Campus Candids

by Public Relations | Aug 13, 2014 | Alumni, Faculty, Parents, Staff, Students

The Academic Talent Search Program end of summer ceremony was held in the Montante Cultural Center Tuesday, August 12.

The Academic Talent Search of Canisius College serves approximately 600 youth recruited from area schools and community service organizations.

Submitted by: Marketing & Communication

Institutional Learning Goals for Canisius

by Public Relations | Aug 13, 2014 | Alumni, Faculty, Parents, Staff, Students

Last year, as part of the Middle States Self Study, I asked a working group of the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee (LRSPC) and the College Level Assessment Coordinators Committee (CLACC) to review Canisius’ current institutional learning goals and insure that there was alignment between them and the college’s mission and strategic plan. A university’s learning goals express the common set of knowledge, skills, and competencies that are expected for all of its graduates, regardless of their course of study. They arise out of the university’s mission and are the foundation for our strategic planning at all levels.

The college’s standing institutional learning goals were last developed and approved during the 2005-06 academic year through a collaborative process with the Faculty Senate’s Educational Policy Committee and the Institutional Assessment Committee. The working group worked with assessment representatives from each of the three schools, the core curriculum co-directors, and the All-College Honors Program director to determine if key concepts from the mission statement and strategic plan linked with the 2006 institutional learning goals. At the conclusion of their work, it was clear the institutional learning goals were well-aligned, with only two modest modifications.

This was a highly inclusive and collaborative review process and after consultation with the LRSPC, Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to present the refreshed and adopted Institutional Learning Goals for Canisius. You can find them on our website at www.canisius.edu/learning-goals.

Submitted by: John J. Hurley, president

The Griff Center for Academic Engagement

by Public Relations | Aug 13, 2014 | Alumni, Faculty, Parents, Staff, Students

Over the past year, the Retention Task Force has worked diligently to research the most effective tactics to improve student engagement and positively affect retention at the college.  As you walk the campus this summer, you will find one of the central recommendations of the Task Force Report in the lower level of Old Main.  In July, Canisius opened the Griff Center for Academic Engagement to create a layered network of support and an engaging experience for all students.

The mission of the Griff Center is to provide a comprehensive range of programs, services, and resources to support student academic and career success.  The Griff Center will serve as a hub for academic and career advising and has staff ready to assist students in their academic and professional development.  The programs and services offered here are designed to facilitate Canisius’ mission to provide transformative learning experiences that are grounded in our Catholic, Jesuit identity and values.

Located in OM 013, the Griff Center is responsible for:

• New Student Orientation
• Academic and career advisement for new students, student-athletes and undecided majors
• A 4-year career development plan for all students
• Continuous career support for alumni
• Coordination of existing internships programs and development of new programs to ensure that all students have internship opportunities
  • The Academic Mentoring Program
  • Accessibility Support (formerly disability support services)
  • Veteran student support
  • Academic advisement support for Griff 101 facilitators
  • A new parent communication program

The Tutoring and Study Center and the College’s general proctor site are also a part of the Griff Center, but will remain located on the 3^rd floor of Old Main.

Leading the Griff Center is Anne Marie Dobies, who has been promoted to assistant vice president in recognition of her expanding scope of responsibilities. She will report jointly to Terri L. Mangione, PhD, vice president for Students Affairs and dean of students and Richard A. Wall, PhD, vice president for Academic Affairs. Ms. Dobies has been at the college for 20 years and previously served as associate dean of students and director of Student Academic Support Services. In her new role, she will oversee all Griff Center operations and supervise eleven staff members and seven graduate assistants. Jennifer Herrmann has been promoted to assistant dean for new students. Jennifer has a Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Canisius and has been at the college since 2006. Jennifer will serve as a point person for all new undergraduate students assisting them in their transition to the Canisius community.

The Griff Center is a new organizational structure within the college and the product of careful study of the student success and retention issues on campus.  The cross-trained staff will provide advisement, career and internship services, orientation programming for undergraduate and graduate students, and academic support services. The center will also coordinate with faculty to provide data and resources that can positively impact student success, and it includes an increased focus on parent engagement. This more efficient and comprehensive approach to student engagement involves a number of personnel changes.  Their titles and primary responsibilities follow:

Also new this fall as a result of the Retention Task Force’s work, is Griff 101, the First-Year Experience Program.  This initiative will ensure that every freshman is positively engaged in the Canisius community within the first weeks of the fall semester.  With over 40 Griff 101 themes, students are certain to find a favorite from offerings as fun and diverse as exploring Buffalo, sports, cooking, theatre, flash mob dancing, and art of all kinds. These experiences will help freshmen engage in the life and spirit of Canisius by connecting students with their peers, faculty, and staff who share common interests. Not only enjoyable, the program has an important academic role.  Griff 101 facilitators will serve as academic advisers along with faculty members in the students’ majors to provide multiple layers of academic support for freshmen.

We are excited about the potential this collaborative effort holds for the success of our students and the life-long learning and alumni support made possible through the Griff Center.

Submitted by Terri L. Mangione, PhD, vice president for student affairs and dean of students