prohibits resolution of the consultative resolution investigation (e.g., end of term) the instructor shall not report a grade, which will result in an X status (grade not submitted) on the student’s academic record while the academic misconduct investigation is in progress. The earned grade will be applied when the matter is resolved, which should occur no later than one month after the resolution.

If, after consultation with the student, the instructor believes the student did not commit an act of academic misconduct, no sanctions will be imposed, and the student will be notified of that finding by official college email. The department chair shall also be notified via email of the academic misconduct finding. Procedures end.

If, after consultation with the student, the instructor believes the student did commit an act of academic misconduct, two outcomes are possible:

1. The faculty member determines that the academic misconduct was unintentional; therefore, the faculty member will help the student to understand what was done wrong and how to avoid engaging in academic dishonestly in the future. No sanction(s) are applied.

2. The faculty member determines that the academic misconduct was intentional. 

If academic misconduct occurred and was intentional, the instructor has the authority to execute one or more of the following sanctions (see list below) depending on the severity of the infraction and the significance of the assignment. Such sanctions will be assigned as “pending” until the Academic Standards Office receives notice from the instructor of the sanction and confirms via email that the case at hand is the student’s first academic misconduct infraction and that the sanction may be imposed. If the student has a prior infraction(s), then the sanction may be revised by the Academic Misconduct Committee.

1. Warning. Provide written notice to the student that he or she has violated a college academic misconduct standard and that the repetition of the wrongful conduct may be cause for more severe sanctions.
2. Revision of Work. Require the student to replace or revise the work in which misconduct occurred. (The instructor may choose to assign a grade of “J” [Judicial] pending replacement or revision of the work.)
3. Reduction in Grade. Reduce the student’s grade with respect to the particular assignment or exam or the final grade in the course.
4. Failure in the Course. Fail the student in the course, to be indicated on the transcript by a grade of “E” without comment or further notation.
5. Such other reasonable and appropriate sanction(s) as may be determined by the instructor with the exception of any Academic Standards Office sanctions described below.
6. Infractions committed by individuals not enrolled in the course will be reviewed by the Academic Standards Office and, if confirmed, will be assigned appropriate penalties or referred to judicial procedures.
7. Recommendation of the following Academic Misconduct Committee Sanctions. The Academic Misconduct Committee must review and approve these recommendations.
   1. Failure in the Course with Permanent Notation of Academic Misconduct. A grade of “E” for the course is recorded on the student’s transcript with a permanent notation on the student’s transcript that the grade of “E” was assigned for reason of academic dishonesty.
   2. Suspension from the College. The student is suspended for a defined time period with stated conditions that may include a permanent notation on the transcript
   3. Dismissal from the College. The student is dismissed, with permanent notation on the transcript.

Step 2
The instructor shall notify the student of a decision, any sanction(s) imposed, and the student’s right to appeal that decision, in writing. This decision letter shall be sent to the student via email to the student’s Buffalo State address, with a copy to the Academic Standards Office. The student, the department chair, the School dean’s office, and the Academic Standards Office must be notified of the instructor’s decision within 10 academic days of the date of the consultation meeting. It is the instructor’s responsibility to report the sanction, regardless of severity, to the Academic Standards Office. A copy of the instructor’s decision letter will be retained in a confidential file in the Academic Standards Office. The student shall have access to his or her own confidential file. 

The student may appeal the instructor’s findings of academic misconduct and/or the sanction(s) imposed. The student’s request for an appeal must be submitted in writing to the Academic Standards Office within 10 academic days after the instructor has notified the student of the decision. In the letter of appeal, the student shall articulate if the student is appealing the original judgment of academic misconduct, the resulting sanction(s) or recommended sanction(s), or both.

III. Academic Misconduct Committee Sanctions and Appeals
If the instructor recommends academic misconduct committee sanctions (see consultative resolution, Step 1, item 7) or if a student appeals the instructor’s finding (i.e., original judgment and/or sanctions imposed), the procedures outlined in this section are required, before a final decision and sanctions may be enacted. Those procedures shall be initiated within 10 academic days of receipt of the instructor’s decision letter.

Step 1 (Administrative Review)

In cases where the student seeks to appeal an instructor decision, the student and instructor shall each provide a written statement of evidence supporting their position, any relevant documentation, and the names of potential witnesses to the Academic Standards Office (hereafter referred to as the office). The office will review all case materials.

If the office finds no cause (i.e., no new information is provided by the student, no evidence of policy or procedural violation by the faculty) to further consider the circumstances of the case, the office will notify the student, via email to the student’s Buffalo State address, and the instructor within 10 academic days of receipt of case materials, that the sanction(s) articulated in the instructor decision letter will be enacted. Student appeal procedures end.

If the office finds cause to further consider the circumstances of the case, the office will assemble the Academic Misconduct Committee (hereafter referred to as the committee) within 10 academic days of the date the office received case materials.

Step 2 (Committee Review)
The Academic Standards Office will convene the committee to a hearing and provide all materials (e.g., previous correspondence, supporting evidence) to the committee, the student, and the instructor at the time the notice of that hearing is delivered. Hearings shall take place on academic days, and the student and the instructor will be given at least 72 hours' notice of the hearing.

At the hearing(s), the committee will provide sufficient opportunity for both principals to present their positions and shall allow each principal the right to question those presentation(s) to the committee. The hearing(s) shall be conducted in a fair and expeditious manner but shall not be subject to the rules governing a legal proceeding. Either principal may ask the committee chair if he or she may participate in hearings remotely. In exceptional circumstances, such as where either party is considered to pose a physical threat under the Student Code to the other or to the committee, the chair of the committee may require that either principal participate remotely.

The technical and formal rules of evidence applicable in a court of law are not applicable at academic misconduct hearings, and the committee may review all relevant and reliable information that will contribute to an informed final decision. The committee shall only consider information relevant to the current alleged misconduct.

Information regarding a student’s formerly alleged or documented academic misconduct cannot aid in determining whether or not the student is responsible for violating academic misconduct in the current case. However, such history may be introduced during the sanctioning phase of the case under review. At the conclusion of the hearings, the committee will meet privately to deliberate the case. All hearings and committee meetings shall be confidential.

The committee will provide the student, instructor, the department chair, Academic Standards Office, and the school dean with a written statement of findings and any sanctions assigned within 10 academic days of the final meeting of the committee.

The decision made by the committee may take one of three forms.

• Findings Overturned, No Sanctions. A finding that no academic misconduct took place and that no sanctions will be imposed. The student is thus exonerated, and any documentation related to the case within all offices will be expunged.
• Findings Sustained, Sanctions Sustained. A finding that academic misconduct occurred as described in the original instructor decision letter, and that the sanction(s) stand as previously enacted or recommended.
• Findings Sustained, Sanctions Revised. A finding that academic misconduct occurred but that a different sanction from the one originally enacted by the instructor is more appropriate. This finding may involve an alternative sanction that is either more or less severe from the one originally enacted.

The decision of the subsequent committee or review is final, and no further appeal is available.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and charge the provost with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy change and for communicating the change to the campus community.

I am pleased to announce that Sue Sims, Campus House kitchen manager, has received the President's Caring Bengal Award. Ms. Sims was nominated for the award by Krista Constantino, Campus House club house manager. I am so pleased to recognize Ms. Sims, and I encourage the entire campus community to join me in thanking her for her exceptional effort to make Buffalo State College a great place to live, learn, and work. Her award profile can be viewed on the Professional Development website.

I announced the creation and implementation of the President's Caring Bengal Award in December 2017 to recognize supportive colleagues in our Buffalo State community who not only transform the lives of our students but also help create a caring and collegial environment for our faculty, staff, and administrators.

Nominations for the Caring Bengal Award will not be collected again until September. For more information about the award criteria and recipient selection process, or to submit a nomination, please visit the Professional Development website.