I am excited to announce that Buffalo State Gives 2022, our fourth annual Day of Giving, will be happening this spring.

Each year, this 24-hour crowdfunding event gets bigger and better as we raise money for important programs and initiatives across campus. It is amazing to see the Buffalo State community—alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff—step up to help our students every spring. 

Because we are celebrating Buffalo State’s 150th anniversary, this year’s Day of Giving will be extra special. And we hope that you will be a part of it. 

Does your department have a project or fund you would like to raise money for this spring? And are you ready to get out there and spread the word about that project? The Institutional Advancement Office wants to hear all about it. 

Please apply to be considered for inclusion in Buffalo State Gives 2022. The form must be filled out by Wednesday, September 15, 2021. If your department is selected to participate, you will be informed no later than October.

Please contact Kate Lockhart, development coordinator, with questions.

As our campus resumes fully in-person operations for the 2021–2022 academic year, the dvision of Student Affairs has launched new initiatives to help students reconnect, reengage, and renew with the campus community. All faculty and staff members are encouraged to refer students and their families to the following resources to support students’ return to campus.

Redesigned Student Resources Website: Reconnect, Reengage, and Renew on Campus
The redesigned Student Resources website includes important information and videos to help students reconnect with the campus, services, faculty, and friends; reengage with the academic, learning, and campus environments to get the most out of their college experience; and renew themselves. Students should take time to focus on themselves and their well-being to maximize their potential. Please refer students to this website to learn about campus services, academic success strategies, and on-campus resources to support their physical and mental well-being.

Bengal Family Newsletter
New this year, Dean of Students Sarah Young will be communicating monthly with students’ family members through an online Bengal Family Newsletter. The newsletter will be distributed monthly via email to students’ family members and is also available on the Dean of Students website. The Bengal Family Newsletter will provide family members with important dates, events, and department opportunities for students. Please encourage families to read the latest edition of the newsletter each month to find resources for supporting their students in their success at Buffalo State. If you have questions or are looking for more or different information from the Bengal Family Newsletter, please email the Dean of Students Office.

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 resume in-person operations.

This information will be discussed by President Katherine Conway-Turner and members of her cabinet at a virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, August 26. All faculty and staff members are welcome; please register to attend.

The guidance will also 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.

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELLNESS

Masks
As announced by President Conway-Turner on August 4 and in accordance with updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Erie County Department of Health, Buffalo State College again requires all campus community members and visitors—regardless of vaccination status—to wear face masks while indoors on campus.

Face masks are not required when faculty or staff members are alone in their personal offices or when students are inside their private residence hall rooms, or for individuals who are actively eating or drinking in a campus dining area.

Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear face masks in all outdoor settings. Face masks are also required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in all large outdoor group settings of 200 or more people.

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. 

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 have been prepared for a 100 percent return to in-person operations 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 has resumed normal cleaning operations and is augmenting these with disinfection of high-touch surfaces in public areas. Faculty, staff, and students should make use of hand sanitizer stations and are encouraged to use the disinfectant wipes and spray provided by the campus to disinfect high-touch surfaces in their work areas.

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.

Resources for Employee Wellness
During challenging times, it is especially important that we be attend to our mental health and well-being. Here are several resources available to support employees:

• The Employee Assistance Program offers support to employees to promote well-being in and out of the workplace.
• Headspace offers science-backed meditation exercises and mindfulness resources. In partnership with the Governor's Office, Headspace now has a special New York collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises.
• Health.gov provides evidence-based guidance for maintaining or improving health through physical activity.
• The Professional Development Center at Buffalo State provides resources for employees to reconnect to campus and supports employee wellness.
• WellNYS Everyday helps New Yorkers make better choices to be well and stay well.

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.

Testing
This week of August 23, 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 E. H. Butler Library 210. Starting Monday, August 30, the testing location will be Buckham Hall D Wing main gym with expanded hours.

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 the 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.

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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General are alerting the public about fraud schemes related to the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccinations. Scammers are using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams. Learn how to protect yourself from these schemes.

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS

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.

Building Access

Buffalo State has returned to the schedule for building opening and closing used prior to COVID-19. Under the normal schedule, all doors on academic and administrative buildings are opened by 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. Academic buildings are closed at 10:00 p.m. and administrative buildings are closed at 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any facility that requires opening on Saturday or Sunday will be opened upon authorized request from the Events Management Office.

Events
All events must follow the Buffalo State COVID-19 guidance that is in place at the time of the event, and must be registered through the Events Management Office.

Consistent with current guidance, face masks are required at all indoor events for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Masks are also required in outdoor group settings of 200 or more people.

There are no capacity limits specific to COVID-19, but CDC physical distancing requirements for unvaccinated individuals are applicable when space allows.

Hosts should use event-related communications to remind attendees of current campus COVID-19 guidance. Guests should monitor themselves for symptoms on the day of the event and should not attend if they are experiencing symptoms or are otherwise concerned they could be infected with the coronavirus or other illness.

Information Technology
Some on-campus computer equipment may require a little “TLC” after sitting unused during the public health emergency. When you return to in-person operations, please inspect all your computers and peripherals at your earlier opportunity to ensure they are in good working order. Please check to ensure that

• your computers and monitors power on,
• your mice and keyboards are connected and functional,
• batteries in wireless mice and keyboards are live,
• your computers can connect to the Internet,
• your mobile devices are enrolled on the secure wireless network,
• the software you need is installed and functional,
• your files are synced to OneDrive,
• your computers can print to an available network printer (if applicable).

Instructors: Before the start of the semester, please visit the instructional spaces into which you have been scheduled, especially if you are not familiar with the presentation technology in those rooms. Classroom technology training is available by appointment.

Please note that, consistent with the new print policy implemented by SUNY System Administration, the campus no longer supports local desktop printers (e.g., HP Deskjet, HP OfficeJet).

Many hardware- and software-related problems can be resolved by simply restarting your computer. We recommend trying this first before opening a ticket for service. On a PC, press the Windows key > Power button > Restart; on a Mac, click the Apple menu > Restart. If your computer isn’t responding, you may need to perform a cold boot by pressing and holding down the power button on the computer. The computer will turn off after 5–10 seconds. Once the computer is off, wait a few seconds before turning it back on.

If you encounter hardware-related problems that can’t be resolved by restarting (e.g., the monitor won’t turn on, the mouse or keyboard don’t work, you can’t print), please open a hardware issue ticket to report the problem to Information Technology (IT). Include any troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried to help IT find a solution more quickly.

If you encounter software-related problems that can’t be resolved by restarting (e.g., an application won’t launch, an application is giving a ‘license expired’ message), please open a software issue ticket to report the problem to IT. Include troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried in the ticket’s description to help speed up finding a solution.

The deadline for academic software requests for academic year 2021–2022 was May 14, 2021. New software requests, depending on title, may require license review and installation preparation. You may experience delays if your request was not submitted by the deadline.

You may request IT assistance via the online portal, at ithelpdesk@buffalostate.edu, or at 878-4357; or by visiting the new Help Desk location in Butler Library 103, at the Ask Us Desk. Appointments are recommended for all in-person visits. Please visit the booking page to schedule.

Mail and Parcel Delivery
Mail delivery has returned to normal schedules used prior to COVID-19. Special requests regarding mail and parcel delivery may be emailed to adminops@buffalostate.edu.

Parking
All faculty, staff, student, and visitor vehicles parked on campus are required to display current parking permits appropriate to the lot designation, and according to permit instructions. Parking meters provide short-term parking for visitors and are available in lots R-3, R-4, G-25, and I-30. Vehicles in metered spaces must display a valid meter receipt.

To ensure proper use of campus lots with the return to in-person operations, full parking enforcement has resumed. Questions about parking at Buffalo State may be directed to parkingservices@buffalostate.edu.

Return to In-Person Operations
The Pilot Statewide Telecommuting Program (alternative work locations) has ended. 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.

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 have been updated to reflect recently publicized changes to travel and personnel procedures and 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.

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 must be accompanied by a COVID-19 Travel Attestation Form and require approval from 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.

In keeping with SUNY guidelines, Buffalo State College will conduct regular surveillance testing of its on-campus population to detect COVID-19 cases and identify pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals who may still transmit the virus. This effort will help our leadership and local public health officials identify, trace, and contain the virus quickly. 

To make the process a success, the college is seeking faculty and staff volunteers to help facilitate the mandatory COVID-19 pool testing of students, faculty, and staff. No medical knowledge or experience is required. Volunteer roles will primarily consist of checking in students and employees, and of organizing and distributing testing kits.

All volunteers will be provided personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer. Training will be provided to ensure a consistent and safe process.

Shifts will be either two and a half or four hours long and will take place in the Buckham Hall D Wing gym. Employees should discuss their plans with their supervisors to ensure that volunteering does not disrupt their work duties.

Those interested in volunteering to support on-campus testing should email the COVID-19 Campus Surveillance email account. Thank you for your assistance as we work to keep the Buffalo State community healthy and safe.

The following announcement was sent to all students on August 24, 2021:

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, August 23, the State University of New York’s (SUNY) mandate that all students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is now in effect. Buffalo State College strongly supports and will enforce this mandate as we collectively work to safeguard the health and well-being of our campus community.

Effective immediately, all students who are not yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19 must adhere to the following deadlines:

(1) Students receiving a vaccine that requires only one dose (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) must receive the vaccine no later than Monday, August 30.

(2) Students receiving a vaccine that requires two doses (Pfizer or Moderna) must receive the first vaccine dose no later than Monday, August 30, and receive the second vaccine dose no later than Monday, September 27.

Students can find a nearby COVID-19 vaccination location by visiting www.suny.edu/knowyourvax. (Please note: residential students and student-athletes are required to adhere to previously communicated vaccination deadlines.)

The Weigel Health Center will track students’ vaccination status automatically through the New York State Immunization Information System and will have their vaccination information on file. Students will not need to submit proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations unless they receive communication from the Weigel Health Center stating that their vaccination information cannot be located.

Any student who fails to complete a vaccine regimen by Monday, September 27, will be automatically removed from all in-person courses by the Registrar’s Office and assigned a grade of W for these courses. Students are financially liable for all courses unless they have officially dropped or withdrawn from course(s) by the published deadlines. The deadline to drop or withdraw from a course without financial penalty is 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, September 7. This policy also applies to students who are withdrawn from courses due to non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Students are responsible for reviewing and understanding applicable policies and financial aid implications related to the receipt of W grades. Students who receive the vaccine after being withdrawn from in-person classes this fall will have the opportunity to re-enroll in in-person classes in spring 2022.

Students seeking an exemption due to medical reasons or religious beliefs should do so immediately or no later than Monday, August 30. Exemption request forms are available on the Weigel Health Center website. Questions about the limited exemption process may be emailed to weigel@buffalostate.edu.

Questions about the vaccine mandate may be directed to the Student Affairs Office by email at studentaffairs@buffalostate.edu or by phone at (716) 878-4704.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the Buffalo State College community healthy and safe.

Resources:
SUNY Board of Trustees Resolution Authorizing Mandate (PDF, 200 KB)
SUNY COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Buffalo State College Coronavirus Information Website

In celebration of the college's 150th anniversary, the Buffalo State College Foundation is excited to host the 24th annual Golf and Tennis Scholarship Classic on campus and at the Delaware Park Golf Course on Monday, September 27.

Play golf, support our students, and compete with fellow faculty and staff members for bragging rights and prizes!

The day will start at the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center for coffee and breakfast at 10:00 a.m. From there, all participants will parade through campus on golf carts to Delaware Park for the day’s fun and games, after which we will shuttle back to campus to enjoy a 19th hole reception, catered by our very own Chartwells, at the alumni center. 

Support from this event has provided financial assistance and academic scholarships for hundreds of our students through the years. Your $150 entry fee will go to a great cause! Register online today.

Please contact Alexis Greinert, development coordinator, 878-3467, with any questions you may have.

The Enrollment Verification Work Group has developed a two-step process to help identify students who have decided not to attend Buffalo State College and have not completed the necessary paperwork or have not dropped their registrations. Our hope is that this will help prevent future registration holds and billing issues. This will also assist us in collecting important information about why students decide not to attend Buffalo State.

We ask for campuswide collaboration:

Step 1: If a student informs you that he or she is not planning to attend Buffalo State this semester, please ask the student to log in to Banner and complete a short survey and then complete the Withdrawal/Leave-of-Absence Form. (Links can be found at the end of the survey or on the Registrar’s Forms and Services page.)

Step 2: During the first week of classes, we ask every faculty or staff member who interacts with students to log in to the Bengal Success Portal and raise the Enrollment Verification flag for any students they cannot locate. (See how to raise the flag, DOC, 159 KB.) Specifically, these would be students who have not logged in to Banner to complete the enrollment verification process and are

• not responding to your communication,
• not attending classes, and
• not attending scheduled meetings.

We will use multiple resources, including these BSP flags, to determine which students are not attending, and a committee of academic leaders and administrators will make decisions regarding what student courses should be dropped by the college before the freeze-file date.

Please note: If you raise this flag and the student reaches out to you, please go back and lower the flag as soon as possible. This will prevent the student from experiencing any unnecessary frustration or confusion.

Thank you very much for your help. If you have any questions about this process, please email Agnieszka Zak-Moskal, interim assistant provost for academic success.

With the increased prevalence and transmissibility of the COVID-19 Delta variant, SUNY has recommended that campuses situated in counties classified as “substantial” or “high” risk for community transmission of COVID-19 conduct regular precautionary surveillance testing of all students, faculty, and staff members, regardless of vaccination status. Erie County moved from a “substantial” to a “high” transmission risk county on August 21, which means that Buffalo State College will implement SUNY’s new surveillance testing recommendation.

Buffalo State is in close consultation with campus unions about this recommendation and will require all employees (vaccinated and unvaccinated) and students (vaccinated and unvaccinated) to complete surveillance testing during the first week of classes (August 30 to September 3). This comprehensive testing of our full campus population will help establish a baseline and inform our next steps for testing protocols of vaccinated individuals this semester.

As previously communicated, weekly surveillance testing will still be required for any student who is partially vaccinated or has received a limited medical or religious exemption, and for any employee who has not yet voluntarily provided proof of vaccination to opt out of weekly testing.

Starting Monday, August 30, testing will be conducted in Buckham Hall’s D Wing main gym, which is located on the lower level (enter from Lot R-12, closest to the Technology Building), during the following days and times:

• Mondays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.
• Tuesdays 6:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–6:00 p.m.
• Wednesdays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.
• Thursdays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–6:00 p.m.
• Fridays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Students, faculty, and staff members may choose a convenient time within the available windows to present to Buckham Hall for surveillance testing. Everyone is encouraged to complete the registration process through the online portal before arriving in Buckham Hall to expedite the process.

A user guide to the registration process (PDF, 2.4 MB) is available online. Individual test results will be securely posted to the online portal, and test participants will be notified via email when their test results are available.

An informative video about the test registration and sample collection process is also available online.

We appreciate your continued flexibility and understanding as we work to maintain a healthy and safe campus community.

With the increased prevalence and transmissibility of the COVID-19 Delta variant, SUNY has recommended that campuses situated in counties classified as “substantial” or “high” risk for community transmission of COVID-19 conduct regular precautionary surveillance testing of all students, faculty, and staff members, regardless of vaccination status. Erie County moved from a “substantial” to a “high” transmission risk county on August 21, which means that Buffalo State College will implement SUNY’s new surveillance testing recommendation.

Buffalo State is in close consultation with campus labor unions about this recommendation and will require all employees (vaccinated and unvaccinated) and students (vaccinated and unvaccinated) to complete surveillance testing during the first week of classes (August 30 to September 3). This comprehensive testing of our full campus population will help establish a baseline and inform our next steps for testing protocols of vaccinated individuals this semester.

As previously communicated, weekly surveillance testing will still be required for any student who is partially vaccinated or has received a limited medical or religious exemption, and for any employee who has not yet voluntarily provided proof of vaccination to opt out of weekly testing.

Starting Monday, August 30, testing will be conducted in Buckham Hall’s D Wing main gym, which is located on the lower level (enter from Lot R-12, closest to the Technology Building), during the following days and times:

• Mondays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.
• Tuesdays 6:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–6:00 p.m.
• Wednesdays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.
• Thursdays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–6:00 p.m.
• Fridays 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Students, faculty, and staff members may choose a convenient time within the available windows to present to Buckham Hall for surveillance testing. Everyone is encouraged to complete the registration process through the online portal before arriving in Buckham Hall to expedite the process.

A user guide to the registration process (PDF, 2.4 MB) is available online. Individual test results will be securely posted to the online portal, and test participants will be notified via email when their test results are available.

An informative video about the test registration and sample collection process is also available online.

We appreciate your continued flexibility and understanding as we work to maintain a healthy and safe campus community.

I am pleased to announce some updates to the organizational structure of the units overseen by the associate vice president for administrative services.

The Administrative Services unit (PDF, 110 KB) of the Finance and Management division, led by Lisa H. Krieger, associate vice president for administrative services, comprises three areas: Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance, Procurement and Contract Services, and Administrative Operations.

Administrative Operations
The departments of Central Receiving, the Design and Print Center, Events Management, Mail Services, Moving Operations, Parking Services, and Property Control and Sustainable Programs have been organized under a newly established Administrative Operations unit led by Michael J. Lewis, senior director of administrative operations. Mr. Lewis, who has served the college as director of events management since 2016, graciously accepted this role in April 2021. Aligning these service-based areas is already proving to create efficiencies and enhance competencies, as staff members can take advantage of adjacencies, common goals, and overlapping responsibilities.

Design and Print Center
The campus Copy Center has merged with the creative services area formerly located in Bulger Communication Center. The newly formed Design and Print Center will leverage the strengths of staff in these areas and create a one-stop print, copy, and creative design shop. Watch for updates as this center, housed in Cleveland Hall 111, announces innovative ways to serve the campus and meet all its print and design needs.