Celebrating Juneteenth
The university will be hosting its annual Juneteenth Recognition event. Please mark your calendars, more details to follow!
Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Assoicate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs
Supporting Students, Faculty, and Staff During Ramadan
Ramadan is a holiday practiced by Muslims* where they focus on introspection, communal prayer, and religious fasting. This year, Ramadan will take place from Feb. 28-March 29**.
Here is some information about Ramadan:
- Individuals refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and intimate contact from dawn to sunset.
- Individuals increase their focus on personal restraint, proper conduct, and empathy with the less fortunate through giving to charity and engaging in local projects.
- Muslims who have reached puberty are obligated to fast. Individuals who are not at puberty may choose to fast anyway. Exemptions are made for individuals in situations where fasting would be a hardship, such as illness, pregnancy, nursing, etc.
In an effort to support the members of our community, here are some items for your consideration:
- New York Education Law section 224-A outlines the requirements for academic accommodations.
- Please be flexible with scheduling, as individuals may need to pray during class, meetings, etc.
- Due to fasting, individuals may struggle to concentrate. Consider allowing individuals to keep their cameras off during any virtual classes, meetings, etc., or to take a quick break if needed.
- Individuals may begin to wear hijabs during this month. Remember, it is not the individual’s responsibility to educate the community.
- Prayer rooms are available in the library for individuals to use if needed. Additionally, there is group prayer on Fridays from 12-1:00 p.m. in Science Hall Room 105. Offices may also want to consider identifying a designated space for prayer. If you would like signage to help identify these spaces, please reach out to the ALANA Student Center.
Chartwells will provide Halal sourced foods in the Social Dining Hall. Breakfast packs are available upon request. The dining hall will be open Sunday-Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday until 7 p.m.
Consistent with our institutional statement on diversity and inclusion, these efforts will help us achieve our goals of “creating a culture of acceptance, awareness, learning, respect, and understanding inside and outside of the classroom.”
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, at rodrig23@canisius.edu.
*The term Muslim refers to individuals who practice the religion of Islam.
**Dates may vary depending on the individual’s religious school of thought.
Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs
Strategies for Supporting International Students
On Thursday, Nov. 7, at 3:00 p.m. in the Student Center Conference Room, Director of International Education Kera Bush-Turner and Director of Graduate Admissions Amo Kubeyinje will host a campus discussion entitled, “Strategies for Supporting International Students.”
In recent years, the university’s recruitment efforts have yielded an increase in international undergraduate and graduate students. Students have reported experiences with adjusting to the culture, food, weather, and academic expectations. This cultural competency session will provide demographic information for our international student population, discuss key international student regulations for the F-1 Student Visa, and explore effective strategies for supporting students navigating their education in the United States.
Please RSVP HERE.
Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs
2024 Election Programs, Activities, and Discussion Guides
The election season brings a range of emotions and experiences for faculty, staff, and students. To foster engagement and strengthen our community, the university will offer a variety of activities for everyone on campus.
The following programs, activities, and discussion guides are available for the campus community:
Wednesday, Oct .30: “Why Your Vote Matters?” A Conversation with Dr. Kevin R. Hardwick, Associate Professor, Political Science, sponsored by Marja’e Johnson, Junior Senator, USA
- Science Hall Commons, 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day Watch Party sponsored by the ALANA Student Center and Iota Alpha Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha (ΠΣΑ) – National Political Science Honor Society
- Old Main, Room 221, 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m., refreshments will be provided.
Tuesday, Nov. 5: Campus Reflection Space (8 p.m.-10 p.m.)
- Frisch Hall, 1st Floor, Lounge, and the Village Community Center
Wednesday, Nov. 6: Campus Reflection Space (1 p.m.-3 p.m.)
- Duggan Hall, 7th Floor, Lounge
Wednesday, Nov. 6: Campus Reflection Spaces (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
- ALANA Student Center, WC 003
- Commuter Lounge, WC Lower-Level
- Center for International Education, Frisch Hall 008 (Lower Level)
- Christ the King Chapel, Prayer Space
Thursday, Nov. 7: Canisius Conversation
- Canisius Conversation, 4:00 p.m.
Helpful Discussion Guides and Campus Resources:
- Politics and Election: Concerns & Aspirations
- Anxiety and the Election
- Post Election: Moving Forward Together
- ALANA Student Center
- Campus Ministry
- Counseling Center
- Freedom of Expression Policy`
- Anti-Discrimination & Harassment Policy
Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs
Practical Applications for Supporting Neurodiverse Students
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with the Institute for Autism Research, the departments of Psychology and Student Accessibility Services, hosted a DEI workshop titled, Neurodiversity-affirming Reflections and Approaches to Supporting Student Mental Health, in the spring with Meng-Chuan Lai, MD, PhD.
We would like to invite the campus community to the follow-up session on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m., in the Grupp Fireside Lounge of the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center, with Jonathan Rodgers PhD, associate professor in the Psychology Department, director of lab and treatment operation at the Institute for Autism Research, co-director of the Aging and Autism Study, and director of the Canisius University IMPACT Center.
Understanding neurodiversity and applying this understanding in the classroom can benefit all students. During this session, we will advance our understanding and support for neurodiverse students through a brief review of the research findings. We will then discuss applying these ideas in the university classroom and across campus. We will identify positive strategies for student support and the methods to improve student, staff, and faculty experiences. Please register here.
Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Assoicate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs
