Because of Wednesday's severe weather, the Anne Frank Project's "Rest as Resistance" student event has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the AFP Student Lounge, Campbell Student Union 400. This event will be a beautiful opportunity for students to fill their cups with an evening of professionally led restorative yoga, guided meditation, and prompted journaling. Hope to see you there!

Please encourage students to register for and attend this opportunity to learn critical skills during the Mindful Skill-Building Group, starting this week!

Mindful Skill Building is an experiential eight-week group/course (non-credit bearing) that runs Thursdays March 9-May 4, from 3:00 to 4:20 p.m. in Weigel Health Center 203. It is designed to teach coping skills for individuals who struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, distraction, or other overwhelming emotions that interfere with their ability to stay engaged in the present. The course is free and open to students of all experience levels. Advance registration is required. Please encourage students to register or request more information by contacting Maria Kahn, Buffalo-area mindfulness instructor.

Students will learn skills to

• manage stress and anxiety from within,
• reground and reset in the present moment,
• recognize and process difficult emotions,
• improve their focus and memory,
• listen and learn more effectively,
• settle their minds to access their wisdom and talent,
• access their own internal resources to better navigate change and uncertainty.

Download the spring 2023 flyer to distribute to any student or advisee who could benefit. (PDF, 1.8 MB)

Thank you for referring your students and sharing the flyer.

All faculty members are encouraged to attend training for Brightspace, the new SUNY-wide learning management system.

In-Person Training Options
In-person training sessions are being offered by Instructional Design and Distance Learning (IDDL) and the Teaching and Learning Center. These sessions are hosted in a variety of labs across campus. Registration is through the Workshop Registration System.

The Brightspace Fundamentals Workshop Series is designed for instructors new to Brightspace and is suitable for instructors teaching in any modality: face-to-face, hybrid, or online.

Workshops in the series:

• Navigation and Interface
• Communication Tools
• Authoring and Publishing Content
• Gradable Activities: Assignments
• Gradable Activities: Discussions
• Gradable Activities: Quizzes
• Gradebook

Brightspace LMS Open Lab
Need assistance with your course in Brightspace? This lab is an open forum devoted to answering questions and solving problems that faculty members may have about navigating Brightspace. Bring your course-specific questions and have them answered here! Labs are designed for faculty members who attended campus workshops or SUNY trainings, or have been using Brightspace for their courses in any modality: face-to-face, hybrid or online.

Have other questions or need assistance?

• The Buffalo State IT Knowledge Base has many articles to assist with Brightspace. Use the search bar at the top to find information on other topics.
• Please direct any questions about Brightspace functionality to SUNY Online.
• If you need on-campus assistance from Instructional Design and Distance Learning, please submit a ticket through the IT portal.

Have questions on the gradebook in Brightspace? Whether you imported your course gradebook from Blackboard or created your gradebook in Brightspace, you may have questions on the gradebook for your course.

In-person training sessions will be offered by Instructional Design and Distance Learning (IDDL). You can register for Brightspace Fundamentals Series Workshop 5: Gradebook in the Workshop Registration System. This workshop is suitable for instructors teaching in any modality: face-to-face, hybrid, or online.

If you need immediate support, please contact the SUNY Online Help Desk.

Upcoming dates for the Brightspace Fundamentals Series Workshop 5: Gradebook

• Friday, March 3: 10:00–10:45 a.m.
• Monday, March 13: Noon–12:45 p.m.
• Friday, March 17: 10:00–10:45 a.m.

Have other questions or need assistance?

• The Buffalo State IT Knowledge Base has many articles to assist with Brightspace. Use the search bar at the top to find information on other topics.
• Please direct any questions about Brightspace functionality to SUNY Online.
• If you need on-campus assistance from Instructional Design and Distance Learning, please submit a ticket through the IT portal.
• Check for upcoming Brightspace workshops on campus in the Workshop Registration System.

Would you like to have SUNY move your courses from Blackboard to Brightspace? Faculty members can request migration of one section of each course they have taught using Blackboard Learn. For example, if you teach the same course in different semesters, please select one section to be migrated. You must complete one form for each course migration request.

Please use the Course Migration into Brightspace Request Form to have SUNY migrate your course.

Faculty members will have access to Blackboard through Monday, April 10.

Have other questions or need assistance?    

• The Buffalo State IT Knowledge Base has many articles to assist with Brightspace. Use the search bar at the top to find information on other topics.    
• Please direct any questions about Brightspace functionality to SUNY Online.    
• If you need on-campus assistance from Instructional Design and Distance Learning, please submit a ticket through the IT portal.    
• Check for upcoming Brightspace workshops on campus in the Workshop Registration System.  

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar "Image-Based Treatment Planning for Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy of Locally Advanced Cancers," presented by Emily Oakley, postdoctoral research affiliate at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute, on Monday, February 27, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 216. Dr. Oakley obtained her Ph.D. in biophysics from the University at Buffalo in 2021. Her primary research at Roswell involves treating advanced cancers using interstitial photodynamic therapy (I-PDT). Attendees are welcome to arrive at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy coffee and cookies leading up to the seminar.

Abstract
The life expectancy for patients with large, recurrent cancerous tumors in the head and neck or lung is a dismal three to seven months. These patients typically have an inoperable tumor that failed to respond to individual or combined treatment modalities such as radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Interstitial photodynamic therapy (I-PDT) is a promising treatment that until now has been limited by the absence of accurate and reproducible treatment planning tools. Such tools are essential for the safe and effective treatment of large cancerous tumors, especially in the head and neck and lung, since these tumors are frequently adjacent to critical anatomical structures (e.g., major blood vessels).

I-PDT involves the administration of a photosensitive drug (photosensitizer, PS) followed by activation of light of a specific wavelength. The light is delivered through one or more optical fibers that are inserted directly into the target tumor volume. In the presence of oxygen, PS activation results in the production of reactive oxygen species, typically singlet oxygen, that leads to tumor cell death, damage to the microvasculature, and in some cases induction of an immune response.

Come and celebrate the First Friday of each month with the Newman Center. Based on faculty and staff request, we will gather in the Newman Center Chapel at 8:00 a.m., where we will gather for Mass and start the month with a renewed perspective. Stay for a cup of coffee afterward or take a cup to go! Our next First Friday Mass will take place this Friday, March 3.

The Newman Center is located at 1219 Elmwood Avenue, across the street from the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Members of the campus community are invited to submit nominations for the President’s Caring Bengal Award by 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 3. Please visit the award website for more information about the award criteria and recipient selection process or to submit a nomination.
 
Award Description
Each of us knows a faculty member, staff member, or administrator who transforms the work and personal lives of their colleagues by supporting them with compassion, care, respect, and collegiality. These caring colleagues in our community can be found at every level of our institution, and although they create positive work experiences for each person they encounter, their contribution to our community sometimes goes unnoticed. To recognize these supportive colleagues in our community, each month faculty, staff, and administrators across all ranks, unions, and titles can be nominated by a colleague or student to receive the Caring Bengal Award.

The Faculty and Staff Recognition Committee, which includes faculty and staff representation from UUP, CSEA, the Buffalo State Senate, and the Professional Staff Caucus, reviews award nominations and selects the award recipient each month.

Fall 2022 Recipients
October 2022: Deborah Jones
October 2022: Sumana Silverheels
December 2022: Catherine McCoy

Please contact Rebecca Eggleston, staff assistant in the Professional Development Center, with questions about the President’s Caring Bengal Award.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 27 through March 5. This is an annual campaign to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope, support, and visibility to individuals and families affected by eating disorders.

BizLibrary’s Wellness ToolKit: Healthy Eating on the Go video lesson is intended to inform viewers on how to get started with eating healthy at work. This lesson is broken down into how to go about choosing healthy snacks, healthy meals, and healthy drinks while at work. The lesson also provides a guide to portion control for the learner’s convenience.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System. You will receive information on how to access this content in BizLibrary on Wednesday, March 1. Please contact Rebecca Eggleston, professional development assistant, with questions.

See these four quick and easy healthy snack ideas from Katie Manis, director of the nutrition and dietetics program at Buffalo State University.

Because of staffing issues, Gray Line is currently unable to offer full overnight shuttle services. It is actively working on a solution. There will be no shuttle service between 12:30 and 4:30 a.m. on Friday, February 24, or Monday, February 27. Those requiring a walking escort on campus between 12:30 and 4:30 a.m. on Friday, February 24, or Monday, February 27, can call University Police at (716) 878-6333 to request a walking escort. Updates will continue to be distributed as Gray Line works to resolve this issue. We apologize for the inconvenience.