Come join us on April 9 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Butler Library 318 for a workshop by Michael Niman. The workshop will address how to accommodate the needs of students who are in recovery from or otherwise battling Screen Abuse Disorder as well as discuss the pedagogic benefits and strategies for reducing or nearly eliminating the use of screens in seminar classes. Part of this discussion will address necessary screen use, presenting screen addiction as like food addiction — you can't eliminate either.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

The State University of New York (SUNY) provides employees with the opportunity to save for their retirement through the SUNY Voluntary 403(b) Savings Plan. Participation in the SUNY Voluntary Savings Plan is a great way to build your retirement savings through pre-tax or post-tax payroll deduction contributions.

Whether you want to enroll in the plan for the first time or you are already enrolled but wish to change the amount of your deferral, you can do so through the SUNY "Retirement At Work" online enrollment and management system. For more information, please call the Employee Benefits Office at (716) 878-4821 or visit the SUNY Benefits website.

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Eligibility
All employees of SUNY who receive compensation reportable on an IRS form W-2 are eligible to participate in the plan.

Please take a moment to review the plan materials before enrolling. Once you are enrolled, you can review and change the amount of your contributions as often as once per pay period, in accordance with campus payroll deadlines for submitting changes, through the SUNY "Retirement At Work" online enrollment and management system.

The exact date that your investment allocations will take effect may vary depending on payroll system deadlines and the policies of the investment provider you chose for plan contributions.

In addition to the SUNY 403(b) Plan, the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP) also provides a way for you to contribute to a retirement account on both a pre-tax (traditional) and post-tax (Roth) basis through payroll deduction.

Through the pre-tax options (traditional), your contributions plus earnings are not taxed until you withdraw the funds. Distributions are considered ordinary income for tax purposes.

Through the post-tax (Roth) option, your contributions are taxed at the time you make them. Earnings are income tax-free upon qualified distribution if you are 59-1/2 (for the 403(b) plan) or separated from service (for both 403(b) and 457 plans) and it has been at least five taxable years since the initial Roth deposit.

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How Much Can I Contribute?
For 2024, you can contribute up to $23,000 per year. If you are age 50 or older anytime in 2024, you can contribute an additional $7,500, for a maximum of $30,500.

Each participant is limited to these maximum contribution amounts for all 403(b) and 457 plans, respectively. SUNY employees are able to maximize contributions to both the SUNY 403(b) Plan and the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (457) concurrently; however, if you also participate in a 403(b) or 457 plan with another employer, you are responsible for tracking and reporting the amount of all of your contributions to the plans so that the total amount of all your annual contributions to all plans in which you participate does not exceed the limit. Deferred Compensation (457) plans may also offer, for eligible participants, the Special Retirement Catch-up Provision for contributions within three years of your elected normal retirement age.

A special limit may apply to your contributions if you “control” (meaning you have more than a 50 percent ownership interest) in another business and you participate in its retirement plan. In determining the annual limit for all contributions described above, you must include all contributions made on your behalf under any defined contribution plans maintained by the other business that you control. You are required to inform the Benefits Office if this situation applies to you. Failure to do so can result in adverse tax consequences to you.

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What Are My Savings Options?
There are several plan options and investment providers to choose from through the SUNY 403(b) Plan. NYS Deferred Compensation Plan also offers its own investment options. Authorized investment providers offer a wide choice of investment options, including stock, bond, and guaranteed funds. Each provider offers individual counseling and assistance on investment information and can review the pre- and post-tax contribution options to best meet your retirement planning needs.

The following authorized plans and investment providers are available to you within the SUNY 403(b) Plan:

Corebridge Financial (formerly, AIG Retirement Services)
(800) 448-2542 or (888) 569-7055
https://www.corebridgefinancial.com/rs/suny/home

Fidelity Investments (403(b)(7) Mutual Funds)
(844) FOR-SUNY (844) 367-7869
www.netbenefits.com/SUNY

Teachers Insurance Annuity Associate (TIAA)
(800) 662-7945
www.tiaa.org/suny

Voya Financial
(800) 584-6001
https://suny.beready2retire.com/

NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (457)
(800) 422-8463
www.nysdcp.com

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What Do I Need to Do?
If you wish to enroll or change your enrollment in the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP), you must contact NYSDCP directly.

If you are currently enrolled and wish to contribute the same biweekly amount in 2024, no action on your part is necessary unless you are currently contributing additional moneys under the “age 50” rule outlined above. Please check your pay stub to be sure your current biweekly contribution for 403(b) deductions with any investment providers with whom you are investing multiplied by the number of remaining pay periods in the year does not exceed the allowable limit. Please be mindful that if you made a change mid-year, you must make sure that your current biweekly amount will result in the correct annual amount you want deferred for 2024.

To change the amount you are now contributing, please use the SUNY "Retirement At Work" online enrollment and management system. For assistance with this process or if you have questions, please contact the Benefits Office.

The Teacher Education Council will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, in Cleveland 418. Please join us for updates on campuswide programs, projects, initiatives, and certification issues. All education faculty and staff are welcome to attend. The agenda will be distributed via email.

Teacher Education Council meetings will be held monthly in Cleveland Hall 418 on the following dates:

September 13, 2024  (1:00 p.m.)

October 11, 2024  (1:00 p.m.)

November 8, 2024  (1:00 p.m.)

December 13, 2024  (Noon)

January 2025  (NO MEETING)

February 14, 2025  (1:00 p.m.)

March 14, 2025  (1:00 p.m.)

April 11, 2025  (1:00 p.m.)

May 9, 2025  (Noon)

For additional information, please get in touch with Joseph Zawicki, TEC chair.

Mark Wallace, Buffalo State’s campus representative from the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP), and the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan is pleased to partner with the NYS Retirement System to conduct a NYS Pension online seminar this month. In addition, April is Financial Literacy Month. It is a perfect time to establish fresh financial habits and grow your financial knowledge.

Mark will conduct a NYSDCP Countdown to Retirement webinar to assist and educate employees about NYSDCP and approaching retirement. Mark Wallace's Appointment Calendar can be used for Individual assistance for those unable to attend. 

NYSDCP Countdown to Retirement Webinar

Thursday, April 10, 2025, 12:00 pm – Presentation will explain important considerations to think about for those approaching retirement. We will discuss longevity, income sources, asset consolidation, and withdrawals/required minimum distributions.

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f28e628a-2e55-4bcc-b469-35f238a110dd@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461

NYSDCP Hosts the NY State & Local Retirement System (Pension)

Thursday, April 17, 2025, 12:00 PM

The NYS Deferred Comp is joined by the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) to give an educational presentation on the basics of the Pension and how it will help provide for your future. There will be Q&A sessions throughout the webinar. Registration required.

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/27da1e02-8382-4101-a660-4d2e636d2ee8@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461

NYSDCP Economic Update Webinar

Thursday, April 24, 2025, 12:00 PM

While the economy remains on solid footing in early 2025, there are uncertainties for the outlook led by potential policy changes and geopolitics. See how the economic picture is expected to unfold in the year ahead with an update on current economic trends.

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c11d7c9f-3e8f-4b63-acf0-da3aa249dd7c@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461

Medicare Essentials

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 12:00 PM

As you move closer to retirement, you will need to understand the key details about Medicare. In this presentation, you will learn what your choices are, when to enroll, what Medicare covers, and what it does not.

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/adb2d5ce-c07a-41b4-be88-a45124610ab9@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461

Do you know a teen looking for an exciting and educational summer experience? Continuing Professional Studies' summer camps offer hands-on learning, skill-building, and fun in a supportive environment!

• Kitchen Confidence Camp: Budding chefs will sharpen their cooking skills, explore healthy eating, and prepare a special meal for family and friends
• Comic Book Camp: Young artists will bring their stories to life, creating original comics from concept to completion, with a printed comic book to showcase their work
• FITE Camp: In partnership with National Grid, this hands-on camp immerses students in electrical engineering, creative problem-solving, and real-world challenges

Give a teen in your life the chance to learn, grow, and have fun this summer! For more information and to register, please see our website: https://continuingstudies.buffalostate.edu/youth.

Starting this week, we will be asking faculty to submit the second and final Progress Report for Spring 2025. With this report we are particularly looking at giving students your guidance as it relates to taking the class pass-fail or withdrawing from the class. The Late Semester Progress Report will be open from 4/7/2024 and will close on 4/25/2025.

Earlier this semester we saw that faculty, trying to do their best to provide as much information as possible, were sometimes submitting multiple Alerts for individual students. We have come to better understand, after hearing from advisors and other support staff, that this approach creates multiple Alerts for students and that these multiples can be challenging to manage and to close. So, to minimize the volume of emails received by both students and staff regarding Alerts we are asking instructors to do the following:

• For students, where you as the instructor have multiple concerns, please raise the most pertinent Alert, such as Recommend Pass/Fail or Withdrawal.
• Then rather than submit additional cases for the same student we are asking you to include these concerns in the comment field that is available.
  • Options might include 3+ Attendance Absences, In Danger of Failing, and Missing/Late 2+ Assignments or any other pertinent information.
• This clarity will streamline the process within Navigate and yet the advisor can still discuss all of your concerns at the same time.

Need Help Completing Your Progress Report(s)?

• You may wish to read the How to Complete a Progress Report training guide.
• You may wish to watch a video on How to Complete a Progress Report. To watch the video, you will be required to enter your BSU Username and Network password.
  • If your students are doing well in your course(s) and you do not need to raise any Alerts, please login to your Navigate account and access your Progress Report(s) and select the following blue button: Submit unmark students as not needing feedback (I’m all done). 

Thank you for your work in supporting our students!

Bob Hudson, M.S.

Student Success & Retention 

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “From Buffalo State through Nutrition Educator and Dietitian to Family Medicine – A Career Journey.”, presented by Dr. Alexander Ford today, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 214. Attendees are welcome to arrive at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy coffee and cookies leading up to the seminar.

Research Seminar Abstract: Ford is a native of Albany, New York, and has volunteered with 4th Family Inc. for more than 10 years. He attended Christian Brothers Academy and then enrolled at Buffalo State University, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in dietetics. After graduating, he returned to Albany, interested in wellness and preventive medicine. He worked as a registered dietitian while completing his remaining coursework to attend medical school and become a physician. While working and studying, Ford volunteered as a nutrition educator at 4th Family.

Dr. Ford has worked with Albany Damien Center (ADC) as the Community Nutrition Educator. He oversaw ADC’s Smart Meals nutrition program and developed educational materials to inform people about good nutrition. Eager to understand nutrition policy and better serve his community, Dr. Ford then worked as a Public Health Nutritionist for the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). After a year at NYSDOH, Dr. Ford left to matriculate at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Dr. Ford graduated with his doctorate in 2020 from their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. Dr. Ford’s objective in medical school was to merge his nutritional expertise with his medical education and give people the knowledge to feel empowered to manage their health.

This Week’s Wellness Wednesday: Focus on Self-Care!

Attention Buffalo State Campus Community!

The Office of Student Care and Support is excited to announce the upcoming Wellness Wednesday and invites you to help spread the word!

This week’s topic will be on Self-Care – an essential practice for maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

What is Wellness Wednesday?

Wellness Wednesday is a weekly series designed to promote mental, physical, and emotional health for students, faculty, and staff. Each session features workshops and activities focused on mental health, mindfulness, fitness, cultural heritage, and fostering a sense of community and sustainability.

Why Attend?

Prizes, giveaways, and free food!

Gain valuable insights to support your well-being and success.

Details:

When: Wednesday, April 9 from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Where: Campbell Student Union, Room 400H

Who: Open to all students, faculty, and staff

Bonus: Professors, please consider offering extra credit to students who attend!

Join us next week and explore new topics each week to prioritize your health and success!

The Office of Mental Health offers NYS employees an opportunity to practice various coping skills and strengthen their resilience through OMH Wellness Groups, which aligns with the vision of supporting a healthy workplace environment. The groups include deep breathing and simulation exercises, allowing employees to practice rather than engage in group discussions. Group sessions provide a warm, inviting space that fosters relaxation and offers examples of calming techniques and basic coping skills. Remember that the mind and body are one, and psychological health is just as important as physical health to your overall well-being.

The group sessions are free, confidential, and anonymous, and virtual employees can call in from any phone. Group sessions include Monday Meditation, Mindful Mondays, Taking Care of Mind & Body, and Tending to Self.  Please see the attached calendar for group session details and how to join.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to omh.wellnessgroups@omh.ny.gov.

East Buffalo is coming to campus!

Thanks to funding provided by the Faculty-Student Association, on Saturday, April 19 from 11 am to 4 pm, Africana Studies is hosting a conference called “Black Buffalo Speaks.” The conference features presentations from a star-studded cast of East Buffalo grassroots leaders representing diverse organizations: [1] nationally renowned storyteller, Karima Amin, of Prisoners Are People Too; [2] eminent researcher and Buffalo State alumnus, Terry Alford, of the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor; [3] social justice icon, Cariol Horne, of Black Lives Matter Grassroots; [4] community activist and Buffalo State alumnus, Leighton Jones, of Our City Action Buffalo; and [5] educator and activist, Lion Blyden, of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

Mayoral candidate and member of the 5/14 Commission, Garnell Whitfield, will be the Keynote Speaker, while many other community organizations, such as SURJ, Buffalo Urban League, and Fruit Belt Coalition are invited to table during the conference. 

Exemplifying high-impact practices, students from the course “AAS 200-Blacks in Buffalo” planned and organized this conference with several outcomes in mind:

• Become familiar with East Side organizations and grassroots leaders
• Hear the voices and perspectives of residents from the city in which we are located
• Align teaching and service with the needs of East Buffalo as articulated by the residents
• Expand networks into East Buffalo and establish partnerships, internships, and more
• Enjoy the energy that comes with participating with campus and community colleagues involved in creating and acting on knowledge that is relevant to the lives of real people

This event is free and open to the public. It will include drumming to energize the room and lunch to satisfy our appetites. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-buffalo-speaks-an-africana-studies-event-tickets-1281257578909?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=&utm-share-source=mobile-search-results