SUNY Online, in collaboration with the nonprofit organization InsideTrack, a pioneer in student success coaching, will host a virtual workshop on Thursday, July 30, from from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. to share valuable resources that can assist faculty and administrators in preparing to support students during this time.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, countless institutions and millions of students made an unplanned emergency transition to online instruction. SUNY Online is committed to supporting campuses as they plan for an uncertain fall semester. This interactive workshop will provide an overview of InsideTrack's resources to provide institutional faculty and administrators with an opportunity to discuss specific scenarios they are facing and how these resources may be implemented as they continue to support their students.

Register for this free event. Please note this event is specifically for SUNY campuses.

July 26, 2020, marks the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Buffalo State College is pleased to announce two free events on Wednesday, July 29, to celebrate.

Since the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and with the 2008 amendment and updated revisions, our citizens have had codified civil rights support in a myriad of areas, including federal, state, and local governments; public accommodations; and commercial facilities.

The ADA at Thirty Years Old
Webinar
Noon–1:00 p.m.

Presenters (English stream): Joe Zesski, Jennifer Perry, Chris Sweet, Northeast ADA technical assistance team
(Spanish stream): Yessica Guardiola, Movimiento para el Alcance de Vida Independiente (MAVI), Northeast ADA Puerto Rico affiliate

On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. This landmark law was the first of its kind in the country to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in employment and in accessing state and local government programs and activities as well as the goods and services of businesses. In this webinar, Northeast ADA staff members will reflect on the ADA, its history, and its impact so far on our community and the lives of people with disabilities. It will also highlight areas where there is still work to be done on implementing the ADA. Questions about the ADA and its anniversary are encouraged. This webinar will be presented in English and in a separate but simultaneous Spanish stream.

Register now.

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Celebrating Diversity through Disability: In Search of Common Values
SUNY Virtual Conversation
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Leaders in higher education and public service will come together for an important virtual discussion that will focus on people with all kinds of disabilities and discuss ways to empower and provide opportunities through education, civic engagement, and the workforce.

Moderators
John Graham, Associate Provost for Student Affairs and University Life, SUNY
Christopher Rosa, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Inclusion Initiatives, CUNY

Panelists
Catherine Carlson, Director, Office of Accessibility Services, Columbia-Greene Community College and President, New York State Disability Services Council
Stacey Hengsterman, President, Special Olympics New York
Katherine Conway-Turner, President, SUNY Buffalo State College
John Robinson, CEO, Our Ability
Victoria Everett, Student, SUNY Buffalo State College

Register now.

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From the ADA Network: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.

We are pleased to announce that the first episode of the Data Science and Analytics program podcast Buffalo State Data Talk is now available on Spotify. In this podcast, we introduce listeners to data and explore careers that involve data.

The Buffalo State College Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in collaboration with the Continuing Professional Studies Office, will conduct a five-part entrepreneurial training this summer, "COVID-19 Best Practices for Minority and Women Business Owners." The program begins Tuesday, July 28, and continues for four consecutive Tuesdays in August. Networking begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program runs from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. This training is offered at no charge to participants and is made possible through a generous private donation.

The program provides strategies for jump-starting your enterprise during the coronavirus pandemic. Experts in honing your message, e-commerce, marketing, time management, procurement, and preparing a winning bid will share their exceptional knowledge. The final session is presented in collaboration with the Buffalo Purchasing Initiative, a collaboration of a dozen regional anchor institutions. This session is moderated by BPI program director Antonina Simeti. Participants will meet buyers from several anchor institutions.

This program was piloted in June and received exceptional reviews. To register, please e-mail SBDC business adviser Mauricio Canton Diaz. Once registered, participants will receive a Zoom link necessary for participation. Business owners who complete all five sessions will be awarded a Buffalo State Continuing Professional Studies Certificate.

Please be reminded of Governor Cuomo's Executive Order 205, issued June 24, 2020, which requires individuals to quarantine for 14 days after traveling for 24 hours or longer to any state that has a positive test rate for COVID-19 of higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10 percent positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

The Department of Health maintains a list of the specific states for which quarantine is required following travel for 24 hours or longer.

If traveling to a state in which the mandatory quarantine period has been identified prior to departure, or if traveling to a state that is added to the list while you are visiting and now requires mandatory quarantine upon return, please call Human Resource Management before returning to work at 878-3042 or e-mail Jamie Warnes, officer in charge of Human Resource Management. Thank you.

ICHP’s Center for Health and Social Research formally invites Buffalo State College staff members to a webinar presented by Susan Green of the University at Buffalo’s Trauma Institute on Friday, July 24, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. This webinar will identify best practices for staff to address student trauma and mental health concerns as they prepare to return to the classroom in the fall.

More information and registration are available online. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar.

This webinar series is sponsored by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) College Environmental Prevention Grant.

The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan will host an educational webinar Tuesday, July 28, at 9:00 a.m. for all employees who wish to attend. The NYSDCP is a supplemental retirement plan that is 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. 

This free educational webinar will explain the benefits of enrolling and participating in the NYS Deferred Compensation 457(b) Retirement Plan and how it can help you save for and live in retirement. The presentation will go over the basics of investing, the investment options, pre-tax contributions, and the easy and secure online enrollment process. Employees may contribute to a 457(b) in place of or in addition to a 403(b) plan.       

Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

You can also dial in by phone: (224) 501-3412
Access Code: 611 581 821

Join from a video-conferencing room or system.
Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or visit inroomlink.goto.com
Meeting ID: 611 581 821
Dial directly: 611581821@67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##611581821

To schedule an individual phone or online virtual appointment, please use the online scheduling tool or call Mark J. Wallace, senior account executive, NYS Deferred Compensation Plan, at (614) 854-4397 or (716) 903-7253 or visit www.nysdcp.com.

An important part of the Taskstream process is for academic departments, functional units, and co-curricular areas to submit reports to their deans or unit directors for review and feedback. Departments are asked to please remember to submit each of the following (directions can be found below):

• Results and Interpretation (your assessment data)
• Actions and Follow-up (any improvement plans based on the assessment data)
• 2019–2020 Annual Objectives (progress made on department or unit projects)
• 2020–2021 Annual Objectives (your projects for next year)
• (Optional) Other Accomplishments (submit only if you have work entered here)

To submit these sections, once in your Reporting Workspace, select the “Submissions and Read Reviews” tab. Then, for each of the above sections, click the Submit button and select your dean or vice president. More detailed instructions can be downloaded for chairs or for directors.

Once these sections are submitted, deans and vice presidents will receive an automated e-mail containing a link to view the section submitted and to provide feedback. Detailed instructions for deans and vice presidents (PDF, 197 KB) is also available.

Please direct technical questions to Tiffany Fuzak, research analyst, or content questions to Luke Krieg, interim associate vice president for institutional effectiveness. Thank you.

An important part of the Taskstream process is for academic departments, functional units, and co-curricular areas to submit reports to their deans or unit directors for review and feedback. Departments are asked to please remember to submit each of the following (directions can be found below):

• Results and Interpretation (your assessment data)
• Actions and Follow-up (any improvement plans based on the assessment data)
• 2019–2020 Annual Objectives (progress made on department or unit projects)
• 2020–2021 Annual Objectives (your projects for next year)
• (Optional) Other Accomplishments (submit only if you have work entered here)

To submit these sections, once in your Reporting Workspace, select the “Submissions and Read Reviews” tab. Then, for each of the above sections, click the Submit button and select your dean or vice president. More detailed instructions can be downloaded for chairs or for directors.

Once these sections are submitted, deans and vice presidents will receive an automated e-mail containing a link to view the section submitted and to provide feedback. Detailed instructions for deans and vice presidents (PDF, 197 KB) is also available.

Please direct technical questions to Tiffany Fuzak, research analyst, or content questions to Luke Krieg, interim associate vice president for institutional effectiveness.

ICHP’s Center for Health and Social Research formally invites Buffalo State College faculty members to a webinar presented by Susan Green of the University at Buffalo’s Trauma Institute on Friday, July 17, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. This webinar will identify best practices for faculty to address student trauma and mental health concerns as they prepare to return to the classroom in the fall.

More information and registration are available online. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar.

This webinar series is sponsored by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) College Environmental Prevention Grant.