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In This Issue
Official News/General Announcements
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Information Technology Services (ITS) and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Task Force are pleased to provide Access: A Quest Toward Inclusion. This self-paced course explores best practices and techniques for creating accessible digital materials (emails, documents, course content, web pages, etc.). This asynchronous, self-paced program allows you to delve into the material at your own convenience, anytime, anywhere. Administered through Canvas, you'll have access to a wealth of resources and support to guide you through your digital accessibility journey.
You will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills in a variety of areas relating to digital accessibility. Ensuring the accessibility of digital materials is helpful for everyone and promotes an inclusive environment. This course was developed by SUNY Oswego and has been made available to all SUNY institutions and campuses with statutory units. To gain access to the course, please complete the form below.
Link: Access: A Quest Toward Inclusion Sign-up Form
Submitted by: Meghanne Freivald
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Canvas has released a Course Accessibility Checker to scan the accessibility of an entire course. The Accessibility Checker is a course-level tool that allows instructors to identify, remediate, and validate accessibility issues across Canvas-created content. It provides live, on-demand reports, built-in remediation guidance, and content previews.
While the existing Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor (RCE) has been a trusted tool, it only checks for accessibility on a page by page basis. The new Accessibility Checker provides an easier way to ensure that course materials meet WCAG2.1 AA standards, by scanning the entire course at once. It then flags accessibility issues and explains how to resolve them.
This tool has been enabled in AU's instance of Canvas. On the course menu, you will see a link labeled "Accessibility." Click the link to scan your course. Additional information and instructions are provided below.
Link: Canvas Course Accessibility Checker
Submitted by: Meghanne Freivald
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Campus community,
We have noticed a large influx of Alfred Today announcements over the past academic year that could likely be events posted to the event calendar instead.
Before posting to Alfred Today, please consider whether an informational item should be created on the event calendar or posted as an announcement.
What's the difference? Events take place at a specific location, at a given date and time.
If your informational item doesn't have a location, date or time - then it is likely an announcement for Alfred Today.
Interested in learning how to post an Alfred Today Announcement? Take the tour: https://my.alfred.edu/aut...
Event calendar documentation: https://my.alfred.edu/aut...
Guidelines for Alfred Today/Calendar of Events: https://my.alfred.edu/aut...
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Thank you!
Link: Is it an event or an announcement?
Submitted by: Evan Linza
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As the semester begins, make sure to check your class schedules in case of any conflicts due to course changes over the summer. Should you have any questions in regards to your schedule, please contact your advisor.
Submitted by: Alex Holbrook
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Office of Public Safety would like to announce that your parking passes will expire on August 31, 2026. Please come into the Public Safety Office, located on the 2nd floor of Powell; from the hours of 8:30am-3:30pm, M-F to update your information and receive your new AU parking passes.
Submitted by: Barbara Freeland
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ITS is pleased to announce that we will be migrating to a new platform for telephony on October 12th, 2026 (academic mini-break). This new platform is designed to work with a headset and your computer (desktop or laptop). As part of this project we will be providing everyone with a headset. The current desk phones will not be compatible with this new platform. This initiative supports our efforts to reduce equipment costs and aligns our communications environment with a more efficient operating model.
Under this new approach, we are encouraging departments and employees to move to telephone headsets. We believe headsets provide more comfort, flexibility, and usability while also being significantly less expensive than traditional handsets.
For locations or individuals that require a physical telephone handset, supervisors and budget managers should submit a brief business justification explaining the operational need to [email protected]. Each handset will carry an additional cost of $30 to the division.
ITS will provide additional details regarding the transition process, timelines, and planning requirements in the coming weeks.
This change will allow us to modernize aging equipment while managing costs and provisioning resources more effectively across the institution.
Submitted by: Gary Roberts
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The Registrar's office has built an Outlook Calendar that contains reminders for various dates and deadlines from the Academic Calendar that was shared to Faculty and Staff on August 10th 2026.
The Academic Calendar webpage will still be available for you and the students.
For any questions, please reach out to [email protected]
Link: Academic Calendar
Submitted by: Alex Holbrook
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Your Well-Being Matters
As we begin a new fall semester, it's a great time to remember that taking care of yourself matters, too.
Through Bree Health, Alfred University's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you and your family have access to confidential support and helpful resources at no cost to you.
Bree Health can help with many of life's challenges, including:
* Stress, anxiety & mental health
* Family & relationship concerns
* Financial guidance
* Work-life balance
* Counseling & emotional support
* Everyday challenges and life transitions
Whether you need someone to talk to, guidance through a difficult situation, or resources to make everyday life a little easier, Bree Health is here to support you-at work and at home.
Ready to Get Started?
?? Call: (888) 868-9790
?? Visit: Bree Health
Register your account using Alfred University's Company ID: 9334
A new semester can bring new opportunities-and new stresses. Remember, you don't have to navigate them alone.
Link: Bree Health
Attachment: Bree Health Info
Submitted by: Sam Taft
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Please consider donating blood at the American Red Cross's Campus Blood Drive on August 26th from 12pm-5:30pm in the Knight Club located on the 3rd Floor of Powell Campus Center.
Appointments are preferred, walk-ins welcome. Appointments can be made at RedCrossBlood.org , sponsor keyword alfreduniversity, or calling 1-800-733-2767.
Attachment: Blood Drive Information
Submitted by: Karissa Allen-Grant
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Whether you are a writer, photographer, or designer, JOIN Alfred University's student journalism team to build skills, share your voice, and make your mark!
Do not just read the news-create it!
Attachment: Write the Next Headline
Submitted by: Fiat Lux News
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Are you a student and is it your first time working on campus? Please take a moment to review these important steps before starting your new role!
*I-9 Verification Requirement*
You must complete the I-9 verification with the Human Resources Department before you can begin working.
*Office Hours for I-9 Verification*
Students can visit the HR office during the following times for I-9 verification:
* Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
* Tuesday, Thursday: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
*I-9 Documentation*
Remember:
* All documents must be original and unexpired.
* Photocopies or expired documents will not be accepted.
*Additional Information*
For further details, and to access the forms you'll need to print, complete, and bring to your Payroll meeting, please visit the Human Resources Webpage
We look forward to working with you!
Link: Student Employment Resources
Attachment: 40094_1.pdf
Submitted by: Bridget Bodnar
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New for this semester:
Moving forward, please note that you must sign in with your full email address ([email protected]) for all Lab and Classroom computers. This is due to a new way these computers are being managed.
Please reach out to ITS at [email protected] or call (607) 871-2222 if you have and questions or issues signing in.
Thank you,
Andrew Makasziw
Alfred University ITS
Helpdesk / Desktop Support Manager
Submitted by: Andrew Makasziw
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Interested in a class that combines your creative and analytical sides? Join our 1-credit MATH 200/400: Mathematics and Art course that meets Tuesdays 12:20-1:10 pm in Myers 228. In this projects-based course we explore topics such as knot theory and art; symmetry groups and art; calculus approximations for model-making; cellular automata and algorithmic art; and embodied knowing with platonic solids, dance scales, and differential equations. Come join us!
This class is also a great entry-point for students interested in research and practice in mathematics and art, including attending annual conferences. In summer 2026, five math and arts students traveled to Galway, Ireland for the Bridges math arts conference, and three of them exhibited peer-reviewed work.
Submitted by: Amanda Lipnicki
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More than 30 alumni are returning to campus for Alfred University's third annual Mentorship Day on Friday, September 25. Students can register now through Handshake for a day of conversations, connections, and career insights with alumni across a wide range of careers and industries.
Meet this year's alumni presenters and learn more about their backgrounds and areas of expertise on the Mentorship Day profiles page linked below.
All students, faculty, and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend the keynote presentation by Patricia St. George '89, "Leading with Purpose: Mentoring Ethical and Creative Leaders Across Disciplines and Why Alfred University Students Have a Unique Opportunity to Do the Same."
Mentorship Day is a great opportunity for students to make connections, explore career paths, and learn from alumni experiences.
Link: go.alfred.edu/mentorshipday
Submitted by: Carol Marcy
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Summer 2027 recruiting is already open, earlier than most students think.
Goldman Sachs opened its summer analyst applications on August 15. SpaceX and other aerospace and defense employers posted their first Summer 2027 roles in early August. Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Nvidia typically post between October and December. Most of these are read on a rolling basis, so the students who apply in the first few weeks are the ones who actually get read.
That gap is what ColorStack exists to close, and there is now a chapter at Alfred University.
ColorStack is a national organization working to increase the number of Black and Latinx students who graduate in computing and go on to launch rewarding technical careers. It connects students to internship and full-time pipelines, technical interview preparation, industry mentors, and a peer community of more than 15,000 students. Our chapter brings that here: resume reviews and mock interviews timed to recruiting season rather than after it, study sessions across computer science, engineering and quantitative majors, a mentorship program, workshops and speakers.
ColorStack started with computer science and has grown to include engineering, materials science, quantitative fields, finance and other tech-adjacent disciplines. While our work centers on supporting Black and Latinx students, we welcome any undergraduate who shares our vision of a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. Any and all students are encouraged to join, regardless of major, year or background.
Applications for our 2026/2027 Executive Board are open now.
Nine seats are open: Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Academic Chair, Professional Development Chair, Operations and Events Chair, Communications Chair, Alumni Relations and Corporate Director, and Mentorship and Outreach Chair.
You do not need prior board experience, and you do not need to be a computer science major. If you have ever looked at something on this campus and thought that somebody should build it, that somebody is you.
Apply: https://forms.cloud.micro...
Applications close Monday, August 31.
Not running for a seat? Join as a member instead, in about thirty seconds: https://forms.cloud.micro...
About ColorStack: https://www.colorstack.or...
All our links: https://linktr.ee/colorst...
Link: Apply for the ColorStack executive board
Attachment: 40103_1.pdf
Submitted by: Patrick Zablon
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An informational meeting about the January 2027 German Autos, Art, and History study abroad trip featuring business, history, and art history classes will be held in Kanakadea Hall 103, 4:45-5:20 on Wednesday, September 2nd.
If you can't make it but wish to learn more, reach out to Laura Johnson, Director of Global Education: [email protected]
Or trip leaders: Andrew Kless: [email protected] and Mark Lewis: [email protected]
The deadline to apply for the trip is September 25, 2026.
Link: Program Link
Attachment: Germany Poster
Submitted by: Andrew Kless
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