Please join the Civic and Community Engagement Office for the webinar "From Pandemic to Paradigm Shift: How We Are Adapting to Meet the Evolving Needs of Our Campuses and Communities," featuring speakers Samantha de Melim, Lucas Malo, and Colby Sim from Brandeis University, on Thursday, November 18, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. This event is presented by Campus Compact as part of its National Webinar Series and is free to members of the Buffalo State College community.

When a crisis hits, be it a hurricane or an international pandemic, students want to immediately respond; however, good intentions do not always present themselves as meaningful actions. A large group of untrained volunteers descending upon a community in crisis often creates more harm than good. It is our role to step into these spaces and bridge the gap between community partners and student volunteers. We must help guide our students in finding opportunities that allow them to safely engage, while providing meaningful support to our partners.

Learn from colleagues at Brandeis University’s Department of Community Service the ways they pivoted their operations to continue providing necessary support to their community and campus amidst a public health crisis. In this session, they will share examples of both new and adapted programs and risk management policies, challenges and successes of remote engagement, takeaways from the shift from direct service to advocacy, and lessons they learned that will change their work long after the pandemic. They will also share the ways their definitions of service and community evolved, leading them to adapt their current models and university resources to provide relevant and sustainable community support. They hope you will walk away from this session with a new perspective on community and action items to help your team not only be proactive in preparing for the next crisis, but perhaps make lasting changes to your current model of engagement.

Please register online for this webinar and any others in the series that may interest you.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center today, November 8, for the seminar "Northeast College's Doctor of Chiropractic Program," presented by Nikki Schwarz, admissions counselor with the Northeast College of Health Sciences (formerly New York Chiropractic College), from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 422. All students, staff, and faculty are welcome.

Ms. Schwarz will discuss their programs, focusing on their renowned doctor of chiropractic degree. Learn about the chiropractic program, admissions requirements to qualify for the program, and an overview of the chiropractic profession. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar "Northeast College's Doctor of Chiropractic Program," presented by Nikki Schwarz, admissions counselor with the Northeast College of Health Sciences (formerly New York Chiropractic College), on Monday, November 8, from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 422. All students, staff, and faculty are welcome.

Ms. Schwarz will discuss their programs, focusing on their renowned doctor of chiropractic degree. Learn about the chiropractic program, admissions requirements to qualify for the program, and an overview of the chiropractic profession. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A.

The Institutional Effectiveness and Planning (IEP) Office, under the direction of the provost, will deploy the campuswide course evaluation project on Friday, November 26. This project will be deployed to all courses regardless of format or type. Target surveys are created by the schools (and some departments) and deployed to courses according to hierarchy and subject code designations. Custom Questions are created and managed entirely by departments or programs. These questions can be deployed to a subject code or specifically chosen courses.

Fall 2021 Schedule
Friday, November 19: Announcement Email (1 week prior to deployment)
Friday, November 26: Evaluations Open (2 weeks from final day of regular instruction)
Friday, December 10: Evaluations Close (final day of regular instruction)
Friday, December 24: Reports Available (Friday after final grades close)

Instructors should watch for automated course survey email announcements. Information on viewing the results of your course evaluations can be found in the Evaluation Kit - View Results IT Knowledge Base article.

If you are an EvaluationKIT administrator (node admin), support documents can be found in the IT Knowledge Base under Teaching and Learning > Educational Technology. Or you may contact research analyst Tiffany Fuzak for one-on-one training, (716) 878-4132. If you are an instructor and have questions about this process, please speak with your department chair or call the Institutional Effectiveness and Planning Office at (716) 878-5550.

The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan will host two free educational webinars on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, for all employees who wish to attend. The NYSDCP is a supplemental retirement plan, also known as a 457(b) plan. It is designed to help state and local public employees achieve their retirement savings goals and help bridge any potential financial gap in retirement. Employees may contribute to a 457(b) in place of or in addition to a 403(b) plan.

Pre-Retirement
9:00 a.m.
This webinar will explain important considerations for those who are planning for or contemplating retirement. The presentation will discuss longevity, income sources, asset consolidation, and withdrawals or required minimum distributions.

Enrollment
11:00 a.m.
This webinar will explain the benefits of enrolling and participating in the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan and how it can help you better prepare for and live in retirement. It will include the basics of investing and investment options, pre-tax contributions, and an overview of the easy and secure online enrollment process.

Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. There is no need to register or download the GoToMeeting software to attend. Both meetings will use the same web address.

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States: (872) 240-3212
Access Code: 739-909-341

You may also schedule an individual appointment online.

Come and join us in the Barnes & Noble Cafe this Thursday, November 4, as we kick off our Holiday Beverage Season!

Choose from the following:

Peppermint mocha/white mocha, peppermint hot chocolate, toasted white mocha, caramel brulée latte, and the all new sugar cookie almond milk latte. Hurry in, as these beverages are for a limited time only.

As you visit our café, you may notice some menu changes reflecting our exciting new partnership with York Street Market, which allows us to offer many more food options than we have had in the past.  

Here is a list of just some of the new delicious food options:

• Wraps: chicken and cheddar on a gluten-free wrap, Buffalo chicken wrap, chicken Caesar wrap
• Salads: chef salad, cobb salad, Southwestern chicken salad, chicken Caesar salad
• Subs: The Cuban, roasted turkey and Swiss, Italian combo
• Sandwiches: grilled veggie and mozzarella, honey turkey, vegan hummus and cucumber
• Pasta salads: vegan couscous salad, pasta pesto salad

Motivation Monday's are back!
November's Monday Motivation is most definitely going to get you feeling cozy. Stop in and get any 16-ounce  espresso drink for just $3. Yes, this does include our Holiday Beverage Season selection as well. Hope to see you soon.

Please note: all food and beverage items are while supplies last.

Residence Life is holding information sessions to showcase the resident assistant position (RA) for the 2022–2023 academic year. The RA position is a student leadership opportunity designed to foster personal and professional development. Resident assistants must be full-time students, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 each semester, and sustain a good conduct standing with Buffalo State College. Applicants must attend one of the mandatory information sessions listed below to gain access to the application. These information sessions are scheduled for one hour and will review the position and the application process. Both virtual and in-person sessions are available. In-person sessions will all take place in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. Please contact Residence Life with questions or visit the Residence Life Resident Assistant website.

Information Sessions

Tuesday, November 9, 12:15 p.m.

Thursday, November 11, 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday, November 17, 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday, November 30, 7:00 p.m., Zoom

Thursday, December 2, 7:00 p.m.

Monday, December 6, 12:15 p.m., Zoom

Friday, December 10, 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 30, 1:00 p.m., Zoom

American Councils has formally launched the next round of Central Asia University Partnership Program grants cycle.

You are invited to participate in an informational session on Tuesday, November 9, at 1:00 p.m. to learn more about the Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN) in 2021–2022, including partnership grants and identifying a compatible Central Asian partner to apply. If you are not able to attend but would like American Councils to help identify a Central Asian partner, please register.

Register in advance for this meeting.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday, November 24, 5:00 p.m.

Administered by the American Councils for International Education, UniCEN will select and award partnership grants to increase the quality and sustainability of university linkages between Central Asia and the United States to jointly address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The five priority SDGs for the UniCEN program are clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; responsible consumption and production; and climate action.

Partnership grants will meet one of the three key objectives of UniCEN:

1. Enhance teaching and learning capacities by modernizing curriculum and developing jointly taught courses in five priority UN SDGs at Central Asian universities.
2. Increase research capacities at Central Asian and U.S. universities in five priority UN SDGs through the creation of regional “knowledge hubs.”
3. Strengthen institutional capacity to support long-term partnerships between U.S. and Central Asian universities with economic-based outcomes.

Eligibility
U.S. faculty members and administrators from higher education institutions (universities and community colleges) are eligible to apply for partnership grants that deepen existing or establish new U.S.-Central Asian university partnerships. American Councils encourages the creation of “knowledge hubs” or consortia that involve multiple Central Asian universities. Partnership projects involving higher education institutions from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are especially encouraged.

Partnership grants will cover international and domestic travel, conference fees, materials, supplies, salary, honoraria, and other direct costs associated with carrying out partnership activity. While grants will be administered directly to U.S. HEIs to ensure proper financial and narrative reporting, funds may be transferred to Central Asian HEIs to support activities and incentivize partnerships.

American Councils will support matchmaking among interested institutions of higher education in Central Asia.

Awards
Ten partnership grants to accomplish project goals and objectives will be awarded. Selected finalists will be awarded a $24,000 project grant to cover salary or honoraria, international and domestic travel, conference fees, materials, supplies, and other allowable costs associated with carrying out partnership activity. All grants will be awarded to U.S. higher education institutions and administered by principal investigators working closely with Offices of Sponsored Research to ensure reporting and program compliance. U.S. higher education institutions may submit more than one proposal, but individual applicants are not encouraged to submit more than one application.

Applicants will be notified of selection by mid-December 2021, and selected grants will be expected to accept awards and begin project implementation in early January 2021. Partnership projects should be implemented through September 30, 2022.

The campus community is invited to join us for the third and final film event of the semester in the Beyond Boundaries Film and Discussion Series, Pier Kids (2019), directed by Elegance Bratton, on Thursday, November 11, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center's Tower Auditorium.

Caught up in the precariousness of survival and self-preservation, homeless queer and trans youth of color hang out at Christopher Street Pier, forging their own chosen family. Genuine and charming, these thoughtful youth must contend with overwhelming amounts of homophobia and abuse. As real as it gets, and with intimate, immersive access to the hazardous life of its vulnerable but fearless protagonists, director Elegance Bratton’s still-hopeful portrait exposes a raw side of New York City many often choose to ignore. 

Watch the trailer.

Beyond Boundaries is free and open to the public, and each screening is followed by a discussion. In accordance with Buffalo State policy, masks are required regardless of vaccine status when indoors on campus. 

Beyond Boundaries is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Communication Department, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The series is curated by Ruth Goldman and Meg Knowles, associate professors of communication; and Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney, chief diversity officer.

Stop by the Campbell Student Union lobby on Wednesday, November 10, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to talk with El Buen Amigo and representatives of the Latin American Cultural Association to learn how you can support and volunteer alongside one of Buffalo State's community partner organizations. Be a part of Buffalo State’s civic and community engagement mission!

El Buen Amigo is LACA's fair trade storefront located in the heart of the Allentown district in Buffalo. They offer fair trade arts, crafts, clothing, and coffee direct from artisans and farmers in Latin America. In this way, they help provide impoverished individuals from developing countries with a living income and the opportunity to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for themselves and their families.

El Buen Amigo is looking for volunteers to help run the store.

If you have questions or comments, please email the Civic and Community Engagement Office or call (716) 878-3919.