The midterm grading window for spring will open in Banner at 9:00 a.m. Monday, March 14, and close at 9:00 p.m. Friday, March 25. In addition to entering a midterm grade, faculty members can mark how regularly a student has attended a course by entering 0 (never attended), 1 (sporadic, unsatisfactory attendance), or 2 (consistent, satisfactory attendance) in the “Hours Attended” field. Midterm grade submissions for all registered students are useful as these grades are helpful for campuswide academic intervention and retention efforts. 

Students will be able to view their midterm grades in Banner, Degree Works, and the Bengal Success Portal as soon as they are posted. Advisers can obtain copies of the midterm grading reports for their academic intervention use through their deans’ offices.

Thank you for your commitment to our students’ success.

Please join us for a guided meditation session facilitated by Raquel Schmidt, chair and associate professor of exceptional education, on Thursday, March 17, from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. 

Meditation is something most of us do whether we call it meditation or not. A few deep breaths in a hectic day. Shutting the door to close out the outside world while we recalibrate, problem solve, and figure out the best way to move forward in any challenging situation. This session is designed to show how we can all integrate meditative practices into our day to day lives without needing a soft cushion, a quiet room, or a dark corner. Meditation is in part about giving your active brain a break so it can focus on other priorities, including being still. 

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.

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, March 25, 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. 

For more information or to register, please visit the Workshop Registration System.

From the Chair of the College Senate
The second meeting of the College Senate for spring 2022 will be held tomorrow, March 11, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 215 (Newman Lecture Hall). Please contact Vincent Masci, assistant to the College Senate, with questions.

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
Two at-large College Senate positions will become vacant on August 29, 2022. At-large senators represent the entirety of the college. All full-time faculty and professional staff members are eligible to run for these seats provided they meet other eligibility requirements (see below).

A call for nominations and information about candidates’ statements can be found on the College Senate website. The call for nominations begins at 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 18, and continues through 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 22. Elections for these positions will run from 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 25, to 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 29.

Senate elections conducted by the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the School of the Professions, and the Professional Staff Caucus should be concluded before April 29.

Eligibility: Current College Senate members who are completing two consecutive terms in their respective positions are not eligible for reelection. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please consult the Bylaws of the College Faculty on the College Senate website.

Campaigning: The College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee strongly discourages using college email services for campaigning. Please limit campaigning to the candidate statement posted on the College Senate website, available to the college community on Monday, April 25.

Please note: Individuals running for a senator position in another election may not also run for an at-large senator position while the other election is being conducted. If the other election concludes during the period when nominations for at-large senators are still being accepted, eligible individuals may self-nominate for the position.

If you are interested in being a candidate, please contact Vincent Masci, assistant to the College Senate. We look forward to your participation in the vital process of campus governance.

Blackboard will deploy its Collaborate Ultra v22.04 release on Thursday, March 10, between 2:00 and 6:00 a.m. Collaborate Ultra customers will experience intermittent availability during the maintenance window.

For more information on the update, please see Blackboard's Release Notes for Collaborate Ultra. Individual Collaborate training can be scheduled through the Innovation and Learning Collaborative Bookings page.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Ron Brown ITEC Scholarship. This scholarship will be given to a Buffalo State College student who is enrolled for the fall 2022 semester and shows promise in the use of computing and technology.

The application and information on the selection criteria for the scholarship are available through the Campus Application Portal for Scholarships (CAPS). The submission deadline is Sunday, April 10. Finalists will be interviewed by the selection committee. The committee's decision is final, and notification will be sent to all applicants via email.

Please join the Chemistry Department for the seminar "Controlling Reactivity through Mechanism-Informed Catalyst Design," presented by C. Rose Kennedy, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Rochester, on Thursday, March 10, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151.

Seminar Abstract
"Accessing C(sp3)-rich structures is essential for development of biomedically relevant molecules because three-dimensional complexity correlates with diversity of screening libraries and with a candidate molecule’s probability of success in the drug-discovery pipeline. The goal of research in the Kennedy group is to develop and apply mechanistic insights to discover catalytic transformations that achieve convergent assembly of abundant molecular building blocks and create new C(sp3) sites. This research at the organic–inorganic nexus is enabled through synthetic method development; structural and mechanistic study of catalytically relevant organometallic species; and state-of-the-art computational methods. Case studies will be discussed from two complementary approaches that seek to (1) design functional ligands for transition metals to modulate chemo- and regioselective activation of amide functional groups and (2) leverage a traceless external stimulus to alter the reaction coordinate energy profiles of elementary organic reactions."

Anna Cooke, ’17, ’20, owner of Black Mind Meditation & Coaching LLC, continues to offer mindfulness workshops this spring that are open to Buffalo State College students, faculty, and staff. 

“Conquer Yourself Before Life Conquers You” was held March 15.

“Rethink Cutting Them Off: Reassigning Relationships” will be held Thursday, April 14, at 12:30 p.m. in Weigel Health Center 203. Participants will learn how to change their perspectives in exhausting relationships. They will use techniques taught in the March workshop to help manage uncomfortable emotions that may arise during the reorganization process.

“Redefine Self-Care” will take place Wednesday, May 4, at 6:00 p.m. in Technology Building 258. Participants will learn how to create a routine that encourages stress management, boosts inner confidence, increases inner peace, and helps facilitate good energy.

The workshops are co-sponsored by the Grant Allocation Committee and Weigel Health Promotion. Advance registration is appreciated but not required.

The Design and Print Center, located in the basement of Bulger Communication Center, is available to support Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students by creating solutions for a wide range of design needs. Whatever your objective—promoting a program or event, creating classroom media, or supporting research—we’re here to help you reach your audience with visually compelling materials.

Our services encompass the design and printing of items, including large-format prints and graphic files for social media and digital signage, as well as finishing options such as binding, lamination, and the mounting of prints onto foam core. Please see our newly designed website for more information about our services, resources, downloadable templates, and student job opportunities.

To submit a design or print request, please fill out our new online form. Feel free to visit or contact us with questions at graphics@buffalostate.edu or (716) 878-6676.