I am pleased to announce the return of our time-honored tradition of Academic Convocation for faculty and staff, which will take place on Thursday, September 19, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

This occasion serves not only to formally inaugurate the academic year but also to honor our faculty and staff members during our recognition ceremony.

I implore each of you to mark this date on your calendars and plan to attend. It promises to be an enriching and memorable experience that underscores our shared commitment to excellence in education.

Marchers are required to wear academic regalia and should place their orders for regalia rentals directly through the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore via email to Marybeth Keller, general merchandise manager, or by phone at (716) 878-5509 by Monday, August 12. A limited inventory of regalia is available for loan at no charge through the Academic Affairs Office. Please email Ann Delmont, administrative assistant 2, to make your regalia loan request by Monday, August 12.

To confirm your attendance, kindly RSVP using the online form.

I look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with you all.

As we prepare to enter the fall 2024 semester, I'd like to inform you of some personnel changes that have occurred in Residence Life.

Alex Matiash was hired as the director of residence life and began his tenure on June 24. Mr. Matiash will lead the Residence Life Office with his team, including new complex directors Alyssa Kemp (Student Apartment Complex), Jessica Ellis (Bengal Hall), and Christine Martin (Bishop and Neumann halls), along with new assistant complex directors Aaliyah Small (Student Apartment Complex), Rachel Gelable (Bishop Hall), and Nicolae Peters (Tower 3).

Experienced returning staff include Tiffany Bromfield, associate director of residence life; Imon Hossain, assistant director for residential technology; Gabriel Petersen, coordinator of housing operations; Kendrian Collins, complex director for Moore Complex and Towers 1, 3, and 4; Santazzia Collins, for Tower 1; and Dominique Parke, for Bengal Hall.

The main Residence Life Office is located in Twin Rise 100, (716) 878-3000, reslife@buffalostate.edu.

Residence Life is preparing to welcome new and returning resident students on Wednesday, August 21, and Saturday, August 24. Members of the Buffalo State University community are encouraged to volunteer to assist with resident move-in days.    

Many thanks to Curtis Brickhouse, director of student affairs operations, and Janelle Brooks, associate dean of students, for their tireless work during the spring 2024 semester.  

Your patience and support for the Student Affairs team is appreciated as we continue to do the critical work to support students. 

Buffalo State employees are invited to participate in a free, two-hour virtual introductory training hosted by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Domestic Terrorism Prevention Unit (DTPU). This training targets community members, such as you, who play a role in identifying threats or observable behaviors that may concern others. University Police relies on members of the campus community to assist them with identifying potential acts of violence while respecting civil rights and civil liberties.

This course focuses on a behavioral approach to violence prevention, with a discussion on risk factors, triggers and stressors, and warning behaviors that could influence a person’s decision to commit an act of targeted violence.

Upcoming Trainings

• Wednesday, August 28, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
• Monday, September 30, 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Please register for one of the training sessions using the links listed above. Advance registration is required to receive the virtual meeting details, a participant guide, and a course completion certificate.

Please contact PreventDT@dhses.ny.gov with questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

At Bengala 2024, Aitina Fareed-Cooke ’12, ’16, performed her spoken word piece “A Letter to My Younger Self.” She left the audience inspired and energized as she urged her younger self to realize her dreams. Fareed-Cooke, the poet laureate for the City of Buffalo, agreed to create an abridged version of her original letter.

In her abridged version, she keeps the same tone and energy, but urges her younger self to “imagine a place.” In collaboration with her company, Get Fokus’d Productions, and Buffalo State University, Fareed-Cooke’s inspiring and authentic letter to her younger self became the foundation of Buffalo State’s newest creative theme: “Imagine a place…”

While we had planned for a full-scale brand study and refresh this year, that project was put on hold. That led us to pursue a “bridge creative theme” to move our brand and messaging forward on a short timetable. We are considering ourselves fortunate to have this exciting collaboration to serve this purpose.

The Marketing and Communications Department is proud to introduce this theme with a soft launch of the new creative and supporting advertising campaigns starting today. Visibility will continue to ramp up through August and September and continue through our fall open houses and entire recruitment cycle. We will also implement this adaptable theme across all paid media, owned media, and large-scale campus events to support a fully comprehensive strategy.

Learn more about our new creative theme.

Explore the creative theme assets.

If you would like to advertise any events or important information to students in the Bengal Buzz, please contact Angella Rocklein, communication management specialist in Student Affairs. The Buzz is a weekly student newsletter that runs throughout the fall and spring semesters. The first edition of the Buzz will go out on August 26. All submissions must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 22.

Faculty and staff members are invited to submit awards, honors, and grants information for print in the annual Academic Convocation Ceremony program. Awards and grants received or announced September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024, and meeting the criteria below will be listed in the program that is distributed at the ceremony.

• Submit awards and honors from academic, professional, or service organizations at the international, national, or state levels. Do not include awards received from Buffalo State University, the City of Buffalo, or local or Western New York–area organizations.
• Submit significant grants of $50,000 and above, received or announced during the stated period.
• Submit SUNY awards, such as the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence, received while serving at other SUNY institutions during any career point. Do not include SUNY awards received while serving at Buffalo State.

Additionally, the names of newly hired faculty and staff members—initially hired September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024—will be included in the printed program as a welcome to Buffalo State.

The online submission forms are open through Friday, August 23.

The campus community is invited to attend Academic Convocation on Thursday, September 19, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, where the 2024 SUNY and Buffalo State honorees will be recognized. A reception immediately follows. The list of honorees and ceremony information is provided on the Academic Affairs website.

Please contact the Academic Affairs Office with questions about submitting awards or grants information.

Faculty and staff members are invited to submit awards, honors, and grants information for print in the annual Academic Convocation Ceremony program. Awards and grants received or announced September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024, and meeting the criteria below will be listed in the program that is distributed at the ceremony.

• Submit awards and honors from academic, professional, or service organizations at the international, national, or state levels. Do not include awards received from Buffalo State University, the City of Buffalo, or local or Western New York–area organizations.
• Submit significant grants of $50,000 and above, received or announced during the stated period.
• Submit SUNY awards, such as the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence, received while serving at other SUNY institutions during any career point. Do not include SUNY awards received while serving at Buffalo State.

Additionally, the names of newly hired faculty and staff members—initially hired September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024—will be included in the printed program as a welcome to Buffalo State.

The online submission forms are open through Friday, August 23.

The campus community is invited to attend Academic Convocation on Thursday, September 19, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, where the 2024 SUNY and Buffalo State honorees will be recognized. A reception immediately follows. The list of honorees and ceremony information is provided on the Academic Affairs website.

Please contact the Academic Affairs Office with questions about submitting awards or grants information.

Today is the final day to submit awards, honors, and grants information for print in the annual Academic Convocation Ceremony program. Awards and grants received or announced September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024, and meeting the criteria below will be listed in the program that is distributed at the ceremony.

• Submit awards and honors from academic, professional, or service organizations at the international, national, or state levels. Do not include awards received from Buffalo State University, the City of Buffalo, or local or Western New York–area organizations.
• Submit significant grants of $50,000 and above, received or announced during the stated period.
• Submit SUNY awards, such as the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence, received while serving at other SUNY institutions during any career point. Do not include SUNY awards received while serving at Buffalo State.

Additionally, the names of newly hired faculty and staff members—initially hired September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024—will be included in the printed program as a welcome to Buffalo State.

The online submission forms are open through the close of business today, August 23.

The campus community is invited to attend Academic Convocation on Thursday, September 19, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, where the 2024 SUNY and Buffalo State honorees will be recognized. A reception immediately follows. The list of honorees and ceremony information is provided on the Academic Affairs website.

Please contact the Academic Affairs Office with questions about submitting awards or grants information.

It’s that time of year again when we welcome our new first-year and transfer residential students! New Student Move-In will take place tomorrow, August 21, beginning at 8:00 a.m. All students will check in at Twin Rise/North Wing Hall and Science and Mathematics Complex. Please expect additional traffic across campus all day. Parking will be restricted on Academic Drive, Cleveland Drive, Lot I-37, Rockwell Road, Tower Road, and Union Place. University Police will have officers assisting with traffic flow, unloading, and parking. We thank you for your assistance in welcoming our new students.

Campus map (PDF, 3.6 MB)

It’s that time of year again when we welcome our new first-year and transfer residential students! New Student Move-In will take place today, August 21, beginning at 8:00 a.m. All students will check in at Twin Rise/North Wing Hall and Science and Mathematics Complex. Please expect additional traffic across campus all day. Parking will be restricted on Academic Drive, Cleveland Drive, Lot I-37, Rockwell Road, Tower Road, and Union Place. University Police will have officers assisting with traffic flow, unloading, and parking. We thank you for your assistance in welcoming our new students.