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Campus Candids

More than 150-plus employees and students gathered in the newly-renovated Economou Dining Hall on Wednesday, August 17 for the 5th Annual Employee Appreciation Lunch.

Spencer Liechty, the new director of Campus Ministry, was introduced and led the group in prayer. President Steve Stoute also received a warm welcome and expressed his gratitude for everyone’s hard work and dedication to the college.  President Stoute added that he looks forward to more conversations with members of our campus community in the weeks and months ahead, as we work together to establish a new vision and strategy for Canisius.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

Employee Engagement Team

We are looking new members of the employee engagement team to promote continuous engagement opportunities as we move into 2018. The team will meet every other month for one hour. Take this opportunity to share your insights and work in collaboration with other colleagues!

Our Employee Engagement Team has been working diligently in developing recommendations for improvements based on the engagement survey administered in December 2016.

This engagement team was formed to further review the results and recommend new initiatives that would help improve employee engagement at Canisius. These initiatives are categorized in four critical areas:

  • Recognition and appreciation of employees
  • Communication
  • Building trust
  • Professional development

You see many new initiatives introduced including Blue and Gold Fridays, employee recognition programs, increased leadership communications, the employee appreciation luncheon, enhanced training and development opportunities and additional health and wellness events.

Our leadership team is committed to administering the survey annually to enhance our engagement strategies and measure our progress. Our next survey is scheduled for after Thanksgiving.

Please RSVP to Linda Walleshauser at walleshl@canisius.edu if you are interested in participating.

Submitted by: Linda Walleshauser, associate vice president, Human Resources and Compliance

 

 

Juneteenth Buffalo Recognizes Canisius

On Wednesday, December 13, Canisius was recognized for its continued partnership with Juneteenth Festival Inc.

Beginning in 2021, the university joined communities across the nation in commemorating this holiday. For the past three years, the campus has come together for a day of education, solidarity and service.  The goal is to inspire conversation and action in our ongoing work toward anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Fatima Rodriguez Johnson and Bennie Williams (pictured above), co-chairs of the Juneteenth Recognition event, were on hand to accept the certificate of appreciation.

Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion

RSVP for Summer Faculty Development Week

The Sign-Up Sheet for the Summer Faculty Development Week (SFDW) is now Live! Click here to go to the SFDW page and sign-up now!

A few of the highlights:

  • Information Technology for Faculty
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Collaborative Annotation via Hypothes.is
  • Diversifying the Library Collections
  • Self-Care and Wellness
  • QPR Suicide Prevention Training
  • Classroom Technology
  • Mission and Identity
  • Grant Incubator
  • Introductory R Workshop

Other Community activities happening during SFDW include the Employee Luncheon (click here to RSVP separately) and the Canisius Women’s Soccer team will kick off the season versus St. Francis Brooklyn at the Demske Sports Center!

Take a Break from Your Busy Schedule

If you haven’t already, make plans now to attend the college’s second annual Appreciation Picnic. Set for Tuesday, July 31, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. in the Economou Dining Hall, the event serves as a great opportunity to enjoy lunch with friends and colleagues from across campus. Prior to lunch, a Mass in honor of the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola will be offered by Rev.

Fr. Lynch will offer a short mass prior to the lunch at 11:30 a.m. on July 31 in honor of St. Ignatius Loyola in Christ the King Chapel.

This year, guests will be treated to a unique menu that offers hints of Hawaiian flare and includes Huli Huli chicken, homemade pineapple coleslaw, potato salad and fresh corn-on-the-cob.  For dessert?  Everyone’s favorite – soft-serve ice cream!

RSVPs are kindly requested by today, Wednesday, July 25.  You can do so by choosing one of the following options below or by contacting Human Resources Assistant Mary Braun at Ext. 2240 (braun5@canisius.edu).

 

Submitted by: Mary Braun, assistant, Human Resources

Read Student Testimonials on Successful Faculty & Staff Campaign

With a 22 percent increase over last year in participation by current faculty and staff and more than $500,000 donated in 2014-15, Canisius celebrated its faculty and staff donors at the annual Faculty & Staff Donor Thank You Luncheon on Wednesday, March 31.

In total, 302 current, former, and retired faculty and staff made contributions this year in support of the Canisius Fund, endowed scholarships, and/or capital projects. “While gifts to the Faculty & Staff Campaign support virtually all areas of campus, it is our 4,181 students who benefit most,” shared Walter Sharrow, PhD, professor emeritus of history, and co-chair of the faculty and staff campaign. “Our philanthropy supports the educational experiences that are part of the Jesuit tradition of academic rigor for our students.”

At the luncheon, Emily Dorward ’17, Megan Teed ’17, and Angel Saldivar ’18, whose pictures have been featured in this year’s campaign materials, as well as on the Faculty & Staff Recognition Wall, shared what about their Canisius education they are most thankful for and expressed their sincere appreciation to the donors for making their Canisius education possible.

“The Jesuit values that define the Canisius experience have shaped my life in the way I know it,” expressed Dorward. “I strive every day to live as a woman with and for others.” Teed shared her appreciation for the opportunity to serve the community with people she loves while Saldivar thanked donors for the institutional aid he receives. “If I did not receive the assistance that I did, I would not have been able to attend Canisius and receive the rich education that is offered,” said Saldivar. “As a first-generation college student, this opportunity means everything to me.”

President John J. Hurley also spoke at the luncheon, conveying his sincere appreciation to faculty and staff donors for their added measure of commitment by giving to Canisius.

With less than two months to go in this year’s campaign, there is still time to support your favorite academic department or campus initiative. Please consider joining your colleagues in making a gift to Canisius today at canisius.edu/faculty-staff.

Thank you for all that YOU do each and every day to make a Canisius education possible for our students.

Submitted by: Summer Handzlik, assistant director, Canisius Fund