News
Briefs
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Flags at half-mast for Carey
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings—including those at UB—be flown at half-staff in honor of former Gov. Hugh L. Carey.
Carey, who served two terms as governor from 1975 to 1982, died on Aug. 7 at age 92.
Flags will remain at half-staff until after Carey’s funeral on Aug. 11.
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Regional council meets at UB
The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, one of 10 region-based councils charged with allocating economic development funds within their regions to stimulate economic development and speed the creation of jobs, held its first meeting yesterday at UB.
The council is co-chaired by President Satish K. Tripathi and Howard A. Zemsky, managing partner of the Larkin Development Group.
Also attending the meeting was Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, who is serving as chair of the regional councils and as head of the Chairman’s Committee, a panel of leaders in business, academic, labor, agriculture, nonprofits and community-based organizations that will facilitate cooperation among the 10 regional councils and resolve issues that affect multiple regions.
During the inaugural meeting of the Western New York council, members began identifying key regional issues and opportunities, discussing a regional economic vision, identifying work groups to focus on public engagement, addressing key issues and outlining major elements of the strategic plans.
The other nine councils also are holding their inaugural meetings within the next several days.
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Asian energy officials visit incubator
A delegation of energy officials from four South Asian countries visited UB’s Technology Incubator last week to learn about the university’s efforts to create jobs and support the growth of high-tech businesses in Western New York.
The visit, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and hosted by the U.S. Energy Association, included a tour, a brief discussion of the benefits of business incubation and short presentations by incubator companies whose work has implications for the energy and clean-tech industries.
Among the delegates scheduled to participate in the tour were energy economists from India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency; a sustainable energy development official from Bangladesh; representatives from Bhutan’s Department of Energy and the Bhutan Power Corporation; and representatives from Nepal’s Ministry of Energy and the Nepal Electricity Authority. All were in Buffalo Niagara to attend an American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy conference in Niagara Falls.
The UB Technology Incubator, run by the Office of Science Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach (STOR), supports the creation of new technology-based businesses by providing affordable business services to entrepreneurs.
The incubator has assisted dozens of tenant and client companies that have employed hundreds of people and gone on to launch successful products and services. Its programs also include Directed Energy, a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)-funded incubator program that fosters the growth of Western New York renewable energy businesses.
“The world has an energy problem and solving it will require conservation, new technologies and businesses offering much needed goods and services,” says Martin Casstevens, director of Directed Energy, and business formation and commercialization manager for STOR.
“Business incubators help people shape strong, viable ideas into growing businesses. These businesses are an important part of a competitive, knowledge-based economy and, increasingly, are the ‘feedstock’ of larger companies that have found traditional R&D to be too expensive.”
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Newman Center to hold chicken barbecue
The Newman Center will hold its 35th annual chicken barbecue from noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 14 at the center North Campus location at 495 Skinnersville Road, adjacent to the Creekside Village Apartments.
The event will feature food; live and recorded music; silent auction, basket auction and hourly raffles; and games and bounce house.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and include half a chicken (quarter for kids), choice of two sides, dessert and beverage.
Tickets are available at the center or by calling 636-7495.
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Change in drop/add dates
The period during which students may drop or add courses is being shortened, beginning in the fall semester, under a resolution approved by the UB Faculty Senate.
Under the new policy, students may unilaterally drop (cancel enrollment in) any course during the first six days classes are in session during a term. For fall 2011 regular session classes, the last day to drop a class is 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 3.
Students may unilaterally add (enroll in) an open course during the first seven instructional days of a term. For fall 2011, the last date to add a class is 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 6.
Students previously had two weeks in which to drop or add courses.
The drop/add dates for courses outside the standard 15-week schedule are based on a proportion of the class equal to that for the standard session. For those dates, and other information regarding drop/add dates, visit the University Registrar’s website.
According to University Registrar Kara Saunders, a number of factors led to the Faculty Senate’s decision to shorten the drop/add time:
- Many instructors were concerned about the academic success of students who enrolled in classes during the second week and attended class for the first time during the third week of the semester, after substantial course material already had been covered.
- The additional time given to students to add courses allows them to enroll in classes that other students have dropped, ensuring that high-enrollment classes with waitlists are fully enrolled.
- The change more closely aligns registration deadlines with those associated with financial liability.
Saunders notes that while some students have expressed concern about being able to determine if a class meets their educational objectives after only one week of instruction, instructors are required to distribute a final syllabus during the first week of classes, “which should enable students to make such an assessment.”
If a syllabus is not distributed, students should contact the department chair or academic dean that oversees the course, she adds.
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