Student Affairs
Graduate students’ needs are different from the needs of undergraduate students. Many of the activities, developmental concerns and extra-curricular interests which characterize the undergraduate student become less important when one pursues an advanced degree. Nonetheless, there still remains a need for support services and assistance with problems, and not infrequently an interest in certain non-curricular programs. The availability of these services and programs is largely managed at Canisius by the division of student affairs.

Division of Student Affairs
The Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, and staff, determine all student affairs policies and procedures for the college, subject to the approval of the president. Assistance to graduate students is provided by the following offices and functions: Athletics and intramural athletics
Canisius College conducts an extensive program of intercollegiate athletics at the N.C.A.A. Division I level. While participation by an incoming graduate student is somewhat rare, there are occasionally opportunities to participate. Interested individuals should contact the head coach of the program to inquire about their tryout opportunities. Griffin teams also provide an excellent venue for the sports spectator. Information on schedules is available from the Athletics Department at the Koessler Athletic Center. Graduate students are encouraged to participate in both club and intramural sports. Club sports include rugby and volleyball for men; and co-educational bowling, skiing and scuba. Intramural sports include basketball, football, indoor soccer and softball for men, basketball and softball for women; and co-educational racquetball, volleyball, floor hockey and tennis.

Student Health Center
Frisch Hall 001 Phone 888-2610
The Student Health Center, located on the tunnel level of Frisch Hall, Room 101, is a nurse-directed health service which provides nursing care to graduate students, Monday through Friday, during the academic year. The specific clinic hours are circulated on campus at the beginning of each semester. Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and registered nurses are available to treat some of the common health problems that affect students. Graduate students needing more extensive health care are referred off campus. Appointments are recommended and all nursing visits are free.

Health and accident insurance
All Canisius College graduate students need to have health insurance to prevent the financial burdens associated with health care. Students must have their own coverage or purchase
a sickness plan offered by the college. Information about eligibility, cost and enrollment periods in the sickness plan is available in the Student Health Center. International students are required to purchase the college’s health insurance plan written specifically for those studying away from their home countries. Information about this plan is available in the Office of International Student Programs.

All students must carry proof of their health insurance coverage while on campus. Most health insurance companies issue a health insurance card for that purpose. To prevent confusion, it is also recommended that all students know how their health insurance program is administered in the event a need for health care arises while at school. This is especially important for those students covered by a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or those needing their physican’s authorization prior to receiving health care by another provider.

New York State immunization requirement for measles, mumps and rubella
New York State law requires all graduate students taking six or more credits, and born on or after January 1, 1957, to provide proof of immunity against measles, mumps and rubella to the Student Health Center prior to class attendance. Graduate students must submit proof of two doses of measles (rubeola) vaccine, one dose of rubella (German measles) vaccine and one dose of mumps vaccine, given on or after their first birthday and after 1967. Non-compliance with this law results in exclusion from class and inability to register for future courses. Immunization forms can be picked up in the Student Health Center, or may be obtained by calling the center at (716) 888-2610.

Meningitis Requirement
All students, registered for 6 or more credits, regardless of birthdate, are required to receive information about the risk of meningococcal disease and the benefit of vaccination. Students are required to read the information and either obtain the meningitis vaccine or sign a vaccine refusal statement within thirty days of first class attendance. To read the information about meningococcal disease, go to the center's Web site, where you may also submit your meningitis response form on-line.

Counseling Center
The Counseling Center, as an integral service within the Office of Student Affairs, actively supports the educational mission of the college. Counseling is intended to assist students toward personal growth. A counselor supports and encourages a student to reflect on his or her choices and actions in order to progress as a responsible adult. Participation in counseling may help a person improve self esteem, manage one’s time and life better and make reasoned decisions. Counseling may help an individual cope with difficult experiences, overcome self-defeating behavior and deal with feelings of anxiety, confusion, anger or loneliness. Through the counseling process graduate students can also learn to reduce stress and relax. Counseling services are available to all registered graduate students, free of charge, from a staff of professionally qualified college counselors who act as objective, responsive listeners and supportive educators.

Residence Life
Housing for graduate students is available. For more information about the types of graduate housing Canisius offers, contact the Office of Residence Life at 716-888-2220 or
reslife@canisius.edu.

Disability Support Services
Canisius College is committed to providing assistance to graduate students with disabilities to insure that their performance is measured by their ability, not their disability. Services to graduate students include:
  • Guide to the campus. Maps are available describing accessibility via the campus tunnels, elevators and ramps.
  • Parking. Specially marked parking spaces are available for students with both a college parking permit and a handicapped parking permit.
  • Transportation. A college-operated van equipped with a wheelchair lift provides transportation between the main campus and the Delavan campus.
  • Physical recreation, therapy and athletics. The Koessler Athletic Center, within its resources, makes available adaptive physical education courses and physical therapy as the need arises.
  • Personal assistants. Students in need of assistants will be helped to identify appropriate personnel. The college cannot take responsibility for hiring, training or paying such personnel.
The Director for Disability Support Services serves as the college’s advocate for students with disabilities and is responsible for arranging necessary support. Any graduate student
who needs special services should contact the director at (716) 888-3748 before the semester begins when possible since ample lead time is often required to plan for appropriate on-campus services.

International students programs 
Canisius College welcomes international students and appreciates the cultural diversity they bring to the campus. Currently our international students are from approximately 35 countries from the continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. The Office of International Student Programs advises international graduate students and assists them with their adjustment to Canisius College and American culture by organizing educational and social programs. To encourage cultural understanding within the Canisius community, arrangements are made for host families and each year the college sponsors an International Fest — an evening celebration of cultural diversity on campus.

Other services for international students include orientation for new graduate students, assistance with immigration regulations, and special tutorial help in English, if necessary. The Global Horizons Association, a student organization for American and international students, plans additional activities to promote cultural awareness on campus.

Student handbook
The Canisius College Student Handbook provides information on student life at Canisius. Although written primarily for the undergraduate student, it contains considerable information of value to graduate students. Extensive information is provided on student organizations, student services and student housing. The handbook also contains the student code of conduct and other student life policies; these apply equally to both graduate
and undergraduate students. Copies are widely distributed in the fall semester, and are also available at any time in the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of Residence Life and the Student Center office.  Click here to see the student handbook on-line.

Study Abroad
Students who study abroad say that it is a life-changing experience. Whether you spend a semester or a year abroad, living and learning in another country will open the doors to personal and professional experiences as well as improve foreign language skills. Some programs even enable students to work as volunteers or interns during their stays and combine language and culture courses with their academic work. The Office of International Student Programs is continually improving and increasing the options made available to Canisius students interested in expanding their horizons. While study abroad opportunities are often engaged in by undergraduate students, there are graduate programs that promote or allow for study abroad opportunities Canisius offers study abroad programs in the following cities:
  • Atlantis Grant Study Abroad Opportunity (Strasbourg, France & Antwerp, Belgium)
  • Antwerp, Belgium — University of Antwerp
  • Beijing, China — The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies
  • Berlin, Germany — Berlin School of Economics
  • Dortmund, Germany — Technical University of Dortmund
  • El Salvador — Casa de Solidaridad
  • Florence, Italy — Lorenzo De’Medici
  • Galway, Ireland — National University of Ireland at Galway
  • Lille, France — The Catholic University of Lille
  • London, England — London Metropolitan University
  • Oviedo, Spain — University of Oviedo
  • Puerto Rico — Sacred Heart University
  • Queensland, Australia — University of the Sunshine Coast
  • Rome, Italy — Lorenzo De’Medici
  • Tokyo, Japan — Sophia University
  • Uppsala, Sweden — Uppsala University