The Office of Mental Health (OMH) offers New York State employees an opportunity to practice various coping skills and strengthen their resilience through OMH Wellness Groups, which aligns with the vision of supporting a healthy workplace environment. The groups include deep breathing and simulation exercises to allow employees to practice rather than have group discussions. Group sessions offer a warm, inviting space that fosters relaxation virtually and provides examples of calming techniques and basic coping skills. Remember that the mind and body are one, and psychological health is just as important as physical health to your overall well-being.

The group sessions are free, confidential, and anonymous, and virtual employees can call in from any phone. Group sessions include Monday Meditation, Mindful Mondays, Taking Care of Mind and Body, and Tending to Self. Please see the OMH calendar for group session details and how to join (PDF, 450 KB).

Please contact OMH with questions.

To support faculty members beginning the Course Design Review (OSCQR) process, Instructional Design and Distance Learning has scheduled two virtual OSCQR Q&A sessions in June. Each session is intended for faculty members engaged in the OSCQR process for a J-Term or spring 2025 course who are working on or are beginning their self-review with OSCQR.

Please feel free to register and join us for one or both of these optional virtual sessions:

Thursday, June 6 | 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 18 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Each session will provide a brief overview of the Course Design Review (OSCQR) process, as well as how to complete your self-review with OSCQR. The remainder of the session will be open for questions about the OSCQR process and how to best meet standards within the OSCQR rubric.

For more information and to register for a virtual OSCQR Q&A session, please visit the Workshop Registration System.

Campus users are required to complete a Bengal Buy Receiver for all goods and services that have been received and completed. Completion of a receiver is required for Accounts Payable to make the applicable payment(s) for every purchase order that was issued.

Receivers should be completed within five business days of receipt of goods or completion of a service to ensure timely payment to suppliers.

Please ensure that all receivers are completed in Bengal Buy before the 2023-2024 fiscal year-end date of Friday, June 28, 2024.

Failure to complete a receiver by June 28 could result in deduction of payment from next fiscal year's budget.

Please see the Bengal Buy Receiver Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Campus House membership is open to all Buffalo State faculty, staff, emeriti, alumni, and friends of the university. Becoming a member is easy; complete and return our membership application (print version or fillable version).

Ask about our reduced initiation fee for new members. Please contact Michael Ferraro, club house manager, at (716) 878-3300 for details.

We invite the campus community to experience our facilities and try our 2024 summer take-out menu.

Call (716) 878-3300 or email campushouse@buffalostate.edu to place your lunch order between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, takeout only.

Campus House Summer Hours

• Complimentary coffee bar (8:30-11:00 a.m.) Tuesday through Friday
• Takeout service (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) Tuesday through Friday
• Networking and events (4:00-7:00 p.m.) Thursdays and Fridays 
• Boardroom and parlor rooms are available during networking hours

Please note: Campus House will be closed Thursday, June 6, and Friday, June 7.

As part of the Ethics Commission Reform Act of 2022, all New York State employees are required to complete the Comprehensive Ethics Training Course (CETC) every year. Supervisors are asked to ensure that all their employees are allotted time to complete this mandatory training by Sunday, June 30.

Employees have two options for completing the initial CETC requirement:

1. Complete one of the live virtual CETC sessions offered by Human Resource Management. Please register for a session through the Workshop Registration System. 
2. Complete the live virtual CETC session through the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. Training sessions are held on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Please see the commission's website for registration information. Make sure you select SUNY College at Buffalo as your agency. Human Resource Management will be notified by the commission of all course completions by employees. There is no need to forward your training certificate to us if you indicated SUNY College at Buffalo as your agency at registration.

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.

Edmund Haspett from TIAA will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Tuesday, June 18, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416.

Appointments are required.

Space is limited. Visit the TIAA website to schedule an appointment or call (800) 732-8353 weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Discuss your financial situation with an experienced TIAA consultant to help you plan for your future and pursue your financial goals. Take this opportunity to review your retirement savings or to increase or start a tax-deferred annuity.

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.

Edmund Haspett from TIAA will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Wednesday, June 5, and Tuesday, June 18, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416.

Appointments are required.

Space is limited. 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.

Discuss your financial situation with an experienced TIAA consultant to help you plan for your future and pursue your financial goals. Take this opportunity to review your retirement savings or to increase or start a tax-deferred annuity.

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.

The campus community is invited to attend the New York State EAP monthly webinar "Gardening in Containers" on Wednesday, June 5, from noon to 12:45 p.m.

We don't all have the time, space, good soil, or energy to plant and maintain the sprawling perennial or vegetable garden of our dreams. But we can grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, and annuals in container gardens. Decorate your patio, balcony, porch, windowsill, or other small space with containers and enjoy the results of your labor in bouquets and on the dinner table. Learn what to consider when choosing your container and plants, what soil and fertilizer choices make the most sense, how to care for and maintain your containers over the growing season, and how to overwinter delicate plants. This 45-minute seminar will be presented by Christine Saplan, master gardener.

Please register for this free 45-minute webinar through the WebEx meeting registration page.

The Higher Education Administration Department is again partnering with Alex Barilec, associate certified coach with the International Coaching Federation, to facilitate Coaching with Confidence, a program designed for new managers and emerging leaders who are looking to improve their leadership skills and develop in-demand professional coaching skills.

Mr. Barilec facilitated a series of four workshops on personal well-being for faculty and staff members in 2022-2023, which were some of the most widely attended workshops. That series is accessible through BizLibrary ("Certificate of Personal Well-Being Workshop series").

Coaching with Confidence is a 10-week online program, hosted through Continuing Professional Studies, that runs Wednesday, June 5, through Wednesday, August 7, with five synchronous group coaching sessions on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Please contact Amy Wilson, HEA department chair, with questions.

A campuswide Major and Minor Fair is scheduled for the fall 2024 semester on Thursday, October 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. Current students will have the opportunity to explore our vast curricular offerings, speak to faculty and students currently declared in programs, and talk with staff from Academic Commons, the Career and Professional Education Center, and Student Accessibility Services. Additional information can be found on the Major and Minor Fair website. Please consider how you might promote this event in your fall 2024 courses.