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Vol. XLVII, No. 9 October 18, 2001

In this issue: From the President SEFA/United Way Campaign Curricular Approvals From the Vice President for Finance and Management Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Policy From the Vice President for Student Affairs SEFA/United Way Campaign Update Call for Nominations: Undergraduate Student Awards Victim/Witness Assistance Program From the Senior Adviser to the President for Equity and Campus Diversity Special Project Success Program: Using Electronic Resources to Enhance Instruction for Students with Disabilities Nuala Drescher Affirmative Action Professional Development Award Recipient Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrants "Guide to Effective Faculty, Administration, and Staff Searches" From the Chair of the College Senate College Senate Meetings Curricular Items Correction of Program Title

SEFA/United Way Campaign I am pleased to thank everyone who has contributed to the Buffalo State SEFA/United Way Campaign so far, and I urge others who want to participate to do so. While national and international news has drawn our attention to dramatic and tragic events elsewhere, and while these are events of great and urgent concern to us all, we do continue to have pressing social needs in our own community. We cannot neglect the needs that are addressed by agencies supported by the United Way. We have a strong legacy of United Way support here at Buffalo State. Indeed, I felt very proud when the chancellor distributed a list of all SUNY campuses at a recent meeting of SUNY presidents and Buffalo State College ranked at the top of the list for rate of participation in SEFA/United Way. Among the 64 SUNY campuses, we are ranked No. 1 with a participation rate of 56.88 percent! As always, Buffalo State leads the way in supporting our friends, colleagues, and neighbors in Western New York. back to top Curricular Approvals I have approved the following new courses, which have been recommended by the appropriate dean, the College Senate, and the provost and vice president for academic affairs: New Courses: HIS 385 Aztec and Maya History HIS 386 History of the Inca Empire HIS 425 Museum Preservation and Practice back to top   Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Policy In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the New York State Policy on Alcohol and Controlled Substances in the Workplace, Buffalo State College employees are subject to criminal, civil, and disciplinary penalties for any violation of the policy below: The unlawful use, possession, manufacture, dispensation, or distribution of a controlled substance (as defined in Schedules I through V of Section 202 of the Controlled Substance Act - 21USC812) in all Buffalo State College work locations is prohibited. Employees must notify the Human Resource Management Office of any criminal conviction for a drug-statute violation occurring in the workplace or at a work site no later than five working days after such conviction. An employee so convicted shall be required to satisfactorily participate in a state-approved drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program as a condition of continuing employment. Employees also are prohibited from alcohol use and are subject to penalties for alcohol-related impairment on the job. Such illegal acts, even if engaged in while off duty, may result in disciplinary action. In those locations where it is permitted, an employee may possess and use a controlled substance that is properly prescribed for the employee by a physician. If a supervisor has a reasonable suspicion that an employee is unable to perform job duties because of a disability that may be caused by use of a controlled substance or alcohol, the employee may be required to undergo medical testing. If the cause of the disability is found to be drug or alcohol related, the personnel or employee relations officer, in conjunction with the employee's supervisor, may refer the employee to voluntary and confidential participation in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Other available options include pursuing disability leave procedures or disciplinary measures. EAP is a free and confidential information and referral service available to all employees on campus. In addition to alcohol- and substance-abuse problems, EAP provides information and assistance with a variety of other concerns, such as child and elder care, financial matters, and nutrition and health. Call one of the following EAP coordinators for more information: Dave Cummings ext. 5233 Ann Ellement ext. 4811 Elaine Henzler ext. 6110 Questions regarding the Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Policy should be referred to Emmanuel J. Hillery, employee relations manager, at ext. 4822. back to top   SEFA/United Way Campaign Update Every employee who donates to this year's SEFA/United Way Campaign will have a chance to win a reserved parking space for 2001–2002. A pledge of $25 or less earns one raffle ticket; $26 ($1 per paycheck) to $51 earns three raffle tickets; and $52 ($2 per paycheck) or more earns five. Solicitors should be sure to return department pledge forms. If you make a pledge and do not receive your raffle ticket(s) by Tuesday, October 23, call Susan Robson, customer service coordinator, Weigel Health Center, at ext. 3453. back to top Call for Nominations: Undergraduate Student Awards President's Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student An outstanding senior will be honored with the President's Medal at this year's commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11. This award recognizes an outstanding member of the senior class who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of achievement, citizenship, leadership, and community service. Faculty and staff may nominate a graduating senior for consideration. Selection criteria include: Academic achievement measured by grade point average, rank in class, research, and other scholarly projects. Citizenship/college and community service measured by the quality of extracurricular involvement. Leadership/creativity, potential for future achievement measured by the student's record, recommendations, and a personal interview. SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King presents the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence at a spring ceremony in Albany. The Chancellor's Award recipient(s) from Buffalo State also will be recognized at the spring 2002 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11. Nominations are being sought for this award. Candidates must be graduating seniors who have best demonstrated and been recognized for the integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, including athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, or career achievement. Only undergraduate students graduating during the 2001–2002 academic year will be considered. The nomination form for both awards is available here and from department chairs and directors beginning Friday, October 19. Nominations and supporting documentation must be forwarded to Phillip Santa Maria, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, Campbell Student Union 306, by Friday, November 30. Graduate President's Medal and Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence recipients are selected in a separate process, administered by the Graduate Studies and Research Office. back to top Victim/Witness Assistance Program Frank J. Clark, Erie County district attorney, has asked Western New York colleges and universities to inform their faculty, staff, and students about the Erie County Victim/Witness Assistance Program. The New York State Crime Victims Board has modified compensation benefits for victims of the World Trade Center attacks. Of particular note are compensation benefits for counseling and burial expenses, which have been significantly enhanced. The board's intention is to quickly and comprehensively provide monetary aid to World Trade Center victims and witnesses. Faculty, staff, or students directly affected by the events of September 11 can obtain local assistance from the Erie County Victim/Witness Assistance Program. To discuss available compensation benefits, file a claim for compensation, receive local counseling referrals, or determine if other services might be needed, contact Jeffrey T. Ricketts, program coordinator, at 858-4640. back to top   Special Project Success Program: Using Electronic Resources to Enhance Instruction for Students with Disabilities All faculty and professional staff are invited to participate in a special hands-on program to explore ways in which current technology can support the needs of students with learning and other disabilities. Focus will be on special features of Blackboard that can enhance academic access for students with disabilities, students who are learning English as a second language, and others who have difficulty reading and writing college-level material. The program will include Web-enhanced instruction and ways to ensure that Web pages and other material delivered through electronic media and assistive and adaptive technologies are accessible to all students with disabilities. The program will run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Friday, November 2 in the FAST Center, E. H. Butler Library 318. Instructors will be Dennis Mike, associate professor of exceptional education, and Melaine Kenyon, distance education coordinator. Registration is limited to allow participants full access to equipment. R.S.V.P. to Peggy Bristol, Project Success coordinator, at ext. 3515 or bristolpa@buffalostate.edu by Friday, October 19. back to top Nuala Drescher Affirmative Action Professional Development Award Recipient Martin Kelly, assistant professor of biology, has received a Nuala Drescher Professional Development Award for spring 2002. The award program supports the professional development of faculty and professional staff who are members of traditionally underrepresented groups, including racial/ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities. For more information about the award, see www.albany.net/~nysuup/dreshgdl.htm. back to top Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrants The President's Council on Equity and Campus Diversity has reviewed applications for fall 2001 minigrants. Award recipients will be notified shortly. Applications for spring 2002 programs are available in the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415. Applications will be considered in the order received. Projects will be considered for support contingent on the availability of funds. Early submission is advised. back to top "Guide to Effective Faculty, Administration, and Staff Searches" The 2001–2002 "Guide to Effective Faculty, Administration, and Staff Searches" has been distributed to all vice presidents, deans, department chairs, directors, and current search committee chairs. Those who are conducting searches who have not received a copy of the guide should contact Michelle Douglas, assistant director for equity and campus diversity, at ext. 6235. The cost of producing the guide prohibits us from providing multiple copies of the guide to a single department. The position vacancy template for mailings is now available in the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, for a cost of $5 per package of 50. back to top   College Senate Meetings The next College Senate meeting will be Friday, October 19. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for Friday, November 9 and Friday, December 14. All will be held at 3:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. back to top Curricular Items The following have been approved by the Senate Curriculum Committee and will be forwarded to the president for final review and approval: Program Revisions: B.F.A. Furniture Design Concentration (0180) B.S. Communication Design Concentration (0175) New Courses: BUS 417 International Accounting FLE/SED 316 Teaching Reading in the Second Language in Middle Schools Course Revisions: FRE 305 Phonetics and Orthography FRE 415 Advanced Grammar and Composition back to top Correction of Program Title The Senate Curriculum Committee approved the Secondary English Education Postbaccalaureate Certification Program (7–12) and has forwarded the corrected program to the provost and vice president for academic affairs and to the president for final approval. back to top

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