I am pleased to announce the appointment of Josue “Sway” Rosario-Caliz as interim director of student leadership and engagement.

A proud first-generation college student and Buffalo State alumnus, Dr. Rosario-Caliz earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SUNY Buffalo State University (criminal justice and religious studies, 2017; higher education and student affairs administration, 2019), and his doctor of education from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2023, focusing on higher education leadership.

He brings extensive experience in residence life and housing, student engagement, and student conduct and community standards, having served as director of diversity and inclusion initiatives for the KIPP Capital Region Public Charter Schools, director of student engagement at Bard College, and dean of community standards and deputy director of equity, equal opportunity, and Title IX at Sewanee University of the South.

Dr. Rosario-Caliz has also served as an adjunct instructor of courses on AfroLatin spirituality and culture; ethics, leadership, and advocacy; research methods; and social determinants of health at both Sewanee and Notre Dame of Maryland.

He is an ordained priest with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, where he serves the Missionary Diocese of the Good Shepherd as canon. He is passionate about returning to his alma mater to contribute to the growth and success of its students. Please join me in extending Dr. Rosario-Caliz a warm Buffalo State welcome!

We would like to remind the Buffalo State community to review the updated Smoke-Free Policy. We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with these changes to ensure a respectful and safe environment for our entire community. Thank you for your cooperation and support in upholding this important policy. The policy has been updated (PDF, 210 KB) and can be found in the Administrative Policy Library.

The goal of this revised policy is to continue to support a safe and healthy campus community. This new policy will continue to be shared with students, faculty, and staff through orientations and electronic and physical outreach. Weigel Health Center will be providing programs, mobile outreach, and web resources to support compliance with the policy. 

Compliance with the policy is covered by the Student Code of Conduct and the Administrative Policy Library for faculty and staff members. The University Police Department is unable to issue citations for violations but is available to assist if the situation warrants.

Should you have concerns about behavior that is not in compliance with the policy as it relates to students, a report can be filed.

Should the concern be related to compliance involving members of the staff or faculty, please contact Human Resource Management at (716) 878-4822.

Buffalo State University’s Homecoming Week is nearly upon us. Homecoming 2024, “Together We Grow,” kicks off Monday, September 23, and concludes with the Alumni and Family Tailgate and Football Game on Saturday, September 28.

We wanted to remind you of some of the faculty- and staff-centric events happening during Homecoming so you can mark your calendars and sign up!

Door Decoration Contest
Register your office or department for the Homecoming Door Decoration Contest! Register online for the contest before 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 20.

Door decorations should be completed by the end of the day Monday, September 23, and displayed through Friday, September 27. Doors will be judged on Wednesday, September 25, between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Judging criteria include use of the Homecoming theme, craftsmanship, attention to detail, creativity, and design.

-----------------------------------------------

Buffalo State’s 153rd Birthday Celebration and Benji’s Glow-Up Reveal
Tuesday, September 24, 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Stop by the Campbell Student Union Plaza and grab a cupcake to celebrate Buffalo State University’s 153rd year educating in the city of Buffalo. This is also the debut of Benji’s new look as we reveal the new updated Benji mascot. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to join the celebration.

-----------------------------------------------

Homecoming Happy Hour at Coyer Field
Wednesday, September 25, 4:00–6:00 p.m.

Alumni, families, faculty, and staff are invited to enjoy a reception at Coyer Field as the Bengals football team prepares for Saturday’s Homecoming Game on Saturday. Tours of the press box and presidential suite will be given during the event.

Registration is $5 and includes food and one drink ticket redeemable at the bar.

-----------------------------------------------

Alumni Concert and Reception
Thursday, September 26, 7:00–9:00 p.m.

All are welcome to this free performance and reception as alums from the Music Department come back to share their talents and perform during this Homecoming tradition. Tickets are free.

-----------------------------------------------

Homecoming Alumni and Family Tailgate
Saturday, September 28, 3:00 p.m.

Alumni, family, students, and the community are invited to a tailgate featuring food, games, and Bengal spirit! Come for the tailgate and enter the football game for free as the Bengals take on Alfred State at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets to the Alumni and Family Tailgate are $5 per person and include a meal with choice of barbecued chicken, hotdogs, or burgers featuring sides like mac and cheese and corn salad.

-----------------------------------------------

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

Mark Teitelbaum, guidance counselor at the Brooklyn STEAM Center, will visit Buffalo State next week to present about the Brooklyn STEAM Center on Thursday, September 19, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. This presentation will provide more in-depth information about the CTE pathways, the articulation agreements currently in place with Buffalo State, and plans for the Brooklyn STEAM Center.

About Brooklyn STEAM
Currently, the Brooklyn STEAM Center is partnered with eight New York City high schools and offers six CTE pathways for its students. The Brooklyn STEAM Center delivers innovative, industry-informed experiences that empower students to take charge of their futures and creates a diverse, skilled talent pipeline for the technology and manufacturing industries. The STEAM Center’s model provides a tangible pathway to economic mobility and wealth creation for young New Yorkers from a diverse range of socioeconomic and educational backgrounds.

Buffalo State–Brooklyn STEAM Partnership
In partnership with Buffalo State, the STEAM Center is actively developing articulation agreements with our Communication, Engineering Technology, and Hospitality and Tourism departments so that their students are able to earn dual credits while participating in the STEAM pathways.

The CTE pathways offered at Brooklyn STEAM include the following:

Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management
Construction Technology
Cybersecurity
Design and Engineering
Film and Media
Full-Stack Development

Please join us to learn more about this incredible partnership. RSVP online for this presentation.

With Homecoming 2024 nearly upon us, I wanted to remind you that there is still time to sign up for Homecoming events such as the Office Door Decoration Contest, Homecoming Happy Hour at Coyer Field, Alumni and Family Tailgate, and more.

Door Decoration Contest
Register your office or department for the Homecoming Door Decoration Contest! Register online for the Door Decoration Contest before Friday, September 20, at 5:00 p.m.

Door decorations should be completed by the end of the day Monday, September 23, and displayed through Friday, September 27. Doors will be judged on Wednesday, September 25, between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Judging criteria include use of Homecoming theme, craftsmanship, attention to detail, creativity, and design.

Homecoming Happy Hour at Coyer Field
Wednesday, September 25, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Alumni, families, faculty, and staff are invited to enjoy a reception at Coyer Field as the Bengal Football Team prepares for Saturday’s Homecoming Game. Tours of the press box and presidential suite will be given during the event.

Registration is $5 and includes food and one drink ticket redeemable at the bar.

Homecoming Alumni and Family Tailgate
Saturday, September 28, 3:00 p.m.
Alumni, family, students, and the community are invited to a tailgate featuring food, games, and Bengal spirit! Come for the tailgate and enter the football game for free as the Bengals take on Alfred State at 5:00 p.m.!

Tickets to the Alumni and Family Tailgate are $5 per person and includes a meal with choice of barbecued chicken, hotdogs, or burger featuring sides like mac and cheese and corn salad.

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

I write to you with a heavy heart as I reflect upon the tragic school shooting incident in Georgia last week. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, I feel the pain and sorrow that such an event brings to our communities, especially to the families directly affected. I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this senseless act of violence.

As a leader in the field of education, I believe that our schools, colleges, and universities should be safe havens for learning, growth, and development. The fear of whether our children will return home safely should never be a concern for any parent.

Our children deserve to learn in an environment free from fear and violence.

In these challenging times, it is crucial that we come together as a community to support each other. We must remember that our strength lies in our unity and our shared commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for our students.

As we navigate through this difficult period, let us remember the importance of compassion, understanding, and resilience. Let us stand together in solidarity with the victims and their families, and let us work together to ensure that our educational institutions remain safe spaces for all.

I want to assure you that at Buffalo State University, the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive living and learning community where our students can thrive and reach their full potential.

As a reminder, everyone on campus should always be aware of their surroundings. If you hear someone making a threat or see someone acting suspiciously, report it to University Police at (716) 878-6333. Take time to review the Active Attacker/Active Shooter website for detailed instructions about how to react in these situations.

Members of the campus community are also encouraged to sign up for Buff State Alert, a service that sends emergency messages via text, email, or voice.

Let us stand together in these trying times, and let us remember that our strength lies in our unity and our shared commitment to the safety and well-being of our students.

Representatives from SUNY Digital Innovation and Academic Services (DIAS), which includes SUNY Online, will visit Buffalo State University on Thursday, September 26. The SUNY Digital Learning Environment Brightspace was implemented during the pandemic, when SUNY was unable to visit campuses because of the shutdown. SUNY is now visiting campuses to talk with administrators, faculty, staff, students, and DLE technical teams to hear about their implementation, innovation within the DLE, faculty and student experiences, and plans the campus has for innovating with Brightspace. 

The day will be hosted by Academic Affairs: Instructional Design and Distance Learning and the Buffalo State DLE-Brightspace Stakeholders Committee.

The goal of the day is to engage with campus DLE team/leadership to

• review SUNY expectations of campuses in the DLE,
• understand campus priorities and support campus goals and initiatives related to the DLE,
• showcase campus success stories across the system,
• reinforce goals of the shared SUNY DLE, and
• review plans for future training and evolution of shared services.

Open sessions will be held throughout the day for the campus community to come together with the SUNY DIAS and SUNY Online team. Space is limited, so we ask that you register using the Workshop Registration System.

• 9:55–10:40 a.m. – Student Open Session - A focus group with Buffalo State students. What is their experience with Brightspace? What is working well, and what could be improved? Where do they need additional support?
• 10:50–11:35 a.m. – Faculty/Staff Open Session - A focus group with Buffalo State faculty. What is their experience with Brightspace? What has improved over previous learning management systems? What is not working well? Where do they need additional support? 
• 2:00–3:00 p.m. – Brightspace Showcase - An innovation showcase of the use of DLE at SUNY Buffalo State. What are people doing that is unique and uses the DLE in novel ways? What is a challenge you would like to solve using the DLE?

We are excited to welcome SUNY Digital Innovation and Academic Services here to campus and hope that you can join us.

I am excited to announce that Buffalo State Gives, our annual Day of Giving, will be taking place March 12–13, 2025. This will be our seventh time running our biggest online fundraiser of the year.

Buffalo State Gives 2024 raised over $170,000 for more than 40 departments and programs across campus. As always, we are committed to topping those numbers this year.

If your department took part last year, I hope we can count you in again. If you haven’t participated before, there’s no better time than now. The Day of Giving is a low-effort way to raise money for your department and engage your alumni.

If you are interested in fundraising for your area during Buffalo State Gives 2025, please contact Kate Lockhart, assistant to the vice president, (716) 878-3077, by Friday, November 1.

Federal regulations, state laws, and/or campus policies require that all employees participate in mandatory compliance training on various essential topics. These topics include Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Preventing Workplace Violence and Gender-Based Violence, Information Security Awareness, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Title IX.

These mandated trainings are available online 24/7 through BizLibrary.

The list below identifies the required trainings that all employees, regardless of title, must complete to comply with federal regulations, state law, SUNY regulations, and/or campus policies and their respective due dates.

• 2024 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – DUE Monday, September 30
• 2024 Mandatory Sexual Harassment Prevention Training – DUE Friday, October 11
• 2024 Workplace Violence Prevention Training – DUE Friday, October 11
• 2024 Title IX – DUE Friday, October 11
• 2024 Information Security Awareness Training – DUE Friday, October 11

Employees can log in to BizLibrary to complete the trainings by following these steps:

1. Visit BizLibrary, which will bring you to a Microsoft page. Enter your Buffalo State University email address and select “Next.”
2. The Buffalo State log-in page will appear. Enter your password and select “Sign-In.” After you enter your password, expect a multi-factor authentication (MFA) prompt.
3. On the “Home” page, under “My Assignments,” you will see the learning initiative titles. Please complete each one at your own pace.
4. To view your certificates of completion, select “My Learning” from the drop-down field on the “Home” page and navigate to “Transcripts.” This is where you will see the title and gold certificate icon to your certificates. You can also “Download” all.

Student employees, including graduate students, work-study students, student workers, and volunteers are also required to complete all mandated compliance trainings.

If you experience log-in issues, please contact the IT Help Desk. Please visit the Human Resource Management web page or contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, (716) 878-5364, with questions about the trainings and for support with completing the trainings.

Members of the campus community are invited to submit nominations for the following student awards:

President's Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student
One undergraduate student will be awarded the President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student, which is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State University. This award is given to a student who, through use of their natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the university’s mission statement. The recipients will deliver the student address at Commencement. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 is required for consideration for this award.

President's Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student
One graduate student will be awarded the President’s Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student, which is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State University. This award is given to a student who, through use of their natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the university’s mission statement. The recipients will deliver the student address at Commencement. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 is required for consideration for this award.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
The Chancellor’s Award is the highest honor bestowed by SUNY upon a student with special achievement in at least three of the following areas: academic excellence, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the arts. Examples of achievements and accomplishments to consider may include but are not limited to athletics, advocacy, military service, student government, teaching and service positions, involvement in clubs and organizations, volunteer work, and research experience. These students may have already received recognition from campus, local, state, national, or international organizations, and we would like you to include that information in the nomination process. 

Nomination Procedure
Nominations are being sought for both awards. Students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member at Buffalo State University. Candidates must have demonstrated the qualities recognized by each award. Selection criteria are similar for each award; however, to be considered for the President’s Medal, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 is required. A student may be nominated for either or both awards.

Selection Criteria for Both Awards
Academic excellence: Documented via grade point average, honors received, rank in class, research, and other scholarly projects.

Arts: Accomplishments and contributions in a particular discipline, if the student is a performer, artist, craftsperson, or similar.

Citizenship: As measured by community service, the quality of extracurricular activities, or involvement in professional organizations.

Campus involvement: As measured by significant accomplishments, contributions, or experiences in campus involvement while a student at Buffalo State.

Athletics: As measured by significant accomplishments in a particular sport(s) as an athlete, coach, etc.

Leadership/Creativity: Documented local, state, national, or international recognition for excellence (e.g., recipient of major national scholarships or athletic awards, or recognition by national and international associations and honor societies).

Career achievement (including career preparation): Significant accomplishments or experiences as a pre-professional, as a professional, or in career achievement while a student at Buffalo State. This can include internships, co-ops, accomplishments in student chapters of professional organizations, etc.

Military service: Awards, decorations, or special recognitions.

For graduate students: Documented activities related to the discipline of graduate degree program or other university service leadership in a professional organization, or community outreach activities related to the field of study.

Deadline
Nominations and supporting documentation can be submitted electronically by email to Stacy Erokwu, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, or dropped off in Cleveland Hall 513 by 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 16.

Students should submit their portfolio in a single PDF or hard copy in a binder and be sure to also email the three required Word documents alongside the portfolio (information form, personal statement, and résumé or curriculum vitae).

Questions or concerns regarding the application process may be directed to Student Affairs at (716) 878-4704 or by email to Stacy Erokwu.

*Information will be verified with the Registrar's Office.