Budget Session
I am pleased to invite all members of the campus
community to an information session on Buffalo State College's
budget for fiscal year 2002–2003. Provost and Vice President for
Academic Affairs Gary Marotta and Vice President for Finance
and Management Stanley Kardonsky will make presentations at
this event, which will be held from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday,
September 5 in Bulger Communication Center E2.
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Academic Convocation
Please place Academic Convocation on your calendars for Thursday, September 19 at
12:15 p.m. in Rockwell Hall Auditorium. It is our traditional collective reaffirmation of
the life of the mind and of our dedication to teaching as we commence a fresh academic
year. This year's Bonnie and Vern L. Bullough Academic Convocation Address will be
given by Betty L. Siegel, Ph.D., president of Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. Her
talk is titled "Inviting Success."
During the ceremony we will recognize the following colleagues:
SUNY Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
- Darlene Clark Hine, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of History at
Michigan State University, past president of the Organization of American Historians,
and president-elect of the Southern Historical Association for 2002–2003
Distinguished Professorships
- Betty J. Cappella, Chair, Educational Foundations: Distinguished Service Professor
- Francis R. Kowsky, Fine Arts: Distinguished Professor
Chancellor's Awards
- Michael Johnson, Associate Professor, Modern and Classical Languages: Excellence
in Teaching
- Kay Johnson-Gentile, Associate Professor, Elementary Education and Reading:
Excellence in Teaching
- Albert F. Riess, Librarian, E. H. Butler Library: Excellence in Librarianship
- Stephanie B. Zuckerman-Aviles, Director, Career Development Center: Excellence in
Professional Service
President's Awards
- Jerry S. Boyes, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics: Excellence in Service to the
College
- Susan P. Kendt, Secretary 2, Dean's Office, Arts and Humanities: Excellence in
Service to the College
- Therese M. Locher, Assistant Director, Purchasing: Excellence in Service to the
College
- Diana M. McNerney, Secretary 1, Art Conservation: Excellence in
Service to the College
- James L. Palermo, Professor, Educational Foundations: Excellence in Research,
Scholarship, and Creativity
- Thomas J. Reigstad, Professor, English: Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and
Creativity
- Zhang Jie, Associate Professor, Sociology: Excellence in Teaching
A reception will be held on the front lawn of Rockwell Hall immediately after the
ceremony. All faculty and staff are invited to attend.
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SEFA/United Way Campaign
Buffalo State employees are an important part of the Western New York community, and
we request your support for the 2002–2003 SEFA/United Way Campaign. I am pleased
to invite you to the campaign kickoff on Tuesday, September 10 during Bengal Pause
(12:15 to 1:30 p.m.) in the Campbell Student Union Fireside Lounge.
Buffalo State has traditionally been a leader in the SEFA/United Way Campaign because
of our caring and generous faculty and staff. This is a particularly difficult time for so
many in our community. We hope, therefore, that you will continue the Buffalo State
tradition with this year's campaign.
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Purchasing Academic Regalia through Payroll Deduction
Annual events at Buffalo State—Academic Convocation, Honors Convocation, and
Commencement—afford the opportunity for faculty and staff participation in full
academic regalia. These hallmarks of our academic year are special for both internal and
external constituencies.
Faculty and staff may purchase academic regalia through a payroll-deduction plan with
the Buffalo State College Foundation. Interested members of the campus community
should call the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore, ext. 5509, for styles and
prices. Click here for the form to establish payroll deduction.
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Nominations for Chancellor's and President's Awards
and Distinguished Professorships
I encourage the Buffalo State community to nominate deserving colleagues for
Chancellor's, President's, and Distinguished Teaching and Service Awards. A schedule
for the receipt of nomination packages follows. Guidelines may be obtained from the
Academic Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, ext. 5901.
Nominations with supporting materials for recipients of the Distinguished Teaching
Professor or Distinguished Service Professor award, or for the Chancellor's Award for
Excellence in Teaching, Professional Service, Librarianship, or Scholarship and Creative
Activities must be submitted to the provost, Cleveland Hall 519, by the following dates
(the third Monday in November each year):
November 18, 2002 (academic year 2002–2003)
November 17, 2003 (academic year 2003–2004)
November 15, 2004 (academic year 2004–2005)
Nominations with supporting materials for recipients of the President's Award for
Excellence in Teaching; Research, Scholarship, and Creativity; Librarianship; Academic
Advisement; Service to the College; or the Advancement of Equity and Campus
Diversity must be submitted to the provost by the following dates (the first Monday in
March each year):
March 3, 2003 (academic year 2002–2003)
March 1, 2004 (academic year 2003–2004)
March 7, 2005 (academic year 2004–2005)
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Course Cancellations
As we start the fall semester, you are no doubt aware that the college has had to engage in
painful budget cuts during the summer. In the coming weeks, in information sessions and
at Senate meetings, we will review the full impact of a series of cuts totaling 5 percent of
the state operating budget, some $3.3 million in reductions. We will explain the budget
process and the ordering of priorities, and answer your specific questions. I would like to
take this opportunity to respond to one question that is being frequently asked: Why were
courses canceled so close to the start of classes? The answer has to do with priorities,
flexibility, and timing.
In managing the $1.99 million budget cut in Academic Affairs, we chose to remain
committed to the priority of hiring new full-time faculty. This meant extending the time
of searches. It was a trade-off between long-term health (more full-time faculty) and
short-term pain (abrupt course cancellations). We also remained dependent on
retirements to augment the adjunct and temporary faculty salary pool. Hard information
on retirements did not arrive until August, since affected faculty were deferring decisions.
Thus, by June, all budget cuts had been made in Academic Affairs with the exception of
the adjunct/temporary pool. The determination of resource availability for that pool did
not become clear until about two weeks before the start of classes, when we had firm numbers on
faculty hires and retirements. Quickly, 50 courses were canceled between August 19 and
August 26, affecting 494 registrants. The abruptness and dislocations are regrettable.
Faculty and professional staff advisers, department chairs, deans—all worked hard to
accommodate the affected students. We do not yet know the precise number of students
who could not identify alternate courses, though we believe the number is low. We do
know, however, that the campus budget is now in balance for the fall term, and we can be
proud of the recent progress that this campus has been able to make in many areas. I am
particularly excited that we have 36 new, vital, full-time faculty at Buffalo State this
semester.
Buffalo State is resilient and collegial, perhaps resilient because it is collegial. The
academic administration, indeed the entire administration, is committed to working with
the college community during these difficult times. Currently, the deans and associate
vice presidents are working with department chairs and directors to identify anticipated
expenses and cuts well in advance of the spring semester.
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Telecommunication Updates
New 585 Area Code
A new area code, 585, was introduced to the region on November 15, 2001. The new code
serves the following counties or portions of these counties that were previously part of the 716
area code: Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, and
Yates. The following counties and reservations have retained the 716 area code: Cattaraugus,
Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties and the Tonawanda and Oil Springs Indian
Reservations.
As of August 17, dialing plans for both area codes are as follows:
- Local telephone numbers within the area code (716 to 716 or 585 to 585) continue to
consist of seven digits.
- Local telephone numbers across area code boundaries (716 to 585 or 585 to 716)
consist of 11 digits: 1 + area code + telephone number.
- Long-distance numbers continue to consist of 11 digits: 1 + area code + telephone number.
The new area code does not affect rates. A local call is a local call, regardless of the number of
digits dialed.
Cellular Phone Law
New York State law prohibits the use of handheld cellular phones while driving. Buffalo State
requires its employees to comply with this directive.
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College Policy on Religious Discrimination
The college does not discriminate against employees, applicants for employment, or
students based on religion or national origin.
The following policy statement appears in the college catalog:
Students Unable to Attend Classes on Certain Days Because of Religious Beliefs
- No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of
higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious
beliefs, to register for or attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or
work requirements on a particular day or days.
- Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her
religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days, shall, because of such
absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or
work requirements.
- It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each
institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from
school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for
classes or make up any examination or study or work requirements that he or she may
have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind
shall be charged by the institution for making available to said student such
equivalent opportunity.
- If registration, classes, examinations, or study or work requirements are held on Friday
after 4:00 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, or study or work
requirements shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practical to
do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, or
study or work requirements held on other days.
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- In effectuating the provisions of the education law, it is expected that faculty and
administrative officials will exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or
prejudicial effects shall result to any student for availing himself or herself of the provisions
of this section.
- Any student who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative
official to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section shall be entitled to
maintain an action or proceeding in the Supreme Court of the county in which such
institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under
this section.
- The term "religious beliefs" shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation
organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes that is not disqualified for
tax exemption under Section 501 of the United States Code.
- At Buffalo State College, we sharpen the mandate of the state and endorse the policy
that the administering of evaluative examinations on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and
Good Friday will not be permitted.
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According to the American Jewish Committee, every Jewish holy day begins at sunset
the previous day. There are three major branches within Judaism—Orthodox,
Conservative, and Reform—each with its own degree of observance regarding work and
school on holy days. As a result, the number of days for which a holy day may be observed
varies from person to person depending on his or her level of religious observance.
Students and staff observing the Jewish faith will probably be absent from school or work
for the following holy days during 2002–2003:
| Rosh Hashanah |
Jewish New Year |
| |
Friday evening, September 6, 2002 |
| |
Saturday, September 7, 2002 |
| |
Sunday, September 8, 2002 |
| Yom Kippur |
Day of Atonement |
| |
Sunday evening, September 15, 2002 |
| |
Monday, September 16, 2002 |
| Passover |
Seder |
| |
Wednesday evening, April 16, 2003 |
| |
Thursday, April 17, 2003 |
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Project Success: First Friday Dialogs for Disabilities
Project Success, a federally funded project to ensure that students with disabilities receive
a quality higher education, will hold a series of information sessions for faculty and staff
on the first Friday of each month during the academic year. The sessions will be informal
and are designed to assist faculty and staff in meeting the needs of students with
disabilities.
The first session, "Understanding Documentation and Accommodation," will be held at noon September 6 in Cleveland Hall 418. See the August 22 issue of the Bulletin for
more details. Call Peggy Bristol, Project Success coordinator, at ext. 3515 by
Wednesday, September 4 to reserve lunch.
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Project Success: Preparing Students with Disabilities
for the Transition from College to the Workforce
Faculty and staff have received invitations to the Project Success special one-day
workshop "Preparing Students with Disabilities for the Transition from College to the
Workforce," which begins at 8:00 a.m. Friday, October 18 in Rockwell Hall Auditorium. Colleagues from across the state have been invited
to attend. The session is filling fast. Faculty and staff should return their registration forms as soon as possible. For more information
or registration forms, call Peggy Bristol, Project Success coordinator, at ext.
3515.
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College Senate Meetings
College Senate meetings will be held at 3:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210 on
the following Fridays during the fall 2002 semester:
September 20
October 18
November 8
December 13
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Senate Standing Committees
The College Senate always needs faculty and staff representation on its standing
committees. Below are the names of committees and brief descriptions of their basic
missions. If you wish to serve on a committee for the 2002–2003 academic year, please
print this form and return it to the College Senate Office, Cleveland Hall 211.
Academic Plan
Assumes leadership in the intermediate- and long-range planning of the overall academic
function of the college. Areas include the mission of the college, master plan,
regionalism, enrollment projections, and accreditation.
Academic Services
Recommends policies designed to make academic support services more useful and
available to academic programs.
Budget and Staff Allocation
Gathers, analyzes, and recommends criteria for all data and policies needed to determine
budget and staff allocations.
Bylaws and Elections
Conducts necessary elections provided for in the bylaws to ensure proper representation
on the College Senate. Recommends changes in the bylaws designed to facilitate the
democratic governance of the college.
Curriculum
Receives, reviews, and recommends approval or nonapproval of all courses and programs
offered by the college, consistent with Senate policies and procedures.
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Instruction and Research
Concerns itself with aspects of policy that relate to the improvement of instruction and
the development of services and resources necessary to carry out or enhance instruction
and research.
International Education
Develops the content of overseas academic and faculty exchange programs and makes
recommendations regarding admission of and services to foreign students attending
Buffalo State.
Professional Welfare
Responsible for matters concerning faculty and staff welfare and well-being.
Standards for Students
Reviews and recommends policies dealing with student admission, readmission, retention, and
probation, as well as with graduation standards for undergraduate and graduate
students.
Student Welfare
Examines matters and recommends policy concerning aspects of student life.
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