The Buffalo State Restorative Justice Center now has open hours for students. Restorative justice is used nationwide at colleges and universities to resolve student conflict and incidents. Institutions like Skidmore College, Brown University, the University of Florida, Siena College, the University of Kentucky, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Michigan, and Canisius University all have RJ programs.

Restorative justice repairs harm done by an action. The goal is to work with all individuals (harmed and accused) to come to a resolution. Restoration can be achieved through restorative justice circles, mediation, conferences, conflict management, and even letter writing. Open hours are available Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. and the third and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The RJ Center is located in Bengal Hall 15 (lower level).

The Buffalo State Communication Department will screen a collection of documentary clips, news stories, and interviews telling the story of the evolution of the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor into a destination celebrating the history of Buffalo's Black communities on Wednesday, November 1, at 7:00 p.m. in Upton Hall 230. Admission is free.

The film features stories on the Michigan Street Baptist Church, the Colored Musicians Club, the Nash House, WUFO radio, the Little Harlem Hotel, and the Michigan Avenue YMCA. The film is produced by Doug Ruffin, content curator of the Buffalo History Channel and owner of Urban Legacy Filmworks. He will be present for a discussion immediately following the 39-minute screening.

For more information, please email Assistant Professor Dorothea Braemer or Professor Michael Niman.

SUNY Buffalo State students will travel to SUNY Fredonia on Saturday, November 4, to participate in Saturday SUNY Model European Union, a warm-up event for SUNYMEU 2024 hosted by Buffalo State in April 2024. This is a free event open to undergraduate and graduate students. Students will assume roles of EU member state heads of government and foreign ministers as they discuss and issue statements about the African Union/EU partnership, conditions to open accession talks with Ukraine, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Visit the Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY website for more information. Email sunymeu@buffalostate.edu to receive an alter ego assignment or to join a carpool.

We want to thank the campus community for a successful first Fall Open House on October 14. We look forward to our second Fall Open House on Saturday, November 18, which is another opportunity to showcase our campus to prospective students and their guests.

We also wanted to notify our campus community that we have changed the date of our Spring Open House to April 20, 2024. This change was made to accommodate the solar eclipse events taking place on the originally scheduled date. Spring Open House will be intended for accepted undergraduate students.

We thank you for your assistance and participation in these large-scale events that we provide for prospective students and families.

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. Your participation in these events makes a huge difference and demonstrates how Buffalo State engages with students throughout their academic careers.

Please save the following Open House dates on your calendars:

• November 18, 2023: Fall Open House No. 2
• April 20, 2024: Spring Open House for Accepted Students
  (The previous date was April 6. This change was made to accommodate the solar eclipse events taking place on that date.)

Excitement is building as the 2023 SEFA/United Way Campaign gains momentum! We're thrilled to offer an amazing Buffalo Bills package valued at over $125 in our raffle on October 31. This fantastic package includes two pairs of Knox Sox, a Josh Allen T-shirt, 2023 Fisher Price Bills Little People, a Bills backpack, a lawn sign, and a cozy Bills blanket for those chilly winter nights.

How can you get a chance to win this incredible prize? It's simple: just increase your charitable donation from last year. By doing so, you'll automatically enter the raffle, and your generosity can make a real impact on our community.

If you have any questions or need guidance, please do not hesitate to reach out to campaign co-chairs Wendy Paterson, dean of the School of Education, or Maria C. Garrity, senior systems programmer in Information Technology, directly, or connect with your departmental SEFA ambassador.

To make your donation, please visit our e-pledge system. We've also prepared an e-pledge instructional video and detailed instructional document (PDF, 500 KB) to assist you along the way. Alternatively, you can submit a cash donation either directly to your departmental ambassador or by delivering it to Bacon Hall 306.

Retired supporters, please keep an eye on your mailbox for a letter coming your way; however, if you're eager to contribute now, you can complete the paper 2023 SEFA pledge form (PDF, 3.8 MB) and mail it with your donation to Maria Garrity, Buffalo State University, Twin Rise 204H, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222. Please make donation checks payable to SEFA. The 2023 SEFA agency booklet (PDF, 10 MB) is also available for identifying a charity of your choice.

Our community greatly depends on your generosity, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support year after year. Together, we can make a meaningful difference. Thank you.

Actor and comedian Pete Davidson is coming to the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall tomorrow and Wednesday, October 24 and 25, at 7:00 p.m. The Wednesday show is sold out. Some tickets remain for the Tuesday show. Tickets can be purchased online through the PAC website. Expect large crowds on campus both evenings.

Open enrollment for the 2024 NYS Flex Spending Account (FSA) ends today, December 11, at 11:59 p.m. The program helps eligible state employees save money on necessary health- or dependent-care expenses because the money they set aside in their accounts is not subject to federal, state, or Social Security taxes. 

The Flex Spending Account offers three benefits:

The Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) lets you set aside any amount from $100 up to $3,050 for the 2024 plan year to pay for health care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance or other benefit plan; however, only medically necessary medical, hospital, dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents can be reimbursed by your HCSA.

The Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) allows your family to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars for eligible custodial child care, elder care, or disabled dependent care expenses that are necessary for you and your spouse, if you are married, to work.

The Adoption Advantage Account allows employees to set aside up to $15,590 to pay for expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child with pre-tax dollars. This benefit is available to M/C employees and those represented by CSEA, PEF, UUP, NYSCOPBA, and PBA.

Complete information on the Flex Spending Account can be found on the Governor's Office of Employee Relations website.  If you wish to take advantage of this benefit, submit your application for enrollment online at https://www.mybentek.com/nysfsa/ or by telephone at 800-358-7202.  You will need your NYS EMPLID number, which is located on your pay stub, to complete your application.  Please be sure to enroll by December 11th.  If you are enrolled for the 2023 plan year, you must re-enroll to continue your benefits in 2024. 

Complete information on the Flex Spending Account can be found on the Governor's Office of Employee Relations website. If you wish to take advantage of this benefit, please submit your application for enrollment online or by phone at (800) 358-7202. You will need your NYS Employee ID number, which is located on your pay stub, to complete your application. Please be sure to enroll by the close of business today, December 11. If you are enrolled for the 2023 plan year, you must re-enroll to continue your benefits in 2024.

Today’s deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time for 2024 enrollment will be strictly enforced.

Open enrollment for the 2024 NYS Flex Spending Account (FSA) begins today, November 1, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 11. The program helps eligible state employees save money on necessary health- or dependent-care expenses because the money they set aside in their accounts is not subject to federal, state, or Social Security taxes.

The Flex Spending Account offers three benefits:

The Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) lets you set aside any amount from $100 to $3,050 for the 2024 plan year to pay for health care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance or other benefit plan; however, only medically necessary medical, hospital, dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug expenses for you, your spouse, or your eligible dependents can be reimbursed by your HCSA.

The Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) allows your family to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars for eligible custodial child care, elder care, or disabled dependent care expenses that are necessary for you and your spouse, if you are married, to work.

The Adoption Advantage Account allows employees to set aside up to $15,950 of pre-tax dollars to pay for expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child. This benefit is available to M/C employees and those represented by CSEA, PEF, UUP, NYSCOPBA, and PBA.

Complete information on the Flex Spending Account can be found on the Governor's Office of Employee Relations website. If you wish to take advantage of this benefit, please submit your application for enrollment online or by phone at (800) 358-7202. You will need your NYS Employee ID number, which is located on your pay stub, to complete your application. Please be sure to enroll by December 11. If you are enrolled for the 2023 plan year, you must re-enroll to continue your benefits in 2024.

The deadline for 2024 enrollment is December 11, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and is strictly enforced.

The Marketing and Communications Office has developed a feature-rich Drupal 10 website template that better mirrors current industry standards, as well as the university’s main site. All other campus templates—some upwards of 12 years old—are in Drupal 7. Due to end-of-life and discontinued support, we must depreciate all Drupal 7 template sites by December 1, 2024.

Many campus sites have already adopted the new template. Samples include the Television and Film Arts, Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership, and Music departments. Marketing and Communications has been assisting and will continue to directly assist academic departments by moving them into the new framework. Please file a ticket to initiate migration to the new template.

Campus websites are stand-alone installations and do not offer an automatic upgrade or import option for migration. If an office, center, area, or initiative still using a Drupal 7 template wants to move to the new look, that migration must be done manually. An alternative to moving is to shut down an outdated, unused, or low-traffic Drupal 7 site. If you wish to shut down a site, please file a ticket.

Because we support campus users with any transition to a new or greatly enhanced product, this new template has a separate, short, guided training session to accompany it. Drupal 10 training is provided virtually by Dan Schmidt, associate director of web development, at the user’s convenience. Details are discussed during the ticket process.

Questions about the migration process or the new template may be directed to Melissa Meehan, web director, Marketing and Communications.

The English Department will present its Drop Hammer Student Reading Series, featuring Stephen Eoannou, award-winning Buffalo author of the short-story collection Muscle Cars and the novels Rook and Yesteryear, on Thursday, October 26, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 302. There will also be a question-and-answer session and an open mic. The event is free and open to all.