Steam service to most campus buildings will be shut down from about 11:00 p.m. Sunday, May 16, to about 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, as part of the heating plant upgrade project.

Only the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center, the Student Apartment Complex, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center will be unaffected.

During this time, there will be no heat, no process steam for cooking or dishwashing, and no hot water, including for showering in the Sports Arena, Houston Gymnasium, or residence halls.

In buildings with cooling, members of the campus community may experience lower than usual building temperatures—because systems will not be able to reheat the cooling air—and are asked to dress accordingly.

Questions about this project may be addressed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we make these necessary repairs to the steam service.

When issuing a student a non-passing grade, including an E, F, U, I, or N grade, please also report the student's last date of attendance when entering the grade online. This assists the Financial Aid Office in determining whether a student unofficially withdrew and whether the student is able to retain the aid that he or she received.

The last date of attendance is the last date the student participated in class, took an exam, handed in homework, or actively engaged in an online course. If assigning an I or N grade, the last date of attendance is the last date you met with the student to discuss progress in the course. If you have no record of the student's attending, do not enter a date. Instead, use the grade of EV, which indicates that the student never attended the course.

Questions regarding this policy or procedure should be referred to the Financial Aid Office, 878-4902. The grading guide (PDF, 162 KB) may also assist you.

Degree Works will be unavailable for faculty, staff, and students on Monday, June 14, and Tuesday, June 15, for system maintenance. Advisers and students are encouraged to plan ahead for this downtime, and print a copy of their Degree Works audit sheets before this date.

Please join the Teacher Education Council (TEC) for our final meeting of the spring semester this Friday, May 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. Please note the earlier meeting time. TEC representatives will receive a meeting invitation and link via email. All TEC representatives and Teacher Education Unit members are encouraged to attend. Non-members who would like to attend may contact their TEC representative for log-on information.

Please join the Undergraduate Research Office and the campus community in congratulating Buffalo State College's outstanding 2020–2021 student participants in the 23rd annual Student Research and Creativity Conference, which celebrates the conclusion of the spring semester. The SRCC 2021 Program represents over 150 projects in all schools mentored by faculty members from a wide range of disciplines and includes a highlight of USRF 2020 award projects. SRCC 2021 presentation titles and abstracts are open to public viewing on Butler Library's Digital Commons platform, and full presentation downloads may be accessed with a Buffalo State log-­on through the site's "Off-Campus Download" feature. Congratulations to all researchers, scholars, and creative artists across campus! 

Residence Life is partnering with Goodwill of Western New York this week to provide an opportunity for residents to drop off items in good condition that they may no longer want or need. We are also extending that opportunity to faculty and staff! Please feel free to bring donation items to campus on the dates and times listed below.

Each day, Goodwill representatives will be available to accept donations between noon and 4:00 p.m. in various locations on campus as follows:

Tuesday, May 11, Lot 1-37, between Upton Hall and the Science and Mathematics Complex
Wednesday, May 12, parking loop in front of the Student Apartment Complex (STAC)
Thursday, May 13, Rockwell Road parking spots in front of Neumann Hall
Friday, May 14, parking loop in front of STAC

Please email Candace Williams, assistant director of residence life, with questions.

Please join us for a guided meditation session with Raquel Schmidt, chair and associate professor of exceptional education, on Friday, May 21, from 1:00 to 1:30 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. 

All SUNY staff and faculty members are invited to participate in the SUNY Virtual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Discussion Forum on Tuesday, May 18, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. RSVP for this discussion on the SUNY Center for Professional Development website.

The forum will allow SUNY employees to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in higher education in a supportive environment to help them create the inclusive mindset and learn the competencies needed to serve a diverse population of students and others on their campus.

The program also features a mix of asynchronous (not in real time) online discussions in SUNY Workplace, which will continue after the semester, as well as meetings in Zoom.

Please contact Chris Price, academic programs manager, SUNY Center for Professional Development, with questions.

Consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued on April 27, individuals who are fully vaccinated (i.e., two weeks following the final dose of any vaccine regime) may now gather or conduct activities outdoors at Buffalo State College without wearing masks, except in certain crowded settings and venues.

Masks are still required inside all buildings and in classrooms, conference rooms, and other spaces, even when 6 feet of social distancing exists. 

People who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks on campus, with the following exceptions:

• Students in their private residential or personal spaces, or eating meals on campus while seated with social distancing appropriately enforced, or by themselves
• Faculty and staff members alone in their office or other spaces

Please follow COVID-19 safety practices to protect yourself and others:

• Wear a  mask where required by CDC guidance.
• Wash your hands often.
• Maintain at least 6 feet of social distance.
• Participate in testing and tracing.
• Complete daily screenings.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) and the Graduate School invite you to attend the Virtual Graduate Student Research Fair celebration today, May 7, at 5:30 p.m., when we will celebrate the research of graduate students and announce the Capstone Competition winners.

The Graduate Research Fair will feature remarks from President Conway-Turner, announcement of the 2021 Capstone Competition winners, and recognition of the 2021 Outstanding Master’s Thesis and Project Award winners. Come and join us to celebrate the exciting research conducted by our graduate students. For more information about the Capstone Competition and to view the Graduate Research Fair program, please visit the Graduate Student Association website.