If you would like to learn more about strategies to help optimize communication interactions with family and friends or learn more about assistive listening devices that can be used with your hearing aids, please consider joining our virtual aural rehabilitation group. The group will meet every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. March 3–24. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please call (716) 878-6508 or e-mail mcnernkm@buffalostate.edu by Sunday, February 28. If you know a hearing aid user who may be interested in participating, please feel free to share this information with him or her. The group is being offered through the Buffalo State College Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras has announced the first statewide initiative to help more Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students get into SUNY’s medical universities. The chancellor’s SUNY for All Pre-Med Opportunity Program (Pre-OP) is set to begin in summer 2021 with 25 students, which would be expanded based on initial results and further funding. To be considered for the program, candidates must be a SUNY EOP sophomore or junior on a pre-medical track, have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher, and have successfully completed two semesters of general chemistry and two semesters of biology.

Since its inception in 1967, EOP has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. In its 53-year history, EOP has served more than 76,000 students and evolved into one of the country's most successful college access programs.

More information on the chancellor's Pre-Med Opportunity Program is available on the SUNY website.

The Theater Department and the Women and Gender Studies Interdisciplinary Unit at Buffalo State College's virtual series of guest artists celebrating Women's History Month, hosted by associate professor of theater Jennifer Toohey, continues each Monday throughout the month. This special series is sponsored in part by the Grant Allocation Committee and the Equity and Campus Diversity Office.

All students and faculty are welcome to attend.

Join the Zoom meeting.
Password: theater

March 22, 1:00–2:50 p.m.
Directing with Kimberley Rampersad, associate artistic director of world-renowned Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: The Stratford Festival and the Shaw Festival of Canada. Two-time Dora Award–winning choreographer, Sterling and Merritt Award winner for Outstanding Direction of a musical, and winner of the 2017 Gina Wilkinson Prize for an emerging female director (Ontario Arts Foundation).

March 29, 3:00–4:50 p.m.
Directing with Pirronne Yousefzadeh, director, writer, and cofounder of Maia Directors; and associate artistic director and director of engagement at Geva Theatre Center. She has a passion for new work that centers and uplifts the stories of global majority communities and has developed and directed work extensively regionally and in New York City.

March 29, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Panel discussion, “Women of Color: Leaders in Theater,” with above guest artists.

The Theater Department and the Women and Gender Studies Interdisciplinary Unit at Buffalo State College are excited to announce that associate professor of theater Jennifer Toohey will host a virtual series of guest artists as we celebrate Women's History Month every Monday in March. This special series is sponsored in part by the Grant Allocation Committee and the Equity and Campus Diversity Office.

All students and faculty are welcome to attend.

Join the Zoom meeting.
Password: theater

March 1, 11:00 a.m.–12:50 p.m.
Acting with Gizel Jiménez, actor, singer, and dancer: Wicked on Broadway, Miss You Like Hell at the Public (Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical), and upcoming film version of Tick, Tick . . . Boom! directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

March 8, 11:00 a.m.–12:50 p.m.
Acting with Heather Velazquez, actor - theater: Celia and Fidel (Arena Stage), Pipeline (Lincoln Center), American Mariachi (Denver Center and the Old Globe); television: Blue Bloods (CBS) and Live from Lincoln Center (PBS).

March 15, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Women's March in the Arts
A night of performances followed by a panel discussion with women who march in the arts.
Join the Zoom meeting
Passcode: women

March 22, 1:00–2:50 p.m.
Directing with Kimberley Rampersad, associate artistic director of world-renowned Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: The Stratford Festival and the Shaw Festival of Canada. Two-time Dora Award–winning choreographer, Sterling and Merritt Award winner for Outstanding Direction of a musical, and winner of the 2017 Gina Wilkinson Prize for an emerging female director (Ontario Arts Foundation).

March 29, 3:00–4:50 p.m.
Directing with Pirronne Yousefzadeh, director, writer, and cofounder of Maia Directors; and associate artistic director and director of engagement at Geva Theatre Center. She has a passion for new work that centers and uplifts the stories of global majority communities and has developed and directed work extensively regionally and in New York City.

March 29, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Panel discussion, “Women of Color: Leaders in Theater,” with above guest artists.

Please join United Students Government (USG) as we take a guided journey into the mind of Alicia Garza, principal at Black Futures Lab, author of the book The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, and co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter, on Friday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m.

Attendees must register in advance to attend this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar.

This event is sponsored by USG through the mandatory student activity fee. Vote Mandatory!

The deadline for Student Progress Reports has been extended to 11:00 p.m. Sunday, February 28. The Student Progress Report was deployed to all instructors on Friday, February 12. An e-mail notification with the link to the survey was sent to all faculty members.

The Student Progress Report is one of the most exciting features of the Bengal Success Portal. This early intervention tool enables faculty members to inform advisers and students about signs of academic difficulty early on in the term. Upon receiving an alert generated from their instructor's report, students can take immediate steps to improve their performance. When a pattern of concern arises in relation to a single student, faculty and staff advisers can conduct early outreach so that students can make positive changes to their academic habits.

Instructors are able to view their class lists and mark whether a student has encountered an issue, or award students “kudos” for a job well done. Students will receive e-mails, and students' advisers will be made aware of this feedback as well. If a cause for concern is identified, students will know that actions need to be taken. By the same token, advisers can then conduct proactive outreach to assist students in helping them to meet their academic goals.

Instructors, please complete the Student Progress Report by February 28. Your feedback just might be that extra little “nudge” that students need to put them on the path to success.

Have a question about the Bengal Success Portal? Please e-mail bengalsuccess@buffalostate.edu or refer to the online user guides.

Tomorrow, February 26, is the last day to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for spring 2021 courses.

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.

The deadline to submit applications for the SUNY B-140W Tuition Assistance Program for the spring 2021 semester is Friday, February 26.

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.

The SUNY Online Summit 2021 free virtual conference is happening this week (February 22–26). Come and join the conversation!

Program for Thursday, February 25

• 9:00–10:00 a.m.
  Panel: Remote Online Students
  Moderator: Michele Forte, Manager of Student Supports, SUNY Online 
   
• 10:15–11:15 a.m.
  Open Networking and Discussion for Online Faculty
  Facilitators: Robert Piorkowski, Assistant Director of Online Teaching, and Alexandra M. Pickett, Director of Online Teaching, SUNY Online
   
• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
  Presentation: Deciphering Online Learning Data during COVID-19
  Facilitator: Kristyn Muller, Impact Analyst for SUNY Online 
   
• 1:30–2:45 p.m.  
  Panel: HyFlex: Opportunities and Lessons Learned
  Moderator: Jamie Heron, SUNY Online Program Manager, SUNY Center for Professional Development
   
• 3:00–4:30 p.m.
  Panel: Lumen Circles Conversation
  Moderators: Michael V. Daly, Director of Operations for SUNY OER, and Chris Price, Academic Programs Manager, SUNY Center for Professional Development

Log-in information for all SUNY Online Summit sessions:

Join the Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 961 9309 3849
Passcode: 317920

Check out the full program for the SUNY Online Summit 2021.

The SUNY Online Summit 2021 free virtual conference is happening this week (February 22–26). Come and join the conversation! 

Program for Wednesday, February 24

• 9:00–10:30 a.m.
  Panel: Critical Populations – Meeting the Diverse Needs of All Learners
  Moderator: Nazely Kurkjian, Coordinator of Disability and Nontraditional Student
   Services and SUNY System Electronic and Information Technologies (EIT) Accessibility Officer
   
• 11:00 a.m.–Noon
  Strength and Support: Updates from SUNY System on Student Engagement
  Moderators John Graham, SUNY Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and Leah Wentworth, SUNY Director of Student Wellness, Office of Student Affairs, SUNY System Administration
   
• 1:00–2:00 p.m.
  Exploring Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Strategies in Designing Equitable Digital Learning Environments
  Presenters: Susan Adams, Associate Director of Teaching and Learning, and Jon Iuzzini, Director of Teaching and Learning, Achieving the Dream Inc.
   
• 2:15–3:45 p.m.
  Panel: How Faculty Can Support Online Student Success
  Moderators: Larry Dugan, Provost Fellow, SUNY Online Enrollment Management and Student Success, and Mike Walker, Support Services HelpDesk Manager, SUNY Online

Log-in information for all SUNY Online Summit sessions:

Join the Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 961 9309 3849
Passcode: 317920

Check out the full program for the SUNY Online Summit 2021.