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Vol. L, No. 35
May 12, 2005

In this issue:

From the President
Curricular Actions
From the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Policy on Multidisciplinary Studies Advisory Committees
Master's Project Guidelines
From the Vice President for Finance and Management
Purchase Requisition Deadlines
From the Vice President for Student Affairs
2005 Undergraduate Student Award Winners


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From the President

Curricular Actions
I have approved the following curricular items, which have been recommended by the appropriate dean, the College Senate, and the provost and vice president for academic affairs:

Program Revisions:
B.S. Electrical Engineering Technology: Power and Machines (0820)
B.S. Electrical Engineering Technology: Electronics (0821)
B.S. Mechanical Engineering Technology (0822)

New Courses:
GEG 619 Wetland Hydrology and Ecology
HIS 300 Research and Writing Seminar

Course Revision:
HIS 623 Problems in U.S. History

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From the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Policy on Multidisciplinary Studies Advisory Committees
Based on a recommendation from the Graduate Advisory Council and the dean of graduate studies, Richard Podemski, I have approved the following policy change related to the composition of the advisory committee in the multidisciplinary studies degree program:

    "Each multidisciplinary student must convene an academic advisory committee for his or her multidisciplinary program consisting of a principal adviser and two additional graduate faculty advisers. At least two of the college's four academic schools must be represented on the committee."

This policy change reduces the number of advisory committee members by one and specifies the need to have representation from at least two of the four new schools. The policy is effective immediately.


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Master's Project Guidelines
The Graduate Advisory Council, responding to expressed concerns about the lack of uniform standards for and the inconsistent quality of master's projects across the campus, recently developed Master's Project Guidelines. In devising the guidelines, the council reviewed existing departmental project guidelines and requirements, as well as guidelines at other colleges and universities.

The guidelines are posted on the Graduate Studies Web site and are for use in departments as appropriate. For more information, please contact Richard S. Podemski, dean of graduate studies and research, at ext. 5601 or podemsrs@buffalostate.edu.

Please note that E. H. Butler Library will archive properly bound master's projects. Contact the library archivist for questions relative to archiving.

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From the Vice President for Financ and Management

Purchase Requisition Deadlines
Requisitions for supplies, materials, services, and equipment from fiscal year 2004–05 funds must be received in the Purchasing Office by close of business the following dates:

$20,000 or more (noncontract) Monday, May 2
$20,000 or more (contract) Wednesday, June 1
Less than $20,000 Friday, June 10

Purchase requisitions for computer equipment and equipment replacement requirements, as well as purchases through Office Max for office supplies and copier paper, also must adhere to these deadlines.

Important note: It is the responsibility of departments to ensure that all requisitions for fiscal year 2004–05 are received in the Purchasing Office by the above deadlines. Late requisitions will not be processed. Requests received through campus mail after the deadlines will be returned.

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From the Vice President for Student Affairs

2005 Undergraduate Student Award Winners

President's Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student
SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence

Francisco A. Lopez
Francisco Lopez, a psychology major, has an overall GPA of 3.69. He is a recipient of the All College Honors Program Scholarship, has been inducted into the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society, and was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Lopez was selected to participate in the McNair Research Scholars Program, selected as a fellow in the National Institute of Mental Health's Regional Summer Institute, and was awarded a Minority Supplement Grant to the National Institute of Health Academic Research Enhancement Award Grant. He was also selected as a fellow on the Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health's Minority International Research and Training Grant in summer 2004, and as part of this program, he conducted research on public health issues related to smoking and HIV/AIDS in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Lopez served as president of the Psychology Club, as a member of the President's Council on Equity and Campus Diversity, and as a peer adviser for the Psychology Department. He was also a member of the International Students Organization and the college chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students. Lopez volunteers with the Compeer Intense Mentoring Program and has served as a youth adviser to St. Joseph's Parish Catholic Youth Organization.

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Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence

Nalini D. Goolsarran
Nalini Goolsarran majored in computer information systems, earning an overall GPA of 3.58. She received the 2004 Frances Siu Lan Tyau International Student Scholarship and was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She is very active in the Buffalo State College community, serving as a student ambassador in the Admissions Office, a peer mentor in the Nurturing Initiative and Achievement Mentoring Program, and a volunteer for the annual Buffalo State Bengal 5K Run and Fun Walk. She served as president of the International Students Organization and was an active member of the International Students Advisory Council, the Caribbean Students Organization, the Information Processors Association, and the Union Bash Planning Committee. Goolsarran also volunteers with international student orientation programs, end-of-the-year international receptions, and Buffalo State's annual peace conferences.

William N. Hoffman
William Hoffman is a recipient of the David Vernon Bullough Memorial Award for achievement in anthropology and was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. He completed two majors (anthropology and art) and two minors (art history and sculpture), with an overall GPA of 3.84. Hoffman took part in an overseas summer sculpture program and participated in iron casting and exhibitions in Estonia and Latvia. He served as president of the Anthropology Club and was a student participant in the college's strategic planning process. He has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and is an assistant scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America. He also volunteers at the Buffalo Museum of Science's "Camp-In Program," an overnight program for youth groups to participate in science-based activities.

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Mary Jane Masiulionis
Mary Jane Masiulionis has an overall GPA of 3.97 and a 4.0 in her major, English. She has received several honors while at Buffalo State, including the Estelle M. Engel Memorial Scholarship for excellence in writing, the highly competitive Summer Research Fellowship, and election to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. As a summer research fellow, Masiulionis explored the blues aesthetics in Toni Morrison's fiction. She has presented at academic conferences, including Buffalo State's sixth annual Student Research and Creativity Celebration, the 12th annual Penn State McNair Summer Research Conference, and the annual conference of the National Association of African and African American Studies and its affiliates. Masiulionis is a member and active participant in the Student Council for Exceptional Children at Buffalo State, a member of the Polish Arts Club of Buffalo, a chorister at Blessed Sacrament Church, and a volunteer at Mount Mercy Academy.

Laticia G. McNaughton
Laticia McNaughton majored in English and minored in anthropology with an overall GPA of 3.78. She received several scholarships, including the Burrell Minority Scholarship and the Buffalo Bandits Lacrosse Scholarship for Community Involvement and Academic Excellence. McNaughton was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, was one of just 10 students to receive the 2004 Buffalo State Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship, and was also accepted into the McNair Scholars Program. She presented her research, "An Examination of the Nature of 'Otgont' Beings and Their 'Orenda,' as Seen in Variant Versions of the Iroquois Creation Epic and Stone Giants Stories," at several conferences, including the 13th annual Ronald E. McNair Research Conference and the annual Conference on Iroquois Research in New York. She was the first undergraduate scholar ever to present at the latter. As president of the Native American Students Organization, McNaughton coordinated many programs to raise awareness of Native American culture. She also volunteered at the Indigenous Women's Initiatives Program, Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo and Erie County, and Native American Community Services of Erie and Niagara Counties.

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Chantz B. Miles
Chantz Miles has an overall GPA of 3.12 and dual majors, business administration and economics. He received the Burrell Minority Scholarship for talented incoming students from traditionally underrepresented ethnic and racial minority groups, was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and was named to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team in track and field in spring 2004. Miles served as treasurer of Black Active Minds and helped the organization grow from 20 members to 90 members. He also was a peer mentor in the Nurturing Initiative and Achievement Mentor Program, an orientation leader, a United Students Government senator, and a member of the selection committee for the President's Awards for Excellence in Academic Advisement and for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creativity. Miles has put on programs dealing with racism, diversity, and college life and ran a clothing drive for a local church.

Crystal C. Rodriguez
Crystal Rodriguez is a criminal justice major with a 3.81 GPA. She was a member of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, inducted into the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society, elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and recognized for outstanding academic performance in the Educational Opportunity Program and the McNair Scholars Program. Rodriguez has presented her research findings on Hispanic attitudes toward law enforcement at several symposiums and national McNair research conferences. She held positions as a University Police safety assistant, a resident assistant, and an orientation leader. She also took on leadership roles in Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority as academic chair, community service chair, and president. Through her sorority and the student organization Adelante Estudiantes Latinos, Rodriguez helped the local community. She has served at local soup kitchens; volunteered at the Delaware Heights Health Care Center and a camp for children with cancer; participated in sleep-outs to raise awareness of the homeless; and walked to raise money for multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and the March of Dimes.

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Pamela R. Shannon
Pamela Shannon is an outstanding role model and student who has earned an overall GPA of 3.90 and a 3.97 in her major, childhood education. She was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and nominated for the Norma Munger Sutter Award for Excellence in Student Teaching. Shannon received the highest possible rankings in her field placement rubrics, the rankings primarily reserved for master teachers beyond initial certification. Before pursuing elementary education, she enjoyed a career in the computer industry. She helped to found a local technology trade association and served on its board of directors for five years. Shannon has been accepted into the educational computing graduate program at Buffalo State. She currently serves as a fifth- and sixth-grade multiage classroom teacher at Enterprise Charter School.

Sarah E. Wilson
Sarah Wilson achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA as a psychology major. She was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and is a recipient of the All College Honors Program Scholarship and the Psychology Club's Eastern Psychological Association Conference Scholarship. She is a member of Psi Chi, the honor society for psychology, and served as the organization's secretary. She also was a teaching assistant for the Psychology Department's statistics classes, served as a student representative on two standing committees in the Psychology Department, and was active in the Psychology Club. Wilson worked with the Psychology Club Research Team and participated in their taste-test research presentation at the Student Research and Creativity Celebration in 2004. She has also volunteered at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center and is currently a member of Psychology Students Interested in Community Outreach.

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Mildred Keller Campbell Leadership Award

Todd V. Espinosa
Todd Espinosa is a communication major with a 3.30 GPA. He has served as president of the United Students Government 28th Legislature. Under his leadership, USG has had many achievements, including the opening of the USG Game Room and the adoption of the USG/NFTA Buffalo State Student Transit Pass Program. In addition to serving as president of USG, Espinosa has served as the student member of the Buffalo State College Senate and College Council. He has been instrumental in representing undergraduate students in the college's strategic planning process and has served on many other notable college committees. He is a mentor to first-year students in the Nurturing Initiative and Achievement Mentor Program and co-chair of the Springfest planning committee, and he received a commendation of achievement from the Communication Department.

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Minnie and Joe Engel Student Humanitarian Award

Eric Maldonado
Eric Maldonado plans to complete his second bachelor's degree at Buffalo State College next December, majoring in English secondary education. He completed a bachelor's degree in psychology through the University of Maryland University College in a program he began while on overseas duty with the United States Army. Maldonado has distinguished himself as an active volunteer in the region's Hispanic community. He is president of the Western New York alumni chapter of La Unidad Latina, treasurer of Los Tainos Senior Citizens Center, board member of Hispanos Unidos de Buffalo, and the founding organizer of the Puerto Rican Day Parade of Western New York. On campus, Maldonado has served as a resident assistant and as an EOP residence hall director and has organized a college visitation program, Latino Extravaganza, to introduce area Latino high school students to life on a college campus. His spirit of humanitarianism is also reflected in his work as a residential habilitation aide for Aspire of WNY and as a center manager and youth development counselor for the Buffalo Youth Opportunity Movement. Maldonado received the Martha J. Pierce Student Recognition Award in 2001 and the Soldier of the Year award in 1998.

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Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges

Steven Adams, Jonathan Dalbo, Patrice De Micco, Amanda Dietz, Todd Espinosa, Rachael Galus, Timothy Giagios, Nalini Goolsarran, Nancy Green, Kristin Gregoire, William Hoffman, Jaclyn Hutchinson, Kristen Kachurek, Maria Kilmer, Jeannine King, Katherine Koser, Brenda Kowalski, Matthew Levin-Stankevich, Francisco Lopez, Rose-Marie Mango, Mary Jane Masiulionis, Courtney McMann, Laticia McNaughton, Chantz Miles, Bruce Morrison, Marcia Nigro, Ying Nee Ooi, Jaime Panaro, Donald Pembleton, Tia Peters, Hector Ramos, Suzanna Ramos, Jennifer Recktenwalt, Crystal Rodriguez, Valerie Rossi, Pamela Shannon, Chadrick Shoales, Laura Shriver, Melissa Wannemacher, Sarah Wilson, Ruoqiu Wu.

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About the Bulletin
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