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 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 per year. If you are age 50 or older anytime in 2025, you can contribute an additional $7,500, for a maximum of $31,000.

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 2025, 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 2025.

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 Course Design Review (OSCQR) request period for J-Term/Spring 2026 courses is now open. All Course Design Review (OSCQR) requests for J-Term/Spring 2026 should be submitted by May 1, 2025.

Faculty participating in the Course Design Review (OSCQR) process are encouraged to take advantage of the following workshops/webinars and resources to assist you in meeting the OSCQR standards:

Workshops/Webinars:

• Enhance your Course Design to Meet Student Needs
• Microsoft Word and Brightspace Ally- Accessibility Training
• Enhance your Course Design to Meet Student Needs
• Creating Accessible, User-Friendly Pages in Brightspace
• OSCQR Q&A Session: Getting Started with Your Self-Review

Resources:

• OSCQR Tips and Resources
• Accessibility Knowledge Base Articles
• Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)
• Brightspace Course Design Tips

More information about the Course Design Review (OSCQR) process and timeline can be found on the Instructional Design and Distance Learning website. If there are any questions, please contact Brooke Winckelmann, instructional designer.

Marchers and volunteers are cordially invited to participate in Commencement on May 17 to support the Class of 2025 as the university celebrates our graduates' achievements. Please consider honoring our graduates by marching in the procession or serving as a volunteer to help with the graduate lineup and processional, assist in the Robing Room, distribute programs, take tickets, and more.

CEREMONIES BY ACADEMIC SCHOOL

9:00 a.m. School of the Professions Ceremony
Bachelor's, Master’s, and Advanced Graduate Certificates                                                                                                    

1:00 p.m. School of Arts and Sciences Ceremony
Bachelor's, Master’s, and Advanced Graduate Certificates

5:00 p.m. School of Education including Individualized and Multidisciplinary Studies Ceremony

Bachelor's, Master’s, and Advanced Graduate Certificates

To register or to learn more, please visit the Marchers or Volunteers section of the Commencement website. Marcher registration also includes all platform party members and administrators. Marchers and volunteers may participate in more than one ceremony. Commencement rehearsals are required to ensure that ceremonies run smoothly and that all participants are knowledgeable in their roles and responsibilities.

Regalia rentals are available to order through the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore until Thursday, April 21. Marchers’ regalia rental pricing and loan request information are provided in the Regalia section of the Marchers web page. Contact Marybeth Keller general merchandise manager, or call (716) 878-5509 to place rental orders. A limited inventory of doctoral and master’s gowns, caps, and hoods may be available for loan through the Academic Affairs Office until Friday, May 2. Please contact Cathy Cook, administrative assistant 2, for more information and to place your order.

We look forward to seeing you at Commencement!

Submitted by: Kimberly J. Jackson

The Campus Planning office and the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum have a series of events planned for April to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day. Earth Day is celebrated globally on April 22 and Arbor Day is celebrated on Friday April 25 in New York State. These events are funded in part by the Grant Allocation Committee (GAC).

Tuesday April 22:  Arbor Day and Earth Day Sustainability Fair - noon - 2:00 pm - Campbell Student Union Lobby

Thursday April 24 - Arboretum Tree Walking Tour - noon - 1:00 pm - west side Campbell Student Union 

Friday April 25 - 11:00 - 11:30 am - Arbor Day Ceremonial Tree Planting - East Side of Bishop Hall near Cleveland Circle

Friday April 25 - 3:00 - 4:00 pm Arbor Day Speaker - Nell Gardener - The History of the Trees and Gardens of  the Richardson Complex

Please contact Campus Arborist Steven Sypniewski for any additional information.

The New York State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) hosts "WellNYS Everyday," a wellness initiative dedicated to educating, engaging, and empowering New York State employees to engage in healthy behaviors.

APRIL CHALLENGES:  FINANCES

The initiative includes 12 Monthly Themes; 52 WellNYS Weekly Challenges; and 365 WellNYS Daily To-Dos.

• Every Monday, the WellNYS Weekly Challenge begins and ends on Sunday.
• A theme wellness webinar will occur on the month's first Monday.
• If you complete at least five days of the WellNYS Weekly Challenge, share your experience on the I Did It! portal.
• Sign up to receive the WellNYS Daily To-Do.
• By putting a check in the box, predict how many of the 52 WellNYS Weekly Challenges you will attempt.

For more information, visit: oer.ny.gov/wellnys-everyday.

Dr. AC Williams, UB Graduate in High Energy Physics, BSU Physics Alumni and Buffalo native, will present a 30-minute presentation "My Evolution into a Physicist: Just a 16-Year Side Quest" in Upton Hall 230 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10.  Dr. Williams will discuss his research and life journey (so far) and will take questions.  Light refreshments will be served.

Abstract:  

I have lived in Buffalo, NY, for my entire life and became enthralled by science and anything related to outer space very early on. My career as a physicist is only just beginning, but I want related to outer space very early on. My career as a physicist is only just beginning, but I want to share how I got here. The first portion of this talk will focus on my academic journey— to share how I got here. The first portion of this talk will focus on my academic journey—from my introduction to physics in high school to defending my dissertation on searching from my introduction to physics in high school to defending my dissertation on searching for beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics earlier this year—while also sharing some of my for beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics earlier this year—while also sharing some of my personal life experiences and challenges throughout the process. In the final portion, I will personal life experiences and challenges throughout the process. In the final portion, I will discuss some of the research conducted with the aid of my research group and explain how discuss some of the research conducted with the aid of my research group and explain how my interests and skill set guided me toward this research topic.

Buffalo State Athletics will partner with ConnectLife to host our annual spring blood drive on Thursday, April 17, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Houston Gym.

Please register at the following link: https://www.connectlifegiveblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/20033

All donors will receive a Buffalo Sabres t-shirt.

All of the blood that ConnectLife collects stays local, helping nearly every hospital in Western New York's eight counties maintain safe inventory levels while saving them millions of dollars in out-of-state sourcing costs. And for every pint of blood donated, we save the lives of three of our neighbors.

At the request of Provost Dr. Amitra Wall, the SOE/SOP Implementation Team has been actively working to establish a comprehensive framework for the newly merged school, focusing on the following key areas:

1. Bylaws Development – Establishing governance structures, membership criteria, meeting cadence, election processes, and operational guidelines.

2. Promotion and Tenure Protocols – Defining clear procedures for faculty advancement within the school.

3. Administrative Structure – Clarifying roles and responsibilities for key leadership positions, including associate deans, assistant deans, department chairs, and directors.

4. Committee and Unit Organization – Structuring school committees such as personnel, curriculum, budget, and TEU to ensure effective governance and collaboration.

5. Academic and Non-Academic Alignment – Integrating departments and programs to enhance operational efficiency and cohesion.

6. Dean’s Position Description – Developing the role in collaboration with Academic Affairs to support strategic leadership.

Many of these tasks are nearing completion, with deliverables and recommendations expected to be submitted by mid-April. Further details will be shared soon.

Register now for the Virtual Microsoft Word and Brightspace Ally Accessibility Training on Thursday, April 10, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. This is an online event.

In this training session, faculty members will learn how to create accessible content in Microsoft Word utilizing a universal design method, meaning the document is accessible to all students. Topics will include using built-in accessibility tools, formatting documents with proper headings and styles, adding alternative text to images, creating accessible tables, and ensuring document compatibility with screen readers. By the end of the session, faculty members will be equipped with practical skills to create more inclusive and accessible course materials.

Ally is embedded within Brightspace to assist content creators in making files such as Word, PowerPoint, images, and PDFs more accessible. This training will explain the importance of Ally accessibility score indicators, alternative formats, and how to run your Ally Course Report. We will end with a Q&A and an opportunity to work on personal course content for step-by-step instructions from Accessibility Services and/or Instructional Design.

In this training session, faculty will learn how to create accessible content in Microsoft Word utilizing a universal design method, meaning the document is accessible to all students. Topics will include using built-in accessibility tools, formatting documents with proper headings and styles, adding alternative text to images, creating accessible tables, and ensuring document compatibility with screen readers. By the end, faculty will be equipped with practical skills to create more inclusive and accessible course materials.

Ally is embedded within Brightspace to assist content creators in making files such as Word, PowerPoint, images and PDFs more accessible. This training will explain the importance of Ally accessibility score indicators, alternative formats and how to run your Ally Course Report. We will end with a Q&A and an opportunity to work on personal course content for step-by-step instructions from Accessibility Services and/or Instructional Design.

Virtual Microsoft and Ally Training on April 8 @ 11:00 a.m.

Virtual Microsoft and Ally Training on April 10 @ 2:00 p.m.