As previously communicated, the SUNY telecommuting policy (PDF, 197 KB) issued on August 2, 2021, is set to expire on June 30, 2023. This policy has been extended through June 30, 2024. 

While the SUNY program will continue through June 30, 2024, extensions of telecommuting arrangements for Buffalo State employees are not automatic. Employees must request extensions of their existing plans or apply for new plans.

All telecommuting arrangements must be reviewed and approved by the employee’s immediate supervisor or manager, the department head or dean, the division leader, and senior campus leadership.

Requesting an Extension of a Telecommuting Plan
Please discuss your request with your supervisor and submit the SUNY Telecommuting Program Application and Work Plan, checking the box labeled “Application for Renewal.” Your plan should be updated at this time to reflect any operational changes.

While your request is being reviewed for approval, your existing plan will remain in effect. The Human Resource Management Office will notify you of the outcome of the review process for an extension.

Requesting a New Telecommuting Plan
Please discuss your request with your supervisor and submit the SUNY Telecommuting Program Application and Work Plan, checking the box labeled “New Application.”

New telecommuting work arrangements must not commence until they receive final written approval. The Human Resource Management Office will notify you when the arrangement can begin.

Employees approved to participate in the telecommuting program must complete and submit to their supervisors biweekly progress reports describing work completed while telecommuting. The Human Resource Management Office may, at any time, request these reports to ensure compliance with the program.

Please note the following program highlights:

All telecommuting work arrangements are subject to advance approval.

This program supports employees whose work does not require in-person student or constituent service delivery and interaction, including classroom presence.

This program uses a set schedule during each pay period. It is not appropriate for “as needed” telecommuting arrangements.

Telecommuting is limited to no more than 50 percent of a pay period.

Telecommuting arrangements may be terminated at any time by the supervisor for operational reasons, or because the telecommuting employee does not complete the required progress reports.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the work described in the telecommuting plan is being done, and that the needs of the department are being met while the plan is in place.

Telecommuting program information for employees and supervisors is available on the Human Resource Management website. Please contact the Human Resource Management Office staff with questions about the program.

Because of the Independence Day holiday and the Cleveland Hall corridor project, Cleveland Hall 517 will be closed the week of July 3. During this time, staff for both the President’s Office and the Equity and Campus Diversity Office will be available to answer phone calls during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be available via email at president@buffalostate.edu and eeoequity@buffalostate.edu respectively. I will be on campus, with a temporary office in the Burchfield Penney Art Center, room 202B.

After careful review, I am disbanding the College Budget Committee, which consisted of the president, provost, and vice president for finance and management, effective immediately. I will rely on our shared governance processes for recommendations and the advice and counsel of my cabinet members on budget decisions and actions. This will provide more transparency and establish a broader range of advisers, which are representative of the many university constituents, when making critical budget decisions. I thank the College Budget Committee members for their past efforts and am confident that their input in the future will continue to support the mission of this institution.

I am pleased to announce that Melissa Slisz will serve as interim executive assistant to the president, effective July 1, 2023. Ms. Slisz has worked at Buffalo State since 1988 and has been a staff assistant in the President’s Office since 1999, providing exemplary service for three permanent presidents and three interim presidents during that time. In addition, she served as my staff assistant for 22 years while I was chief of staff.

Ms. Slisz earned her bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State in 2001 and possesses an impressive combination of experience, institutional knowledge, and commitment that makes her uniquely qualified for this interim role and an ideal choice for this position. We are confident that she will be able to provide outstanding support to me during my tenure as interim president.

Please join me in welcoming Melissa Slisz as interim executive assistant.

The interim chief diversity officer will be out of the office from Thursday, July 13, until Monday, July 24. In her absence, please refer any Title IX student-related matters to Sarah Young, dean of students, (716) 878-4618. Please refer all other matters that may need attention before July 24 to LeVar Burke, chief of staff, via Laurie Graziano, administrative assistant 2 in Equity and Campus Diversity, (716) 878-6210. Additionally, Ms. Graziano will be available to answer general questions, schedule appointments, and handle other related matters.   

As always, if you have been a victim of sexual violence or a bias-related incident and are in need of immediate assistance, please contact University Police at (716) 878-6333.

I am deeply saddened to share that Samira Mohamed, a former Buffalo State student, tragically passed away in a fire Wednesday. On behalf of the entire Buffalo State University community, I express my heartfelt condolences to the Mohamed family and Samira’s beloved friends.

The MOVEit Transfer software cyber incident has affected institutions across the nation, including three organizations that Buffalo State University works with: the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), TIAA CREF, and Corebridge. Each organization has contacted SUNY to alert it of the possibility that the personal information of students, employees, and retirees may have been affected.

No Buffalo State systems were breached during this incident. We are communicating this information about the MOVEit Transfer software cyber incident so everyone in the Buffalo State community is aware of it and can take necessary precautions.

SUNY has been assured by NSC, TIAA CREF, and Corebridge that their systems have been secured and that they are working with the FBI and global cyber security experts in an ongoing investigation to determine the impact of the cyber incident.

In the coming weeks, SUNY expects that potentially affected individuals will be contacted by one or more of these organizations. In the meantime, we recommend that you use your right to a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

You may also wish to consider contacting the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov or consumer.ftc.gov/features/identity-theft. In addition, here are links from two of the organizations where you can find additional information:

National Student Clearinghouse MOVEit Security Issue

Corebridge

If you were potentially affected by the MOVEit incident, you will be contacted by one or more of the compromised organizations. We will also update you directly once we have further information.

Data privacy and security are serious matters at Buffalo State University. Here are some tactics to protect yourself, given the information available at this time:

1. Ensure that your accounts are secure and use multi-factor authentication whenever possible. It is also recommended that you use long passphrases for all your accounts. Never give someone your password, passphrase, or authentication code, even if they claim to be from a trusted organization.
2. Be extra cautious and vigilant against phishing attacks in the coming weeks and months. Phishing scams can contain personal information that is sent via text message, email, or other mode of communication. Verify the source of the message before responding. Cybercriminals may leverage stolen personal information and send convincing emails, notices, or text messages containing accurate information about you or one of your accounts. The Buffalo State IT Help Desk recommends that if you have any doubt about the authenticity of an email, you should delete it.
3. Monitor your financial accounts and credit. It is always wise to monitor your credit report for unusual activity. If you believe you are being targeted, consider putting in place a credit freeze.

For further information, visit Frequently Asked Questions about the National MOVEit Data Breach.

Ongoing Efforts
Storbeck Search is continuing its recruitment efforts, while the Buffalo State University Presidential Search Committee will continue its review of applications into August, at which time the committee will meet again. The Presidential Search website will be updated as there is more information to report.

Confidentiality
A search for a university president requires a careful balance between transparency of the process and confidentiality, which includes shielding individual candidates’ names until we reach the finalist stage. We thank you for understanding that the best candidates require confidentiality and that the committee members have all agreed to abide by this rule.

Thank you for your support as we continue to move forward with this important search.

Sincerely,

Linda Dobmeier, ’71
Chair, Buffalo State University Presidential Search Committee
Chair, Buffalo State Council

The academic obligation for 2023–2024 at Buffalo State University commences Monday, August 21, 2023, and ends Friday, May 31, 2024.

As we move forward into the academic year, I have given much thought and serious consideration to the leadership of the Finance and Management area. I wanted to ensure a level of consistency for both the Finance and Management staff and the university. I also wanted to put in place a system where a level of collegiality, collaboration, effectiveness, and transparency can flourish and be maintained. With these outcomes in mind, I am pleased to advise you of the interim leadership of the division and the change of roles and responsibilities within the unit. In order to maintain continuity of the many services provided, Finance and Management is being temporarily distributed between two interim vice presidents effective immediately.

The following areas will report to James A. Thor, interim vice president for finance and controller:

• Financial Operations, including Financial Management, Accounts Payable and Travel Services, Student Accounts, Procurement, and Business Affairs
• Human Resource Management and Payroll
• Information Technology
• Information Technology Exchange Center
• Sponsored Programs Administration

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The following areas will report to Lisa H. Krieger, interim vice president for management and operations:

• Administrative Operations, including Events Management and Moving Operations, Design and Print Center, Stores and Mail Operations, Parking Services, and Property Control and Sustainable Programs
• Campus Planning
• Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Facilities, including Construction, Maintenance, Custodial, and Business Operations
• University Police

The Vice President for Finance and Management Office, Cleveland Hall 505, will remain in its current form and will field inquiries for the division.

These changes are effective through December 31. At the end of this period, I will determine the next appropriate steps. While the top leadership responsibilities have been allocated to two individuals, the division remains one unit. It was important to me that the unit have individuals who have been part of Finance and Management for some period of time, who are respected throughout the university community, and who have demonstrated exceptional subject matter knowledge and leadership skills at the helm during this interim period. I hope you will join me in thanking Mr. Thor and Ms. Krieger for stepping up to take on these important roles at this critical time in the history of our institution.

Onward and upward!