Curricular Approvals
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:
New Courses:
GES 513 Advanced Forensic Geoscience
GES 521 Advanced Environmental Geochemistry
GES 525 Advanced Hydrogeology
GES 529 Advanced Environmental Field Methods and Analysis
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ANGEL Training Available
Effective December 30, 2005, Blackboard will no longer be available. The Learning Management Software Task Force voted in December 2004 to replace Blackboard with ANGEL (A New Global Environment for Learning). Faculty members who plan to use ANGEL in spring 2006 are encouraged to attend training workshops being offered through TASC. These training workshops begin Tuesday, September 20. Advance registration is required so that accounts can be created for attendees, enabling them to migrate existing course material from Blackboard to ANGEL or to develop their own course content in a workshop setting. Class listings and registration are at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration.
ANGEL works like a Web site, providing a familiar environment for students and faculty members alike. Features include course management, a grade book, and content templates that simplify the presentation of course material. For more information, visit angellearning.com.
Departments or groups wishing to schedule customized training sessions should contact Melaine Kenyon, electronic learning specialist, at ext. 6829 or kenyonmc@buffalostate.edu.
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CASTL Seminar Series
Introducing the fall 2005 Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) Research on Teaching Seminar Series
Motivating Reluctant Learners' Interest in Research Methods and Statistics
Thursday, September 29
12:15–1:30 p.m. (Bengal Pause)
CyberQuad, E. H. Butler Library 316
Presented by Ronnie Mahler, associate professor of social work
2004–2005 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning fellow
Mahler's study involves using a real-life "experiment" with social work students to facilitate learning research and statistical methods in order to evaluate the impact of social work interventions with client systems.
Her presentation will discuss the procedures, data analysis, and outcomes from the original and replicated research studies. Participants will be encouraged to talk about pedagogical strategies for holding student attention on relevant and important topics or methodologies that are not viewed by students as inherently motivating.
For more information, write to Cheryl Albers, associate professor of sociology, at alberscm@buffalostate.edu or visit www.buffalostate.edu/orgs/castl.
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Emergency Calls on Campus
For all emergencies on campus, call University Police directly at ext. 6333. Calls to 911 will be redirected by the City of Buffalo 911 operator to University Police and could waste valuable response time. The blue-light phones located throughout the campus and in most campus parking lots are a direct link to University Police and will ensure an immediate response. Please call University Police at ext. 6333 with questions or concerns regarding campus safety.
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Buffalo State Emergency Response Plan
Portions of the Buffalo State College Emergency Response Plan are available at www.buffalostate.edu/offices/police/safety/default.asp?sub=erp&sec=apdxa.
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Fire Evacuation Drills
In compliance with New York State Education Law 807, fire evacuation drills will be
held in various buildings throughout the campus September 26–30. Department heads and/or faculty chairs are responsible for complete evacuation of areas under their control.
Procedure for Occupants
- When alarm sounds, proceed by the most direct means, in keeping with equitable
distribution of traffic, to the nearest exit and stand at least 25 yards outside the building.
- Leave lights on.
- Close all doors.
- Turn off room fans; leave hood fans on.
- Turn off all electrical and gas appliances.
- Close doors to corridors; in the event of actual fire, leave doors in immediate areas unlocked.
- Reenter building when "all clear" is announced by college personnel conducting the drill.
Exceptions to Evacuation during Drills Only
- Those involved in critical experiments or lab processes that cannot be left unattended
may remain in the building.
- Those using wheelchairs or crutches may remain in the building; however, one able-bodied person who would be responsible for those people also is required to remain should evacuation become necessary.
A minimum amount of extra time will be needed during drills to examine all fire-safety
equipment for proper operation.
Call David N. Miller, director of environmental health and safety, at ext. 6113 with
questions. Thank you for your cooperation.
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Political Activities involving State Employees
Federal Election Law and New York State Law regarding political activities provides:
- No employee is to conduct political activities on paid state time.
- A state employee may participate in an election as a candidate and, if elected, serve in the office, provided such service will not interfere with state duties or create a conflict of interest.
- A state employee may engage in political activities in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for elected office or a political issue, provided such activities do not interfere with state duties and provided the employee does not associate political activities with his or her official position or state affiliation.
- State equipment, vehicles, and office space are to be used only for official state business.
- State employees may not use their official positions to procure either campaign contributions or volunteer assistance.
- No appointments, promotions, demotions, or salary increases are to be made on the basis of political affiliation.
The above provisions also pertain to individuals employed by the state whose salary is financed in whole or in part by any federal loan or grant.
Questions on the above may be referred to Susan Earshen, director of human resource management, at ext. 3042.
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Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant Program
The 2005–2006 Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant Program will receive applications for financial assistance for projects, workshops, and other activities to strengthen excellence in diversity as described in the college's 2003–2008 Strategic Plan. Grants of $800 to $2,000 will be awarded to student organizations, academic clubs, departments, programs, and individual faculty and staff members. The average award is expected to be $850; however, projects of superior merit that are directly related to diversity in the curriculum may be funded for up to $2,000. Applications for fall 2005 programs are due Friday, September 30. Applications received after this date will be considered contingent on available funding. Additional information about the minigrant program and application forms are available at www.buffalostate.edu/equity/documents/application.doc.
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Policy for Individuals with Disabilities
It is the policy of Buffalo State College that no otherwise qualified person with a disability shall, solely by reason of the disability, be excluded from participation in employment or access to programs of the college. The following statement appears in the Directory of Policy Statements:
"The State University College at Buffalo will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, or student because of physical or mental handicap with regard to any position or program for which that person is qualified. This commitment is applicable in all employment practices including, but not limited to, employment upgrading, demotion or transfer, recruitment, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training." (Policy No. VI:01:03 1985)
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Although the statement pre-dates the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, it does express the college policy with regard to persons with handicapping conditions, which can be related to persons with disabilities as in the more recent federal legislation. In carrying out this policy, the college shall make a good-faith effort to reasonably accommodate the physical and/or mental limitations of an employee, applicant for employment, or student unless such accommodations would impose undue hardship on the operation of the college.
The college will not deny an employment opportunity to an individual because the individual has a relationship or association with an individual who has a disability.
The college will not knowingly participate in a contractual or other arrangement that subjects an applicant for employment, an employee, or a student with a disability to unlawful discrimination.
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The college will not discriminate or retaliate against any individual, whether or not the individual has a disability, as a result of an individual opposing a discriminatory practice, filing a discrimination complaint, or participating in any way in enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Students with need for special services related to disabilities should contact Marianne Savino, director of disability services, South Wing 210, ext. 4500.
Faculty and staff with special needs related to disabilities should contact the Human Resource Management Office, Cleveland Hall 403, ext. 4822.
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Complaints and Grievances Related to Allegations of Discrimination Based on Disabilities
The State University College at Buffalo will follow the SUNY Grievance Procedures for the Review of Allegations of Discrimination to resolve complaints of unlawful discrimination based on disabilities.
Complaints are filed in the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo NY 14222. Complaints should be addressed to Dolores E. Battle, Ph.D., senior adviser to the president for equity and campus diversity, who has been designated by the college president to coordinate ADA compliance efforts.
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College Senate Meeting
The first meeting of the College Senate for the 2005–2006 academic year will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, in E. H. Butler Library 210.
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