Join Bengals Vote Coalition (BVC) on Wednesday, June 11, for a special screening of Majority Rules, a compelling documentary exploring the impact of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) on democracy and elections. This screening and panel will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Ujima Theater (429 Plymouth Ave, Suite #2, Buffalo, NY 14213). 

This event is hosted by the WNY Ranked Choice Voting Coalition. The WNY RCV Coalition is dedicated to expanding voter choice, increasing civic participation, and ensuring that elections in WNY reflect the true will of the people. RCV strengthens our democracy by making elections more fair, representative, and accessible for all.

Registration: https://bit.ly/RCVFilmScreening

Questions? Email the CCE.

Many retirees wish they had begun focusing on financial and retirement planning much earlier in their lives. To help active members avoid that pitfall, the New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) offers a proactive approach to prepare for retirement: The Pension and Retirement Education Program (PREP).

NYSTRS has posted the summer 2025 schedule of seminars, which is available on the Retirement Planning/Pension & Retirement Education Program page.

Dates: Tuesday, July 15
            Tuesday, August 12

Location: Buffalo Airport Hotel
                 4600 Genesee St.
                 Cheektowaga, New York 14225

The PREP seminar educates members of all ages and career stages on the value of careful financial and retirement planning. The seminar further helps you understand your NYSTRS benefits and how your future pension fits into your overall retirement picture. This information is a key piece of the plan that helps you achieve your retirement goals and dreams.

The half-day seminars, which are free and held throughout the state, cover the following topics: NYSTRS benefits, financial planning, Social Security, estate planning, and the retirement process. Seminars are held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with registration beginning at 8:00 a.m. There is no fee to attend, and members are welcome to bring a guest, but all attendees must be registered in advance. Spots fill up quickly, so register soon. 

There are two ways to make a reservation:

1. Online using your MyNYSTRS account. After logging into your account, visit the Tools/Schedule a Consultation or PREP page.
2. By calling NYSTRS at 800-348-7298, ext. 6180.

When calling to make a reservation, you must provide your EmplID or Social Security number, email address, and home phone number (and the same information for your spouse or companion if they are a member and will also be attending).

Please bring your latest Benefit Profile with you to the seminar. For the most up-to-date estimate of your retirement benefits, use our online MyNYSTRS Pension Estimator. This tool allows you to create estimates using various retirement dates.

If you make a reservation but cannot attend, please call the number above to cancel (or cancel using your MyNYSTRS account) so that we can offer this reservation to another member.

PREP seminars are not intended for individual benefits counseling. Members interested in a benefit consultation should visit the Retirement Planning/Benefits Consultations page.

Join us to celebrate Buffalo State Day at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York, on Wednesday, June 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Observe the students in the 2025 Buffalo State Archaeological Field School as they excavate a portion of a Revolutionary-War-period officers’ barracks. Tour the French Castle, enjoy the grounds, and see the Visitor Center. Historical demonstrations run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Buffalo State students, faculty, staff, and their families can visit free of charge with a valid Buffalo State ID card.

Turkessa Amoah from TIAA will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Tuesday June 10 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416.

Appointments are required. Please visit the TIAA website to schedule an appointment or call (800) 732-8353 weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. There is no cost for these consultations.

No matter where you are in life—just getting started or planning for retirement—a consultation session can help you create a plan for your goals. You’ll get answers to these questions and more:

Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?
Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

Space is limited. Sign up today.

Please be advised that the third floor will be closed for construction from Tuesday, June 3 through Friday, June 13, 2025. During this period, access to the 3rd floor will be strictly prohibited.

We kindly ask all campus community members to refrain from using the stairs or elevator to reach the 3rd floor during this time. This closure is necessary to ensure safety while construction work is underway.

Annual performance evaluations for all professional and civil service employees are required by Buffalo State, SUNY, and state civil service policy as well as all collective bargaining unit agreements.

Interim President Durand has communicated to the campus community that she considers performance programs and evaluations to be a primary responsibility of all supervisors, and it is her expectation that these be done each year for all employees. We rely on supervisors to provide honest and constructive feedback to staff members to assist them in addressing any performance issues and to provide positive commentary where appropriate to motivate and encourage excellent performance. Supervisors should be aware that fulfilling this important responsibility will be considered in decisions to award discretionary increases, promotions, and other personnel actions.

The evaluation cycle for professional employees with permanent appointment and for Management Confidential employees is July 1–June 30 of each year, which aligns with the cycle for annual reports. The evaluation cycle for classified employees with permanent appointment is April 1–March 31 of each year. Human Resource Management tracks and records completed performance evaluations for all employees. If you need a copy of the performance documents on file, please reach out to your Vice President’s office.

Employees with probationary or term appointments should be evaluated on cycles beginning with the date of appointment. Human Resource Management will remind supervisors when evaluations or recommendations related to probationary and term appointments are required.

Evaluations should be based on a current performance program that clarifies job expectations and goals for the following year. Job descriptions should be reviewed each year and updated as appropriate. Please ensure that this information is current for your professional and civil service employees.

Managing employee performance with job descriptions, performance programs, and evaluations is an ongoing process of communication between a supervisor and an employee and provides an opportunity to address issues in a timely fashion and to more effectively foster employee development. By clarifying job expectations, responsibilities, and providing specific feedback, you enhance your staff's ability to be successful in their work and meet expected outcomes and goals.

Information and forms on the performance evaluation process is available on the Human Resource Management website.

On the BizLibrary home page you will find a playlist titled “For Supervisors: Performance Evaluation & Setting Goals”. These short videos provide guidance pertaining to performance management/evaluations and creating SMART goals.

As a reminder, The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shared information relating to the individual faculty and librarian report and the respective due date.

If you have questions or need assistance with employee evaluations, please contact Human Resource Management at hr@buffalostate.edu.

Thank you for your cooperation in this important process.

Internal applications are being accepted for the position of Interim Associate Dean in the School of Education and Applied Professions. This is an internal job posting limited to faculty with continuing appointment (tenure) and an academic rank of associate professor or higher at SUNY Buffalo State who are currently paid from any state-appropriated-funds payroll.

Title: Associate Dean / Interim Associate Dean of the School of Education and Applied Professions
Department: Academic Affairs
Salary: Competitive
Negotiating Unit: MC

Brief Job Description:
This calendar year Management/Confidential position reports to the dean of the School of Education and Applied Professions.

• Represent Applied Professions on various campus committees and work groups.
• Report to the dean on areas to include Applied Professions course schedule, curriculum revisions, program creation, program review, and catalog oversight as well as liaison for general education assessment.
• Serve as resource for faculty development to include participation in new faculty orientation.
• Serve as point person for Applied Professions probation and dismissal processes.
• Teach one course each semester.
• Represent Applied Professions on the Commencement Committee.
• Other duties as assigned.

To view the required qualifications and to apply, please view the posting on the Buffalo State Job Opportunities website at https://jobs.buffalostate.edu/postings/7945.

The posting is open for consideration of internal candidates through Friday, June 6, 2025.

With local primary and general elections being held this year, now is a good time to review the state ethics rules regarding political activities.

Volunteering for Political Campaigns

State employees may volunteer for political campaigns as long as they follow the state ethics laws. Under Civil Service Law § 107, state offices may not be used for soliciting or collecting any political contributions. State officers and employees, and prospective employees, may not be questioned or asked about their political affiliation, whether they made any political contributions, or how they voted. No person can use their official state position to coerce, intimidate, or influence other state officers or employees for any political purpose, action, or contribution, or to interfere with any election.

The following political activities would violate the Code of Ethics in POL § 74:

·    Circulating a candidate’s nominating or designating petition within your office;

·    Printing or copying campaign materials using a work printer/copier;

·    Using your work computer (laptop or office) to produce campaign literature of any kind, including in support of or in opposition to a candidate or a ballot question; or

·    Using state internet connections or accounts to forward e-mail messages received from an electoral campaign, or someone supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot initiative, or to send campaign emails.

Volunteering to be a poll worker as a state employee

Are you planning to serve as a poll worker this election season? You may be able to! However, remember that a state officer or employee is not permitted to engage in any outside employment or professional activity that is in substantial conflict with their job.

·    If you are not a designated policymaker, then your agency’s rules and procedures will apply to your outside activities.

·    If you are a policymaker, then your agency’s rules and procedures, as well as COELIG’s regulations, will apply to your outside activities.

If you are unsure, check with your agency’s Ethics Officer, Jamie Warnes, AVP of Human Resource Management (warnesje@buffalostate.edu), before signing up.

Learn more about outside activities on the Commission's website or the Buffalo State University Ethics website.

Please join us at Campus House during our summer hours:

• Complimentary coffee bar service: 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday through Friday
• Take-out lunch service only: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 
• Networking: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays

The boardroom and parlor rooms are available during lunch and networking hours.

Note: Campus House will be closed on June 5, 6, and 19.

The last day of takeout service is Wednesday, June 25.

Contact Michael Ferraro, club house manager. for membership details or more information.

716 Dance Lab presents "Crazy 8" this Saturday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and Sunday, June 8, at 11:00 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Approximately 2,000 people have tickets to attend the performances, so large crowds should be expected and planned for in and around Rockwell Hall during these dates and times. These recitals are open to the public and some tickets are still available. They can be purchased online here.