Columbus Day is an official state holiday. The college will be closed, and no classes will be held on Columbus Day, October 10, 2022. All eligible classified and unclassified employees may observe the holiday without charge to accruals.

Please join us for "Create Sustainable Habit Change," part of the Certificate of Personal Well-Being and Development, facilitated by Alec Barilec, certified life and high-performance coach, on Thursday, October 20, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 217. 

Key Learning Outcomes
Self-compassion is better for well-being and productivity than judgment and criticism.

• Learn how to set goals from the “inside out” to improve change and development.
• Understand why change is challenging and find a healthier way to motivate yourself.
• Develop a plan to modify your environment to create ease in reaching your goals.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System. 

If you were unable to attend the first workshop on September 15, but would like to receive credit toward the certificate program, please contact Rebecca Eggleston, staff assistant in the Professional Development Center, for the link to the recording.

Please join us for “All Level Yoga and Mindfulness,” facilitated by Lorena Mathien, associate professor of business, and Teresa Corrigan-Beaton, lecturer of elementary education, literacy, and education leadership, on Friday, October 14, and Friday, November 18, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Houston Gym 125.

We will share a 60-minute yoga practice that can be adapted to the individual. After class, we will offer some suggestions for meditation and breathing work that can fit into the busiest day.

Please register using the links below: 

• Register for the October 14 session.
• Register for the November 18 session.

Please contact the Professional Development Center with questions.

The Department of Education announced temporary changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program on October 6, 2021. The benefits from those changes are available until October 31, 2022, if eligibility criteria are met.

Full-time employees of New York State may have federal Direct Loans forgiven after 10 years of public service through the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Ordinarily, payments on Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), Perkins, or other non-direct federal loans did not qualify toward the 120 loan payments required for loan forgiveness under the PSLF program; however, under the temporary waiver program, payments on non-direct loans (e.g., FFEL loans) may count toward the 10 years of loan payments required for loan forgiveness. The waiver program will also count certain payments on non-direct loans that were received late, made for less than the full amount due, or made in the wrong payment plan.

If you have FFEL, Perkins, or other non-direct federal loans, you must consolidate them into a federal Direct Consolidation Loan to take advantage of the current limited PSLF waiver and for loan forgiveness to be granted.

Borrowers with non-direct federal loans must take the following two affirmative steps before October 31, 2022, to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program waiver:

Apply to consolidate your federal loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan online or by calling your student loan servicer.

Complete the PSLF form. You may use the PSLF Help Tool to assist you in starting the PSLF form. After filling out Sections 1 and 2, you must have your employer complete Sections 3 and 4. The completed form must then be submitted to the address identified in Section 7 of the form.

You may use the PSLF Help Tool to learn more, search for a qualifying employer, or begin your application for loan forgiveness. You may also contact your student loan servicer for information. Please visit the New York State Department of Financial Services website for more information about the recent changes to the PSLF program or to request assistance.

Join Chartwells for a fall festival and farmers market on Wednesday, October 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Student Union Plaza. Last year's market was a huge success, so we are bringing it back again! Visit us and enjoy fall festivities, music, photo booths, and fun. Local vendors will be present, and you can also add to your own farmers market bag from Chartwells' selected produce. We hope to see you there.

Attention, education majors: The New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education (NYSED-OTI) has issued Buffalo State a limited number of e-vouchers (electronic vouchers) to be distributed to students to help defray the cost of the registration fees for the New York State Teacher Certification Exams (EAS and CST). Students should check their Buffalo State email and the Teacher Certification Office website for eligibility requirements, directions, and the application.

Do you want to play some pickup basketball Fridays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on campus? You know your answer is YES! so please send “The Commish” an email, and he will add you to our email list for the Faculty and Staff Basketball League (FSBL). By signing up for the list, you will receive updates regarding the schedule (date and time) of the FBSL pickup games. All are welcome (faculty or staff, any age or gender). Come and join a great group!

The campus community is invited to attend the WellNYS Everyday monthly webinar “Know Your Numbers!” presented by Lauren Story, workplace health strategist III with CDPHP, on Thursday, October 6, from noon to 12:30 p.m.

Join us to learn the importance of completing recommended preventive health screenings and understanding how your biometric measures affect your overall health. We will cover several biometric measures, including body mass index, waist measurement, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose, as well as the ways that lifestyle choices and other factors influence these measures.

Please register through the WebEx meeting registration page. You will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the seminar.

The sixth annual national First-Generation College Celebration is Tuesday, November 8, and Buffalo State faculty and staff members who are first-generation college students are invited to participate in our social media and poster campaign. We will have celebratory events leading up to the National Celebration date. We would love to highlight you!

Please email a photo and a one- or two-sentence comment on being the first in your family to attend college to Michael Heflin, assistant dean of inclusion and equity, by Monday, October 17. We hope to use your submissions on social media and printed posters leading up to November 8

More information about the Center for First-Generation Student Success and the national First-Generation College Celebration day is available on the NASPA website. Follow the celebration on social media at #CelebrateFirstGen and #CelebrateFirstGenBSC.

October is nationally recognized as a month to explore a career in student affairs. The Higher Education Administration Department, in partnership with the Dean of Students Office, has put together a series of events for individuals to explore a career in higher education and the academic pathway through the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) graduate program.

Please share the calendar of events with any staff members who may be interested in pursuing an advanced degree, or with students who you think might enjoy a career in higher education. Students may come from any academic discipline. Events include virtual and in-person panels with professionals, sitting in on a graduate course, student conferences, and networking with professionals.