The following members of the Buffalo State College community have received the Hank Mann Award in recognition of their exceptional service and outstanding teamwork:

• David P. Conorozzo, Trades Generalist
• Felicia F. DaBolt, Cleaner
• Gary W. Light, Plant Utilities Assistant
• William S. Scully, Maintenance Assistant
• Donna G. Stuber, Janitor

The award, established in 2002 by the late Horace “Hank” Mann, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Exceptional Education, recognizes dedicated physical plant workers with citations and monetary gifts. It honors employees who accomplish the following:

• Customer service that exceeds expectations
• Teamwork and positive relationships with colleagues
• Innovation, flexibility, and adaptability to change
• Consistent and industrious work habits
• The ability to inspire others in their work

Congratulations to these outstanding members of the Buffalo State community on this much-deserved honor.

On behalf of the division of Finance and Management, I extend my best wishes and gratitude to Peter M. Carey, who will retire from his position as chief of university police on August 27, 2021, after 41 years as an exemplary member of the University Police Department at Buffalo State College.

Chief Carey began his career at Buffalo State as a university police student assistant (UPSA) while he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. During his Buffalo State police career, he advanced through the ranks of officer, investigator, lieutenant, and assistant chief before being named chief in 2007.

While serving at the college, he earned his juris doctor from the University at Buffalo and was admitted to practice law in New York State. He also served as an adjunct instructor for Buffalo State’s Criminal Justice Department for 14 years.

Among his many outstanding accomplishments, Chief Carey established the University Police Department Bike Patrol, launched online dissemination of crime statistics to provide transparency in accordance with the Clery Act, and earned police department accreditation by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services in 2012 and reaccreditation in 2017. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Carey has served in the key role of incident commander, providing critical oversight for the college's response to the public health emergency.

Chief Carey has truly dedicated his career to the study and practice of law and law enforcement in university policing. Please join us for a retirement celebration at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 18, in the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center, where we will recognize his many accomplishments.

A search to identify the college’s next chief of university policy will begin shortly. Details about the search and interim operations of the University Police Department will be shared later.

As you know, the campus currently has three web conferencing and collaboration tools available for use: Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.

Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate is the campus- and SUNY-supported web conferencing solution. Recent upgrades to Collaborate include Gallery View for moderators and participants. For more information, please see Buffalo State’s Blackboard Collaborate page.

Microsoft Teams
Online meetings can also be scheduled using Microsoft Teams. Any employee with a Buffalo State account can schedule online meetings using Microsoft Teams. Learn how.

Training on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra or Microsoft Teams is available through group sessions listed throughout the year on the Workshop Registration System or by scheduling an individual appointment through the Innovation and Learning Collaborative's booking page.

Zoom
Zoom is contracted until December 2021. If you have a Zoom license, you may continue using Zoom until the contract ends. Zoom licenses are under the purview of the provost. You may request a license by contacting Carolyn Martino, executive assistant to the provost.

Webcams, Microphones
Most laptops are equipped with a built-in webcam and microphone. If needed, you can request a centrally funded webcam and microphone for your campus desktop using the Hardware Request form.

At its May 14, 2021, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the DOPS Policy on Microcredentialing, Policy Number: IV: 18:00, presented by the College Senate Curriculum Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS

Policy Number: IV:18:00
Date: May 2020
Subject: Microcredentialing Policy

Definition of Microcredentials
Microcredentials verify, validate, and attest that specific skills and/or competencies have been achieved and are endorsed by the issuing institution, having been developed through established faculty governance processes and designed to be meaningful and high quality.

Types of Microcredentials
SUNY Buffalo State recognizes four types of microcredentials that are covered by this policy. All microcredentials described below can be credit or non-credit bearing and stackable.

1. Curricular Microcredentials: Curricular microcredentials involve minimally 1 credit hour and no more than 15 credit hours, and may combine credit-bearing courses and non-credit-bearing activities. These microcredentials must be reviewed and approved through the regular process of curriculum approval for their level. These microcredentials may be awarded and found on a transcript or co-curricular document.
2. Professional Pathways: Mapped to skills and competencies desired in a particular professional field, these pathways generally include academic courses and experiential learning. Often they will be interdisciplinary. Specific academic assignments will be identified in each course that map to the skills and competencies identified for the particular professional field.
3. Skill and Competency Badges: Offered to current students and complementing the curriculum, these are smaller badges that help earners obtain and demonstrate skills. These badges can be stand-alone or built into a course.
4. Continuing Education Badges: Used for lifelong learning, professional training in collaboration with employers, or a smaller version of a larger graduate or certificate program.

Certificates of participation (participated in a workshop, training, or co-curricular activity external to a course) and external credentials (designed and administered by external organizations or vendors such as Lynda badges, Google Certification, Microsoft certification, mandated state or SUNY training), may be of value to SUNY Buffalo State and may be made available or required as part of some programs on campus. These are not covered by this policy. The use of gamification and badging within a course that do not lead to a SUNY Buffalo State microcredential is not covered by this policy.

Guiding Principles
The following guiding principles should be considered when proposing a microcredential:

• Academic quality is paramount and should reflect the standards guiding curriculum and assessment as defined and articulated by academic departments and schools and governed by the policies and procedures of the College Senate.
• Aligned with campus mission and strategic goals.
• Aligned with industry/sector standards designed to meet assessed market needs.
• Portable and have value beyond the institution.
• Stackable, which means that multiple microcredentials can be accumulated over time and could lead to credit bearing coursework, a more advanced badge, or a registered certificate.

Requirements

1. Anyone who is eligible to take the required credit or non-credit courses/programs or engage in the co-curricular activities may earn a microcredential. At the discretion of the faculty, the eligibility requirements might include a minimum GPA or other criteria for matriculated students, and/or an application process for non-matriculated students.
2. Microcredentials are awarded upon successful completion of the specific requirements for that credential.
3. Microcredentials should have clear, measurable outcomes, assessments aligned to the outcomes, and evidence of mastery of the outcomes through reliable and valid assessments.
4. Only credit bearing microcredentials may be stacked for credit.
5. SUNY Buffalo State microcredentials may or may not be transferable to other campuses.
6. Verification of successful completion of a microcredential may result in a grade within a course or a notation of satisfactory completion.

Resources:

Microcredentials at SUNY

SUNY Taxonomy of Terms for Microcredentials

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 May 14, 2021, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the Collegewide Degree Requirements for Master’s Degrees, presented by the Standards for Students Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS

Policy Number: TBD
Date: TBD
Subject: Collegewide Degree Requirements for Master’s Degrees

All students expecting to qualify for a master’s degree must fulfill the following academic requirements:

1. Completion and submission of the Application for Graduation to the Graduate School by the published deadlines for desired degree conferral semester. Failure to apply by the deadline may delay the granting of the degree and may result in the omission of the student’s name from the Commencement program.
2. Completion of degree requirements within the six-year period immediately preceding the date of graduation, unless a waiver is granted.
3. Completion of all graduate and undergraduate courses and resolution of all courses with a grade status of I, IP, N, or X.
4. Completion of ancillary courses for which the student has registered but are not required for the degree.
5. Completion of at least the minimum of required graduate-level credit hours as determined by each academic program.
6. Completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours of 600- or 700-level coursework.
7. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) in all graduate coursework.

Additional requirements for master’s degree conferral:

1. Students who write a master’s thesis must submit their thesis and have it approved through the institutional repository (e.g., Digital Commons) before a diploma can be issued. Students should discuss the submission process with their thesis adviser. 
2. The Graduate School must receive official transcript(s) of approved transfer credit as listed in the note section of Degree Works. Transfer credit must meet all requirements as defined in the Graduate Catalog.
3. Coursework taken to fulfill degree requirements for one master’s degree may not be applied to an equivalent master’s degree. In rare cases, double counting coursework may be permitted for equivalent master’s degrees in different professional areas contingent on department approval (New York State Education Department, 2019).
4. Students who do not meet the requirements for graduation by the semester for which they applied must submit a new Application for Graduation, in accordance with established deadlines, for the semester in which the requirements will be completed.
5. Students who apply for graduation after the application deadline cannot be guaranteed a listing in the program book or participation in the Commencement ceremony.

Neither graduate certificates (GRCT) nor certificates of advanced study (CAS) are governed by this policy. Students should contact the Graduate School for details on the requirements for being awarded a graduate certificate or a certificate of advanced study.

Reference: New York State Education Department, College and University Evaluation, Awarding Credit for Same Courses in Different Degree Programs (2019).

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 May 14, 2021, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the Leave of Absence, Withdrawal from College, Policy Number: I:07:00, presented by the Standards for Students Committee.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS

Policy Number: I:07:00
Date: May 2020 
Subject: Leave of Absence, Withdrawal from College Policy

Students who decide to discontinue their matriculation at SUNY Buffalo State College should inform the college of that decision by completing the Withdrawal from College process. By completing the Withdrawal from College process, students minimize future financial aid and course transfer difficulties should they decide to continue their education at Buffalo State College or elsewhere. So that students fully understand the implications of their decision, it is recommended that they consult with their academic adviser or department chair, the Student Accounts Office, and the Financial Aid Office (if they are an aid recipient) before completing the Withdrawal from College process.

The Withdrawal from College deadline is listed in the college’s academic calendar. Completing the Withdrawal from College process by the semester’s deadline will result in W’s being posted for all the student’s courses in that semester. Completion of the Withdrawal from College process after the semester’s deadline will result in E grades being posted for all the student’s courses in that semester. 

If a student completes the Withdrawal from College process with an indication that the withdrawal is to take effect in an upcoming semester, the Registrar’s Office will administratively drop the student’s upcoming registration.   

Students with no outstanding obligations to the college, with cumulative grade point averages of 2.0 or higher (for undergraduate students) or 3.0 or higher (for graduate students), and without active student conduct sanctions on their records are considered to be in good standing at Buffalo State College at the time of their withdrawal from college.  

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.

SUNY System Administration has informed Buffalo State College that guidance related to travel and spending controls will change effective Thursday, July 1. Updated travel guidance is posted below. Information about changes related to spending controls will be shared with the campus community when it is known.

This guidance pertains to all state, Research Foundation, and Buffalo State College Foundation funds:

International travel continues to be prohibited.

All travel requests require approval of the traveler’s supervisor.

Limited domestic travel may be permitted if it is consistent with local health guidance, supports essential business of the college, and relates to

• health and safety,
• instruction and research,
• student-facing experiences (e.g., Athletics),
• revenue generation (e.g., Admissions).

With the exception of Research Foundation–sponsored travel, all requests require review and approval at spending thresholds consistent with ongoing spending constraints reviews. Proposed travel valued above $10,000 would be subject to approval of the College Budget Committee. Research Foundation sponsor-funded travel is allowable consistent with New York State and local health guidance

Travel Cards (T-Cards) will be available for use on approved travel. To reactivate T-Cards, please secure supervisor and respective cabinet member approval and submit to Bonnie Heim, director of non-contract procurement.

Questions about this update may be directed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu. Thank you for your continued support of these spending controls during these challenging times.

Jacquelyn Malcolm, CIO and vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communications, is leaving Buffalo State College effective July 30, 2021, to accept a position with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system as vice chancellor for information technology.

Dr. Malcolm has been a valued member of my leadership team since 2018, providing strategic guidance across a diverse collection of units—all the while looking toward new and innovative tactics to recruit and support our students. Dr. Malcolm’s efforts to foster creative collaborations across her areas—enrollment management, marketing and communications, and information technology—will sustain this important work moving forward.

Please join me in expressing my appreciation for Dr. Malcolm’s leadership at Buffalo State. We wish her well moving forward.

I will announce the interim leadership for areas currently under Dr. Malcolm’s supervision later this month.

Buffalo State College has joined more than 300 college presidents and chancellors in committing to full student voter registration and participation in all elections through the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN). To support full student voter participation of all eligible students, ALL IN and its Higher Education Presidents Council has launched a call to action for higher education presidents and chancellors to fully engage students in electoral participation...

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

Amid evolving guidance related to the pandemic, I am writing to inform you of the current status of Buffalo State College’s protocols related to COVID-19. This update provides guidelines related to health, safety, and administrative services as we continue our return to in-person operations during summer 2021. This guidance will be updated throughout the remainder of the summer and will be shared in the Daily Bulletin and posted to the college’s Coronavirus Information website. Questions may be addressed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu.

Buffalo State is in receipt of fall COVID-19 guidance from State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras. Fall guidance is currently under review by our Emergency Response Planning Group (ERPG), the Incident Management Team (IMT), and the President’s Cabinet. Following their review, President Katherine Conway-Turner will share Buffalo State’s fall COVID-19 protocols with the campus community.

SUMMER 2021 GUIDANCE FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

Masks
Note: The following mask guidance applies to summer operations. Fall mask guidance is currently under review by ERPG, IMT, and the President’s Cabinet.  
Fully vaccinated individuals (faculty, staff, students, and visitors) do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors, except in instructional spaces (e.g., classrooms, laboratories studios, etc.). Unvaccinated individuals and those whose vaccination status is unknown must wear a mask at all times indoors, including in instructional spaces, but may remove their masks while working at a physically distanced individual workstation or while actively eating or drinking in a campus dining area. Unvaccinated individuals and those whose vaccination status is unknown may remove their masks outdoors unless they are in a gathering or at a crowded event where they are unable to maintain 6 feet of physical distancing.

As masking requirements for vaccinated individuals evolve, we want to remind our community that faculty, staff, and campus visitors may continue wearing masks for a number of reasons. Welcoming and accepting those who wear masks on campus is an easy step anyone can take to support others.

Air Quality
Buffalo State follows guidelines from the New York State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding mechanical ventilation and air filtration. The campus has installed and will maintain high-performance MERV-13 filters within all facilities with air handling unit ventilation systems. Ventilation systems will continue to operate for longer hours, with increased outdoor air being supplied to indoor spaces where possible. Ventilation systems in all student housing facilities and all restrooms will be operated continuously. General purpose classrooms, which are not supported by air handling unit systems and scheduled for use during fall 2021, will be equipped with air purification units. 

There may be areas of the campus that are warmer or cooler than usual as a result of these changes. Individuals are asked to please accommodate these minor inconveniences and dress appropriately, so that the whole community can benefit from these ventilation changes.

Attestation
Every campus employee reporting to work in person must affirm that he or she has read and understands the Guidance for State Agencies and Authorities during the COVID-19 Public Health Public Emergency. Please follow the link to read the guidance and attest that you understand its provisions and will adhere to its requirements.

Capacity
Workplace capacity is limited only by the space available for individuals to maintain physical distancing, based on vaccination status. For fully vaccinated individuals, no physical distancing is required.

At this time, proof of vaccination status is not required from employees; however, employees are invited to upload their vaccination information to Human Resource Management to be exempted from weekly surveillance testing. 

Cleaning and Disinfecting
Buildings are being prepared for a 100 percent return to in-person operations for the fall 2021 semester in compliance with CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfection. The custodial emergency response team is trained and equipped with specialized disinfecting equipment and is available to address any area of concern, at any time of day, quickly and thoroughly.

Custodial Services staff members will disinfect any area that is occupied and continue use of the blue tape system that indicates which spaces have been occupied. Hand sanitizer dispensers are provided and refilled across campus. Virex, an EPA-approved disinfectant, has been widely distributed and is available to all by request.

Health Screening
State agencies and authorities may continue to screen individuals for COVID-19 symptoms, recent close contacts, and recent positive COVID-19 test results prior to or immediately upon arrival to the workplace, regardless of individual vaccination status. Screening may be performed via signage, by email and website, by telephone, or by electronic survey before individuals arrive to work. Temperature checks are no longer required as a part of health screening. Buffalo State will continue to use the daily health screening process for all employees who present to campus for work each day. 

Mail and Parcel Delivery 
Mail and parcel deliveries are being made at least once a week to buildings that have central mail rooms. Mail will return to normal delivery schedules starting August 2.

Special requests regarding mail and parcel delivery may be emailed to adminops@buffalostate.edu.

Return to In-Person Operations
The Pilot Statewide Telecommuting Program (alternative work locations) ended July 2, 2021. Buffalo State is phasing in employees’ return to in-person operations in stages and in a purposeful manner. This approach supports the important measure of thoughtfully increasing campus density over the course of summer 2021, consistent with health and safety guidelines.

Requests for exceptions involving extenuating circumstances limited to child care, elder care, or specific COVID-19-related medical accommodations should be addressed to the Human Resource Management Office. For those with extenuating circumstances, an extension of telecommuting arrangements may be possible through September 7, 2021.

Before workers return, supervisors will develop safety-oriented plans for a return to in-person operations for the Buffalo State offices or departments they oversee. Employees must follow all applicable health and safety guidelines.

Social Distancing
Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to be socially distanced, but unvaccinated individuals and those whose vaccination status is unknown need to maintain 6 feet of social distance in accordance with CDC guidelines. In instructional spaces, in lieu of maintaining 6 feet of social distance, appropriate physical barriers may be used as long as they do not present a health or safety hazard. A mask is considered a physical barrier. 

Spending Controls
In accordance with SUNY guidance and until further notice, all Buffalo State departments should continue to curtail Other than Personal Service (OTPS) spending. The restrictions described in the Procedures for Spending Controls: COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 apply to all state, Buffalo State College Foundation, and Research Foundation administrative funds.

Purchases must be limited to those items and services that are urgent, essential, and relevant to Buffalo State’s strategic priorities. Spending down of departmental accounts is prohibited. These procedures aim to provide methods for prioritizing, seeking approval for, and enacting essential OTPS spending at Buffalo State College during and after the COVID-19 impact.

Testing
COVID-19 surveillance testing takes place on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. and on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall.

Fully vaccinated employees (two weeks after receiving the second dose or two weeks after receiving a single dose vaccine) are exempt from mandatory weekly testing upon the submission of documentation (vaccine card or Excelsior Pass) that shows completion of a full vaccination series (definition subject to change based on final recommendations on booster shots from the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC).

Employees interested in submitting proof of full vaccination are encouraged to complete a Proof of Vaccination form. Employees who do not wish to provide their vaccine documentation via the secure form may call Human Resource Management at 878-3042 to schedule an appointment to provide it in person.

Mandatory weekly testing will continue to be required for any employee who has a physical presence on campus and who has not been fully vaccinated or has not shown proof of vaccination status.

Travel
This guidance pertains to all state, Research Foundation, and Buffalo State College Foundation funds:

International travel continues to be prohibited. Limited domestic travel may be permitted if it is consistent with local health guidance, supports essential business of the college, and relates to

• health and safety,
• instruction and research,
• student-facing experiences (e.g., Athletics),
• revenue generation (e.g., Admissions).

All travel requests require approval of the traveler’s supervisor. With the exception of Research Foundation–sponsored travel, all requests require review and approval at spending thresholds consistent with ongoing spending constraints reviews. Proposed travel valued above $10,000 would be subject to approval of the College Budget Committee. Research Foundation sponsor-funded travel is allowable consistent with New York State and local health guidance

Travel Cards (T-Cards) will be available for use on approved travel. To reactivate T-Cards, please secure supervisor and respective cabinet member approval and submit to Bonnie Heim, director of non-contract procurement.

Vaccinations
New York State provides information about vaccinations and appointment availability.