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UB launches new articulation Web site
The Office of Transfer and Articulation Services has launched a new transfer course articulation Web site, called TAURUS, that replicates and enhances the services that were available in ARIES, the university's award-winning articulation Web application that was released in 1996.
TAURUS has numerous advantages over ARIES, says Jennifer Gottdiener, director of transfer and articulation services in the Office of the Vice Provost for Enrollment and Planning:
In addition to displaying course-to-course articulation, TAURUS will give users the capability to view course descriptions and requirements for UB degree programs, enter their own transfer courses and request articulated planning guides for any UB major. ARIES only displayed course articulation, Gottdiener points out.
TAURUS uses the Course Applicability System (CAS), a nation-wide transfer information system developed by Miami University of Ohio. The CAS software allows users access to articulation information from any member institution.
The update time between DARS and TAURUS is instantaneous, while ARIES data changes were displayed the next day.
TAURUS is going live in two phases, Gottdiener notes. The first phase, which went live on Monday, gives users a view of UB's transfer-course articulation data and shows how courses from other institutions match UB courses and requirements. This information is essential to effective educational planning by current and prospective students and their advisors, she says.
The second phase of TAURUS, which will be developed during 2003, will enable users to view requirements for UB degree programs, enter their own transfer courses, and request articulated planning guides for any UB major, she says.
TAURUS can be accessed at http://taurus.buffalo.edu/.
For further information, contact the Office of Transfer and Articulation Services at 645-6729.
"Rent-a-student" to benefit alternative spring break
The Newman Center has organized a "rent-a-student" program to raise $6,000 to fund the center's fourth alternative spring break trip.
Thirty students plan to travel to Washington, D.C., for spring break 2003 to perform service work through the Center for Student Missions. Service projects will include working in soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels and after-school programs, as well as working with AIDS patients and the elderly.
In past years, students have performed spring break service work in Camden, N.J.; Laurens County, S.C., and Cincinnati.
Students can be rented for $10 per hour to do such chores as raking leaves, painting, tutoring, cleaning a basement or garage, or other household tasks. All of the money earned will go toward the trip.
Students also are raising money for the trip by selling Newman Center sweatshirts. The hooded sweatshirts are heather gray and feature the Newman Center logo on the front. The cost is $30 for screen printing and $35 for embroidery. Photos of the sweatshirts can be seen on the Newman Center Web site at www.newman.buffalo.edu. Make checks payable to the Newman Center at UB.
Anyone interested in renting a student or ordering a sweatshirt may call the Newman Center office at 636-7495, or email Maria Clare at meclare@buffalo.edu. When renting a student, callers should describe the project and the time frame for the project.
PSS to present video series
The Professional Staff Senate's Professional Staff Development Committee has organized a brown-bag video series designed to assist those who lead meetings, discussions and other group activities.
The sessions-part of a five-part series entitled "Group Facilitation Tools"-will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in either 330 Student Union on the North Campus or 100 Allen Hall on the South Campus.
"We spend much of our working day in staff or group meetings that are not always as productive as they could be," says Ed Brodka, assistant director of the Leadership Development Center, which is co-sponsoring the series along with the Educational Opportunity Program. "The problem may be the 'process,' or lack of process, that the group uses to meet its goals. The video sessions will demonstrate actual tools and techniques that you can use to help your group be more effective."
Brodka says that participants may attend as many sessions as they like. They are free of charge.
The schedule and a description of the videos:
"Gathering Information," Tuesday at the North Campus location and Dec. 3 at the South Campus site. Learn to help your group gather and analyze information before real problem-solving activities begin with "Process Flow Charting," "Force Field Analysis" and the "SWOT" tool.
"Unleashing Group Creativity," Dec. 9, North Campus; Dec. 10, South Campus. Learn how to inspire your group members to bring fresh and diverse viewpoints to the table. See techniques to stimulate fun and creative thinking. Learn the "Mindmapping" tool and "Storyboarding."
"Group for Decision-making," Jan 14, North Campus; Jan. 15, South Campus. Learn the "Assumption/Implication" tool, "Weighted Decision-making Model," three steps to evaluate pros and cons, the "100 Vote" tool and ways to keep people focused on the issues at hand.
"Taking Action as a Group," Feb. 11, North Campus; Feb. 12, South Campus. Learn to take your group from decision to swift implementation. Tools such as "3ws and 1H," "Tree Chart" and "Peer Contracting" will help users follow through, meet deadlines and perform at their peak.
"Resolving Group Conflict," March 3, North Campus; March 4, South Campus. Steer your group smoothly through a variety of conflicts without anger, competition or hurt feelings by using such tools as "Clearing and Setting Aside," "Switching Hats" and "Building Common Ground."
Anyone interested in attending the video sessions should contact the PSS Office at 645-2003 or at pssenate@acsu.buffalo.edu.
CFA to present "Mine Ghosts"
The Center for the Arts will present the Eager Artists Theatre Company of Durban, South Africa, in a production of "Mine Ghosts" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 in the Mainstage theater in the CFA, North Campus.
The performance is made possible in part through the support of the Western New York Delegation to the New York State Assembly.
Written and directed by Jerry Pooe, founder and director of Eager Artists, "Mine Ghosts" tells the story of an old man haunted by memories of the life he lived working in the mines of South Africa. The mine he worked in is about to close, and he is determined not to leave. He has taken refuge in the mine, which is believed to be haunted by ghosts. The old man and the ghosts together share the stories of their lives through music and dance, "re-living" the "good old days" of their youth.
The company performs "Mine Ghosts" through a cappella music and more than 20 gumboot dance routines, mixed with vibrant cultural dances.
The production also will feature students from UB's Department of Theatre and Dance.
Eager Artists, which participated in last fall's "The Living Room Project," has returned to UB for a second residency, lecturing and conducting master's classes and workshops on campus in music, dance and theater. The company also is working with the Irish Classical Theatre Company, Arts in Education Institute of Western New York and various schools in Western New York.
Tickets for "Mine Ghosts" are $10 for the general public and $8 for UB students, and are available at the CFA box office from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and at all Ticketmaster locations. For more information, call 645-ARTS.
McPherson named AVP
Ryan A. McPherson, legislative analyst in the Office of Government Affairs, has been promoted to assistant vice president for government affairs.
McPherson will be responsible primarily for directing UB's local government affairs, monitoring legislation at both the federal and state levels, organizing government events, coordinating with the Office of University Advancement in developing alumni relations and assisting the associate vice president of government affairs with UB's state-relations program.
A graduate of the UB Law School, McPherson spent three years as a legislative analyst at UB, promoting the university's legislative agenda directly to the Western New York federal and state delegations, as well as monitoring and assessing state and federal higher-education legislation.
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, McPherson worked as a legislative fellow during the 1995-96 legislative sessions in the New Hampshire State Senate. He also spent four years in Washington, D.C., working at Public Campaign, where he briefed members of congress, legislative staff and agency officials on a wide array of campaign-finance initiatives, both at the state and federal levels.
PSS seeks nominations for Chancellor's Awards
The Professional Staff Senate (PSS) has announced a call for nominations for the 2002-03 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Professional Service. The awards provide SUNY-wide recognition for outstanding performance and achievement by professional service employees. Recipients will be honored at an awards luncheon in the spring.
Nominees will be drawn from individuals in full-time professional service with more than 50 percent of the assignment in non-teaching services. They must have completed at least three years of continuous full-time professional (not classified) service in the position for which they are nominated. Posthumous nominations are not eligible for consideration.
Nominators may be any member of the university community and should prepare a support file that includes a current vita on the nominee, an updated position description and performance program, and a maximum of five letters of support—with one each from a supervisor, a colleague and a constituent—as well as the nominator's summary letter of support.
For more information, call John Edens at 645-2510. To receive a nomination package, call Anna Kedzierski at 645-2003.
Nominations must be submitted to the PSS Office, 543 Capen Hall, North Campus, no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 22.