The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is hosting a session "Future-Proofing Your Online Course: Change Regulations & Best Practices by Emily Thompson, Director of Online Programs at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. 

"Change is happening fast in higher education," Dr. Thompson knows. "How can you stay ready for the next big regulatory change? This session will engage participants on how to meet current federal regulations for online courses in terms of both faculty engagement with students (“Regular and Substantive Interaction”) and student engagement with the course (“Academic Attendance”) as well as how to prepare for future possible regulations."

Register on the USDLA website for this session and check out the upcoming Interpreting ADA Title II Compliance: Implications for Institutions and How You Can Prepare (April 11) & PDF Accessibility in Distance Learning: Strategies for Accessible Instructional Materials  April 25)

Dr. Xingxing Li from the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at Michigan State University will give a research seminar on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, from 12:15 PM to 1:30 PM in SAMC 151.

Seminar Title: 

From Chemistry to Function: Exploring Plant Natural Products in Switchgrass and Their Role in Sustainable Bioenergy

Abstract

Plants are remarkable chemists. They evolved the biosynthesis of a cornucopia of structurally and functionally diverse phytochemicals (a.k.a., natural products) to survive and communicate in complex environments. Cruciferous vegetables produce nitrogen- and sulfur-containing glucosinolates deterring insect herbivores; avenacin triterpene saponins accumulate in oat roots, protecting the host from the devastating fungal “take-all” disease; flavonoids secreted from legume roots initiating the rhizobium-legume nitrogen fixation symbiosis. Natural products also have pharmaceutical value, such as aspirin (willow), anti-malaria drug artemisinin (wormwood) and chemotherapy drug taxol (Pacific yew). Discovery of novel and bioactive natural products is an active and important area of biochemical research. Biomass crops have been an uncharted frontier for natural product discovery, as these small molecules have often been overlooked due to their seemingly indirect relevance to biofuel production. However, with ongoing efforts to enhance biofuel conversion efficiency and the growing emphasis on sustainable agriculture, the significance of natural products is becoming increasingly recognized. In this talk, I will present how advancements in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methodology have facilitated the natural product discovery in switchgrass, a key U.S. biomass crop. I will highlight the structural and functional diversity, as well as the structure-activity relationships, of saponins and diterpenoids – the two largest classes of switchgrass natural products identified to date. The potential impact of these small molecules on biofuel conversion will also be talked about.

Best-selling author and humorist David Sedaris will be at the Performing Arts Center this Thursday, April 3, at 8pm. The event is sold out with over 850 people expected to attend. Expect large crowds in and around Rockwell during this time, so please plan accordingly. It is advised to avoid Rockwell Hall Thursday evening if you do not have tickets to the event.

Internal applications are being accepted for the following position on campus. This is an internal job posting open to employees of Buffalo State University who are currently paid from any state-appropriated-funds payroll.

Title: Staff Assistant / Assistant to the Director of Admissions
Department: Admissions Office
Salary: $49,261
Negotiating Unit: UUP

Brief Job Description:
The assistant to the director of admissions is responsible for assisting the director with the administration and daily operations of the office admissions. Responsibilities include assisting the director with management, coordination, and oversight of activities such as human resource administration for a team of 24 individuals, procurement, budgeting, reporting, coordinating travel, special events and activities. Other general office duties include preparing reports, presentations, memos, letters, and other correspondence. The assistant supports recruitment and technology initiatives as designated by the director.

(10%) Managing director’s calendar, appointments, and meetings, and travel arrangements.

(25%) Human Resources Administration: Coordinate the personnel forms for Admissions, including but not limited to, performance programs, annual evaluations, position requests, and employee change forms. Assist with employee recruitment functions for staff and student positions.

(20%) Procurement: Assist with procurement of over 500 orders annually, tracking and follow up as necessary. Performs monthly reconciliation of credit card statements and accounts for all office T-cards and P-cards and Net cards.

(15%) Budgeting: Assist with planning and preparation of departmental budget requests. Track expenditures and reconcile accounts. Assist with all aspects of budget maintenance for Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions OTPS budgets. Assists director with grant application management, budget development and compliance monitoring.

(10%) Data Management: Assist in managing data in CRM and SIS systems. Assist in managing data in customer relationship management (CRM) and student information systems (SIS). Assists with special projects supporting recruitment of new students

(5%) Reporting: Prepare reports for the Director of Admissions and others as directed. Assist with coordinating the Admissions annual report. Gather research and statistical data as requested.
(5%) General office: Manage phone calls for two areas, maintain an organized filing system of paper and electronic documents

(10%) Special Events: Assist the Director of Admissions with coordinating special events that support staff development and enrollment

To view the required qualifications and to apply, please view the posting on the Buffalo State Job Opportunities website https://jobs.buffalostate.edu/postings/7782.  

The posting is open for consideration of internal candidates through Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Dr. Jason Knight is the featured guest on an hour-long edition of "What's Next" with Jay Moran today at 10am on WBFO. He discusses the local housing market, affordability, and how local zoning ordinances exclude by income and reduce the production of different types of housing at various price points, ultimately contributing to the racialized economic segregation of the region. 

The Counseling Center is excited to announce the addition of new staff member, Dr. Michael F. Lewis to the team. Dr. Lewis will serve as a psychologist who specializes in comprehensive assessments to support student accommodations and achievement. With a strong background in student-focused interventions and psychological assessment, Dr. Lewis will work closely with students to identify their unique needs and interface with other SUNY Buffalo State offices to enhance students' academic experience. This addition underscores our commitment to providing exceptional support and resources to our students. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Lewis and celebrating this important step towards fostering a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. For more information, please call the Counseling Center at (7160 878-4436. 

Registration is now open for the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, which will be held on Thursday, June 12, in Delaware Park. The 3.5-mile race will start at 6:25 p.m. The registration fee is $43 per person, and registration is open until May 23.

We encourage you to invite and motivate your colleagues to register. The Corporate Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues and community partners. Your registration fee includes access to the hospitality tent, a team T-shirt, a Corporate Challenge T-shirt, and much more.

A special thank you to Interim President Dr. Bonita Durand for her support, and to United University Professions and the Professional Staff Caucus for their annual assistance.

To register for the Buffalo State University team, please use this link: Register Here.https://registration.jpmorgancc.com/profile/login for the Buffalo State University team. 

For more details, visit the official J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge website.

Supporting a Great Cause:

The 2025 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Buffalo will benefit FeedMore WNY, a hunger-relief nonprofit formed by the merger of the Food Bank of WNY and Meals on Wheels for Western New York. FeedMore WNY's mission is to provide nutritious food, friendship, and skills training to neighbors in need across Western New York.

For more information, feel free to contact Jude Jayatilleke at 716-878-6028.

We encourage all areas across campus to exercise financial restraint when purchasing any other than personal service (OTPS) items. Please do not feel obligated to spend down any of your budget allocations. The savings we incur from not doing so during the last quarter of the fiscal year, now through the end of June, has a significant impact on our financial sustainability plan.

In order to support this request the following is in place, effective 3/31/2025 for 2024/2025 funding:

· No new furniture, capital equipment, or motorized equipment will be approved unless funded by the construction fund.

· The Bengal Supply Exchange should be used for any supply needs, unless the products are not available.  Bengal Supply Exchange, located in Cleveland Hall, Room 112, is now open every day of the week. 

· All requests for purchases that require a purchase order should be provided to procurement by Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

· Travel should be limited to mission critical only. Travel and NET cards have undergone review for deactivation, with account holders being contacted directly.

Dr. Yong Han from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University will deliver a research seminar on Thursday, April 3, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in SAMC 151.

Seminar Title: From Bioluminescent Squids to Living Machines: Applications of Microbial Synthetic Biology from the Perspective of Natural Product Chemistry

Abstract: Bacteria communicate through chemical molecules, which function as a "chemical language" for both inter-bacterial signaling and interactions with the host. In this talk, I will present my research in this field, focusing on the discovery and application of microbial biosynthetic pathways and quorum sensing (QS) systems. First, I will introduce the identification of a large NRPS biosynthetic gene cluster in a respiratory tract symbiotic Gordonia species and how its activation and large-scale fermentation led to the production of a rare glycosylated cyclic lipopeptide containing 16 amino acid residues. Further studies demonstrated its anti-lung cancer activity, while transcriptomic analyses revealed extensive interactions with host cells, suggesting that it may exert its effects through regulating host gene expression, showing the therapeutic potential of engineered probiotics. Building on this discovery, I will discuss the reconstruction of biosynthetic pathways for bioactive secondary metabolites within engineered probiotics and the development of a QS-based drug release strategy. This system is designed to respond specifically to the tumor microenvironment, utilizing a dual-input logic gate (AND Gate) that detects tumor-specific lactate concentrations and QS signals. This approach enables precise control over anticancer drug release, improving delivery accuracy while minimizing off-target effects. The "living machine" developed through this strategy allows for in situ synthesis and targeted delivery of bioactive compounds, paving the way for synthetic probiotic-based living therapeutics. To illustrate its potential, I will present two examples demonstrating how this strategy addresses key health challenges. This research integrates natural product chemistry and synthetic biology, expanding the applications of microbial quorum sensing while providing new insights into precision medicine, disease diagnostics, biosensing, and forensic science, ultimately driving innovation in synthetic biology for medical applications.

Graduate students in the Exceptional Education Department will present their Master's Project research at the annual Spring Horace Mann Graduate Research Symposium on Saturday, May 3, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. (breakfast and check-in at 8:30 a.m.) in Bulger Communication Center.

This year's event features keynote speaker Dr. Larry Maheady, followed by breakout sessions. 

The campus community is welcome to attend this year's spring symposium and learn about the action research projects conducted by Buffalo State students. Students plan and carry out single-case research design studies using evidence-based interventions individualized to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Please register here.