The Daily Bulletin Archive

Welcome to the 2007–2008 academic year. We completed orientation for new students and faculty, started classes, and experienced the Labor Day holiday. With the academic year under way, we have countless opportunities to deliver educational experiences, services, and support to our 11,000 students.

It's always difficult to let go of those somewhat less-structured days of summer and resume the routine invariably connected with the fall semester. I hope the summer months were rewarding, refreshing, and rejuvenating for you. The transition to fall is, of course, made easier by the excitement of welcoming new colleagues to Buffalo State and catching up with those we’ve not seen for a number of weeks.

First-Year Convocation, held Friday, August 24, refocused our attention to the priority of academics and the intellectual work our first-time students enter. Many thanks to Dean Janet Ramsey and University College for providing a memorable convocation. A special thanks to members of Buffalo State's intercollegiate athletics teams for the enthusiastic welcome they provided the Class of 2011 and all convocation participants when we departed Rockwell Hall.

We enter the academic year as an institution with many expectations and challenges, and we recognize that a variety of higher education issues will affect Buffalo State. The new emphasis and format of the collegeBulletin will serve as a vehicle for me to communicate on topics reflective of college priorities and accomplishments. In a couple of focused articles each month, updates will be provided on items and issues such as:

• How Buffalo State can respond to the external calls for accountability and demonstration of institutional effectiveness.
• Progress toward the academic plan goal of 100 percent accreditation of eligible academic programs and summary of accreditation reviews in 2007–2008.
• The college's continuing success in sponsored program funding and incentive programs to support research efforts.
• Curriculum as an institutional resource, new program directions, and the role of SUNY and State Education Department in the curricular approval process.
• Outcomes (knowledge, skills, attributes) expected of the Buffalo State graduate.
• Graduation and retention.
• Progress with efforts to increase full-time faculty and appropriately balance the number of adjunct faculty.
• The Periodic Review Report being prepared for submission to Middles States by June 2008.
• Acknowledgement of the accomplishments guided by the college’s 2003–2008 Strategic Plan and plans to prepare the next (2008–2013) five-year plan.

The above are representative of a number of areas where updates and information will be communicated via the Bulletin this academic year. I trust the information will be relevant and useful as we collectively address issues, ensure the success of our students, and advance the overall mission of Buffalo State.