The First-Year Programs Council is the means through which Buffalo State examines, articulates, and applies its vision of the first-year experience. All programs engaged primarily with first-year students consider how they can better fulfill Buffalo State’s mission, communicate strategies for implementing the mission in their particular contexts, discuss emerging trends among our students, and share best practices. The Council also plans new campus wide first-year initiatives based on their shared vision. This council is a governance body. It is the forum for comprehensive implementation of the College’s plan for the first year.
The Council believes the following principles should guide first-year programs at Buffalo State:
- First-Year programs adhere to rigorous academic standards in order to successfully serve our students and accomplish the mission of our institution.
- First-Year Programs will work to help students establish a sense of belonging and connection to Buffalo State.
- First-Year Programs promote ownership by the student of their academic, personal, and social responsibilities.
- First-Year Programs recognize our responsibility in helping students learn college policies and procedures.
- First-Year Programs recognize the importance of the whole person in student development and learning.
- First-Year Programs will emphasize an appreciation of diversity on campus, in our communities, and throughout the world.
The following members of the Buffalo State community comprise the First-Year Programs Council:
Scott Johnson, Assistant Dean of First-Year Programs and Academic Support- Chair
Tim Ecklund, Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Gail Wells, Director of Student Life
Doug Koritz, Assistant Dean for Intellectual Foundations
Susan Leist, Director of the Writing Program
Christina Carter, Coordinator of MAT 103
Abdi Hajikandi, Educational Opportunity Program
Joan McCool, Director of the Counseling Center
Marie Ferraro, Coordinator of Academic Advisement
Josephine Adamo, Coordinator of First-Year Initiatives
Keith Fulcher, INS 207 instructor
Meg Stevens, Intercollegiate Athletics
Carol Townsend, First-Year Seminar faculty
Allen Shelton, Learning Community faculty
Kathleen O’Brien, Learning Community faculty
The Council also includes four students appointed at the beginning of each academic year.
