Central Receiving will be short-staffed for a few months beginning February 17.

Packages will continue to be delivered to campus mailrooms during this time, but these deliveries may be delayed by a day or two. Campus members who receive notice from a vendor that a package has been delivered are welcome, but not obligated, to pick it up at Central Receiving Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Your patience and understanding during this time are greatly appreciated.

The Data Science and Analytics graduate program invites industry experts to give presentations on cutting-edge topics in analytics as part of its spring 2022 DSA Seminar Series.

Next in the series is Paul Gulde, research and develop manager of multi-omics at Thermo Fisher Scientific, who will present “Multi-Omics and Bioinformatics in Cell Culture Medium Design” on Thursday, March 3, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151 and via Zoom. His talking points will include

• an evolution of cell culture medium design;
• utilizing multi-omics to drive innovation and performance;
• death by data — management, utilization, and the road to digital transformation;
• opportunities in natural sciences for data science.

For more information, please call the DSA program office at (716) 878-6423. To obtain the link to attend virtually, please contact Heather Campbell, professional science master’s coordinator.

The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) invites proposals for its annual conference, The Essential Role of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, October 23–26, in San Diego, California.

As CUMU institutions and communities continue to navigate a global pandemic, wrestle with a long-overdue racial reckoning, face environmental challenges, and witness the great inequality in how communities are able to respond to these challenges—we recognize that we are still in the midst of crisis. The CUMU conference offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on how we are responding to our current moment while also looking forward as we begin to articulate how we emerge from crisis.

Conference Themes
The Essential Role of Urban and Metropolitan Universities invites presenters to reflect broadly on how the urban mission can be fully integrated into operations, structure, partnerships, and academic objectives within the following major themes. Submissions are due March 25.

• Cultivating Resilient Campuses in the Midst of Crisis
• Inclusive Growth and Housing
• Industry Engagement and Entrepreneurship
• K-16 Student Success and Support
• Place-Based Hyperlocal Community Engagement
• Racial Equity and Social Mobility
• Regional Collaborations and Partnerships
• Workforce and Talent Development

Presentation Formats
A blend of short presentations and deep-dive discussions allow for in-depth conversations and actionable next steps.

• Community Conversations—Exploring Challenges: A presenter will lead a discussion that explores a challenge they are grappling with and wants to engage the collective experience of conference participants to help address.
• Learning and Sharing Deep Dive: Did you present at one of our Learning & Sharing Virtual Series? Wish you had more time to be in dialogue and gather feedback? This session is an opportunity to dive deeper at our in-person conference setting.
• Mini Workshop: In these how-to-sessions, presenters will create a focused, interactive session that engages attendees on new processes, infrastructure, or policy approaches.
• Panel Presentation: A group of panelists with diverse view points and perspectives will create a question and answer dialogue around a topic.
• Poster Sessions: Gain significant attention for your work in a more social atmosphere.
• Roundtables: Roundtables are an opportunity to present a project, program, or initiative through small group discussions. During the 60-minute session, presenters are positioned at their own tables and participants rotate three different times. So presenters have three 20-minute conversations on their program or initiative.

Review Major Themes and Submit a Proposal

Join the Africana Studies unit in celebrating Buffalo State College’s 150 years of success in transforming the lives of Black and Brown students on Thursday, February 24, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall.

Come and listen to inspired guest Valerie Kinloch speak on transformative education; reflect on the first African American graduate; view an inspirational award-winning film on Arthur O. Eve, directed by Buffalo State assistant professors Dorothea Braemer and Steve Peraza; and hear the journey of Buffalo State alumnus Craig Centrie. 

Please register to attend.

Please direct inquiries to Carlos R. A. Jones, associate dean and coordinator of Africana studies.

Please join us for a "Hot Chocolate Social" to celebrate "Random Acts of Kindness Day," which is today, February 17, any time from noon to 2:00 p.m. in Butler Library 318. Come and warm up with a cup (or two!) of hot chocolate, sit down to decompress at our adult coloring station, or write a "thank you" note for a colleague, friend, or family member.

All are welcome!

The Writing Center continues to offer a number of initiatives to support faculty this semester. Faculty members in all disciplines are invited to take advantage of the following:

Commercials
If you wish to encourage your students to visit the Writing Center, consider scheduling a live “commercial”—a 10-minute in-class presentation by a tutor who will explain the services offered by the center and encourage students to visit.

Made-to-Order Workshops
Is there a writing issue that your students tend to struggle with or a concept you want to reinforce? We are happy to design and deliver a 30-minute in-class workshop on a writing-related topic (for example, citation styles, thesis statements, or peer response). Please request at least two weeks in advance.

One-to-one Consultations
Maggie Herb, director of the Writing Center and assistant professor of English, offers individual consultations with faculty members on both pedagogical concerns (writing assignment design and implementation, for example) and professional and academic writing.

To schedule a commercial, a workshop, or an individual consultation, please contact Maggie Herb.

Are you ready to compete for eternal glory? Or at least have some fun with your friends, eat some food, and try to get your names on the Pi Day trophy? Then join us for our inaugural Pi Day Competition on Monday, March 14, at 3:14 p.m. (check-in begins at 3:00 p.m.) in the Bulger Communication Center lobby.

This event is open to all Buffalo State students. Build your team of three to five people, come up with an awesome team name, sign up online by Tuesday, March 8, and compete for eternal glory! Take some free pizza and pie with you as a bonus. 

Teams must register by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, to participate in the competition.

This event is cohosted by the Mathematics Department, the Math Center, and Student Achievement Programs with support generously provided by the 150th Anniversary Committee and the Grant Allocation Committee. Please contact Jane Cushman, associate professor and chair of the Mathematics Department, or Erica Demler coordinator of the Math Center, with questions.

Please advise seniors who are expecting to graduate (earn their degree) in May 2022 that the deadline to submit their online graduation application is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 27.

Students who miss the deadline to apply online should email the Registrar's Office to request late consideration for graduation. Late applicants may experience a delay in the awarding of their degrees.

The current online graduation application is for the awarding of a May 2022 degree. Any premature applications will be withdrawn after the application window closes. The application for August 2022 degree candidates will become available on April 18. 

The minimum number of credit hours for an undergraduate degree is 120. Students should review their Degree Works audit to make sure all requirements are being met before applying.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office, Moot Hall 210, (716) 878-4811, with any questions or technical issues.

The campus community is invited to the Cultural Café, a monthly event that brings together members of the Buffalo State College community over conversation, culture, and coffee, on Friday, February 18. Please join us at 3:00 p.m. on the first floor of Butler Library as we welcome our newly arrived students to campus. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and find common ground with other internationally minded members of the community in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Thank you to Chartwells for preparing refreshments for the Cultural Café. This event is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Butler Library, and Global Engagement.

From the Chair of the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee
As a result of the merger of the School of Natural and Social Sciences and the School of Arts and Humanities, the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee brought forth a motion in spring 2021 to change the allotment of Senate seats. This motion was voted on and approved by the college faculty. On November 24, President Conway-Turner announced:

“I accept the College Faculty Bylaws Article III C(5) changes recommended at the March 12, 2021, meeting with an expectation that the Senate will submit an amendment as detailed in the bylaws charge shared by Senate leadership in the November 2021 meeting of the College Senate.” 

Therefore, the Bylaws and Elections Committee is charged with “future-proofing” the bylaws to transition Senate seats as administrative changes arise. The current distribution is 12 seats for the School of Arts and Sciences, six seats for the School of Education, and six seats for the School of the Professions. No other Senate seats are affected.  
 
Before a motion to amend the bylaws is made, the Bylaws and Elections Committee is asking the Buffalo State faculty (defined by the bylaws as all academic, professional, and managerial employees)?to vote on which proposal should be brought to the Senate for consideration.

Those eligible to vote will be sent an email on Monday, February 14. Please use the link in the email to vote on which proposal for the amendment should be developed and brought to the Senate in March. The vote will close at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, February 17.