The Erie County Coalition Against Family Violence will host Spotlight on Domestic Violence, its annual event to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, tonight, October 2, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center. Service providers will be tabling, and advocates and survivors will be speaking. Registration is not required. Traditional college-age students are at the highest risk of any age group to experience intimate partner violence. Please join us in raising awareness this month. Please email Jessica Fitzpatrick, associate professor of social work, with questions.

The Student Care and Support Team, under the Dean of Students Office, and the Employee Assistance Program invite you to join 5K Fridays, a beginner-friendly Couch to 5K Walk/Run Series designed to help students, faculty, and staff build resilience through fitness. This structured program supports participants in going from a sedentary lifestyle to completing a 5K, fostering both physical and mental well-being.

This program is open to all faculty, staff, and students. Our first meeting is Friday, October 4, from noon to 1:30 p.m. We will meet in Campbell Student Union 402 and then head out to walk the campus. 

Here is what you can expect:

• Boost your cardiovascular health, increase energy, and improve overall fitness.
• Build confidence with a gradual progression and expert guidance.
• Connect with others on campus fostering a sense of support and community support.
• Enjoy fun group runs/walks, motivational talks, and progress tracking.
• Enjoy snacks and beverages.

We can't wait to see you! For more information, please email Juliet Meade, assistant director of student care and support.

Student Care and Support, under the Dean of Students Office, and the Employee Assistance Program are excited to announce the start of a Wednesday Wellness series. This new initiative is open to faculty, staff, and students to inspire personal growth and resilience. 

Our first meeting will be held today, October 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Campbell Student Union 402, where we will start the book How to Be a Badass by Jen Sincero. Books will be provided. We will meet every Wednesday, same time, same place, and start a new book every month. 

Each month, we will explore thought-provoking books that promote self-improvement, paired with enriching discussions aimed at fostering both personal and professional development. 

In addition to these discussions, we will host health and wellness events to further support student well-being. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be provided to encourage meaningful connections in a relaxed, welcoming environment. 

Together we can build a community that fosters strength, resilience, and holistic wellness.

Student Leadership and Engagement is seeking members of the Buffalo State faculty and staff community to serve as advisors for our student organizations. Advisors play a crucial role in guiding and mentoring our students, fostering leadership skills, and enhancing campus engagement.

If you're interested in making a positive impact on our student community, please complete the online form or email our coordinator. Thank you!

Please advise any students who are expecting to graduate in December 2024 to apply online now! The deadline to apply online for December 2024 graduation is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 6.

Please encourage students to review their Degree Works audit to make sure all requirements have been met or are in progress before they apply. Premature applications will not be accepted.

Students who miss the deadline should email the Registrar's Office to request late consideration for graduation. Late applicants may experience a delay in the awarding of their degree.

Additional information and instructions on using the online graduation application system can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

All Course Design Review (OSCQR) requests for online and hybrid courses to be taught in summer or fall 2025 should be submitted by Friday, November 1.

Before requesting a Course Design Review, please ensure that you have

1. earned online teaching credentials (referenced in the Online and Hybrid Course Offering DOPS policy, PDF, 90 KB);
2. requested a Brightspace development shell to work on course development or redesign;
3. developed your course in the Brightspace development shell.

Once those steps have been completed, faculty members can request a Course Design Review (OSCQR).

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

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar "Environmental Influence and Genetic Control of Secondary Cell Wall Formation in Trees," presented by Heather Coleman, associate professor of biology at Syracuse University, today, October 7, at 3:00 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151. Attendees are welcome to enjoy coffee and cookies during the seminar.

Abstract
The plant cell wall fulfills several important roles, ranging from structural functions in elevation of leaves, stem strength, and the transport of water and nutrients to functions in cell signaling and activation of plant defense responses. In addition to these essential roles, the secondary cell wall (SCW), composed primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, is a potential source of renewable energy that can be harnessed and used to support the transition to carbon-free energy in industrial applications such as air transportation, and to support important climate initiatives such as the increased sequestration of carbon. Dr. Coleman's research focuses on understanding SCW formation, the environmental and genetic controls thereof, and the resultant effects on plant growth and development. In addition, she is interested in the breakdown and processing of the cell wall to its individual components to produce bioproducts and energy fuels.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar "Environmental Influence and Genetic Control of Secondary Cell Wall Formation in Trees," presented by Heather Coleman, associate professor of biology at Syracuse University, on Monday, October 7, at 3:00 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151. Attendees are welcome to enjoy coffee and cookies during the seminar.

Abstract
The plant cell wall fulfills several important roles, ranging from structural functions in elevation of leaves, stem strength, and the transport of water and nutrients to functions in cell signaling and activation of plant defense responses. In addition to these essential roles, the secondary cell wall (SCW), composed primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, is a potential source of renewable energy that can be harnessed and used to support the transition to carbon-free energy in industrial applications such as air transportation, and to support important climate initiatives such as the increased sequestration of carbon. Dr. Coleman's research focuses on understanding SCW formation, the environmental and genetic controls thereof, and the resultant effects on plant growth and development. In addition, she is interested in the breakdown and processing of the cell wall to its individual components to produce bioproducts and energy fuels.

Please join us for the workshop "Build a Generative AI Enabled Web App," facilitated by Tyler Bursee and Mike Brugnoni, solutions architects with Amazon Web Services (AWS), on Monday, October 7, from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. Please note: A laptop is required to attend this workshop. This event is part of the Data Science and Analytics Seminar Fall 2024 Series.

This workshop will

• help participants understand how to set up and configure Amazon Bedrock resources on AWS, 
• demonstrate how to integrate large language model (LLM) functionality into an existing web application, and
• explain the purpose and benefits of using Amazon Bedrock for integrating LLMs into web applications. 

Tyler Bursee is a solutions architect at AWS supporting higher education customers in Upstate New York.

Mike Brugnoni, senior solutions architect at AWS, helps higher education institutions design, deploy, and innovate using cloud services. With over 16 years of experience in the IT field, he has primarily specialized in IT infrastructure and operations throughout his career. In recent years, he's transitioned to cloud computing, earning two Azure certifications and seven AWS certifications. Based in Rochester, New York, he holds a degree in information technology. 

Steam service to the east side of campus will be interrupted Monday, October 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to accommodate critical repairs before the start of the heating season. To minimize inconvenience, these repairs have been scheduled on Indigenous Peoples Day, a holiday with no classes in session. This steam service work will cause a hot water service interruption to the following buildings:

Bacon Hall
Butler Library
Cleveland Hall
Ketchum Hall
Moot Hall
Rockwell Hall
Savage Theater and Communication Building

Your understanding is appreciated as these critical repairs are undertaken.