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Vol. LI, No. 14 November 10, 2005

In this issue: From the President 2005–2006 Commencement Committee From the Vice President for Finance and Management Correction: Winter Pause Purchase Orders Required Individual Development Awards From the Chair of the College Senate College Senate Meeting Curricular Items

2005–2006 Commencement Committee I am pleased to announce the members of the 2005–2006 Buffalo State College Commencement Committee: Chair: Cheryl Hamilton, associate professor, Art Education; Patricia Alessandra, senior staff associate, Academic and Student Affairs; Mark Bausili, registrar; Registrar's Office; Susan Birden, associate professor, Educational Foundations; Thomas Coates, director, Events Management; Robert Delprino, associate professor, Psychology; John DeNisco, associate professor, Business; Lee Ann Grace, assistant dean, International and Exchange Programs; Amitra Hodge, assistant professor, Sociology; James McCarthy, deputy chief, University Police; Jill Powell, senior assistant to the vice president, Institutional Advancement and Development; William Raffel, assistant professor, Communication; Thomas Sadowski, lecturer, Elementary Education and Reading; Jean Salisbury, secretary 2, University College; Lynne Scalia, associate professor, Business; Peter Sowiski, chair and professor, Design; Gail Wells, director, Student Life; Craig Werner, interim chair and associate professor, English; Kathy Wood, assistant professor, Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education; Rita Zientek, interim associate dean, School of the Professions; Sarah Hubel and Charles Mays, student representatives. This committee serves as an advisory committee to the president, reviewing and forwarding recommendations for procedural and operational changes to the commencement ceremony, as well as other processes involved with commencement. back to top   Correction: Winter Pause The 2005–2006 Winter Pause will begin as of the close of business on Friday, December 23, 2005, and will end at the beginning of business on Tuesday, January 3, 2006. A previous Bulletin announcement incorrectly stated that Winter Pause would begin as of close of business rather than the beginning of business Monday, December 26, 2005. During Winter Pause, college operations will be limited. Employees may elect to use leave accruals (annual leave or personal leave) for days off, and departments may remain closed (with the permission of their vice president). The two state holidays (December 25 and January 1) fall on Sundays this year and will be observed on Monday, December 26, 2005, and Monday, January 2, 2006. Employees are not required to charge leave accruals for December 26 and January 2. Details regarding this year's Winter Pause will be published at a later date. back to top Purchase Orders Required New York State procurement rules and regulations require that a state purchase order be prepared prior to the delivery of goods or services. A recent audit of the college by the New York State Comptroller's Office cited the college for not always adhering to these regulations by processing confirming orders, i.e., requests to pay for goods or services without a preexisting official purchase order. Therefore, effective immediately, the Purchasing Office will not process for payment any invoice for goods or services without an official purchase order already on file. If goods or services are delivered before the purchase order is issued, the employee who placed the order with the vendor may be personally liable for the payment of the goods or services. If you have questions about ordering goods and services, call the Purchasing Office at ext. 4113. back to top Individual Development Awards The State of New York/United University Professions Joint Labor-Management Committees have announced the allocation of funds for Individual Development Awards for July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006. This program is intended to assist employees in the UUP bargaining unit in developing their full professional potential and in preparing for advancement by funding professional development activities. The maximum award is $1,000 ($5,000 when salary for a replacement is required). Applications from those who have not been funded previously are encouraged. The total amount to be distributed at Buffalo State is $31,702.50 for the year. The Individual Development Award Committee will review applications, taking into consideration whether proposed activities will enable applicants to meet one or more of the criteria (a–e) specified in Article XII, Title A, B, or C, of the Policies of the Board of Trustees concerning employees' evaluation and promotion. An employee may submit only one application for the year. back to top Award Period The award period covers professional development activities commenced on or after July 1, 2005, and completed on or before June 30, 2006. Eligibility Requirements Full-time employees must be in the UUP bargaining unit at the time of the award and during the dates of the proposed project. Full-time employees who accrue annual leave will not be required to charge credits for any activities funded by Individual Development Awards. Part-time employees who meet the eligibility requirements for 26-week coverage for health benefits will have the same eligibility for Individual Development Awards. Part-time employees who are eligible for health benefits during the summer also are eligible for funding for activities that occur during the summer, whether or not they are on the payroll. The Individual Development Award Committee will give preference for a minimum of 15 percent of the available funds to employees holding part-time appointments at the time of their activity if sufficient applications are received. Part-time employees who accrue annual leave will not be required to charge credits for any activities funded by Individual Development Awards. back to top Types of Projects or Activities Projects or activities must fall within the following categories: Basic, applied, or historical research. Curricular or instructional material development. Workshop, seminar, internship, or coursework not covered by Contract Article 46 or SUNY tuition waiver. Conference participation or attendance. Preparation of material for publication. Grant-proposal development. Professional reading or independent study. Other work-related professional development projects or activities. Types of Support Registration fee(s) for conferences or workshops. Consumable supplies (paper, pens, postage, etc.). Nonconsumable supplies, e.g., books, software, etc. (Any nonconsumable supplies purchased with Individual Development Award funds become the property of the State of New York/State University of New York.) Travel and related expenses (includes lodging and meals). Research support (e.g., computer time, network access or support, clerical support). Equipment lease or purchase. (Any equipment purchased with Individual Development Award funds becomes the property of the State of New York/State University of New York.) Tuition and course-related supplies. The maximum allowance for tuition is the SUNY rate at the time of application (currently $181 per undergraduate credit or $288 per graduate credit). Salary for a replacement (up to $4,000, not to exceed the recipient's salary). All funding requests must conform to the State Comptroller's Rules and Regulations and limitations contained therein. Specific questions about travel and other reimbursement information should be addressed to the Accounting Office, Cleveland Hall 414. Additional justification for specific items may be requested. back to top Funding Priorities Faculty or staff presenting research papers, posters, or juried exhibitions. Faculty in fields with rapidly changing technology attending workshops/conferences to keep skills current. Job-related skill-enhancement workshops or training institutes. Continuing education related to job responsibilities. Proportional distribution between faculty, professionals, and librarians. Application Procedure Applications must be received by the Individual Development Award Committee, in care of the Human Resource Management Office, Cleveland Hall 403, by 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2006. Applications and guidelines are available at www.buffalostate.edu/offices/hr/ida.asp or in the Human Resource Management Office. The committee strongly encourages the electronic submission of applications to fortunkm@buffalostate.edu. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Kathleen Fortune at ext. 3042. Along with the completed application, applicants must submit the following: A current curriculum vitae. A job description (if professional staff). A list of any other grant support for the project or activity, including the amount of such support. A brochure, announcement, or other relevant material describing the program and costs. (If material is not yet available, send as soon as possible.) If presenting, a notification of acceptance or invitation. (If notification is not yet available, send as soon as possible. Funding is contingent upon notification of acceptance.) Any other supporting documentation. back to top Notification of Awards Applicants will be notified of award decisions by Friday, February 24, 2006. Reimbursement Procedure Reimbursement of actual expenditures will be handled through the Accounting Office, Cleveland Hall 414, and must comply with the State Comptroller's Rules and Regulations and limitations contained therein. Questions regarding rates of reimbursement should be directed to the Accounting Office. Award recipients must submit New York State vouchers and original receipts within 30 days of the completion of the project or activity, or within 30 days of award notification if the funded project or activity has already been completed. Award recipients who are unable to complete a project as planned must notify the Individual Development Award Committee as soon as possible. Failure to notify the committee may result in the applicant's ineligibility for future awards. Vouchers and receipts not submitted in a timely manner will result in forfeiture of entitlement to reimbursement. All funds must be spent by June 30, 2006. Individual Development Award Committee Individual Development Award Committee members are Alex Ratkowski, Barbara Vaughan, and Gwen Veira representing UUP and Dolores Battle, Susan Earshen, and Gary Jones representing management. back to top   College Senate Meeting The next meeting of the College Senate will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 18, in E. H. Butler Library 210. The meeting agenda has been posted on the Senate Web site. Interested faculty and staff members are invited to attend. back to top Curricular Items Correction: ANT 301 as published in the November 3, 2005, college Bulletin should have listed two Intellectual Foundations designations. The correct listing is ANT 301 Indigenous Peoples of Eastern North America (World Civilizations; Diversity). back to top The following have been received in the College Senate Office and forwarded to the Senate Curriculum Committee for review and approval: Intellectual Foundations Courses Course Revisions: GEG 101 World Natural Environments (Natural Science). Nature of geography; earth-sun relationships; maps and map interpretation; and classification, distribution, and origins of the major elements of the natural environment: weather, climates, soils, natural vegetation, and landforms and developmental processes. GEG 102 Human Geography (Social Science). Introduction to cultural geography through the application of five themes: region, diffusion, ecology, interaction, and landscape. The distribution of value systems, ethnicity, language, religion, and population as indices of human variety. Cultural impacts of globalization. GEG 309 Urban Geography (Diversity). Internal spatial structure of American metropolitan areas and their relationships. Spatial arrangements of land uses; ethics, racial and economic composition of the population; dynamics of population growth and change; influence of minorities on cities and suburbs; geographic consequences of poverty and segregation on growth and change; transportation and fiscal problems confronting local governments. back to top GEG 360 Geography of Asia (World Civilizations). A regional geographic analysis of south, east, and southeast Asia. Overview of the continent's natural environment. Examination of the principal elements of the cultural environment: demography and ethnicity, urbanization, economy, and political structure. Interaction between the physical and cultural environments. GEG 364 Geography of Europe (Western Civilization). Physiographic regions, landforms, climate, vegetation, soils, and drainage patterns. Culture regions, language, religion, population, migration, politics, economics, and impacts on the natural environment. Interdependence of regions within Europe and within the global context. Excludes the former Soviet Union. GES 101 Introductory Geology (Natural Science). Introduction to physical aspects and processes on and in the earth, including the formation and change of properties of rocks and minerals, and the theory of plate tectonics. Course also focuses on the solar system, volcanoes, the continents, and the oceans. Aspects of earthquakes, tsunamis, glaciers, the ice ages, and environmental issues are also discussed. Concurrent registration in GES 103 is recommended for science majors. back to top GES 111 Oceanography (Natural Science; Technology and Society). Study of the oceans including the application of geology, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering and how they interact in different parts of the ocean environment. Strong interdisciplinary focus of ocean processes and how they are connected to our lives. Topics include how technology has advanced our understanding of the oceans, sampling seawater and sediments and mapping the seafloor, opening and closing of ocean basins, formation and erosion of beaches, life in the oceans, ocean resources, marine pollution, and the role of the ocean in global climate change. GES 131 Introductory Astronomy (Natural Science; Technology and Society). Nonmathematical survey of the astronomical universe, including naked-eye astronomy, physical nature of planets, satellites, stars, galaxies, and the "big bang." How composition, distance, temperature, size, mass, and age are found for stars. Origins of planets, stars, and galaxies. Invention of technology as a driving force in astronomy. Planetarium visualizations, assignments, and demonstrations. GES 223 Environmental Earth Science (Natural Science; Technology and Society). An investigation of the impact of society on the natural environment. Examines natural resources; global climate change; and soil, water, and land use issues. The complex interrelationship of global systems and societies' attempts to control or alter them. The unique perspective of geoscientists to environmental issues. back to top GES 460 Environmental Field Methods and Analysis (Oral Communication). Applied study of environmental contaminant migration and distribution, with particular emphasis on sampling and detection methods. Discussion of federal and local environmental laws and regulations, classification of hazardous chemicals, and remediation approaches used by environmental professionals. PHY 100 Physics for Non-Science Majors (Natural Science). A nonmathematical consideration of historical world views in physics and their relevance to society. May not be substituted for PHY 107, PHY 108, PHY 111, or PHY 112. Not open to physics majors. PHY 103 Understanding Sound (Natural Science). A conceptual consideration of all aspects of sound and noise. Discussion of the generation and propagation of sound, the ear and voice, musical sounds and instruments, and the recording and reproduction of sound. May not be substituted for PHY 107, PHY 108, PHY 111, or PHY 112. Intended for non-physics majors. back to top PHY 107 General Physics I (Natural Science). Algebra-based study of mechanics: measurement, kinematics, Newton's laws, gravity, conservation of energy and momentum, and rotation; laboratory. Not open to physics majors. PHY 111 University Physics I (Natural Science). Calculus-based treatment for science majors of particle motion, kinematics, mechanics, Newtonian dynamics, energy transformation, conservation laws of energy and momentum, gravitation and rotation; laboratory. Required for majors. SCI 100 Contemporary Science (Natural Science; Technology and Society). Introduction to the role of science in contemporary society. Emphasis on the process of science for solving problems and organizing information to understand science and technology. Contemporary issues and case studies illustrate the methods of science. SCI 231 Pollution, the Environment, and Society (Natural Science; Technology and Society). Scientific and societal implications of present-day global environmental problems such as ecology, global warming, population, and pesticides. Causes and effects of and possible solutions to worldwide environmental problems, with implications from conservation, chemistry, health, and society. Option in environmental major. back to top SCI 232 Energy, Environment, and Society (Natural Science; Technology and Society). Regional and global energy use and issues; environmental, economic, individual, and societal perspectives; major energy alternatives. SED 407 Practice Teaching Science in the Middle School (Oral Communication). Teaching under supervision at least five days a week for one quarter in a middle school science classroom; individual and group instruction; planning unit teaching; classroom management and routine classroom procedures; audiovisual aids, computer technology, evaluation and assessment of student progress; participation in total school program. A series of student teaching seminars. SED 408 Practice Teaching Science in the High School (Oral Communication). Teaching under supervision at least five days a week for one quarter in a high school science classroom; individual and group instruction; planning unit teaching; classroom management and routine classroom procedures; audiovisual aids, computer technology, evaluation and assessment of student progress; participation in total school program. A series of student teaching seminars. back to top Intellectual Foundations Designations (no revisions): ECO 101 The Economic System (Social Science) ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics (Social Science) EXE 100 Nature and Needs of Individuals Who Are Exceptional (Diversity) GEG 359 Geography of the Arctic from an Inuit Perspective (World Civilizations) PSY 101 Introductory Psychology (Natural Science) back to top About the Bulletin Past Issues Search the Bulletin Bulletin home