The Canisius Earning Excellence Program facilitates student collaboration with faculty mentors through highly rewarding educational experiences. These intellectually demanding collaborations create exciting opportunities for applied learning and enhance faculty scholarship. Working closely with faculty on scholarly projects, students gain readiness for a professional career or advanced graduate study.
What kinds of projects are funded by CEEP?
- Science lab assistance on faculty research projects
- Running subjects through research protocols and collecting and analyzing data
- Abstract and bibliography work for humanities or social sciences professors
- Statistics and computer graphics work
- Survey construction and analysis of results
- Case study compilation for a business course
- Report writing or drafting
- Translation to and from a foreign language
- College self-study work or institutional research managed by a senior administrator
- Independent student research directed by a faculty member
- Independent library or electronic research
Some Recent CEEP Projects
Novedades Bilingual Magazine
Emily Augugliaro ’20, Amanda Popovski ’20 and Allison Jennings ’19, all of whom have spent time in at least one Spanish-speaking country through Canisius’ global education opportunities, pooled their talents to produce a bilingual magazine. Called Novedades, the publication focuses on the concept of “community” through travel photos, personal reflections on learning Spanish, alumni interviews and program experiences.
CrossFit and High-Functioning Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Lindsay Heck ’17 worked with faculty to research the potential benefits of a CrossFit Kids-based exercise program for high-functioning children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. After graduating from Canisius, she completed an internship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and earned her master’s at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health. She was also awarded the prestigious Olga Lindberg Scholarship from AAUW Buffalo.
Electroskip
Today he’s a professor of physics at Canisius. But when he was a student, Jon Mrowczynski ’16, a physics major and computer science minor, worked with Jamie O'Neill, associate professor of digital media arts to develop Electroskip, a wearable footwear device that can detect when a person is putting too much pressure on their heels or toes. Thanks to the device’s sensor data, Electroskip is also innovative technology for people with walking disabilities.
Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of the Survivor Label and Use of Survivor Programs
Katie Simon ’19 and Noah Cliff ’20 worked with Dr. Melissa Wanzer, professor of communication studies, to research how the "survivor" label affects cancer patients. Katie is completing her master's degree in communication at Penn State, where she teaches public speaking.
How Gorillas See the World
Sydney Chertoff ’18 developed this project on her own while researching with others, combining her interest in primate behavior and her work for the Institute for Autism Research. Funding for the project, which included a grant from the American Society of Primatologists, allowed her to purchase eye-tracking equipment and software licensing. Sydney has presented this work at several conferences, including meetings of the Animal Behavior Society and the Northeastern Evolutionary Primatology (NEEP) group. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Lethbridge, where she studies “fidgeting” in children and Balinese macaques.
Who is eligible for CEEP awards?
Canisius University undergraduates in any major may apply for a CEEP award if they have a 3.2 or higher overall GPA and if they have a faculty or college administrator sponsor with an appropriate CEEP project. Please note: Students with an overall GPA below 3.2 may apply for a CEEP award, but awards will only be granted if the student's overall GPA is higher than 3.2 at the end of the spring semester and/or if their semester GPA was 3.4 or higher in the past two semesters.
CEEP By The Numbers
- Since 2010, the average CEEP award given to students is $1,195.
- Over $1 million in financial awards have been given since 2010
- 957 students have received awards since 2010