Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship (USRF) applications for 2021 are welcome from Buffalo State College undergraduates in all disciplines with a graduation date of December 2021 or later. The USRF program supports full-time research, scholarly, and creative activities each summer. Each fellowship provides a student stipend and support for necessary supplies (levels contingent on budgetary projections). To learn more about the program and access the online application portal, please visit the USRF program page on the Undergraduate Research website. The deadline for student applications is 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 31; mandatory faculty mentor approval is due by 10:00 p.m. Friday, April 2.

Today is the last day to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for the 2021 spring semester.

Staff members may apply for tuition assistance after six months of service; faculty members may apply after one semester of service. The following employees are eligible:

• Full-time Buffalo State College faculty members and professional or classified employees.
• Part-time or temporary Buffalo State faculty members and professional or classified employees who are employed at least half time (faculty must teach at least two courses in the semester).
• Full-time Research Foundation employees, provided they work on the Buffalo State campus.

Program funds may be used for courses at SUNY campuses only. Eligible employees may apply for a 50 percent waiver of SUNY tuition for up to two courses a semester, to a maximum of 15 credit hours an academic year. Tuition assistance is limited to regular in-state undergraduate or graduate tuition rates. The level of support may be adjusted when necessary if funding is not adequate to cover applications received.

After submitting an application, employees who decide to drop a class or find it has been covered by another source are asked to please notify Human Resource Management immediately to update their applications.

Please contact Human Resource Management, 878-4821, for applications or program guidelines.

Please join the Civic and Community Engagement Office for the webinar "Innovative Ways to Meet Campus-Community Needs through National Service" on Thursday, March 11, 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. Monique Ellefson will be the speaker.

National Service programs like AmeriCorps and VISTA have a long-standing history with Campus Compact, across networks, regions, and the country. Compacts are finding creative solutions to campus-community problems to address students' basic needs, co-creating student learning experiences, and much more. Join us to learn just a few ways that our National Service members are helping Campus Compact fulfill its mission.

Please register online for this webinar and for as many others as you would like in this National Webinar series.

Please join Weigel Health Promotions and Pure Life Therapy for two spring workshops:

Meditation and Massage Therapy
Tuesday, March 9, 7:00 p.m.
Are you feeling tense and stressed out? Join us for an exploration into the cornerstone of mindfulness, the body scan meditation. This centering meditation brings a new awareness into the sensations of the body, followed by guided massage techniques you can safely do on your face, scalp, neck, and shoulders. This online class is fantastic to rejuvenate and relax with your employees, family, or friends.

Join the Zoom meeting.

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Preventing Screen-Time Burnout
Tuesday, April 6, 7:00 p.m.
This discussion will cover tips and techniques to prevent screen-time burnout, including how to recognize burnout and mindfulness techniques such as meditation and mindful movement. The movement will be demonstrated standing up, so please wear clothing that is easy to move around in, as you will be encouraged to participate (cameras can be turned off for the movement).

Join the Zoom meeting.

Funded by the Grant Allocation Committee.

Please contact Paula Madrigal, assistant director of prevention and health promotions, with questions.

Follow us on social media for updates or cancellations.

Like us on Facebook (Buffalo State Health Promotions)
Follow us on Twitter (@BSCHealthPromo)
Watch us on YouTube  (BSCHealthPromotions)
Find us on Instagram  (@Buffalostate_healthpromotions)
Follow us on Pinterest (bschealthpromo)

Please join us for the two-part series "Be. Here. Now: Mindfulness, Breathwork, and Meditation," facilitated by Gizelle Stokes, founder and chief executive officer of the Mindful Institute.

Session 1: Mindfulness and Breathwork will be held on Tuesday, March 9, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., and Session 2: Breathwork and Meditation will be held on Tuesday, March 16, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. Please register for both sessions if you are available. This series is sponsored by the Buffalo State Chapter of United University Professions and the Educational Opportunity Program Office

Gizelle Stokes, a Buffalo, New York, native, is a leading education and mental health professional with over 15 years of experience in the field. With a commitment to maximizing the potential of her community, supporting high-needs youth, and supporting professionals in the workplace, she is highly sought-after for various public speaking engagements, workplace wellness trainings, and workshop facilitation.

The Mindful Institute provides strategic social emotional support services to businesses, schools, and agencies by using mindfulness-based strategies to promote holistic wellness. The goal is to provide clients with self-care tools in order to live healthy, happy, whole, and productive lives.

For more workshops offered by the Professional Development Center, please visit the Workshop Registration System.

Please join us for the next film in the Beyond Boundaries Film and Discussion Series for the spring 2021 semester, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, on Thursday, March 4, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., via Zoom videoconference.

Directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht and executive produced by Michelle and Barack Obama, Crip Camp (2020) details the story of Camp Jened, a summer camp "for the handicapped" (this term is no longer used). Camp Jened gave campers with disabilities a chance to experience liberation and full inclusion as human beings. The story details the campers' experiences and follows them after their camp years as many move out West to join in activism efforts, soon discovering that civil disobedience and political participation could change the future for millions.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. 

Watch the trailer.

The Beyond Boundaries Film and Discussion Series is curated by Ruth Goldman and Meg Knowles, associate professors of communication; and Crystal Rodriguez, chief diversity officer, at Buffalo State College. This series is made possible through a collaboration with the Buffalo State Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Buffalo State Communication Department, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center. 

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 2021 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 11.

Finalists will be interviewed by the selection committee. The committee's decision is final, and notification will be sent to all applicants via e-mail.

Please join us for "Restoration and Resolve: Guided Yoga Nidra Meditation," facilitated by Melissa Meehan, web administration director, on Wednesday, March 10, from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. via Zoom.  

Yoga nidra, or yogic sleep, is a practice that invites us into the state between wakefulness and sleep. This powerful meditation technique draws on the yogic limb pratyahara (withdrawal of senses) and can be surprisingly helpful for reducing stress and mitigating feelings of depletion. Further, yoga nidra's use of the sankalpa, or heart's intention, is an interesting exercise in uncovering what we truly yearn for in our lives. Please prepare a warm, comfortable place where you can rest in savasana during this extended guided meditation; your comfort is key.

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

Attention, graduate faculty: Kevin Miller, dean of the Graduate School, will host the spring 2021 Graduate School meeting on Friday, March 5, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting will focus on updates from the Graduate Student Association including information on the 2021 Research Fair; policy, procedure, and program updates; enrollment, and process changes for scholarship funding. All graduate faculty members should have received a link from Marnie Letzelter, executive assistant to the dean, on Monday, February 1. If you did not receive a link and would like to attend the meeting, please e-mail the Graduate School.

Please join us for the webinar "Managing Your Budget during a Crisis/Pandemic," presented by Frederick Floss, professor and chair of the Economics and Finance Department, on Wednesday, March 3, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. This event is sponsored by the Buffalo State Chapter of United University Professions and the Professional Development Center. 

As we transition back from our COVID-19 world, personal finance will become even more important. How do we budget and adjust to the new normal? What habits have we started in COVID, and will they need to change as we return to the workplace? Come with your questions on how we cope in a post-COVID world.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System.