Today is the final day to register to march in the academic processional at First-Year Convocation on Friday, August 23, at 11:00 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

First-Year Convocation is a Buffalo State tradition that gives our newest students an opportunity to be officially introduced and welcomed into the campus academic community. This event plays an integral role in the university's comprehensive retention, engagement, and persistence framework.

First-Year Convocation Agenda

• 9:45 a.m. - Commuter student breakfast hosted by the School of Arts and Sciences (Rockwell Hall basement)
• 11:00 a.m. - Convocation ceremony (Performing Arts Center, Rockwell Hall)
• Noon - Class of 2028 photo (front steps of Performing Arts Center, Rockwell Hall)
• 12:30 p.m. - Grab-and-go lunch for students, faculty, and staff (Hank Mann Quad)
• 12:45 p.m. - Student lunch and learn with academic departments (Hank Mann Quad)
• 2:00 p.m. - Post-Convocation party for students (Hank Mann Quad)

Marchers are required to wear academic regalia and should place their orders for regalia rentals directly through the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore via email to Marybeth Keller, general merchandise manager, or by phone at (716) 878-5509. A limited inventory of regalia is available for loan at no charge through the Academic Affairs Office. Please email Ann Delmont, administrative assistant 2, to make your regalia loan request by the close of business today.

To register to participate in First-Year Convocation, please complete the registration form. Please direct questions to Kimberly Jackson, deputy university marshal, Academic Affairs Office.

Please visit the First-Year Convocation website for more information.

Thank you for your commitment and service. We look forward to seeing you at First-Year Convocation!

Monday, August 12, is the last day to register to march in First-Year Convocation on Friday, August 23, at 11:00 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

First-Year Convocation is a Buffalo State tradition that gives our newest students an opportunity to be officially introduced and welcomed into the campus academic community. This event plays an integral role in the university's comprehensive retention, engagement, and persistence framework.

First-Year Convocation Agenda

• 9:45 a.m. - Commuter student breakfast hosted by the School of Arts and Sciences (Rockwell Hall basement)
• 11:00 a.m. - Convocation ceremony (Performing Arts Center, Rockwell Hall)
• Noon - Class of 2028 photo (front steps of Performing Arts Center, Rockwell Hall)
• 12:30 p.m. - Grab-and-go lunch for students, faculty, and staff (Hank Mann Quad)
• 12:45 p.m. - Student lunch and learn with academic departments (Hank Mann Quad)
• 2:00 p.m. - Post-Convocation party for students (Hank Mann Quad)

Marchers are required to wear academic regalia and should place their orders for regalia rentals directly through the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore via email to Marybeth Keller, general merchandise manager, or by phone at (716) 878-5509 by Monday, August 12. A limited inventory of regalia is available for loan at no charge through the Academic Affairs Office. Please email Ann Delmont, administrative assistant 2, to make your regalia loan request by Monday, August 12.

To register to participate in First-Year Convocation, please complete the registration form. Please direct questions to Kimberly Jackson, deputy university marshal, Academic Affairs Office.

Please visit the First-Year Convocation website for more information.

Thank you for your commitment and service. We look forward to seeing you at First-Year Convocation!

Buffalo State's partner Toshiba will be conducting a campuswide printer inventory as part of the previously announced Managed Print Services Cost-Saving Initiative. This project is designed to help us manage and optimize our printing resources effectively.

What You Need to Know

• Start Date: The inventory will commence today, August 12, and continue through the week until completed.
• Procedure: Toshiba teams, accompanied by a Buffalo State chaperone, will be walking around campus to perform the inventory on each device.
   Each team will print a configuration page from each printer or check the back of devices to locate the serial number (SN#).

For additional information or with questions, please email Michelle Hockett, IT project manager.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

The New Faculty Peer Mentoring Program is being offered this fall at no cost to tenure-track faculty on all 64 SUNY campuses. The program began as a collaboration between the Center for Mentoring, Learning, and Academic Innovation at SUNY Empire State University and the SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD). The fall 2024 meetings will take place in Zoom every other Monday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. starting September 9. The meetings are not recorded.

The SUNY New Faculty Peer Mentoring community is designed to support the work of new tenure-track colleagues in their first two years (since fall 2022)* across the State University of New York. This peer mentoring community offers new faculty an opportunity to talk about vital issues as teachers, scholars, and advisors. This informal group-oriented, participant-directed program has two goals:

1. Build community and connection among new SUNY faculty members;
2. Provide peer support in navigating various aspects of the faculty role teaching, mentoring/advising, service, scholarship (and more).

For more details and to register for the program, please visit the SUNY CPD website. Please email Chris Price with questions about the program.

*Those in temporary or adjunct faculty appointments or those who began their faculty appointment before fall 2022 are not eligible for this program. The SUNY Center for Professional Development has many other professional development programs for those in these positions.

We look forward to our 2024 Fall Open House events taking place Saturday, October 26, and Saturday, November 16. These events are great opportunities to showcase our campus to prospective undergraduate students, graduate students, and their guests. 

Our campuswide Open House events provide students and their families with a true feel for Buffalo State's campus and community. These crucial recruitment and enrollment events are very influential in the student's college search and selection process. Overall, Open House events make an important impact on a student's decision to apply and enroll at Buffalo State.

Faculty and Staff Participation at Open House
Email invitations for academic department and student services participation will be distributed in the coming weeks by Shannon Miller, open house coordinator and admissions advisor. Please contact Ms. Miller with any Open House questions.

Please save the following Open House dates on your calendars:

• October 26, 2024 (Fall Open House 1)
• November 16, 2024 (Fall Open House 2)

The Burchfield Penney Art Center is searching for volunteer art lovers and storytellers interested in becoming museum guides. Learn more and apply for the upcoming docent training course by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, August 15.

Buffalo State University will welcome over 1,700 students to campus as they move in to their residence halls on August 21 and 24. Residence Life is seeking the assistance of any and all university community members to help families and students move their belongings into the halls.

With enough support, we are able to provide smaller three-hour shifts for volunteers to choose from on each of the two move-in days. There is a morning, a mid-day, and an afternoon shift to choose from. Volunteers will be provided water and indoor air-conditioned resting spaces to use during their shifts. To volunteer for move-in days, please complete this volunteer interest form. You will receive a follow-up email on Friday, August 16, with information on where to go and at what time. 

Let's show all our students how strong a community Buffalo State is and support them as they move into the residence halls later this month.

As part of the Ethics Commission Reform Act of 2022, all New York State employees are required to complete the Comprehensive Ethics Training Course every year. If you have not completed the training, please sign up for one of the hybrid sessions offered in August:

• Tuesday, August 20, 9:00-10:30 a.m., Cleveland Hall 418 or via Teams
• Thursday, August 22, Noon-1:30 p.m., Cleveland Hall 418 or via Teams
• Friday, August 23, 2:30-4:00 p.m., Cleveland Hall 418 or via Teams

Please note: If you are employed at a state agency other than Buffalo State University and have already completed the Comprehensive Ethics Training Course through the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government or through your state agency in 2023 or 2024, please send a copy of your certificate of completion to Rebecca Eggleston, professional development assistant, so that we can document that you have fulfilled this mandatory training requirement at a different state agency.

As part of the ongoing reconstruction of our main pedestrian spine, Bengal Walk, the Bengal Walk crossing at Rees Street will be offline for the duration of the week beginning Monday, August 5. Through traffic on Rees will not be permitted during this time. This interruption, which will accommodate replacement of the high visibility crosswalk on Rees at Bengal Walk, will include the road and sidewalk from the northeast corner of the Student Apartment Complex to approximately the southwest corner of the Sports Arena. Lot G-24 will remain open. Pedestrian traffic from Lot G-24 should use the walkway between Houston Gym and Coyer field to access campus.

Convenient alternative parking and access points when entering from Grant Street during the Rees Street closure are as follows:

For access to the Technology Building, Weigel Health Center, Campbell Student Union, and other buildings on the south side of campus:
All traffic should enter on Rockwell Road. Students can park in Lots R-14 and R-5. Staff members can park in Lots R-12, R-6, and R-1. Visitors can park in Lot R-4.

For access to SAMC, Houston Gym/Sports Arena, Upton Hall, and other buildings on the north side of campus:
All foot traffic should either access campus by the walkway from Lot G-24 and travel between Coyer Field and Houston Gym or park at one of the designated lots along Iroquois Drive. Students can park in Lots G-20, G-22, I-39, and I-33. Staff members can park in Lots I-37, I-36, I-35, and I-34. Visitors can park in the designated visitor spots in Lot I-30 or access campus through Rockwell Road and park in Lot R-4.

Questions about this project may be addressed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu. Your understanding is appreciated as we continue the reconstruction of Bengal Walk, our main pedestrian spine.

Campus map (PDF, 3.6 MB)

The Anne Frank Project will hold two days of professional development opportunities in story-based learning (SBL) on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 20 and 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. These trainings focus on integrating kinesthetic learning with classroom curriculum to support and build the socioemotional well-being of students and teachers. Trainings are free and open to all members of the Buffalo State University community.

Register today!

Learn more about SBL at annefrankproject.com.