The annual Option Transfer Period the time to choose the health insurance option you want for 2025 is November 29 through December 31, 2024. The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) offers employees the choice of the Empire Plan or a NYSHIP-approved health maintenance organization (HMO) serving the area where they live or work.

The Health Insurance Choices for 2025 booklet explains the available NYSHIP options if you are considering changing your health insurance option for 2025 or wish to review your current option. You can find the "Choices" booklet and other option transfer publications on the NYSHIP Online website. Login under "New York State Active Employees", select your group and plan when prompted, then select Health Benefits and Option Transfer, and choose Rates and Health Plan Choices for the most up-to-date option transfer information.

There is also a 2025 Online NYSHIP Option Transfer Home Page with helpful information and tools.

A limited number of "Choices" booklets will also be available in the Benefits Office. Please call if you wish to receive a paper copy. Rate information will be sent directly to enrollees' homes. Information is also available on the Buffalo State Benefits website.

Copies of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage for the individual health plans can be obtained by calling 877.769.7447, or by visiting the Employee Benefits Division website to print or view a copy yourself.

If you have coverage under another employer-sponsored health insurance program, you may be eligible to opt out of NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. If you are interested in participating in the Opt-Out Program for 2025, please contact the Employee Benefits Office. It is no longer necessary to re-enroll in the Opt-Out Program each year. No action is required for current Opt-Out enrollees who are still eligible and wish to remain in the program for 2025.

Except under limited circumstances, you cannot change options outside the annual Option Transfer Period, which ends on December 31, 2024.

Other changes permitted during the Option Transfer Period without a qualifying event:

Change from family to individual coverage
Voluntarily cancel your coverage
Change your tax-election option (pre-tax to after-tax or after-tax to pre-tax)

To change your health insurance option during the Option Transfer Period, please return the completed and signed Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) to the Employee Benefits Office (Cleveland Hall 403) by end of business (5 pm) Tuesday, December 31. All paperwork must be dated between November 29 and December 31, the Option Transfer Period. You may also change your option online using MyNYSHIP. All changes will be effective Thursday, January 4, 2024.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

If you have questions, please contact the Benefits Office, 878-4821.

The Campbell Student Union will modify its hours from December 13, 2024, to January 24, 2025.

Winter Break Schedule

• December 13: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Bengal Kitchen and retail dining closes at 2:00 p.m.)
• December 14-15: Closed
• December 16-19: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• December 20: 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• December 21-22: Closed
• December 23: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• December 24-January 1: Closed
• January 2: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• January 3: 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 
• January 4-5: Closed
• January 6-9: 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 
• January 10: 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• January 11-12: Closed
• January 13-16: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 
• January 17: 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• January 18-19: Closed
• January 20-23: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• January 24: Return to normal hours (Spring Orientation)

On behalf of Student Care and Support in the Dean of Students Office and Milligan's Food Pantry, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their thoughtfulness and generosity in donating food during the Campus Holiday Party. Your kindness and support make a meaningful difference in our community. Thank you for helping us care for one another during this season of giving. If you didn't get a chance to donate or attend the Campus Holiday Party, we are still accepting donations, which can be dropped off anytime Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Campbell Student Union 416. Happy holidays and happy new year!

Professional Staff Caucus recognizes the value of seeing the good and saying it take positive action and lift each other up! There is no act too small to be shared.

"See something nice, say something nice."

Use the new PSC ShareBox to give someone the gift of a brighter day! We invite everyone to participate; we are all Buffalo State!

The kudos collected will be posted on the PSC website.

Please note new hours for StudyQuad for the spring 2025 semester (currently closes at 2:00 a.m.): 

Monday through Thursday: close at 12:00 a.m.
Friday through Sunday: close at 10:00 p.m.

This change in hours is being made after careful analysis of the very limited number of people using StudyQuad during the late-night hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. These hours will start on the first day of classes, Monday, January 27, 2025. StudyQuad will open for extended hours at the end of the spring semester and exam week.

It's always good practice to check the hours before coming to the library in case of any changes and remember to bring your student ID card to swipe in after 9:45 p.m.

Butler Library's online resources are always available 24/7.

Please contact Steve Cahoon or Charles Lyons if you have any questions.

The Spring 2025 CEP Schedule is now posted online on the Registrar's Office spring courses webpage.

Fitness Center hours during Winter Break are:

• Monday, December 16, through Friday, December 20: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 21, through Wednesday, January 1: Closed
• Thursday, January 2 through Friday, January 24: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays; closed on weekends

St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute will present their annual Christmas Concert Wednesday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. A close to sell out crowd is expected for this event, so please be prepared for large crowds in and around Rockwell Hall during this time. If interested in attending, tickets can be purchased at https://buffalostatepac.org/calendar/all-events/event:st-jores-christmas-concert.

All Chartwells dining locations on campus will be closing for the holiday break at the end of day on Thursday, December 12, except for Spot Coffee.

Spot Coffee and Spot Buffet will remain open on the following days:

Friday, December 13: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with buffet opening at 11:00 a.m.

Monday, December 16: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with buffet opening at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, December 17: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with buffet opening at 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, December 18: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with buffet opening at 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 19: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with buffet opening at 11:00 a.m.

Friday, December 20: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with buffet opening at 11:00 a.m.

From the Chair of the College Senate

The next meeting of the 2024-2025 College Senate will be held tomorrow, December 13, at 2:00 p.m. in Newman Lecture Hall, Bulger Communication Center 215. Ken Fujiuchi, head of information commons in Butler Library, serves as chair of the Senate for the 2024-2025 academic year.

We encourage everyone to visit the Senate website to catch up on Senate news, find podcasts and minutes of past meetings, review reports and resolutions, and more. Documents for the upcoming meeting can be found on the SharePoint site.