Buffalo State College has received the Johnson & Johnson one-dose coronavirus vaccine. The Weigel Wellness Center will begin to administer the vaccine to students starting Wednesday, April 6, in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall.

Faculty and staff members who are eligible can be added to a waiting list to receive the vaccine. Please call the Weigel Wellness Center at 878-6711 to have your name added to the waiting list. Distribution will be on a first-come, first-served basis. You must be on campus, as you will be asked to report immediately to the vaccine clinic.

You will also be required to complete some paperwork, including the eligibility form on the Buffalo State Online Campus Portal as well as the NYS COVID-19 Vaccine Form.

You must be 18 years of age or older and have no history of anaphylaxis or hives from any prior vaccines, medications, or foods.

Please consider adding this information to Banner and encourage students to check their Buffalo State e-mail for up-to-date information on getting vaccinated in an effort to fight COVID-19.

Please join the Philosophy Department for the virtual spring colloquium "Gender Matters: At Home and in the Bedroom," ?presented by John Draeger, professor of philosophy, on Monday, April 19, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. via Zoom videoconference.

Join the Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 794 148 1643

Blackboard will deploy its Collaborate Ultra v21.06 release tomorrow, April 8, from 2:00 to 6:00 a.m. Collaborate Ultra customers will experience intermittent availability during the maintenance window.

This update includes the long-awaited Gallery view (allows moderators to see 25 participant videos on a page) as well as improvements to the whiteboard tools.

For more information, please refer to Blackboard's Release Notes for Collaborate Ultra page.

You can also register for group workshops through the Workshop Registration System or schedule an individual appointment at the Innovation and Learning Collaborative Bookings page.

Please join the Counseling Center for the webinar "Faculty Conversations with the Counseling Center: Supporting Student Mental Health" on Thursday, April 22, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.

During this challenging time, we know that many students are coping with increased stress, anxiety, social isolation, and difficulty adjusting to online classes. This virtual workshop will provide faculty and staff members with information and strategies to support students who are facing mental health concerns associated with being a college student during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workshop Agenda

• Present information and data related to the impact of the pandemic on student mental health
• Facilitate discussion with attendees on their observations and experiences with students in the past year
• Discuss strategies that may be helpful in working with students in distress
• Provide resources for students, faculty, and staff

Advance registration is required. Participants will be e-mailed the Zoom meeting link one hour before the start of the program.

Ensemble Video will experience a brief period of downtime for updates tomorrow, April 7, from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. Transcoding of new videos and the streaming service will be unavailable during this window.

The Teacher Education Council (TEC) will meet Friday, April 9, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. TEC representatives will receive a meeting invitation and link via e-mail. 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-in information.

The Student Civic Leadership Board, Civic and Community Engagement, and the Counseling Center are pleased to co-sponsor the workshop “Because Bengals Care: Increasing Mental Health Awareness and Erasing Stigma,” moderated by Jack Mack, assistant clinical manager of the Buffalo State Counseling Center, and Hannah Kalmeyer, senior psychology major and chair of the Student Civic Leadership Board, on Tuesday, April 27, from noon to 1:30 p.m. 

The virtual workshop will take place on the Blue Jeans platform and will also livestream on the CCE Facebook page. Prior registration is highly recommended.

Panelists include Jessica Pirro, CEO of Crisis Services; Missy Stolfi, WNY area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; and Jillian Dombrowski, director of Transitional Services Inc. on Elmwood Avenue.

This event is funded by the Buffalo State College Grant Allocation Committee. The workshop is being coordinated in tandem with the Bengals Care Collection Drive: Care Packages to Benefit Transitional Services Inc. on the third Tuesday in April. Please contact Civic and Community Engagement, 878-3919, with questions.

The NYS Deferred Compensation Plan will host the following free educational webinars 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. 

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Countdown to Retirement
Tuesday, April 20, and Tuesday, April 27
Noon and 4:30 p.m.
Presentation will explain important considerations to think about for those approaching retirement. Discussions will include longevity, income sources, asset consolidation, and withdrawals/required minimum distributions.

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Enrollment
Thursday, April 22, and Thursday, April 29
Noon and 4:30 p.m.
Presentation will explain the benefits of enrolling and participating in the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan and how it can help you plan for and live in retirement. It will include the basics of investing and investment options, pre-tax and Roth contributions, and an overview of the easy and secure online enrollment process.

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You do not have to download software to join the meeting. Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States: (786) 535-3211
Meeting ID: 250 777 509

You may also schedule an individual appointment with Buffalo State's campus representative, Mark Wallace.

Order your Mother's Day gift from the Buffalo State College Rotaract Club to support the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and the West Side Promise Neighborhood's Summer Lunch Program. Orders are for 3-inch assorted succulents or cacti that will arrive in a hand-painted terracotta pot.

Order yours today.

Payment is due at the time of pickup in the form of cash or check made payable to Buffalo State Rotaract Club. Sale runs until Friday, April 16, or while supplies last (sale will be capped at 60 succulents). Orders will be picked up on Thursday, May 6, and Friday, May 7, at Caudell Hall between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Pricing is as follows:

$15 for one 3-inch succulent in hand-painted pot
$25 for two 3-inch succulents in hand-painted pots
$35 for three 3-inch succulents in hand-painted pots
$10 for each additional succulent

Neither plant species nor pot color can be guaranteed, but requests are welcome. Terracotta will be painted and sealed but is recommended for indoor use only. Pickup details will be released by May 1. Please email Carol DeNysschen, professor and chair of the Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department, with questions. Thank you.

The Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Office is accepting public comments on the draft Storm Water Management Program Annual Report. This report documents storm water pollution prevention measures taken by Buffalo State College during the reporting year ending March 9, 2021. Measures implementation and the draft report are requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit, No. GP-0-15-003, issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The draft annual report, instructions for submitting comments, and additional information on campus storm water pollution prevention efforts can be found on the EH&S storm water pollution prevention web page. A paper copy of the annual report is also available for viewing during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.–noon and 1:00–4:00 p.m. weekdays) at the Facilities Operations and Key Center, located in the Clinton Center.