From the Chief of University Police
Buffalo State College’s 2020 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (PDF, 2.4 MB) is now available online. This report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics for the college. The policy statements address Buffalo State’s policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, for example, policies for responding to emergency situations and sexual offenses. Three years’ worth of crime statistics are included for certain types of crimes that were reported to have occurred on campus, in or on off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the college, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus. This report is posted online at https://police.buffalostate.edu/sites/police.buffalostate.edu/files/uploads/Documents/2020_ASR.pdf.

You may also request a paper copy from University Police at (716) 878-6333 or police@buffalostate.edu if you are unable to view or print a copy from the website.

The Civic and Community Engagement Office is pleased to present the webinar "Solutions Journalism: A Tool for Creating Civic Empowerment" today, October 7, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

This event is presented by Campus Compact as part of the Education for Democracy: Election 2020 Series and is free to members of the Buffalo State College community.

Research shows that mainstream media is losing its place as a trusted source of information, and individuals worldwide report avoiding the news because it is predominantly negative and fails to present solutions. Rather than contributing to a knowledgeable and engaged populous, the news often undermines civic participation and builds cynicism instead. Solutions journalism is an antidote to this problem: rigorous reporting on solutions to social problems. 

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about the burgeoning field of solutions journalism and discover how to use this type of story to inform and engage students. Participants will create a story collection on the Solution Journalism Network's SolutionsU website that they can immediately use in their personal and professional lives. 

Hosted by Andrew Seligsohn, president of Campus Compact, and facilitated by Sandra Enos, retired professor of sociology at Bryant University; and Katherine Noble-Goodman, university partnerships manager for SolutionsU.

Please register online for this webinar.

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra will be updated to version 20.18 on Thursday, October 8, between 2:00 and 6:00 a.m. Collaborate Ultra customers will experience intermittent availability during the maintenance window.

The main upgrade in this version is the ability to see if a recording is still processing or ready to watch from the Recordings page in the Scheduler. For more information, please see the Release Notes for Collaborate Ultra.

You may also refer to Blackboard's Services Status page at any time to see if there may be an outage. Click on the plus symbol to the left of "Americas" to see a detailed list of services that Buffalo State uses (e.g.,  Collaborate Ultra - AWS (US) or Learn - Managed Hosting (US)).

Attention, graduate faculty: Kevin Miller, dean of the Graduate School, will host the fall 2020 Graduate School meeting on Friday, October 2, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting will focus on updates from the Graduate Student Association; 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 Friday, September 25. If you did not receive a link and would like to attend the meeting, please e-mail Ms. Letzelter.

Faculty and staff members are invited to attend a free Virtual SUNY Faculty Development Conference, "Teaching and Learning for Student Success," October 19 to 23.

The conference is sponsored by the SUNY Faculty Development Community of Practice, which brings together educational professional development staff and faculty throughout SUNY, with a particular emphasis on teaching and learning. This group creates opportunities for staff and faculty to learn about available SUNY resources to support teaching and learning and strengthen our professional networks. The audience for the conference includes those working in faculty development roles as well as faculty. The conference theme this year is “Teaching and Learning for Student Success.”

The conference will feature a wide variety of interactive sessions each day, virtual posters with times to engage with the poster presenters, and opportunities to network online with other attendees. More information, the conference agenda, and a registration link are available on the SUNY Center for Professional Development website.

Please join the Professional Development Center for the webinar "Beginning with the End in Mind," a SUNY-wide keynote with Michael Baston, president of Rockland Community College, on Wednesday, October 21, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Dr. Baston will discuss the main tenets of guided pathways and engage campus constituencies with backward design in mind. Equity will also be discussed in the context of guided pathways implementation. The event is free, however, space is limited; please register for this event by Friday, October 2, to ensure your virtual seat.

The Professional Development Center invites Buffalo State College faculty and staff members to two webinars on inclusive online teaching practices, sponsored by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), on Friday, October 2, at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, October 9, at noon. These free one-hour live webinars will feature leading experts in diversity, equity, and inclusion across higher education, faculty scholars in teaching and learning, and a Q&A for participants. Webinars will be moderated by an ACUE academic director. More details and registration information are available online.

The Undergraduate Research Small Grants Program provides up to $400 to assist undergraduate students in carrying out a research, scholarly, or creative activity during the academic year. (Up to $600 may be requested for a single project that involves two or more students.) Funding is intended to help defray the cost of supplies and other materials necessary to conduct the project, and is currently limited to non-travel expenses due to COVID-19 restrictions on college-funded travel. Award recipients will be required to participate in the 23rd annual Buffalo State College Student Research and Creativity Conference on May 1, 2021. The fall application deadline for submission of the student portion is Wednesday, October 14; faculty mentor approval is due by Friday, October 16. For more details, please visit the online application portal on the Undergraduate Research website.

The Professional Development Center is excited to announce the Podcast, Walk, and Talk series for all staff and faculty members. Take some time away from your desk to go for a 30-minute walk and listen to a podcast focused on health and wellness, parenting in our new environment, tips for creating work-life balance, or another interesting topic. After your walk, engage with your colleagues in a 45-minute virtual discussion facilitated by a topic expert to explore how you can apply what you learned from the podcast to your own life.

Please click the titles below to register for a Podcast, Walk, and Talk conversation.

Overcoming Our Fears by Taking Simple Steps Now to Make Our Pandemic Winter Easier
Friday, October 16: noon–1:15 p.m.
Jonathan Hulbert, Director of Leadership and Organizational Development

All of us have experienced the stressors, moments of hope, and sadness that have accompanied the events of 2020. At times, this new way of living has plunged each of us onto an emotional roller coaster, accompanied by feelings of a loss of control over our lives. Join a discussion with your colleagues after listening to two short podcasts to explore a powerful exercise called “fear-setting” and the simple steps you can take now to regain a sense of control over your life and make a pandemic Buffalo winter easier.

Voting Rights: Looking to Our Past to Understand Our Present
Friday, October 30: noon–1:15 p.m.
Laura Hill Rao, Director of Civic and Community Engagement

Election Day 2020 is right around the corner! Let’s consider how history affects how we vote today, particularly for Black and Brown members of our community. Think about your own experiences voting as you listen to the podcast, then join in the discussion to share your thoughts and learn from others.

The Road to Improved Health and Well-Being with Lifelong Behavior Change
Friday, November 6: 9:00–10:15 a.m.
Carol DeNysschen, Chair and Professor of Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics

COVID-19 has provided an opportunity for many people to self-reflect on their own health and well-being. During this sensitive time in history, marketing schemes are popping up everywhere, featuring advertisements for better health and COVID-19 protection through supplements. While listening to the podcast, consider your own health and wellness, and we will discuss how the road to improved health and well-being can be navigated safely and with lifelong behavior change.

Please contact Rebecca Eggleston, professional development assistant, with questions, and look for more Podcast, Walk, and Talk events in the Daily coming soon!

Please be reminded that if students are in the community for internships, service-learning, or other community-based experiences, a number of requirements must be followed to ensure safety. SUNY has provided guidance for community-based experiences during COVID-19, strongly recommending that remote projects and experiences be developed for all courses that incorporate experiences that normally take students into the community. There are many opportunities for remote projects and experiences that can be mutually beneficial while considering the health and safety of our students and vulnerable community members, including resource development, remote delivery, and research-based activities. We encourage you to transition these experiences to remote activities rather than cancel your community partnerships.

If students continue to be placed in the community, a faculty checklist has been developed to ensure that a number of requirements are followed to safeguard the health and safety of students and community members during in-person, on-site experiences (not for remote experiences). Please contact Laura Hill Rao, director of civic and community engagement, with questions or concerns.