Roadmap to Success, housed in Bengal Connect, is a pathway to help our students achieve success through student engagement. Being a college-age student requires careful planning, discipline, and a focused approach. The “roadmap” is in place to help students navigate engagement on campus, with suggested programs and events based on their class year.

During Orientation, students were encouraged to download the Bengal Connect app and log in to the system. In collaboration with Student Affairs departments and United Students Government (USG), students will have access to view and register to attend programs taking place on campus throughout the academic year. Students will receive incentives for participation on the day of the events and will be entered to win weekly prizes based on the number of engagements they have.

USG-recognized student clubs and organizations will receive incentives for continuing to actively engage students as well as reporting attendance so that students are entered into the weekly drawings. 

In addition to engagement, students will receive outreach with suggestions and reminders about important dates during the semester (in collaboration with Roar 2 Success and other campus departments) to ensure that they are meeting with advisors, attending class, and completing required paperwork for financial aid and other important resources.

Visit Bengal Connect to view the programs within the Roadmap to Success pathway today!

Buffalo State University will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 with a series of events.

National Hispanic Heritage Month—originally known as Hispanic Heritage Week—began in 1968 as a weeklong commemoration of the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Since 1988, it has been celebrated annually between September 15 and  October 15. During this month, Americans recognize the immeasurable contributions of the ancestors of American citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South and Central America— contributions that have been integral to the prosperity and values of the United States.

Documentary: Mexico and Peru: The Black Grandma in the Closet
Friday, September 15
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Latino Poetry Slam
Tuesday, September 19
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Salsa/Afro Latin Dance with Fanny Olaya (Buffalo State alumna)
Thursday, September 21
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Documentary: The Garifuna Journey    
Tuesday, September 26
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Mayan Archeoastronomy
Wednesday, September 27
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, Science and Mathematics Complex

Hispanic-Themed Student-Faculty Mixer
Thursday, September 28
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Modern and Classical Languages Department, Buckham Hall B234

Mayan Archeoastronomy
Friday, September 29
1:00–1:50 p.m.
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, Science and Mathematics Complex

Latin@ Roundtable Discussion
Thursday, October 12
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Experiencia Latina (a collaboration between the Music and Modern and Classical Languages departments)
Thursday, October 12
7:30–8:30 p.m.
Ciminelli Recital Hall, Rockwell Hall

Thanks to funding made available by the Faculty-Student Association, these events are organized by the Buffalo State English Department, Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Modern and Classical Languages Department, Music Department, and Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium.

For further information about these events, please contact Marko Miletich, assistant professor of modern and classical languages.

Buffalo State University will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 with a series of events.

National Hispanic Heritage Month—originally known as Hispanic Heritage Week—began in 1968 as a weeklong commemoration of the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Since 1988, it has been celebrated annually between September 15 and  October 15. During this month, Americans recognize the immeasurable contributions of the ancestors of American citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South and Central America, contributions that have been integral to the prosperity and values of the United States.

Documentary: Mexico and Peru: The Black Grandma in the Closet
Friday, September 15
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Latino Poetry Slam
Tuesday, September 19
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Salsa/Afro Latin Dance with Fanny Olaya (Buffalo State alumna)
Thursday, September 21
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Documentary: The Garifuna Journey    
Tuesday, September 26
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Mayan Archeoastronomy
Wednesday, September 27
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, Science and Mathematics Complex

Hispanic-Themed Student-Faculty Mixer
Thursday, September 28
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Modern and Classical Languages Department, Buckham Hall B234

Mayan Archeoastronomy
Friday, September 29
1:00–1:50 p.m.
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, Science and Mathematics Complex

Latin@ Roundtable Discussion
Thursday, October 12
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Experiencia Latina (a collaboration between the Music and Modern and Classical Languages departments)
Thursday, October 12
7:30–8:30 p.m.
Ciminelli Recital Hall, Rockwell Hall

Thanks to funding made available by the Faculty-Student Association, these events are organized by the Buffalo State English Department, Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Modern and Classical Languages Department, Music Department, and Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium.

For further information about these events, please contact Marko Miletich, assistant professor of modern and classical languages.

I am pleased to provide you with an update regarding the university’s presidential search.

Our Presidential Search Committee spent late spring communicating with multiple constituencies on campus, holding over 20 meetings with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and community leaders. Over the last few months, we advertised the position and contacted more than 500 prospective candidates.

To date, we have received and reviewed the credentials of about 75 individuals who represent a broad range of candidates within higher education and other leadership roles.

In May and August, the Presidential Search Committee met to conduct preliminary screenings of prospective candidates and to identify individuals for face-to-face interviews. The committee focused its review on the strongest 35 applications and narrowed the group to 12 candidates. The committee will embark on a series of first-round interviews with those candidates over the next few weeks.

That group will be narrowed to five candidates who will be invited to campus to meet with a wide range of constituent groups, local leaders, and the Buffalo State Council. We are targeting the last week of September and first week of October for those meetings. The Buffalo State Council will then recommend three finalists to the SUNY chancellor for further consideration.

A search for a president requires a careful balance between transparency and confidentiality, including individual candidates’ names, until we reach the campus meetings stage. The names of the five candidates invited to campus will be released 48 hours in advance of each visit.

We thank you for understanding that the best candidates require confidentiality and that committee members have agreed to abide by this rule.

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

Sincerely,

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

We invite you to the Bengals Practice Happy Hour at Coyer Field on Wednesday, September 27, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. during Homecoming Week! Enjoy a happy hour at Coyer Field with alumni, faculty, and staff of Buffalo State while the Bengals practice for their Homecoming game on Saturday, September 30. Tours of the Coyer Field press box will also be available.

Registration is free for the event and includes one free drink at the cash bar and complimentary appetizers. The event will take place on the Bengal Deck at the top of the Coyer Field bleachers. For more information, please call the Alumni Engagement Office at (716) 878-6001 or visit the website.

Homecoming Week 2023 will take place September 25–30, and this year’s theme is “All Roads Lead Home.” As part of our tradition during Homecoming week, we will once again be holding the annual Door Decoration Contest and encourage all departments and offices to participate. The area with the best decorated door will win a pizza party!

What you need to know about the Door Decoration Contest:

• Please register online for the office Door Decoration Contest no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 22.
• Doors should be decorated by the end of the day on Monday, September 25.
• Judging will be based on the best overall design and best use of the theme, “All Roads Lead Home.” Judges will visit each door on Wednesday, September 27, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Decorated doors should remain on display throughout the week of Homecoming.

In addition to participating in the Door Decoration Contest, we hope all faculty and staff members will join us for more Homecoming events, such as Benji’s 152 Birthday Celebration during Bengal Pause on Tuesday, September 26; the Homecoming Bengals Practice Happy Hour on Wednesday, September 27; and the Homecoming Tailgate and Buffalo State Football Game on Saturday, September 30.

More information and the full schedule can be found on the Homecoming and Family Weekend website.

Buffalo State University’s Homecoming Week is nearly upon us. Homecoming 2023, “All Roads Lead Home,” kicks off Monday, September 25, and concludes with the Homecoming Tailgate and Football game Saturday, September 30. As we are just one week away, we wanted to remind you of the faculty- and staff-centric events happening throughout the week.

Door Decoration Contest
There is still time to register your office or department for the Homecoming Door Decoration Contest! Register online for the Office Door Decoration Contest before Friday, September 22, at 5:00 p.m.

Doors should be decorated by the end of the day Monday, September 25, and judges will visit each door on Wednesday, September 27, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Doors will be judged on best overall design and best use of the theme, "All Roads Lead Home."

We wanted to remind you of a few other events so you can mark your calendars and join us for the festivities.

Buffalo State’s 152nd Birthday Party: Tuesday, September 26, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Buffalo State University's 152nd birthday is September 13, 2023. We will celebrate during Homecoming Week with singing and cupcakes on Tuesday, September 26, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Plaza. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to join the celebration.

Bengals Football Practice Happy Hour: Wednesday, September 27, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Enjoy a happy hour at Coyer Field with alumni, faculty, and staff of Buffalo State while the Bengals practice for their Homecoming game on Saturday. Tours of the Coyer Field Press Box will be given during the event. Registration is free for the event and includes one free drink at the cash bar and complimentary appetizers. The event will take place on the Bengal Deck at the top of the Coyer Field bleachers. For more information, call the Alumni Engagement Office at (716) 878-6001 or visit our website.

Alumni Concert and Reception: Thursday, September 28, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Annual Buffalo State Music Department Alumni Concert in Ciminelli Hall followed by a wine and cheese reception. The featured performers will be Kathryn Allison, ’16, Emily Bauerlein, ’16, Daniel Fronckowiak, ’22, and Josh Wagner, ’11. Tickets are free.

Homecoming Tailgate and Football Game: Saturday, September 30, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Join students, alumni, and families for music, food, and games at the Tailgate event before the Bengals Football team takes on the University of Rochester at 5:00 p.m.! Free to attend. Register online for the event.

View the full schedule of Homecoming events happening during our weeklong celebration.

Homecoming 2023, All Roads Lead Home, is here! We hope to see you at some of our many events happening this week:

Tuesday, September 26

• Buffalo State’s 152nd Birthday Celebration from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Plaza

Wednesday, September 27

• Bengals Practice Happy Hour from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Coyer Field

Thursday, September 28

• Homecoming 2023 Music Alumni Concert from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Ciminelli Hall

Friday, September 29

• The USG Homecoming Party in the Plaza from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Plaza

Saturday, September 30

• Free Planetarium shows from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Science and Mathematics Complex
• Women’s Volleyball vs. New Paltz at 1:00 p.m. in the Sports Arena
• Women’s Soccer vs. SUNY Cortland at 1:00 p.m. at Coyer Field
• Homecoming Tailgate at 3:00 p.m. followed by the Buffalo State Football vs. University of Rochester at 5:00 p.m.

View the full schedule of Homecoming events online. We are looking forward to another exciting Homecoming!

I invite you to join me as I deliver the annual State of the University address on Thursday, September 14, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. I will review highlights of the past year, provide updates on the current state of the university, and outline a future vision and plans. A reception will follow. RSVP by Tuesday, September 12.

It is my pleasure to announce the appointments of Amy M. Pedlow as chief of university police and Steven W. Cahoon as assistant chief of university police, effective August 1, 2023.

Ms. Pedlow and Mr. Cahoon have been intermittently serving in these roles in an interim capacity for about two years. Their appointments to these roles promise to bring stability and a return to robust leadership for the University Police Department (UPD).

Amy M. Pedlow
Before her appointment as interim chief in August 2021, Ms. Pedlow had served as assistant chief of university police since 2015, assisting in the administration of UPD policies and implementing the community policing philosophy of the department.

Before joining Buffalo State University, she held the title of lieutenant and shift commander with the University Police at the University at Buffalo (UB) for five years. As lieutenant, Ms. Pedlow also served as community liaison and project coordinator for the problem-oriented policing program, and as a violence prevention team representative. Before serving as lieutenant, she worked for 15 years as a university police officer at UB.

Chief Pedlow earned a bachelor’s degree and is completing a master’s degree in criminal justice at Buffalo State. She also completed the FBI’s National Academy, a premier 10-week training program held in Quantico, Virginia.

Steven W. Cahoon
Before being appointed interim assistant chief of UPD in October 2021, Mr. Cahoon held the title of investigator I with Buffalo State UPD from 2017 to 2021. During that time, he led the investigations of several prominent cases and increased the use of technology to resolve incidents. He has received numerous awards and honors, including seven SUNY Police Chiefs Association awards for professionalism. He also served as department liaison for the Special Olympics Torch Run and was a member of the UPD Honor Guard.

Before serving as investigator, Mr. Cahoon was a Buffalo State University Police officer for eight years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Buffalo State in 2004 and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Niagara University in 2017.

I thank Amy Pedlow and Steven Cahoon for their willingness to serve Buffalo State in these key positions. Please join me in welcoming them to their formal roles with the University Police Department.