News Briefs

SUNY and the Research Foundation announce two grant programs:
1. SUNY/RF Research Collaboration Fund: This program is designed to encourage new and existing inter-SUNY collaborations in areas that can be developed into long term partnerships with sustained growth. The program will consider inter-disciplinary, multi-investigator, multi-campus proposals for research projects or pilot studies needed to generate preliminary data to qualify for future funding for larger-scale proposals. Projects can be proposed as either one or two year projects at a maximum of $50,000 per year. Deadline for applications is May 15, 2013. Complete details can be found online.
2. SUNY Faculty Research Travel Grant Program: This program grants travel funds of up to $1,000 for faculty to meet with program officers at federal funding agencies. Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to the meeting and include an estimate of travel expenses. Complete details can be found online.
Contact Sponsored Programs at 777-6136 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if interested in applying to either of these programs.

The Binghamton University "Ask a Scientist" program is seeking contributors. In a partnership with the Press & Sun Bulletin, faculty, staff and graduate students answer questions submitted by area school children. Answers, which run 250-500 words, are published in the newspaper and appear on the University’s Web site. Deadlines are flexible.

For more information or to participate, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). To see a recent column, go http://www.binghamton.edu/news/the-newsroom/ask-a-scientist/index.html">online.

Stay up to date on the latest community engagement-related grants, conferences, workshops and publication opportunities via the CCE's new Faculty/Staff Community Engagement Newsletter. To receive the newsletter, register for the CCE's faculty/staff listserv or e-mail CCE with your request to be added. Newsletters are distributed two to three times per semester and include information and resources to help you formulate or expand your community-based projects, research and course components.

They also feature the work of Binghamton University faculty and students who are engaged in meaningful ways with the local, national and/or global community. The most recent version of our Faculty/Staff Newsletter can be viewed at a newly re-vamped website http://www2.binghamton.edu/cce/ in the Faculty section. For questions, call (607) 777-4287 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Harpur Perspective electronic quarterly newsletter is now available! The Perspective includes the latest news from the college and stories about Harpur’s students, faculty and alumni. Go online to read it.

The National Weather Service will designate Binghamton University a "StormReady University" at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in the Couper Administration Building. The designation recognizes that the University has established procedures to protect individuals and the campus infrastructure during weather emergencies.

To receive the "StormReady" designation, Binghamton met six guidelines:
• a fully staffed communications center capable of issuing weather warnings
• four ways to receive weather warnings
• at least three ways to monitor local weather conditions
• three ways to alert the campus community of severe weather conditions
• a plan for building occupants to follow in the event of severe weather
• personnel to attend weather training classes and advanced emergency management training

Need a sounding board to vent frustration over your teenager’s behavior? Looking for options for help with an elderly parent? Don’t know what to do about substance abuse issues? Just feeling anxious and don’t know where to turn? EAP can help. The Binghamton University Employee Assistance Program is a free and confidential assessment and referral counseling service for faculty, staff, grad students, retirees and families who may need help during difficult or challenging times.

EAP helps identify work-related and/or personal problems standing in the way of quality of life and peace of mind. It is designed to provide access to appropriate professional or community resources. To schedule a confidential appointment, contact EAP coordinators Heather Hubeny at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-6655 or Mary Ellen Niefer at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-6650. You can also access training webinars, get information about on-campus and community workshops, check out online resource links for a variety of topics and learn more about EAP's lending library at http://www2.binghamton.edu/eap/.

Wayne E. Jones, interim dean, Harpur College of Arts and Sciences and professor of chemistry at Binghamton University, candidate for Dean of Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, will provide a public presentation from 1:15-2:15 p.m. Monday, March 18, in Old Union Hall.

Jones will discuss “The challenges and opportunities facing colleges of arts and sciences in highly selective public research universities in the next decade.” His presentation will be followed by a 60-minute informal chat in the same location, where faculty, staff and students will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with him.

Jones’ vitae may be found online.

We hope that you will attend this session, as campus participation and feedback are critical to selecting the right candidate for Binghamton University. Use the evaluation form found online to provide feedback to the search committee. Evaluations are due by noon, Tuesday, March 19.

Extension cords are not to be used as permanent wiring on campus. You must use a power strip device equipped with a breaker switch. Any questions, visit the EH & S website at http://www.binghamton.edu/ehs/ or call 777-2211.

The contractor that will be constructing a mock up of the new main campus entrance design plans to stake out the site and begin work Wednesday, March 13. The outgoing right-hand lane near the main entrance will be closed for a short period sometime between 8 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, March 13.

Contact Michelle Deskin with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-5204.

For more information about changes to the entrance visit http://www2.binghamton.edu/physical-facilities/maincampusentrance.html.

The Office of Media and Public Relations is currently rebuilding the University's experts database and wants to hear your story. We are seeking faculty/staff willing to serve as experts on a variety of issues and are always looking for story ideas to pitch to a variety of national news outlets.

To be included in this new database or to learn of other ways to see your work highlighted by national news outlets, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Executive Director of Enterprise Systems

Demolition is completed and renovation work in the Engineering Building will begin Monday, March 11. The renovation is expected to be complete in January 2014.

The work is taking place on the second and third floors (M, P, Q and S Pods). There is noise associated with this work especially during the first few months of construction. From Monday, March 11, through Monday, May 20, work will take place on second shift from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. From May 20 through January 2014, construction will take place from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Work includes building new walls to form offices, labs and classroom spaces, relocation of the restrooms to the center of the building, new flooring throughout, new lighting and power, and mechanical system upgrades. Access through these Pods will remain restricted to construction personnel only. A small staging area will be located at the front (south side) of the building with materials/equipment periodically being lifted into the building through the south-side bank of windows.

Contact construction coordinator Jennifer Bourassa with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-5047.

Would you like to lose some of that excess weight without exercising, dieting or taking drugs? The Clinical Science and Engineering Research Center at Binghamton University is running a study on the role of core body temperature in regulating body weight. Adult men and women with a body mass index (BMI) over 25 are being recruited. For more information, contact Astrid Stromhaug at 777-5201.

The study requires a time commitment of about three, hours per week for at least three months, and volunteers will be compensated for expenses incurred. For information regarding your rights as a research participant, you may contact the Human Subjects Research Review office at 777-3818.

As the 2012-2013 fiscal year end approaches on June 30, departments may have fiscal year funds remaining to spend on New York state contract orders (e.g. furniture, copiers, carpet, scientific equipment, lab technology and lab supplies, etc.). Some of these NYS contracts are expiring or have expired without contract extension. Note that if there is no NYS contract, advertising in the New York State Contract Reporter and bidding may be required. Fiscal year procurement deadlines are on the Purchasing website. Bids must be opened no later than June 28, 2013, and delivered and invoiced by the first week of September 2013, if utilizing fiscal year 2012-2013 state funds. Questions may be directed to Purchasing at 777-2184.

The rigors of playing Division 1 softball haven’t stopped Mikala King from making a difference in the community.

King, a sophomore human development major who is considering a double major in English, has worked with local middle school students through the national mentoring program College for Every Student. The work helped King earn a Binghamton University Forum Scholarship.
“Anytime I get the opportunity to work with kids outside of campus, I will,” she said.
King, is from Binghamton and also is a member of the softball team, said she was “ecstatic” to receive the scholarship.
“I was so, so grateful,” she said. “It is such a generous scholarship.”
With College for Every Student, King travels to West Middle School in Binghamton and works with six to seven students in academic and social areas. The volunteer experience and the Binghamton University Forum Scholarship have proven beneficial to someone who hopes to become an elementary school teacher in the Binghamton region.
“It has taught me that I grew up with a lot of opportunities and was very fortunate to live in the community I did with such a supportive family,” she said. “I work with a lot of children who don’t have as deep of a support group. If I can be one person they can count on, that would make me feel good. It’s nice to make a difference in a child’s life.”
King also has taken part in events such as breast cancer walks and helped with cleanups during the September floods.
Community service goes with being a student-athlete, said King, who was the high school softball Class B New York Co-Player of the Year in 2010.
“I feel I have the responsibility to give back because (student-athletes) get so much from this school, whether it’s going on spring-break trips or using the fields and facilities,” she said. “Anything we can do – that’s our responsibility.”
“At Binghamton University, I’ve got great teachers and I take a lot of interesting classes,” she said. “I love the athletics and academics here. I wouldn’t change a thing about my college decision.”