At the December 8, 2023, meeting of the College Senate, the Student Welfare Committee presented a motion on Menstrual Hygiene Access, which the Senate voted to adopt and present as the following resolution:

WHEREAS, according to a 2021 study, 10 percent of women college students experience “period poverty” every month, disproportionately affecting students of color and first-generation college students; and 

WHEREAS, Buffalo State serves a student population who largely identifies as female, first-generation, people of color, and/or Pell grant eligible; and 

WHEREAS, the Student Welfare Committee passed a resolution in 2017–2018 calling on Buffalo State to develop and fund programs that provide access to free menstrual products in all campus restrooms; and 

WHEREAS, in March 2023, New York Senate Bill S.5910 was introduced and would require access to menstrual products in restrooms of public colleges and universities free of charge; and 

WHEREAS, in April 2023, SUNY issued a memorandum strongly supporting the passage and enactment of S.5910; and 

WHEREAS, in May 2019, the University at Buffalo introduced free pads and tampons in 20 restrooms across its campuses through a partnership between its Student Association and its Office of Inclusive Excellence using the Aunt Flow supply company; and 

WHEREAS, many faculty, staff, and student employees across our campus are using personal funds to stock emergency menstrual hygiene products in restrooms for students; and 

WHEREAS offering free access to menstrual hygiene products in public restrooms on campus would align with Buffalo State’s mission and Pillar 1 of its Strategic Plan: Commitment to Access, Equity, Social Justice, and Belonging. 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Buffalo State Facilities Operations install and regularly restock free menstrual hygiene product dispensers in highly frequented public restrooms on-campus beginning with the Campbell Student Union.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the Buffalo State Senate and charge the interim vice president for management and operations with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of these changes and for communicating the changes to the campus community.

At its December 8, 2023, meeting, the College Senate voted to recommend to the interim president the following revision to DOPS Policy I:16:03 to make certificates and microcredential courses ineligible for pass/fail grades.

WHEREAS, microcredentials are short-term, focused areas of study designed to provide in-demand skills, know-how, and experience; and

WHEREAS, microcredentials offer a flexible way to stay competitive or branch out in today's changing workplace; and

WHEREAS, microcredentials and certificate programs are specialized academic programs that are stackable, forming a bridge toward a registered certificate or a full degree (which major courses cannot be taken as pass/fail); and

WHEREAS, certificate programs provide focused study to support a specific career interest; and 

WHEREAS, certificates can be offered online and completed as an individual credential or incorporated into a related degree program for those meeting program admission requirements; and

WHEREAS, non-matriculated students cannot take any course pass/fail; and

WHEREAS, graduate students cannot take any microcredential or certificate courses pass/fail; and

WHEREAS, students who want to add an additional NYS certification must apply for the other certificate through a BOCES Regional Certification Office and follow their listed requirements,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that DOPS Policy on Grading I:16:03 be revised to include the language of microcredentials and certificates in this policy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the current pass/fail policy be outlined to include this language for all students.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and authorize the interim provost to make the changes to DOPS I:16:03 listed above as soon as possible. I also direct the interim provost to communicate these changes to the campus as appropriate. I thank the Standards for Students Committee and its chair for their work in developing this recommendation.

At its December 8, 2023, meeting, the College Senate voted to forward a recommendation to the interim president proposing a revision to DOPS Policy I:01:05 to align with SUNY transfer language:

WHEREAS, students transferring to Buffalo State University with an A.A. or A.S. degree waive most of the SUNY general education requirements (i.e., Diversity is still needed); and

WHEREAS, the SUNY transfer pathways courses will transfer as recommended from one SUNY institution to another; and

WHEREAS, each department at Buffalo State University can decide on transfer credit acceptance for its respective majors; and

WHEREAS, if students wish to dispute additional transfer credits, or where it is applied, they must follow the official appeal process at Buffalo State University and include relevant supporting documents, such as course descriptions and syllabi; and

WHEREAS, students whose campus-based appeals (at Buffalo State University) are denied may appeal to SUNY by the SUNY procedural guidelines,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Transfer Students DOPS Policy I:01:05 be amended to include the SUNY procedural guidelines for an additional appeal process to ensure a smooth transition for transfer students.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate to amend the Transfer Students DOPS Policy I:01:05 to include the SUNY procedural guidelines. I charge the interim provost and the vice president for enrollment management with overseeing the implementation of this amendment and communicating it widely to the appropriate offices and individuals. I thank the Standards for Students Committee and its chair for their diligence in bringing forth this recommendation.

Since the start of the fall 2023 semester, the Admissions Office has worked collaboratively with the Maurene Callahan Bouras Center for Global Engagement (CGE) to successfully transition international admissions and consolidate efforts to enhance global outreach and streamline administrative processes. In addition to the oversight of U.S. regulatory compliance, recruitment and retention efforts, and international partner development, the International Student and Scholar Services Office (ISSS) under the CGE will now be responsible for all aspects of undergraduate application and transfer credit review, facilitating successful transition to study in the United States.

The Maurene Callahan Bouras Center for Global Engagement is located on the forth floor of Twin Rise South Wing.

• Joy Guarino, Director of Global Engagement
• Tricia Herritt, Director of International Student and Scholar Services
• Jonathon Tedesco, International Operations Manager
• Stephanie Wehrlin, Staff Assistant
• Susan Maguire, Interim Coordinator of Study Abroad

This new alignment will allow the expertise of the staff to further Buffalo State’s commitment to internationalization.

Please direct any inquiries related to international admissions to intladmissions@buffalostate.edu. Additionally, you can reach the Center for Global Engagement via phone at (716) 878-5331.

Sincerely,

Amitra Wall, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Randyll Bowen, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Today, March 11, is the first day of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Eid is Wednesday, April 10. For this one month, Muslims will be fasting each day (abstaining from food and water), starting from slightly before sunrise all the way to sunset.

This is a note for faculty and staff members to be aware of these details, and to be especially cognizant of Muslim students fasting. Kindly provide necessary accommodations as needed.

For further resources or information about Ramadan, please contact Saquib Ahmed, assistant professor of engineering technology and faculty advisor to the Muslim Students Association.

We would like to recognize and congratulate the following outstanding faculty members who have received the Excellence in Accessibility of Content Award. Buffalo State is committed to providing accessible and user-friendly content for all students. Accessible content, designed to increase student engagement, is highly valued and supported, as this pedagogy affects our student success, learning, and retention.

• Alexander Ehms, Assistant Professor, Business; Nominated by Carol DeNysschen
• Jessica Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor, Social Work; Nominated by Catherine Mazzotta
• Krista Vince Garland, Associate Professor, Exceptional Education; Nominated by Andrew Hashey
• Christopher Hulsman, Electronic and Educational Resources Librarian, Butler Library; Nominated by Justin Crossfox
• Mary Beth Sullivan, Lecturer, Writing Program; Nominated by Natalie Szymanski
• Angela Thering, Lecturer, Social and Psychological Foundations of Education and Adult Education; Nominated by Andrea Nikischer
• William Yates, Lecturer, Creativity and Change Leadership; Nominated by Gerard Puccio

Please join me in congratulating them on their continued contributions toward making Buffalo State an institution that supports diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Division III Week (April 1–7) is a time to showcase our amazing student-athletes for their work and dedication in the classroom and on the playing surface. This week will feature Buffalo State Athletics’ annual Academic Luncheon on Tuesday, April 2, to celebrate our student-athletes’ achievements in the classroom. In addition, we will have a pair of home matchups as our women’s lacrosse team will host Oneonta on Saturday, April 6, for Senior Day, while men’s volleyball will also be home that day, hosting FLCC and Hobart. On Sunday, April 7, our acrobatics and tumbling team will cap off Division III Week as they take on Stevenson. Stay tuned for more from Buffalo State Athletics as we continue to celebrate our amazing student-athletes!

I hope you’ll join me in celebrating Buffalo State Gives 2024, our sixth annual Day of Giving, which officially starts at noon today. This is our biggest online fundraising event of the year, and every year it gets bigger and better.

This time around, more than 40 departments are participating to raise money for Buffalo State students. That includes scholarships, internship and research opportunities, and essential instructional equipment across academic departments in all three schools; campuswide student support programs like Honors, EOP, and Roar 2 Success; student emergency funding; Intercollegiate Athletics; and so much more.

Please visit the Buffalo State Gives website to see them all. No matter which fund you choose to support, you can be sure that you will have a powerful impact on our students.

Thank you, as always, for everything you do for Buffalo State.

If you have questions about any aspect of Buffalo State Gives, or to learn how your department can participate in 2025, please contact Kate Lockhart, assistant to the vice president for institutional advancement and external relations, (716) 878-3077.

The campus community is invited to attend the university’s traditional celebration of Honors Convocation on Friday, April 19, at 3:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. 

In an effort to add to the pomp and circumstance of this traditional event, we will have a procession of marchers wearing academic regalia. We invite faculty and staff members to march in the academic procession. If you are planning to march, please register by Monday, April 8; however, if you are invited to attend Convocation by a student, we encourage you to sit with your student as his or her guest instead of participating in the procession. Academic regalia is encouraged but optional.

Regalia rentals are available through the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore. Please email Marybeth Keller, general merchandise manager, or call (716) 878-5509 by Friday, March 22, to place rental orders. If you are also planning to march in Commencement, you will not be required to return the rented regalia until the Monday after Commencement. If you are not participating in Commencement, rented regalia must be returned by Monday, April 22.

A limited inventory of doctoral and master’s gowns, hoods, and caps is available for loan through the Academic Affairs Office. Hoods will not match the marcher's discipline or institution where the degree was earned. For guaranteed colors, marchers should purchase or rent hoods through the bookstore. Please email Ann Delmont, administrative assistant 2, by Monday, April 8, to arrange for regalia loan for Honors Convocation. Sizes and hood colors are limited, and requests are filled in the order they are received.

Honors Convocation provides us with a great opportunity to celebrate the academic excellence of our outstanding students. We hope you will join us.

The campus community is invited to attend the university’s traditional celebration of Honors Convocation on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 3:00 pm in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. 

In an effort to add to the pomp and circumstance of this traditional event, we will have a procession wearing academic regalia.  We invite faculty and staff to march in the academic procession. If you are planning to march, please register by Monday, April 8, 2024: Honors Convocation Marcher RSVP . However, if you are invited by a student, we encourage you to sit with them as their guest instead of participating in the procession.  Academic regalia is encouraged but optional.

Regalia rentals are available through the Barnes and Noble bookstore in the Student Union. Email Marybeth Keller kellerm@buffalostate.edu or call (716) 878-5509 by Friday, March 22, 2024 to place rental orders.  If you are also planning to march in commencement, you will not be required to return the rented regalia until the Monday after commencement. However, if you are not participating in commencement, rented regalia must be returned by Monday, April 22. 

A limited inventory of doctor and master’s gowns, master's and doctor hoods and caps are available for loan through the Academic Affairs Office. Hoods will not match the marcher's discipline or institution where the degree was earned. For guaranteed colors, marchers should purchase or rent hoods through the bookstore.  Email Ann Delmont  kingap@buffalostate.edu  by Monday, April 8, 2024 to arrange for regalia loan for Honors Convocation. Sizes and hood colors are limited, and requests are filled in the order they are received.

Honors Convocation provides us a great opportunity to celebrate the academic excellence of our outstanding students.  We hope that you will join us.