As part of the Ethics Commission Reform Act of 2022, all New York State employees are required to complete ethics training every year.

Employees have two options for completing this requirement:

• Complete one of the live training sessions offered in person on campus. Please register for a session through the Workshop Registration System. 
• Complete the live virtual training 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. HRM will be notified of all course completions by employees.

Supervisors are asked to ensure that all their employees are allotted time to complete this mandatory training.

Journey's End Refugee Services, a local nonprofit, is helping to resettle over 40 families in the next month. Please join us in collecting items to help set up their housing (no furniture). Donations may be dropped off during normal business hours at the Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner Civic and Community Engagement Office in South Wing 120 by 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 5. Please contact Jessica Fitzpatrick, associate professor of social work, with questions.

Thanks to a collaboration with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, all Buffalo State University students, faculty, and staff members will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses the week of April 1. Students will be able to pick up their glasses at the Information Desk in the Campbell Student Union. Faculty and staff members' glasses will be distributed through their units.

Additional eclipse glasses and viewers with other designs will also be available for sale through the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium. Please visit the Eclipse website for updates.

Please join us for the Computational Genomics Data Science and AI Panel on Tuesday, April 2, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151. This panel discussion is part of the Data Science and Analytics Seminar Spring 2024 Series.

PANELISTS

Daniel McSkimming, Lead Bioinformatician, Veterans Affairs National Oncology Program

• Artificial intelligence in medicine and biotech.
• Machine learning approaches are growing in data analytics.
• Analyzing imagery can improve cancer screening and detection.
• Proteins can be modeled as language?

Daniel McSkimming is a Buffalo native who grew up in West Seneca before attending the University at Buffalo for his bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics. Before attending the University of Georgia for his Ph.D. in bioinformatics, Dr. McSkimming worked in a variety of data-oriented positions, including as a data manager for research labs, an actuarial analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield, and an intelligence specialist in the United States Navy. He is currently the lead bioinformatician and supervisory data scientist for the VA's national Precision Oncology Program, where he uses gene sequencing technologies to identify medically relevant genomic variation in veterans with cancer. He has authored over two dozen papers, created and deployed machine-learning solutions to complex problems, and enjoys exploring the ability of deep learning networks to act creatively.

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Mark A. Gallo, Professor of Biology, Niagara University
Annotation and analysis of novel Staph bacteriophage genomes

• Isolation of phage easy, right?
• DNA sequence analysis why so many holes?
• Genome annotation guilt by association.
• Challenges and triumphs with undergraduate researchers.

Mark Gallo is the Jack Hughes Endowed Program Director of Pre-professional Health at Niagara University. He began his education at the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his B.S. in biochemistry and biophysics and then his M.S. in biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. He then went to Cornell University, where he received his Ph.D. in microbiology for his research on the evolution of metabolic pathways in bacteria. Afterward, Dr. Gallo pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy, where he helped elucidate the genetic pathway for the synthesis of daunorubicin/doxorubicin in Streptomyces. He has been at Niagara University for the past 28 years, where he continues to host an active research program with undergraduate students. His interests include the properties of Staphylococci associated with wild animals, notably their antibiotic resistance profiles. Recently Dr. Gallo has been productive with respect to the ability to isolate bacteriophage that can kill Staph, which can also be isolated from mammals with the end goal being the identification of strains useful for phage therapy.

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Phillip Shults, Research Entomologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Delimiting species with genomics and machine learning

• Some insects can transmit disease-causing pathogens, and it is imperative that we be able to accurately identify these species.
• We used SNP data, obtained from genome sequencing, to investigate cryptic species in a group of insects.
• We used a random forest algorithm to optimized a set of molecular markers for species identification.
• The research branches of the government are always looking for computational biologists or bioinformaticians.

Phillip Shults earned his Ph.D. in entomology from Texas A&M University and has been studying bugs for the past 14 years. Currently, he is a research scientist with the USDA-ARS and has a lab focusing on the genomics of insects that transmit pathogens to livestock. Dr. Shults enjoys investing in his mentored students from various academic backgrounds, so they may achieve academic success and career goals.

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David Molik, Computational Biologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
David Molik is a computational biologist specializing in arthropod genomics and is currently working with the USDA-ARS. His experience includes a previous role within the same department at the Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit (USDA ARS PBARC TCCPRU), where he focused on developing heterochromatin computational software. This software is crucial for creating more precise and practical genomic tools for research in combating agricultural insect pests. Before his tenure at the USDA-ARS, he dedicated his efforts to his thesis at the University of Notre Dame. Before that, he was a scientific informatics developer at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

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John Krolewsky, Adjunct Instructor, Biology and Data Science and Analytics, Buffalo State University
John Krolewsky is a physician-scientist interested in cancer biology and genomics. He was an undergrad at MIT (1977) and an M.D.-Ph.D. trainee at NYU (1984). He has worked at Columbia University, UC Irvine, and the University of Rochester. He "retired" in 2022 from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, where he was previously the chair of Cancer Genomics and Genetics. Currently, he is an adjunct instructor in biology and data science and analytics at Buffalo State. He is continuing his research on prostate cancer genomics and helping to develop training programs in computational genomics and AI (using GPTs). He is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but also has a house in Buffalo, on Elmwood Avenue.

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Olga Novikova, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biology Department, Buffalo State University
Olga Novikova's main research interest is a dynamic of non-LTR and LTR retrotransposons in eukaryotic genomes and their evolutionary impact. Retrotransposable elements play an important role in evolution of eukaryotic organisms. They are ancient, ubiquitous, prevalent, and dynamic components of all eukaryote genomes. The dynamics of the retrotransposon life cycle results in the multiplication of these transposable elements, up to the point where they can occupy major fractions of the genomes, in a wide variety of eukaryotes. By their response to stress, invasiveness, promoter activity, and sheer numbers, as mobile promoters or transcriptional enhancers, retrotransposons can wreak many changes on the genome.

Please join us for this year's Celebration of Life Memorial Service on Monday, April 22, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Halls 1 and 2.

For the past 23 years, Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff have come together to celebrate the lives and memories of those who have passed away during the last year. This event is a meaningful tradition at Buffalo State that provides a forum to remember those members of our Buffalo State community who are no longer with us. This nondenominational, spiritual celebration honors their lives through music, readings, and the lighting of candles. The name of each fallen Bengal will be read aloud, followed by the ringing of our memorial bell.

The Celebration of Life Memorial Service is coordinated by the Dean of Students Office in conjunction with the Weigel Wellness Center and the Music Department. If you are aware of any campus members who have passed away since 2023, and if you would like to add their names to the list of remembrances, please email Juliet Meade, assistant director of student care and support, with the relevant information.

The 2024-2025 re-registration process for returning student organizations begins today, April 1, and ends Friday, May 31. Buffalo State University has established registration procedures for student organizations to ensure the educational integrity of co-curricular activities on campus. Student organizations include clubs, organizations, fraternities, sororities, and honorary societies.  

Bengal Connect Requirement
All student organizations registered with Buffalo State are required to have an updated and active Bengal Connect page. Bengal Connect is provided by United Students Government (USG) to connect students with affiliated organizations and extracurricular activities that enrich the campus community. 

Re-registration Process for Returning Student Organizations
Student organizations already recognized at Buffalo State must apply for re-registration annually. It is the responsibility of the student organization to complete this process. Failure to comply with the re-registration timeline and process may result in a revocation of the student organization's registration status or its being listed as inactive, having the club budget frozen and/or penalized, or being placed on suspension.

Student Leadership and Engagement has created a step-by-step video on how to complete the re-registration process.

Re-registration Process

1. Complete the student organization re-registration process via Bengal Connect.
2. Provide an updated active membership roster of at least five Buffalo State students, including the newly elected executive board (president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and organization representative) for the upcoming academic year. All executive board members must be registered as full-time (12 credits), matriculated Buffalo State students.
3. Submit the student organization's most recent constitution and bylaws on Bengal Connect.
4. Submit an updated Advisor Agreement Form. Student organization advisors must be full-time Buffalo State faculty or staff members. If you need a new advisor, the Student Leadership and Engagement Office can assist in matching you to a full-time faculty or staff member through the Advisor Interest Form.

Mandatory Student Organization Meeting  (Time to Be Determined)
All student organizations will be required to attend the mandatory annual meeting (date, time, and location to be determined) with Student Leadership and Engagement and United Students Government (USG) to be trained on Buffalo State policies and procedures. The executive board for each student organization will be required to attend this meeting. Failure to do so may result in the following: 

• All current space reservations being placed on hold. 
• Inability to reserve future space in the Campbell Student Union, Butler Library, academic buildings, recreation fields, or the Houston Gym or Sports Arena. 

United Students Government (USG) Recognition
United Students Government (USG) serves as an official recognizing agent for student organizations at Buffalo State. USG recognition is a separate process and allows student organizations to qualify for student activity fee funds and other benefits. Any recognition outside of USG must receive approval from the Student Organization Review Committee. 

Exceptions: Greek-lettered organizations, Honors groups, or other organizations allowed to have selective membership requirements. These groups cannot receive funding from the mandatory student activity fees. 

All currently recognized USG member organizations must complete USG re-recognition once every three years; however, all organizations must register annually via Bengal Connect with an updated roster, contact information, advisor, and constitution. 

Additional Information
Additional information related to student organizations at Buffalo State can be found on Student Leadership and Engagement website.

Buffalo State recognizes that student clubs and organizations are an important part of the college experience. Student Leadership and Engagement has a team of people available to answer any questions and assist your organization in this process.

The Weigel Health Center has a few open spaces left for the American Heart Association CPR/AED basic life support course on Wednesday, March 27, at noon.

Participants will learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and provide relief to choking victims. Skills are taught for use with adults, children, and infants. The class is completed in three to four hours.

Associated fees for the course are payable by check or money order made out to Buffalo State University, or by online payment. Please drop off your payment at the Weigel Health Center during business hours. No cash accepted. Payment or arrangements must be received before the day of the training.

Fees
$10 - Current students
$15 - Faculty, staff, or alumni
$50 - Community members

Please register online for the class.

Please email questions to bflostatebls@gmail.com.

As part of Information Technology's work to improve the overall security of services at Buffalo State, starting Monday, March 25, we will be enabling a banner that will be added to all incoming email messages that originate from outside of Buffalo State. An example of that banner is shown below. This will help identify messages that may appear to be from Buffalo State but are not. We have made exceptions for trusted partners and sites that send email on behalf of Buffalo State. If you notice an email message that you believe should not be flagged with this banner message, please forward a copy to the IT Help Desk and we will review it.

Example Banner Message:

[CAUTION] This email originated from outside of Buffalo State University. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

The Buffalo State Alumni Association is planning an "out of this world" brunch with guest speaker Kevin Williams, director of the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, on Sunday, April 7, from 10:00 a.m to noon in the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center. Dr. Williams will talk about the solar eclipse and what to except. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is $5 per person and includes brunch, speaker presentation, campus tour, and a pair of solar eclipse glasses. Please register online for this event.

Faculty and staff members are invited to join us for a free program on the upcoming solar eclipse on Tuesday, March 26, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium. Seating is limited, and registration is required. Please use your Buffalo State email address to register.