Canisius faculty and students are back to class today – the first day of the 2014-2015 academic year. The Office of Student Life, along with many other spirited Canisians’ welcomed new and returning students this morning at the inaugural Griffin Welcome Walk. Participants handed out back-to-school essentials including water bottles, granola bars, pens and plenty of encouragement!
The freshman Class of 2018 is comprised of approximately 640 students, who moved into Bosch and Frisch residence halls on Thursday, August 21. It is also Griff 101’s inaugural class.
Griff 101 is the college’s new first-year experience initiative. Conceived by the Retention Task Force, the program is designed to positively engage freshman students by connecting them with like-minded students and faculty members, who also serve as their advisors.
Another of the Retention Task Force’s recommendations that became a reality for the fall 2015 semester is the Griff Center for Academic Engagement. Housed in the lower level of Old Main, the Griff Center provides a comprehensive range of programs, services and resources to support student academic and career success.
As you make your way through the lower level, be sure to take in the mural project, led by Rev. Michael F. Tunney, SJ, director of mission and identity. The 112-foot wall uses the college’s marketing palette of six primary colors and is structured on the Buffalo subway system. Its 15 station stops, each with its own photographic collage, highlight the city’s many points-of-interest accessible from the NFTA metro stations and bus stops adjacent to campus.
“The mural is intended to encourage our students – especially resident students – to explore Buffalo. We hope this will excite them about studying at Canisius in its urban location,” explains Father Tunney.
Students and staff will be similarly excited when they see the latest changes to Bouwhuis Library. Phases I and II of the project, now complete, created two new group-study lounges, along with more flexible seating, laptop workstations, state-of-the-art media facilities with the digital tools necessary for them to create multi-media class presentations. Also new to the main floor of the library is a collaborative learning center.
Phase III of the library renovation project is scheduled for summer 2015 so stay tuned.
Finally, as the fall semester gets underway be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
Mass of the Holy Spirit
Thursday, August 28
4:00 p.m.
Montante Cultural Center
C-Block Bonfire
Thursday, August 28
7:00 p.m.
Bart Mitchell Quad
President’s Convocation
Thursday, September 4
2:30 p.m.
Montante Cultural Center
Homecoming Weekend 2014
Thursday, September 25 – Sunday, September 28
www.canisius.edu/alumni/homecoming-weekend/
Submitted by: Marketing and Communication
