Welcome to the 11th episode of “Faculty Engaged!”

For this installment, we spoke with Sammy Naji, a Say Yes success counselor and lecturer in Academic Affairs. Mr. Naji, who works directly with students in the Say Yes to Education program, explains why he wanted to work at Buffalo State College, how he got here, and why his job is so important. He also talks about some of the issues our students face on a day-to-day basis, and how he helps them succeed in their college careers...

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

The Career Development Center is proud to announce the creation of the Bengal Internship Award (BIA), a new initiative to help break down financial barriers for our students. The BIA was created to support students and offset some of the expenses related to unpaid or underpaid internships. Recipients will receive a stipend to assist with housing, food, transportation, and other incidental costs and expenses. Students starting internships in summer 2022 and beyond will have the opportunity to apply for the BIA. A full description and the eligibility requirements, application, and deadlines can be found on the CDC website.

To fund the Bengal Internship Award, the Career Development Center was selected to participate in Buffalo State’s annual Day of Giving, being held March 16 and 17.

We hosted Buffalo State Day on September 17, 2021, to kick off the yearlong celebration of Buffalo State College’s 150th anniversary as a college. Our anniversary events during the fall 2021 semester included a Welcome Home Picnic for School of Education students, faculty, and alumni; special Homecoming events; and a Resilience art exhibit and reception as well as events sponsored by Theater, Dance, and Music. President Katherine Conway-Turner has also been using social media to spotlight our college’s history with 150 tweets throughout the academic year.

Our 150th anniversary celebration continues as we begin the spring 2022 semester. I encourage you to keep an eye on your email and our 150th Anniversary website to find events that will focus on our college’s social justice efforts and community and civic engagement, as well as events that will be hosted by the School of the Professions and the School of Arts and Sciences. We will continue to commemorate our sesquicentennial anniversary by featuring diversity speakers, hosting special student events, and celebrating Commencement. Stay tuned as we unearth a time capsule from our 125th anniversary and create a new one to close out our 150th anniversary at the end of the year!

All members of our campus community are reminded that we must continue our commitment to work together in protecting the campus community while protecting ourselves and maintaining a safe in-person semester.

This will be the last weekly guidance message published in the Daily Bulletin this semester. Please continue to monitor the college's Coronavirus Information website for up-to-date information. Please email hrcovidresponse@buffalostate.edu with COVID-related questions.

Campus Mask Mandate Remains in Effect at Buffalo State
Although the indoor mask requirement has been lifted for private businesses across New York State, the indoor mask requirement at Buffalo State College remains in effect until further notice. 

All members of our campus community, including visitors, are reminded that, regardless of vaccination status, close-fitting face masks are required to be worn in all indoor spaces on campus. The only exceptions to the indoor mask mandate are when faculty or staff members are alone in their personal offices, when students are inside their private residence hall rooms, or when someone is actively eating or drinking in a campus dining area.

Face Mask Distribution
Environmental Health and Safety has distributed a surgical face mask and a KN95 mask for each staff member on campus. Additional masks can be requested by email.

Mask Handling and Storage
Be sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting on a mask, and do not touch the mask when wearing it. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after removing it.

The CDC recommends that users store used KN95 masks in a breathable container during their shift if worn for extended use. The container must be well marked (to prevent accidental use) and stored according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for temperature and moisture.

Self-Testing Kits
Employees who do not wish to disclose their vaccination status or who are not fully vaccinated must continue to participate in weekly COVID-19 surveillance pool testing.

Beginning this week, self-testing kits will be delivered to departmental offices for pickup. Self-testing procedures are available on the COVID-19 website. 

As a reminder, self-testing kits must be dropped off the same day you take the test.

Designated drop-off locations and hours:

Chase Hall: Safe Trade Zone (UPD) - 24 hours

Buckham D Wing Testing Site:                 

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.

Employees who have completed a full vaccination series, received their booster shot, and provided proof of their vaccination and booster to Human Resource Management are exempt from surveillance testing this semester.

COVID-19 Events and Visitor Information
All events taking place at Buffalo State operate under the current guidelines and restrictions in place for the college, SUNY, Erie County, and New York State as recommended by the CDC and must be registered through the Events Management Office.

Consistent with current guidance, face masks are required at all indoor events regardless of vaccination status.

Vaccines and Boosters
We strongly encourage employees to voluntarily provide proof of vaccination and boosters to the Human Resource Management Office. As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, having employees’ voluntary vaccination information is key to our efforts. You can upload your information or call Human Resources at (716) 878-3042 to schedule an appointment to provide your documentation in person.

COVID-19 vaccine and booster appointments are available through New York State’s vaccine website.

Wellness Resources
Buffalo State’s EAP website is a link to many useful resources pertaining to COVID-19 concerns and general wellness.

Employee COVID-19 Daily Screening Questionnaire
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we continue to be agile and flexible in following all appropriate protocols set forth by the state, SUNY, and CDC. 

While there is still much to learn about the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, we will continue to evolve from where we were in spring 2020. Vaccines and boosters as well as the wearing of masks have helped in our efforts by providing us with tools that were not available two years ago. We have done a remarkable job of adhering to the guidelines, and we should be proud of our commitment and efforts.

At the start of the pandemic, all employees were asked to complete a Daily Health Screening of their personal health status. This tool has helped individuals understand the symptoms related to COVID-19 as well as the importance of monitoring their own health daily. Faculty and staff members are no longer required to complete the Employee COVID-19 Daily Screening Questionnaire; instead, faculty and staff members are reminded via email to continue to monitor their personal health status and to report any symptomatic or positive case to their supervisors and Human Resource Management. The health and safety of our campus community remains our number one priority. 

Reporting Positive Cases and Monitoring Health
Any employee who receives a positive COVID-19 test result should report it to his or her supervisor and to Human Resource Management at hrcovidresponse@buffalostate.edu. 

Erie County is currently following updated guidance (January 4, 2022) from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) for isolation and quarantine. Read the new guidance online (PDF, 146 KB).

I am pleased to invite the campus community to the annual celebration honoring our colleagues who are in their 25th year of service to SUNY. The event will take place on Thursday, April 21, at noon in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall.

Employees crossing the 25-year mark this year:

Liza Abraham, Assistant Professor, Fashion and Textile Technology
Jeffrey Aeschbacher, Trades Generalist, Facilities Office
Harriet Blitzer, Professor, Art and Design
Steven Buscaglia, University Police Officer, University Police
Laurie Buonanno, Professor, Political Science
Anthony Caruana, Trades Generalist, Facilities Office
Grace Cesareo, Administrative Assistant I, Art and Design
Tina Colaizzo-Anas, Associate Professor, Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics; Director, Dietitian Education Program
Courtney Cox, Assistant Manager, Human Resource Management
Walter Deas, Janitor, Custodial Services
Rock Doyle, Assistant Vice President, Weigel Health Center
Kathleen Fortune, Administrative Assistant 2, School of Arts and Sciences
Dale Franklin, Janitor, Custodial Services
Wendy Higgins, Administrative Assistant 1, Music
Meg Knowles, Associate Professor, Communication
Andrea Lizak, Associate Director, Small Business Development Center
Ann Lupo, Lecturer, History and Social Studies Education
Michael Maclean, Associate Professor, Psychology
Kelly Marczynski, Director, Center for Health and Social Research
Joseph Marren, Professor, Communication
Peter Mercer, Professor, Mathematics
Joseph Miller, Associate Professor, Art and Design
Nicholas Morgan Anderson, Systems Programmer, Information Technology Services
Carolyn Morris-Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, Burchfield Penney Art Center
Michael Niman, Professor, Communication
Jill Norvilitis, Interim Chair and Professor, Modern and Classical Languages
Mary Pasternak, Supervising Janitor, Custodial Services
Scott Propeack, Interim Executive Director, Burchfield Penney Art Center
Darlene Sadkowski, Administrative Assistant I, Academic Success
Robin Sanders, Associate Professor, Mathematics
Deborah Skretny, Library Clerk 2, Butler Library
Deborah Silverman, Chair and Associate Professor, Communication
Carol Stadelmaier, Staff Assistant, Financial Operations
Zhang Jie, Distinguished Professor, Sociology

Reservations for the 25-year celebration luncheon will be accepted through Thursday, April 14. The luncheon will be complimentary for the honorees and one guest. There will be a $32 charge for others attending the event. To make a reservation, visit the online reservation form, call Melissa Slisz, staff assistant in the President’s Office, at (716) 878-4102, or call Laurie Graziano, administrative assistant in Equity and Diversity, at (716) 878-6210.

In 2017, we began celebrating those members of our Buffalo State community who have achieved 25 years of service in SUNY, not just at Buffalo State. If your name is not listed above and you have achieved 25 years of service in SUNY this year, please contact Melissa Slisz or Laurie Graziano.

At the end of the fall 2021 semester, IPAC members completed Phase II of the strategic planning process with an analysis of Buffalo State’s strengths, challenges, opportunities, and threats (SCOT). The spring semester began with work in Phase III of the strategic plan, where strategies and tactics were discussed in IPAC subcommittees.

For the months of February and March, we will offer several virtual “listening sessions” to the campus community to discuss SCOT results and potential strategic planning focus areas. Please watch for announcements with information on times and days for the sessions. In addition to listening sessions, presenters are available to attend campus meetings to discuss strategic planning. Please contact Kim Barron, assistant vice president for institutional effectiveness and planning, if you’re interested in scheduling an update with your group.

Information on the strategic planning process, timeline, and milestones can be found on the Institutional Effectiveness and Planning website.

I am pleased to announce that Pam Voyer, Alumni Center coordinator, has received the President's Caring Bengal Award.

Ms. Voyer was nominated for the award by Mary Jo Jagord, assistant to the AVP for Institutional Advancement, Lynn Scalia, associate professor of business, and Katelyn Brickhouse, Alumni Center coordinator for the Alumni Engagement Office.

I am so pleased to recognize Ms. Voyer, 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.

Members of the campus community are invited to submit nominations for the President’s Caring Bengal Award by Monday, March 7, at 5:00 p.m. Please visit the award website for more information about the award criteria and recipient selection process or to submit a nomination.

 
Award Description
Each of us knows a faculty member, staff member, or administrator who transforms the work and personal lives of their colleagues by supporting them with compassion, care, respect, and collegiality. These caring colleagues in our community can be found at every level of our institution, and although they create positive work experiences for each person they encounter, their contribution to our community sometimes goes unnoticed. To recognize these supportive colleagues in our community, each month faculty, staff, and administrators across all ranks, unions, and titles can be nominated by a colleague or student to receive the Caring Bengal Award.

The Faculty and Staff Recognition Committee, which includes faculty and staff representation from UUP, CSEA, the College Senate, and the Professional Staff Caucus, will review award nominations and select the award recipient each month.

Fall 2021 Winners:
November 2021: Celestine Simmons

November 2021: Kathy Wood

Please contact Rebecca Eggleston, staff assistant in the Professional Development Center, with questions about the President’s Caring Bengal Award.

Buffalo State College regrets to announce that its 2022 Diversity Speaker event with Mae Jemison scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall has been canceled. Jemison’s representatives informed the college Tuesday evening that she will be unable to travel to Buffalo next week. The event will not be rescheduled.

Ticket Refund Information:
Guests who paid for tickets (in-person or streaming) with a credit card through the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall website will be automatically refunded within 5 to10 business days. Guests who purchased tickets at the Rockwell Hall Box Office in person or over the phone will receive a call from the Rockwell Hall Box Office to process your refund within the next seven business days. We apologize for any inconvenience.

In the February 2022 meeting of the College Senate, the Standards for Students Committee brought forth for a vote a revision to DOPS Policy VIII:02:00 Code of Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities. The College Senate voted in favor of the resolution, presented by the Standards for Students Committee on February 11, 2022.

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: VIII:02:00                          
Date:  Revision
Subject: Code of Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities

• To remove duplication of Student Code of Conduct from DOPS.
• Reduce confusion over multiple copies of policies that reference the Student Code of Conduct on the Buffalo State site-wide web search.

Original DOPS: http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/dops/policysect8/080201.pdf

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: VIII: 02:00                                                                         
Date: July 1987

Subject: Student Bill of Rights and Student Conduct Policies
The Student Bill of Rights can be found in SECTION 1.A: STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS of the Student Code of Conduct. Student Conduct Policies are defined in SECTION 3: CONDUCT POLICIES.

The Division of Student Affairs publishes the Student Code of Conduct to define student rights, freedoms, and responsibilities; defines student conduct; provides due process and delineates 2 sanctions when responsibility has been determined. These policies follow and articulate student rights and responsibilities. Students are expected to know the contents of this document. This document recognizes that students have rights, freedoms, and responsibilities both as citizens and members of the college community. It is meant to be operable within the provisions of the Constitution of the United States, federal, state, and local laws, and the policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York.

Reference:
State University of New York College at Buffalo, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Student Code of Conduct (2018), https://studentconduct.buffalostate.edu/student-code-conduct

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.

In the February 2022 meeting of the College Senate, the Standards for Students Committee brought forth for a vote a revision to DOPS Policy VIII:01:00 Judicial System. The College Senate voted in favor of the resolution, presented by the Standards for Students Committee on February 11, 2022.

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: VII:01:00                           
Date:  Revision
Subject: Judicial System

• To remove duplication of Student Code of Conduct from DOPS.
• Reduce confusion over multiple copies of policies that reference the Student Code of Conduct on the Buffalo State site-wide web search.

Original DOPS: http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/dops/policysect8/080100.pdf

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: VIII:01:00                                                                  
Date: July 1987

Subject: Student Code of Conduct

As stated in the Student Code of Conduct, SECTION 1.C - INHERENT AUTHORITY FOR THE STUDENT CONDUCT PROCESS:

Section 356g of the Education Law empowers the College Council of each state-operated campus of the State University of New York to make regulations governing the conduct of students. All programs for student welfare and conduct are entrusted to and administered by the president of Buffalo State College on behalf of the College Council.

The president has delegated administration, enforcement, and modification of programs and policies for student conduct to the vice president for student affairs. In addition to the Code of Conduct, the rules, regulations, and procedures for the Maintenance of Public Order on campuses of the State University of New York, adopted by the Board of Trustees, are in effect at Buffalo State College.

Alleged infractions of non-academic rules and regulations are adjudicated through the College Court. The system emphasizes student involvement in the judicial student conduct process. The College Court is not a court of law; hence, the formal rules of evidence do not apply as they are applicable in a court of law. The judicial student conduct system provides for a full and open discussion of cases by all parties concerned in an effort to render a fair judgment.

The Student Code of Conduct SECTION 4: STUDENT CONDUCT PROCEDURES states: "The student conduct system uses a "preponderance of evidence" standard of proof. A preponderance of evidence standard evaluates whether it is more likely than not that a violation occurred."

The judicial student conduct system encourages the informal handling of infractions if deemed appropriate and if considered satisfactory to all concerned.

The judicial student conduct system follows the policies and procedures detailed in the Student Code of Conduct, which recognizes that students have rights, freedoms, and responsibilities both as citizens and as members of the college community. The student conduct system is operable within the provisions of the Constitution of the United States; federal, state, and local laws; and the policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York. It shall apply to conduct that occurs on college premises and at college-sponsored programs and activities, and to off-campus conduct that adversely affects the college community, the pursuit of its objectives, or neighboring communities. A student may be charged with violating local, state, and federal laws and also the Student Code of Conduct.

Disciplinary action may be taken by the college against a student for violation of a federal, state, or local criminal statute. A definite relationship between the statutory violation and the college's rules and regulations must exist. The violation of a statute or conviction off-campus must be shown to be such that it justifies action by the Student Code of Conduct.

Further details about the process and procedure of the student conduct system can be found in the Student Code of Conduct SECTION 4: STUDENT CONDUCT PROCEDURES.

Reference:
State University of New York College at Buffalo, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Student Code of Conduct (2018), https://studentconduct.buffalostate.edu/student-code-conduct

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.