A Welcome from our Chief Diversity Officer
Buffalo State is committed to equity, inclusion, and an engaged, diverse community. Our dedication and focus to this commitment exist in every sphere of the Buffalo State community. We seek outstanding employees and students to join us. Together, we, as a community, represent every aspect of our state and our country. We are culturally and linguistically diverse; we represent diverse geographic locations; our gender diversity represents the world we inhabit; we represent every physical form and physical ability; and our backgrounds represent the economic diversity of our country. Together, we come as a community of learners, teachers, administrators, professional staff, and support staff as we add our voices to the complex and multifaceted discussions that occur on our campus every day.
The Buffalo State community believes in the equitable and just treatment of all members of our community and the broader world around us. We seek to educate ourselves and others about the value of a diverse population and the importance of elevating equity as a united force to guide our world.
On these web pages, you will find how we continuously track, propagate, and ensure that equity permeates every corner of our campus. We are committed to advancing our work in this area by engaging in rigorous and continual professional development. Advancing and promoting a just community is not just a part, but the core of a Buffalo State experience. We invite you to follow our work here as we strive for true excellence in all we do to promote and encourage equity, inclusion, and an appreciation for diversity.
Sincerely,
Lisa T. Morrison-Fronckowiak
Chief Diversity Officer
Purpose
The Office of Institutional Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion aims to advance, support, and celebrate inclusive excellence, diversity, social justice, and access on campus and throughout our community. We believe that diversity makes us a stronger community as we look to prepare students to operate in a global society. Our office collaborates with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to provide innovative and purposeful programming that reflects our diverse and changing world.
Non-Discrimination Notice
Non-Discrimination Notice
Pursuant to College policy, the College is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the College community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law, or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. The College’s policy is in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and harassment. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New York State Human Rights Law. These laws prohibit discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Buffalo State University takes bias-related activity very seriously. Bias-related activities that may or may not rise to a criminal level are defined by the University as acts of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation directed at a member or group within the Buffalo State community based on national origin, ethnicity, race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, color, creed, or marital status. If you believe you have been the victim of a bias-related or hate crime, and need to speak with someone immediately, please contact University Police at (716) 878-6333, Karner Hall.
Bias-related activity may also be addressed through the University's Complaint Procedure for Review of Allegations of Unlawful Discrimination/Harassment, utilizing the Charge of Discrimination Form. Please note this link is only for non-emergencies. If you would like an administrator to follow up with you, please make sure to leave your name and contact information.
You may always report a biased activity in person, during normal business hours, to the Chief Diversity Officer in Cleveland Hall, room 204.
Land Acknowledgment
Buffalo State University would like to start by acknowledging that the university is situated within the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, including the Seneca, Tuscarora, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk nations, and of their Indigenous relations and neighbors, the Erie and the Wenro. We hope to demonstrate respect for the treaties that were made on these territories, and we pledge to work toward partnership with a spirit of collaboration with our current Indigenous neighbors, the Seneca and Tuscaroras.
Approved by The President's Council on Equity and Diversity at Buffalo State
Land acknowledgments are formal statements that introduce, recognize, and offer respect to Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land on which the institution stands and the enduring relationship between that land and Indigenous Peoples. They are widely used in Canada (and have been for 15-20 years or so) and are increasingly being adopted by institutions here in the United States including national and regional higher education conferences like ACPA and WNY Advising Conference.
The confederacy made up of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas was intended to unite the nations and create a peaceful means of decision-making. Through the confederacy, each of the nations of the Haudenosaunee are united by a common goal to live in harmony. Each nation maintains its own council with Chiefs chosen by the Clan Mother and deals with its own internal affairs but allows the Grand Council to deal with issues affecting the nations within the confederacy.
The Haudenosaunee symbol of the long house, provided by the Peacemaker, is recognized in traditional geographic locations. Upon confederation, each nation took on a role within the metaphorical longhouse with the Onondaga being the Keepers of the Fire. The Mohawk, Seneca, and Onondaga acted as the Elder Brothers of the confederacy while the Cayuga and Oneida were the Younger Brothers within the Grand Council. The main meeting place was and still exists today on Onondaga territory.
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