1. What is the financial goal of the campaign?
Canisius has set a goal of $90 million.
2. When did the campaign begin and when will it end?
The campaign has been in a quiet phase since 2004. It entered the public phase in September 2007. We expect it will conclude on May 31, 2010.
3. How much has been raised to date?
As of October 25, 2007, the campaign has raised $52.4 million.
4. How will the money be used?
The $90 million we raise will fund several major initiatives that are crucial to the future of Canisius.
• $47 million will go toward the purchase and renovation of the BlueCross BlueShield building to create a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary science center.
• $24 million will be earmarked for endowment to expand support for scholarships and academic programs.
• $2 million will fund renovations to the library
• A total of $17 million will be raised through the college’s Annual Fund over a seven-year period to provide additional annual operating support.
5. Why do we need to purchase the BlueCross BlueShield building?
The building sits in the heart of the Canisius campus. Opportunities of this kind do not arise often so the college needs to seize the opportunity at this time. Acquisition of the building integrates our campus and provides a single site large enough to consolidate and integrate all of our science programs. Some would argue that most importantly, the attached parking pavilion solves the college’s parking problems in a single stroke.
6. Why does Canisius need a science center?
In the last 14 years, major capital renovations have involved nearly every department of the college except the sciences. Canisius has long been a leader in undergraduate science education and garners national recognition for the excellence of our science programs. A new interdisciplinary center will enable Canisius to build on this core academic strength and bring it to the next level of excellence, and ensures that we stay on the cutting edge of undergraduate science education.
7. The science center is a big project isn’t it?
Absolutely. It’s the largest project ever undertaken by Canisius. The purchase price for the BlueCross BlueShield building is $18.5 million, and the preliminary estimate of the cost of phase one of the conversion of what is now office space into state-of-the-art teaching and laboratory space for the college’s science programs is in the range of $25 to $30 million. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are complex and expensive, as are the laboratory and research equipment; and the space must be designed to accommodate the inevitable growth and evolution of the college and its programs.
8. What is endowment and why do we need an additional $24 million for it?
The classic definition of endowment is a gift made with the stipulation that the principal can never be spent. Only earnings over and above the original principal can ever be expended. Because tuition funds between 80 to 90 percent of the costs to operate Canisius annually, there is a gap that must be filled through other sources of revenue. The college’s endowment provides permanent sources of revenue, year in and year out, to support key academic programs, student scholarships, faculty recruitment and research, and other initiatives that promote academic excellence at Canisius.
9. What are the programs that will be supported through an expanded endowment?
- Scholarships: Canisius provides financial assistance to more than 90 percent of our students. This assistance makes a Canisius education affordable and accessible to a broad cross section of students. Scholarships enable the college to attract a diverse student body, which will enhance our high-quality educational experience.
- The Center for the Global Study of Religion: This program exposes students to diverse cultures and religions. They learn real-life lessons about politics and religion as they travel to Third World countries and experience first-hand how different people live, how they practice their faiths, and how faith shapes values.
- The Urban Leadership Learning Community: Canisius is committed to make a Canisius degree possible for talented young people from the inner city of Buffalo. This program immerses these students in college life through academics, extra-curricular activities and service. Our 40 accomplished alumni are now either employed or in graduate school.
- The All-College Honors Program: This program brings outstanding students to Canisius and engages them in research, scholarship and artistic endeavors. The Honors Program invigorates the intellectual life of the entire Canisius community through its specially-designed courses and co-curricular experiences.
- The Financial Markets Lab: The Canisius Financial Markets Lab is just like a real-life Wall Street trading room. Students in the Golden Griffin Fund program use the same tools as Wall Street analysts do to invest and manage real money. The experience provides our graduates with a distinct advantage as they pursue their careers.
- Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation: Students travel the world to research animals in their natural habitats and then bring the lessons home, to teach and promote conservation at area schools, the Buffalo Zoo, the Aquarium of Niagara and Marineland of Ontario.
- The Canisius College Video Institute: The Video Institute combines student learning and service to others. Students gain hands-on experience developing documentaries and promotional videos that benefit not-for-profit arts, cultural, and humanitarian organizations locally and abroad. Student productions have received national recognition for their quality.
- Department Endowments: In addition to the specific endowed programs, the college is attempting to create program endowments in as many academic departments as possible. Even modest amounts of endowment will create permanent sources of funds for faculty travel, conferences, etc.
- Endowed Faculty Chairs: Endowed chairs are generally permanent appointments awarded to faculty members in recognition of past and potential contributions to their academic disciplines. The academic honor provides funding to support the faculty member’s teaching, research or service activities. Endowed chairs are powerful tools in the recruitment and retention of the most distinguished faculty, which in turn helps Canisius to recruit the highest quality students.
- Endowed Professorships: Similar to endowed chairs, endowed professorship awards provide Canisius faculty with additional resources for teaching, learning and scholarship for a designated period of time. Professorships support innovative programs, lecture series, research and scholarly travel that strengthen the quality of the college experience for our faculty and the students.
The first floor of the library will be redesigned to create what it known as a learning commons. This will accommodate the student demand for increased technology and interactive study and learning spaces. The plans include 24 hour access to computers, quiet study spaces and collaborative study areas.
11. Why is the annual fund part of the campaign?
The campaign hopes to increase Annual Fund giving by 50 percent over seven years, from its starting point of $2 million to $3 million by 2010. The increase in the Annual Fund will help provide more annual operating support for the many other college priorities.
12. What will the result be if Canisius is successful in this campaign?
The success of this campaign will help us achieve our vision to be one of the top comprehensive universities in the Northeast. It will cement the college’s place as a leader in undergraduate science education. The rich, innovative learning experiences supported through this campaign will ensure that our graduates are well prepared in the Catholic Jesuit tradition to take their places as leaders in whatever professions they choose. And finally, Canisius will continue to be a powerful force for positive change and economic revitalization in Buffalo.