New York State fiscal year April 1, 2023–March 31, 2024 is a leap year. In any fiscal year in which February 29 falls, the Office of the State Comptroller automatically adjusts salaried employees' biweekly salary calculations based on 366 days in the fiscal year. Salaried employees will see a change in their biweekly gross earnings beginning with the April 26, 2023, paycheck. Hourly wage employees are not affected.

Questions regarding the leap year salary calculation may be directed to the Payroll Office, (716) 878-4124.

Courses are now available in Brightspace for the summer and fall 2023 semesters. Here are a few tips to get started.

Cross-Listed Courses
Courses that are cross-listed in Banner are combined into one course site in Brightspace. Faculty members should develop the course in the Brightspace site with the lowest CRN, as all students will be enrolled in that course site. In addition, faculty members should inform students of this so they know where to locate the course content.

Merged Roster
If faculty members are teaching multiple sections of the same course and would like to manage one site with all enrolled students, a merge request can be submitted through the IT portal. The instructor should develop and add all content for these courses within the Brightspace site with the lowest CRN, as all students will be enrolled in that course site once the merge has been completed. In addition, faculty members should inform students of this so they know where to locate the course content.

Please note: instructors with cross-listed and merged rosters should review the Knowledge Base article “Merged and Cross-listed Rosters in Brightspace” for a full understanding of best practices and features of these courses to ensure FERPA compliance.

Copy Course from Another Brightspace Section
Instructors who have used Brightspace in a past semester can copy their course from one semester to the next. Instructions can be located in the Knowledge Base article “Copying a Course in Brightspace.”

Make the Course Active for Students
All courses in Banner receive a Brightspace section, but students cannot see it until the faculty member makes it active. Once a course is ready for students, instructors should reference the Knowledge Base article “Make a Brightspace Course Active for Students.”

The SUNY Online Support Services Help Desk can be contacted for any specific Brightspace function questions at (844) 673-6786 or by submitting an online request. Brightspace training can be located on the SUNY DLE website.

Any administrative or campus-based questions about Brightspace can be submitted to the Buffalo State IT portal.

United Students Government (USG) proudly announces the first Spring Fest concert since 2018! Mariah the Scientist will headline this year’s show on Wednesday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets will be available for Buffalo State students in the Rockwell Hall Box Office for $10. Buffalo State students can purchase one ticket each with their student ID. The Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Looking forward to the return of Spring Fest!

The Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program will celebrate the exemplary academic performance of its students during its annual Honors Convocation on Thursday, May 11, at 3:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. The campus community is invited to attend.

This is the first ceremony that will be held in person after three years of virtual ceremonies. This year's theme is “Lifting as We Climb: Believe, Inspire, Achieve.” Program highlights include the recognition of student achievements and of distinguished Buffalo State alumnus Darren Brown-Hall, ’96, ’98 (mathematics education), who is the superintendent of the Williamsville School District and an adjunct faculty member in the Christmann Family Educational Leadership Program at Buffalo State. A special musical remembrance tribute will be performed by Zhanna Reed to honor those who were killed in the Tops Market mass shooting, as we approach the first anniversary on May 14. This year we will also celebrate and honor Dr. Katherine Conway-Turner, who is retiring from Buffalo State University.

The EOP Honors Convocation recognizes students who have obtained a 3.0 semester or cumulative grade point average during the 2022 calendar year. Special awards are also given to faculty, staff, and outstanding students who have provided valuable contributions to EOP.

RSVP by Monday, May 8, to Cathy McCoy, Office Assistant 2, Keyboarding, in the EOP office, (716) 878-4426.

The International Student Organization and the Maurene Callahan Bouras Center for Global Engagement invite the campus to join us for the 39th Cultural Fiesta this evening, May 1, at 6:00 p.m. in the first floor lobby of Upton Hall.

The reception will feature light refreshments celebrating a variety of ethnic foods and instrumental music by Mark Warford and friends. A note of thanks to the Art and Design Department for allowing the student gallery to remain open, highlighting student designs.

Beginning at 7:00 p.m., guests will enter Warren Enters Theatre to enjoy featured performances from current students highlighting instrumental, fashion, art, and dance from around the world.

Please consider joining us as we celebrate our campus diversity and talents. 

We express our thanks to the following departments for supporting this event: the Faculty-Student Association, United Students Government, Events Management, the Theater Department, and the Art and Design Department. We also thank our performers as they share their talents with the campus.

All Buffalo State students are invited to enjoy a free home-cooked dinner every Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. at the Newman Center, across the street from campus (1219 Elmwood Ave.) Bring your friends for a relaxing night of food, games, and fellowship. Reservations are required; please call (716) 882-1080 or email the Newman Center. We have a few more Thursdays left in the semester. Take a break and come hang out with us!

The 25th annual Student Research and Creativity Conference (SRCC) will take place Friday, May 5, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Science and Mathematics Complex (SAMC). One of Buffalo State’s great traditions, the SRCC allows students in all academic disciplines to present their preliminary and completed research and creative activities in a student-friendly, supportive environment.

This year’s celebration includes 185 presentations that feature the work of more than 250 Buffalo State students working with 70 different faculty mentors. The searchable schedule can be viewed online. Oral presentations are scheduled in SAMC 151, 170, 173, and 175 and the Planetarium. Concurrently, hour-long poster sessions will take place in the SAMC atrium.

The SRCC is free and open to the public. Parking permits will not be required in lots I-35, I-37, or I-39 during the event.

From the Associate Provost
I am pleased to announce the return of the Pedagogical Institute, May 22–25, as a response to the expansion of the Title III Initiative, Roar to Success, and the approval of the new General Education 2023 (GE23) program. Instructors and coordinators of student success, first-year, and general education courses, TRIO personnel, student services professionals, and administrators will benefit from the workshops and discussions. All sessions will be held in Bacon Hall 117. Registration is through the Workshop Registration System. Questions can be directed to me, Amitra Wall.

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MONDAY, MAY 22

Teaching Introductory Courses and UNC 100: Mastering the Academic Environment
Presenter: Daniel Blum
9:00–10:30 a.m. - Light Breakfast Available at 8:30 a.m.
Register for this workshop.

Teaching one of the first college-level courses for incoming students can be both exciting and intimidating. Session goals include (1) outlining general best practices and pedagogical techniques for teaching introductory undergraduate courses; and (2) describing faculty and student expectations of the Roar to Success sections of UNC 100: Mastering the Academic Environment. Course requirements, mandatory Roar to Success activities, and course-level assessments of students and course will be discussed.

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Trauma-Informed Teaching
Presenters: Pamela Schuetze and Kimberly Kamper-DeMarco
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. - Lunch Provided
Register for this workshop.

Many students are entering the classroom enduring a tremendous amount of adversity and exhibiting behaviors that reflect the pain associated with these experiences. When educators understand more about traumatic experiences and how these experiences can affect academic and social success, they can effectively implement tools and strategies to co-regulate behaviors with students. This workshop will briefly inform participants about the potential effects of trauma on their students and then focus on basic strategies to mitigate the impact of trauma in teaching and learning.

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Mobile Anti-Racist Workshop
Presenters: Ruth Goldman, Celestine Simmons, Jennifer Ryan-Bryant, and Marcus Watson
2:00–3:30 p.m.
Register for this workshop.

The Mobile Anti-Racist Workshop was developed by several members of the President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity at Buffalo State University. These council members researched the meaning of anti-racism and developed a workshop to share their findings with colleagues across campus. The workshop is “mobile” in the sense that the point is to bring anti-racist lessons to interested colleagues at times and spaces convenient to them. The workshop is informative yet short enough to be hosted within most regularly scheduled faculty, administrator, and staff meetings. It is also voluntary, friendly, and aligned with the university’s commitment to social justice for its own sake. We also understand that students who see themselves positively represented in their educational surroundings are more likely to be inspired, stay, and excel.

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TUESDAY, MAY 23

Anne Frank Project 2023 and UNC 101: Integrated Hour
Presenters: Drew Kahn and Daniel Blum
9:00–10:30 a.m. - Light Breakfast Available at 8:30 a.m.
Register for this workshop.

National and world events suggest that now is the time to erase the space between thinking about something and doing something. There is academic value in teaching the differences between reacting and responding. The 15th annual Anne Frank Social Justice Festival: Ideas + Action = Justice, scheduled for October 4–5, is the vehicle to reach our incoming students. This session will (1) provide instructors with the tools to prep students for the pre- and post-AFP 2023 festival activities; (2) describe faculty and student expectations of the Roar to Success sections of UNC 101: Integrated Hour; and (3) identify techniques and methods to enhance the cooperation between UNC 100 and UNC 101.

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From Maslow to Nicolazzo: The Evolution of Student Development Theory
Presenter: Timothy Gordon
Noon–1:30 p.m. - Lunch Provided
Register for this workshop.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943) has long been a referenced theory as student development and motivation has sought to be understood. This body of research has continued to evolve from this basic theory to one that has considered nuances such as agency, resistance, and identity. This session will provide a broad primer and potential application to working with students at Buffalo State.

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Career Planning Conversations in the Classroom
Presenter: Denise Harris
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Register for this workshop.

The world of work is constantly changing and evolving. Preparing students to enter the diverse employment market is complex. Career counselors help students explore, identify, and solidify their career decision-making abilities. This presentation will provide an overview of career theories and practices used to provide career education for students. Understanding multifaceted approaches to exploration will provide Buffalo State students the tools needed to pursue their own unique career path.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 24

On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College
Presenter: Jonathan Brennan
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. - Breakfast (8:30 a.m.) and Lunch Provided
Register for this workshop.

Introduction to learner-centered strategies that empower students to become active, responsible learners; additionally, this workshop provides an opportunity for participants to determine how they will use these strategies in their educational roles with students.

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THURSDAY, MAY 25

Assessing Roar 2 Success and General Education
Presenters: Randyll Bowen and Amitra Wall
9:00–10:30 a.m. - Light Breakfast Available at 8:30 a.m.
Register for this workshop.

Roar to Success and General Education 2023 (GE23) are new programs starting in fall 2023. Benchmarks for success and the process for assessing the two programs will be shared.

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UNC 100 and UNC 101 Pairings 
Presenter: Daniel Blum
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. - Lunch Provided
Register for this workshop.

UNC 100 instructors and UNC 101 instructors will meet in assigned groupings to discuss the strategies learned in the On Course Workshop and to discuss ways to build community with students.

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POSTPONED
Using Crucial Conversations Concepts to Promote Student Success
Presenter: Rita Zientek
1:00–3:00 p.m.
Please note: This workshop has been postponed until further notice.

Learning how to create a welcoming environment and talk about expectations in a way that solves problems requires accountability. We will use the Crucial Conversations model and other concepts to explore classroom dynamics in this workshop. Rita Zientek has completed specialized training in Crucial Conversations and Crucial Confrontations, and has presented on these concepts to numerous campus groups, including Emerging College Leaders, new faculty, and new department chairs.

E. H. Butler Library and Instructional Design and Distance Learning are pleased to announce their collaboration to create library tutorials that faculty members can opt to embed in their Brightspace courses.

The videos have been created in SUNY Buffalo State University's video creation software, YuJa. Each video is accessible and uses universal design for learning (UDL) in its design. The videos may be found on the library's website.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar "Enhancer and Protein Divergence at Follistatin Paralogs underlying Genetic Assimilation of Wing Plasticity," presented by Kevin Deem, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biology at the University of Rochester, today May 1, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 216. Dr. Deem received his B.S. in 2014 and Ph.D. in 2022 from Miami University. His research focuses on insect molecular biology and genetics. Attendees are welcome to arrive at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy coffee and cookies before the seminar begins.

Abstract
The marvelous diversity of plant and animal forms observable in nature stems from eons of accumulated morphological innovations. Despite prolonged scientific interest, the evolutionary processes that give rise to novel phenotypes remain shrouded in mystery and debate. One promising model is genetic assimilation, in which new phenotypes that emerged from environmentally induced variation (phenotypic plasticity) can later evolve to be genetically induced; however, it remains unclear how such a switch from environmental to genetic control might occur. Dr. Deem's work aims to characterize the molecular mechanisms facilitating the genetic assimilation of a novel phenotype, to further our understanding of morphological novelty, diversity, and evolution. He utilizes the pea aphid, in which ancestral female wing polyphenism has been genetically assimilated in males via duplication of the gene follistatin (fs). His ongoing projects focus on identifying the cis-regulatory and protein functional changes between fs paralogs that facilitated the genetic assimilation of wing polyphenism.