UB INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS –  Beginning March 19, 2012, the University at Buffalo (UB) will ask all graduate and undergraduate students to dedicate 15 minutes to make UB the best it can be, by completing the 2012 SUNY Student Opinion Survey.

The survey, which takes less than 15 minutes to complete, is one of the university’s most potent assessment tools. Over the years, results of this survey have driven dramatic improvements to the UB academic and student experience.

A campus-wide advertising campaign is underway to encourage as many students as possible to complete the survey. Students simply need to visit ublistens.buffalo.edu(or the SUNY Student Opinion Survey link on myUB/myOpinion) any time between Mon. March 19 and Fri. April 6, 2012.

All UB students who complete the survey by the deadline will be entered into a drawing to win great prizes, including a $500 airline voucher, an iPad2, $50 Walmart gift cards, $10 Campus Cash gift cards, as well as free movie passes and tickets for UB’s Center for the Arts and Distinguished Speakers Series.

Student winners will be notified by Mike Randall of the UB Office of Institutional Analysis via UB email with instructions for obtaining their prizes.

“At UB, one of our goals is to further engage our students in university life and university decisions,” said Bruce McCombe, UB’s Interim Provost. “We are deeply committed to the highest quality educational experience for our students. Participating in the SUNY Student Opinion Survey is a student’s opportunity to tell us what they think about UB academic programs, services, policies, and other university opportunities. That feedback is critical to our future success.”

UB students are encouraged to take 10 to 15 minutes to participate in the 2012 SUNY Student Opinion Survey at ublistens.buffalo.edu. UB faculty and staff are encouraged to publish or distribute this information to their students.

For further information about the survey and to make your voice heard visit:

UBListens.buffalo.edu

Two major library changes you should know about:

1) The Architecture and Planning Library has vacated Hayes Hall as part of their surge project and is now located on the third floor of Abbott Hall. Circulation/Reserve services have merged with HSL’s, and Reference Service is adjacent to the collection on the third floor. Rose Orcutt is the librarian in charge of APL.

2) Silverman third floor has undergone major NYPA rehab this summer in the northeast quadrant. This area is designated as a Silent Study area, as is the entire ground floor. Signs and table tents will remind users of the expected protocol for each type of study space.
Study spaces for all Libraries have been posted on our web page:

http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/helpAZ/study_space.html

http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/helpAZ/study_space_policies.html

Count the occurrence of words and phrases in millions of texts across hundreds of
years and what might you find out? Uncovering these occurrences is what the
Google Ngram Viewer, and similar tools and corpuses, are beginning to make
possible. As appropriate, please consider adding a link to the Viewer’s
description to your subject pages.

Google Books Ngram Viewer: http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/pdp/index.asp?ID=497

I hope everyone had a delightful summer. As we begin the Fall semester I want to remind you of the services I offer as the subject librarian for African and African American Studies.

1) I can offer library instruction in person, provide supportive resources, guides, etc. for your classes
2) I am available for individual appointments. Just email me at gjcooper@buffalo.edu
3) My Office Hours for the Fall semester are on Mondays, 10-11:30 AM and Wednesdays, 3-4:30 PM in 707 Clemens Hall
4) Consider adding my contact information and office hours to your course Web site and syllabus
5) Let me know if you need materials to support your research and teaching. I am happy to order them.

Don’t hesitate to contact me with any requests or questions you may have. If I can’t answer your question, I will find someone who will. Here’s to an exciting semester.