The Campus Planning Office invites the Buffalo State University campus community to celebrate Arbor Day 2024 Friday, April 26 in style with three great events:

Arbor Day Campus Bird-Watching Walk and Talk
7:30 a.m.  |  Bacon Hall 204
Enjoy an early morning walk to discuss the birds that live on or visit the beautiful Buffalo State University campus. Learn where birds thrive on campus and the importance of the arboretum to the birds. Learn how climate change, habitat loss, and avian flu are affecting the bird populations of North America. This will be a great way to start off your Arbor Day.

Arbor Day Ceremonial Tree Planting
11:00 a.m.  |  East Side of Bishop Hall
Come and see the new tree planted for Arbor Day 2024 and hear about the importance of the trees on campus from dignitaries at Buffalo State University. Steven Sypniewski, campus arborist, will give his annual "State of the Arboretum" update at this time.

Arbor Day Speaker
3:00 p.m.  |  Technology Building 160
Robert J. Warren II, Ph.D., professor of biology, will present "The Relationship of the Common Honey Locust and the Native American Community before European Settlement," describing how the Native Americans used the honey locust in their culture and how they distributed the honey locust outside of its natural range for their use. This will be an interesting perspective of a tree that is so commonly planted in Western New York.

For more information or to register for these events, please contact Steven Sypniewski, campus arborist.

The Campus Planning Office invites the Buffalo State campus community for a tour of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum by campus certified arborist Steve Sypniewski on Tuesday, April 23, from noon to 1:00 p.m. The tour will begin in Horace Mann Quad, on the east side of Moot Hall. Walk the grounds and see some of the more interesting and important trees of the arboretum. We will discuss the history and importance of the trees of the campus and the surrounding neighborhood. Topics will include the unique challenges of the present and future of the arboretum. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress accordingly to the weather.

Advance registration is recommended but not necessary. Please contact Steven Sypniewski to RSVP or for more information.

Please join the Economics and Finance Department for Buffalo's premiere screening of the award-winning revolutionary new documentary Finding the Money on Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center's Tower Auditorium. A question-and-answer segment hosted by Ted Schmidt and Joëlle Leclaire, Buffalo State professors of economics, will follow the film.

Watch the trailer.

This event is generously sponsored by the Economics and Finance Department and the Dead Economists Society at SUNY Buffalo State University.

The ELJ (Elm Leaves Journal) Eclipse Edition launch and writing major and alumni showcase and reading will be held Friday, April 12, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. Contributor T. L. Sherwood will be reading her selections from the eclipse issue. Students and alumni will also be reading selections from ELJ, as well as showcasing and reading their own work. 

Food and refreshments will be provided. This event is free and open to the public.

Please join us for Buffalo State University's annual Take Back the Night event tonight, April 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the Science and Mathematics Complex atrium and planetarium lobby.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This event will honor those affected by sexual violence and include tabling, a brief program, and a candlelight vigil. 

Please email titleix@buffalostate.edu with questions.

Please join us for Buffalo State University's annual Take Back the Night event on Wednesday, April 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the Science and Mathematics Complex atrium and planetarium lobby.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This event will honor those affected by sexual violence and will include tabling, a brief program, and a candlelight vigil. 

Please email titleix@buffalostate.edu with questions.

The Higher Education Administration Department offers three distinctive programs that may be of interest to staff members looking to advance their careers. Staff members may use tuition benefits supported through CSEA and UUP to complete coursework.

M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) (evening classes)
The HESAA program is a professional preparation program that prepares individuals to work in the dynamic environment of colleges and universities in administrative and student support roles.

Advanced Certificate in Assessment in Higher Education (online asynchronous, seven-week courses)
The ASA program is designed to equip practitioners with the skills to gather information, the ability to understand the nature and value of formal inquiry, and the opportunity to serve as change agents within their institution through assessment. Courses includes Survey Design for Professionals, Fundamentals of Institutional Research, Data Visualization, and Advanced Data Analysis.

Microcredential in Data Management and Storytelling (online asynchronous, seven-week courses)
This microcredential will equip professionals with foundational knowledge and technical skills to manage and analyze data, identify patterns within datasets, and learn how to effectively communicate those stories through more interactive visual models. (Coursework enhances knowledge of Tableau specifically).

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

Please join the Economics and Finance Department for Buffalo's premiere screening of the award-winning revolutionary new documentary Finding the Money on Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center's Tower Auditorium. A question-and-answer segment hosted by Ted Schmidt and Joëlle Leclaire, Buffalo State professors of economics, will follow the film.
Watch the trailer.

This event is generously sponsored by the Economics and Finance Department and the Dead Economists Society at SUNY Buffalo State University.

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.

Three at-large College Senate positions will become vacant on August 31, 2024. At-large senators represent the entirety of the university. In order to abide by Article III. C. of the Bylaws of the College Faculty, two of the at-large seats must be filled by academic staff members, while the other seat can be filled by either an academic or professional staff member. 

Eligibility
Current non-UFS college senators who are completing two consecutive terms in their respective positions are not eligible for election to these positions. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please consult the Bylaws of the College Faculty available on the College Senate website.

University Faculty Senate Vacancies
One University Faculty Senate (UFS) position and one alternate University Faculty Senate (UFS) position will become vacant on August 31, 2024. All full-time academic and professional staff members are eligible to seek the UFS and alternate UFS seats.

Eligibility
Current UFS senators who are completing two consecutive terms are not eligible for reelection. There are no term limits on alternate UFS positions. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please consult the Approved Bylaws of the UFS available on the SUNY UFS website.

Campaigning
The College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee strongly discourages using Buffalo State email services for campaigning.

Nominations
Nominations for all positions must be submitted by today Friday, April 5, at 5:00 p.m. If you wish to nominate yourself or another eligible person, please contact special assistant to the Senate Kristen Mruk via email at collegesenate@buffalostate.edu.  

Individuals running for a College Senate position in another election may not be nominated or self-nominate for the at-large senator positions or the UFS position while the other election is being conducted. If the other election concludes during the period when nominations are being accepted, eligible individuals may be nominated for the at-large senator positions or the UFS position. 

Elections
Elections for all positions will run from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.

College Senate Caucus 
The 2024-2025 College Senate Caucus will be held at noon Friday, May 10, in Newman Lecture Hall, Bulger Communication Center 215.

All 2024-2025 college senators are welcome to attend this event and may self-nominate or nominate other 2024-2025 college senators for the following positions at this event:

Chair, Academic Plan Committee 
Chair, Budget and Staff Allocations Committee 
Chair, Bylaws and Elections Committee 
Chair, College Senate Curriculum Committee 
Chair, Faculty and Staff Welfare Committee 
Chair, Instruction and Research Committee 
Chair, Standards for Students Committee 
Vice-Chair, Student Welfare Committee 
Vice-Chair, College Senate 
Chair, College Senate 

2024-2025 college senators who are nominated for one of these positions at the caucus will be asked to make a candidate statement at the time of nomination. 

2024-2025 college senators who are not able to attend the caucus may self-nominate for the positions listed above by contacting the chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee before the caucus and sharing an appropriate candidate statement, which will be read at the caucus.