Therese M. 'Terri' Locher, director of construction contract management in the Procurement Services Office, has announced her retirement after an exceptional 37-year career of service to Buffalo State College.

In addition to her great work with the Procurement and Facilities teams, Ms. Locher has provided valuable service to countless committees and working groups at Buffalo State, including the Commencement and Corn Fest committees. She has also dedicated more than 25 years of service to the National Association of Educational Procurement, having served twice as president, and currently serving as treasurer. She is regularly looked to for advice on how best to proceed with complex procurements and navigate the state system.

An active member of the Western New York community, Ms. Locher has dedicated her time to numerous organizations across the city and region. She currently volunteers with Explore Buffalo.

She received the President’s Award for Excellence in Service to the College in 2002 and the UPD Appreciation Award for her professional and dedicated service to the Buffalo State University Police Department in 2019.

Though her retirement was effective January 31, she is still working part time through March 31 to ensure a smooth transition. Please join me in thanking Ms. Locher for her outstanding work and commitment to Buffalo State. We wish her all the best in retirement.

The School of Education at St. Bonaventure University is offering four free presentations as part of its Spring Forum 2021 that explore issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and underscore the importance of continuing education and meaningful dialogue as a means to unify a divided nation.

All presentations are available online via the Zoom video conferencing platform and are free and open to the public. The events are also posted in the Workshop Registration System.

• Navigating a New Normal: Everyday Mental Health During a Pandemic
  Wednesday, February 3, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

• How Not to Respond When a Friend Reveals a Mental Health Condition
  Tuesday, February 23, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

• From Faculty to Leadership: A Black Woman's Experience in Higher Education
  Tuesday, March 23, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

• Teaching in Turbulent Times: Creating a Positive School Climate to Promote Healing and Learning
  Tuesday, April 27, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Please advise seniors who are expecting to graduate in May 2021 that the deadline to submit their online graduation application is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 21.

Students who miss the deadline to apply online should e-mail the Registrar's Office to request late consideration for graduation. Late applicants may experience a delay in the awarding of their degree.

The minimum number of credit hours for an undergraduate degree is 120. Students should review their Degree Works audit to make sure all requirements are being met before applying. More information and instructions on using the online graduation application system can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office, Moot Hall 210, 878-4811, with any questions or technical problems.

The implementation of the Title III grant is on track. In December, we hosted the Title III external evaluators visit to assess year two of the grant. Their initial feedback was very positive, and currently we are waiting to receive their written report. 

The full report on our progress during the fall semester that initiated year three of the grant semester (PDF, 276 KB) is posted on the Title III website.

In January, 14 faculty members and five Residence Life complex directors participated in a coaching training by InsideTrack. Currently, we are preparing to work on our year-two report for the Department of Education and continuing implementation of year-three goals and milestones. Lastly, during the spring semester, the Title III Task Force, in collaboration with the Professional Development Center, will continue to host the conversation series “Elevating Student Success in Our Current Environment.” More information about this series will be posted in the Daily Bulletin soon.

Any questions or comments about the Title III grant can be directed to Agnes Zak-Moskal, Title III activity director.

Welcome back! The Campbell Student Union (CSU) team has been hard at work this winter break in developing policies and procedures for all who use the services within our building. With the beginning of the semester underway, please keep in mind the following important guidelines when visiting the Campbell Student Union:

• To enter the Campbell Student Union, faculty, staff, and students must use the entry doors located on the Plaza side of the building, across from Butler Library. To assist with a one-way flow of traffic, visitors are asked to exit the building from the Perry side of the building, near the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore. 
• Upon entering the Campbell Student Union, all faculty, staff, and students are required to scan their Bengal ID cards, as well as display a current "negative" green dot on their COVID-19 Daily Screening Questionnaire. This proof of completion can be displayed via smartphone, but printed copies with a current date are also acceptable.
• Should you not have a Bengal ID card, or if your Bengal ID was printed before summer 2013, we ask that you please complete the CSU Visitor Close Contact Log, located on our iPads at the Bengal Bars upon entry. If you have any questions regarding the completion of the form, please feel free to ask one of our CSU team members for assistance. 
• While visiting the Campbell Student Union, please help us by practicing social distancing, wearing a mask (unless seated in one of our Chartwells dining areas), and using the multiple hand sanitizer stations found throughout the CSU. 
• If at any time you have a question or need assistance during your visit, please speak with a CSU team member, and we will be happy to assist.

Thank you for following our guidelines when visiting the CSU. Should you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail our staff.

We look forward to seeing you this semester. Go, Bengals!

The Health Ambassador Program supports the policies and practices put in place to ensure the health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff as we return to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health ambassadors will be stationed at various locations across campus Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The following locations will rotate based on feedback, traffic, and volunteer availability:

• Technology Building lobby (at the base of the stairs)
• Butler Library lobby
• Science and Mathematics Complex atrium
• Campbell Student Union
• Classroom Building lobby
• Bulger Communication Center lobby

Example services:

• Answering questions about COVID-19 health and safety procedures
• Checking temperatures and providing personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Directing people to resources
• Answering questions about daily symptom tracking 

Please fill out this form if you would like to volunteer as a health ambassador. This is a volunteer position. You will sign up for shifts via a shared Excel calendar. New volunteer trainings can be scheduled as needed with Paula Madrigal, assistant director of prevention and health promotions.,

The Health Ambassador Program is organized through the Prevention and Health Promotion Office in the Weigel Wellness Center.

Please e-mail Paula Madrigal with questions.

The Professional Development Center hopes to offer 30-minute to one-hour virtual meditation sessions for faculty and staff members throughout the spring 2021 semester. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues throughout this winter, many individuals are feeling overwhelmed and depressed by our socially isolating virtual environment. Meditation has been found to bring mental clarity and calmness to our minds and bodies. 

If you or someone you know has experience facilitating meditation sessions and would be interested in offering a 30-minute to one-hour meditation session for faculty and staff throughout the spring 2021 semester, please e-mail the Professional Development Center. Thank you.

The NYS Employee Assistance Program continues to host the very popular WellNYS Daily To-Do e-mail. This program sends a daily e-mail with a tip that encourages a healthful behavior. Sign up to receive the WellNYS Daily To-Do e-mail every morning.

The WellNYS Everyday Monthly Challenge Program is another option that promotes practicing a healthful behavior for 20 days out of the month, which hopefully develops into a habit. Sign up for the WellNYS Everyday Monthly Challenge Program.

February monthly challenge: Take care of your mental health.

Spring 2021 Withdrawal from Course begins today, February 8. Please be sure to review this important information when working with students.

Withdraw in Banner
To withdraw from a course, sign on to Banner. Click path is Student>Registration>Add or Drop Classes>Select Term. (The new course withdrawal option will first appear on the Add or Drop Classes screen after add/drop is over).

Note of Caution!
Before withdrawing from a course, students should give careful thought to the reasons for withdrawing and possible consequences. Course withdrawals can have a negative impact on both their progress toward graduation and eligibility for financial aid. Withdrawal from Course should be used infrequently and considered an action of last resort. It is to students' advantage to read the instructions on the Registrar's Office web page and the Banner Home page referenced below under Instructions on How to Withdraw from Course before withdrawing.

Instant Confirmation of Withdrawal
Upon withdrawing from a course, students will see an instant confirmation of their withdrawal, with the date of the withdrawal on the screen.

Instructions on How to Withdraw from Course
When students access the course withdrawal option, there is a link to general information and additional instructions that are posted on the Registrar's Office website.

Withdrawal from Course Deadline for Spring 2021
All online withdrawal from course activity must be completed directly in Banner self-service by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 9.
 

Waitlists for spring 2021 will be turned off at the end of the second day of classes—that is, 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, February 2; however, students who are already on a waitlist will continue to have the opportunity to register for the class if a seat becomes available before the drop/add deadline, which is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 7.

Additional information on waitlisting can be found on the Register's Office website.