Philip L. Glick, professor and vice chair of the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been elected chair of the Faculty Senate for 2015-17.

Domenic Licata, instructional support technician for the Department of Art, has been elected chair of the Professional Staff Senate for a two year term, effective July 1.

UB staff and domestic students are being recruited to serve as mentors for newly arrived international students during the spring 2015 semester. Participants need not know about other cultures, speak other languages or have traveled overseas.

The Professional Staff Senate’s Staff Development Committee and UB Athletics have organized a free tour of UB’s athletics facilities for PSS members on Dec. 16.

The Option Transfer Period for state employees, during which workers can change their health insurance carrier, voluntarily cancel coverage or delete dependents, runs through Jan. 16.

UB will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.

The Professional Staff Senate will hold its annual holiday potluck luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in 210 Student Union, North Campus.

Members of United University Professions who accrue vacation leave can exchange vacation days for credit toward the cost of health insurance premiums through UUP’s Productivity Enhancement Program.

The second annual Stress Less Retreat sponsored by UB’s Employee Assistance Program will take place Nov. 19 in the Center for Tomorrow, North Campus.

Every year, UB faculty and staff show their holiday spirit by hosting Thanksgiving dinner for a number of international students.