The Student Accessibility Services Office, in partnership with the Theater Department, Speech-Language Pathology Department, and Africana studies program, proudly present "An Afternoon with Rodney Burford," renowned actor and advocate, on Thursday, April 25, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Rodney Burford, best known for his captivating performances in Monster (2022), The Rookie: Feds (2022), and Deaf U (2020), as he shares his inspirational journey navigating the intersections of being Deaf and Black in today's society. A graduate of Gallaudet University, Mr. Burford is an accomplished actor and athlete. Gain insight into his struggles, his triumphs, and the path to his success.

This event promises to be enlightening and empowering for all. Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable afternoon!

The Civic and Community Engagement Office's Civic Engagement Series (CES) is holding a Dignity Bag Collection Drive, in partnership with Justice for Migrant Families, to assemble bags for those released from the Batavia Detention Center. Your contribution can make a significant difference in their lives as they transition to new beginnings. Help us reach our goal of filling 10 boxes with essential items:

• Men's Socks 
• Men's Hoodies (Medium or Large) 
• Travel Size Toothpaste/Toothbrushes 
• Refillable Water Bottles 
• Deodorant 
• Hand Wipes/Hand Sanitizer 
• Snacks (Travel Size) 
• Folders (for Documents) 
• Notebooks/Pens 
• Travel Size Soap/Shampoo 

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Items can be dropped off in the boxes at the following locations:

• South Wing Lobby, Outside 120
• Career and Professional Education Center, Cleveland Hall 306
• Butler Library - West Lobby

The drive is currently underway and runs through Tuesday, April 23. Join the effort and let's fill 10 boxes!

Please call the CCE at (716) 878-3919 or email Fasika Zewdie with questions.

The Buffalo State Theater Department and Casting Hall Productions proudly present Little Shop of Horrors April 18-27 in Upton Hall's Warren Enters Theatre.

One of the longest-running off-Broadway shows, Little Shop of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theater-goers for over 30 years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world.

Little Shop of Horrors is a 1960s doo-wop sci-fi horror musical based on the film of the same name. Seymour Krelborn is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names "Audrey II" after his crush at the shop. Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for human blood. As Audrey II grows bigger and meaner, the carnivorous plant promises limitless fame and fortune to Seymour, as long as he continues providing a fresh supply of blood. Just when it's too late, Seymour discovers Audrey II's extraterrestrial origins and his true drive for world domination.

Directed and choreographed by Bobby Cooke; assistant director - Jake Grear, '23; musical direction - Kathleen Dunne, '23.

Performances: April 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 at 8:00 p.m.; April 27 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online.

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.

The 2024 FACT² AI Symposium, hosted by the Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT²), will be held Tuesday, May 21, at the University at Buffalo.

OpenAI opened ChatGPT to the public on November 30, 2022, beginning a series of rapid releases and evolution of new artificial intelligence (AI) platforms. The development and widespread adoption of AI tools have created many opportunities and challenges for educational institutions. This symposium is a pivotal gathering for educators, instructional designers, technologists, student support professionals, and administrators seeking to navigate the transformative impact of AI on education.

Designed to empower attendees with actionable insights, the symposium offers two concurrent sessions throughout the day, catering to diverse interests and expertise. Whether participating in person at the University at Buffalo or remotely via Zoom, participants will delve into discussions, workshops, and presentations aimed at reshaping educational practices in an AI-driven world.

The registration fee of $30 for in-person attendance includes a continental breakfast and a box lunch, fostering networking opportunities and sustained engagement. (The SUNY CIT reception is not included.)

SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) points are available to the Buffalo State University community to pay for registration. Points are limited, and preference is given to those willing to commit to a "share back" as part of the selection criteria. CPD point requests must be submitted by Sunday, April 28, and recipients will be informed before the week of May 6. Registration for the event, if using points, should be completed after point approval. Applications for CPD points for the FACT² AI Symposium can be submitted online.

Remote attendance is available at no charge, ensuring accessibility for all stakeholders.

To learn more about the event schedule, please visit the SUNY CPD website.

Registration is now open for the annual Conference on Instruction and Technology (CIT 2024), which will be held on the campus of the University at Buffalo May 21-24. Sponsored by the SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT), CIT is SUNY's largest and most prominent event on instructional technology in education, providing a forum for faculty, instructional support professionals, and policymakers to present, discuss, and explore innovative avenues for integrating technology into the teaching and learning environment.

Creating Inclusive Innovation in Higher Education
Educational innovations involving technology are often undertaken without enough thought about how they affect diverse stakeholders. For example, what some campuses define as innovative is seen as routine on campuses with more resources. In order to create a more inclusive approach to innovation, we must pay careful attention to how technology intersects with the imperative to educate all students on all campuses regardless of their background or circumstances.

Tracks (PDF, 140 KB)

• Leveraging Innovative Technologies in Practice
• Building Relationships
• Creation and Authorship
• Evolving Pedagogies
• Equitable Assessment in Practice

SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) points are available to the Buffalo State University community to pay for the conference registration. Applications for Buffalo State CPD points for SUNY CIT can be submitted online. Points are limited, and preference is given to those willing to commit to a "share back" as part of the selection criteria. Attendance and points for payment can be applied to registration for the full conference, two days, or single-day rate. The SUNY CIT - CPD Points Scholarship Application should be completed by Sunday, April 21, before registering for this event if requesting points for payment. Recipients will be informed of points approval during the week of April 22, as registration for CIT must be completed before Sunday, May 5, to receive the Early Bird registration cost.

To learn more about this event, including the agenda and keynote speakers, please visit the SUNY CIT website.

SUNY Online has been hosting a webinar series to provide insight into various universal design for learning (UDL) concepts. We would like to draw your attention to two upcoming webinars:

Supporting Our Diverse Student Body: Student Empowerment for Neurodivergent Students
Wednesday, April 17
1:00-2:00 p.m.

Supporting Our Diverse Student Body: Continuation of Student Empowerment for Neurodivergent Students
Wednesday, May 15
1:00-2:00 p.m.

To learn more about these free professional development opportunities or to register to attend, please visit the SUNY Access for All webinar series website. 

After years of planning, Eclipse Day has now passed. For those of us at Eclipse Fest, it was a great day of activities, education, entertainment, and celebration!

What did you experience? I encourage you to write down your thoughts while they are fresh in your mind. The next total solar eclipse in the United States isn't until 2044, and the next one to pass over Western New York isn't until 2144! Without having to travel, this will have been the only chance for people in Western New York to see a total solar eclipse in their lifetimes.

Next week, I'll wrap up the Totality Tuesday series.

Question of the Week: When is the next total solar eclipse?

Answer: The next total solar eclipse will be on August 12, 2026, and will be visible from parts of Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, and Spain as the Moon's shadow passes over the northern latitudes of Earth.

For information about Buffalo State's eclipse events, please visit the Buffalo State Eclipse website. Questions? Email eclipse@buffalostate.edu.

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of an unforeseen error, the College Senate elections have been suspended and will resume at a later date once the error is resolved.

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College Senate elections for 2024-2025 positions are now open and will run through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 16. To access the ballot, please log in to the election portal using your Buffalo State credentials.

Please email Kristen Mruk, special assistant to the provost and senate, with any problems accessing the ballot or questions about the election.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The next meeting of the College Senate will be held Friday, April 12, at 3:00 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 2023-2024 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.