| December 12, 2007 | Vol 9. No. 8 |
Canisius to Offer New 3+2 Dual Degree Engineering Program
Canisius College will offer a 3+2 Dual Degree Program in Liberal Arts and Engineering, beginning with the spring 2008 semester. The cooperative program includes an articulation agreement for students interested in pursuing mechanical engineering at the Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College. The program will be directed by H. David Sheets, PhD, professor of physics.
"Our new dual-degree engineering program will enable students to become scientific leaders, by providing a strong liberal arts background, a grounding in physics and an engineering degree from our partner, the Behrend College of Pennsylvania State University," says Sheets. "This new program is a positive step as we move forward in developing the interdisciplinary Science Hall."
Students begin the program at Canisius College and complete three years, or the equivalent, studying liberal arts courses in addition to pre-engineering courses in the basic sciences. With a recommendation from Canisius, students then enter Penn State Behrend for two years to complete the engineering courses. Successful completion of all requirements leads to a baccalaureate degree from each institution.
Applications are now being accepted for the program. For more information, click here or call Dr. Sheets at Ext. 2587.
Canisius ULLC Program Recognized for Excellence
The Canisius College Urban Learning Leadership Community (ULLC) was recently recognized for excellence in diversity in education by the University of San Francisco Jesuit Network for Equitable Excellence in Higher Education (JNEE). The program is currently featured on the JNEE Web site. Click here to read the profile. “Our 63 graduates and 39 current undergraduates have made this possible by their academic excellence and leadership over the last eight years,” says Kenneth M. Sroka, PhD, professor of English and ULLC co-director. “Their success has set the standard for other Western New York students who are the future of our ULLC.”
The only program of its kind in the area, ULLC develops academic and leadership potential through team learning to create a new generation of leaders in the city of Buffalo.
For more information, click here .
Senator Casey Visits Canisius College
While he was in Buffalo on November 30 to speak at the annual luncheon in support of The Retirement Fund for the Religious, Senator Robert P. Casey (D-PA), visited Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. to discuss his own Jesuit education at Scranton Prep and The College of the Holy Cross. Pictured in Father Cooke’s office, from left to right, are Edward C. Cosgrove, luncheon chair and his wife, Dottie Cosgrove; Father Cooke and Senator Casey.
Schmidtke to Retire in Spring 2008, Gives Final Class Performances
Charlie R. Schmidtke, PhD, associate professor of gerontology, aka “Sancho,” gives one of his last class performances for students and guests.
Charlie R. Schmidtke, PhD, associate professor of gerontology, aka “Sancho Panza,” will retire in spring 2008 and gave one of his last two class performances on Tuesday, December 4 in Lyons Hall Room 118.
Sancho Panza, a character from the novel "Don Quixote," is the prototype for all sidekicks in Western literature. Here, Schmidtke performed as an older, arthritic version of Sancho, who has taught himself to read and write. Sancho shares with the audience what he has learned from his mentor, Don Quixote. Schmidtke has performed in his classes for more than 20 years. He dedicated the performance to his daughter, Heidi, who died from leukemia nearly four years ago at age 21. Schmidtke’s final performance, “Raoul’s Rememberances” was given on December 5.
Discounts Available to Canisius Employees
Discounts are available to Canisius College employees with various businesses, cell phone carriers, and Mount St. Joseph Academy. Discounts vary and you may need to show your Canisius staff ID. Click here for more information.
Christmas Hours
Christmas hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with one-half hour for lunch, will be in effect at the college from Monday, December 17, 2007 through Friday, January 11, 2008.Holiday Shutdown
The college will be closed, except for essential operating personnel, from Monday, December 24 until Tuesday, January 1 for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday shutdown. The college will reopen on Wednesday, January 2.
CAMPUS EVENTS
Today is Deadline to Register for “Breakfast with Santa”
Today is the last day to register for “Breakfast with Santa” on Saturday, December 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Peter Gust Economou Dining Hall. Canisius employees are invited to bring their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to the event, which will include breakfast, Christmas cookie decorating, ornament making and pictures with Santa. The employee is responsible for purchasing a gift for each child (maximum $15) that will be given to each of his or her children by Santa. Your registration form, gift(s) and check made payable to “Canisius College” must be dropped off to Connie Pileri in the Office of Campus Programming & Leadership Development (SC 003). The cost for breakfast is $5.00 per adult or child age 13 or older. Children 12 and under are FREE.
For a registration form, go here and click on the Breakfast with Santa registration link. For more information, please contact Mike Odojewski at Ext. 2180 or Connie Pileri at Ext. 2190.
Canisius Employee Christmas Party
Take some time out from the holiday rush to enjoy some downtime with your Canisius co-workers on Friday, December 21 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Peter Gust Economou Dining Hall. This year’s Christmas party luncheon will feature turkey and all the trimmings (including a vegetarian alternative), and assorted pies and Christmas cookies for dessert.
“Return to Tradition with a Modern Twist” is the theme. Prize drawings will start promptly at 12:30 p.m. and you must be present to win. No RSVP is necessary.
Cantio Sacra and Canisius Brass Quartet Share Sounds of the Season
Members of Cantio Sacra and the Canisius College Brass Quartet treated the lunchtime crowd in the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center to a Christmas carol sing-a-long on Wednesday, November 28.
RHA Thanksgiving Sit-Down Dinner
Terri L. Mangione, PhD, dean of students and Ellen O. Conley, PhD, vice president for student affairs, helped serve turkey dinner with all the trimmings to several hundred Canisius College students at the Residence Hall Association (RHA) annual Thanksgiving Sit-Down Dinner in the college’s Peter Gust Economou Dining Hall on Wednesday, November 14.
Rev. John P. Bucki, S.J. director of campus ministry, pours soda for student guests at the RHA Thanksgiving Sit-Down Dinner.
To see more faculty and staff photos from the RHA dinner, click here.
Canisius Community Day and Thanksgiving Food Drive
Marya Grande, PhD, assistant professor of education, finishes vacuum duty at the Little Portion Friary on Main Street in Buffalo as part of Canisius Community Day. Photo courtesy of Joe Van Volkenberg, Office of Campus Ministry.
More than 200 members of the college community participated in Canisius College Community Day on Saturday, November 17, which included a successful Thanksgiving Food Drive at local grocery stores.
Canisius faculty, staff and administrators can still help the food drive effort with monetary donations. The proceeds will benefit the Little Portion Friary Homeless Shelter, South Buffalo Community Table Soup Kitchen and St. Vincent De Paul Dining Room. Checks can be made payable to “Canisius College Food Drive” and mailed to or dropped off in the Office of Campus Ministry in Old Main 207 by December 21. For more information, contact Joe Van Volkenburg at Ext. 2875.
Nearly 2,000 People Visit “Tropical Trek” at Canisius
Nearly 2,000 people visited "Tropical Trek: From Dusk 'til Dawn in the Amazon," a mini-zoo in the Canisius College Health Science Building from November 6-16. Constructed by the zoo biology students of Michael Noonan, PhD, professor of animal behavior, the zoo featured a six-banded armadillo, a prehensile-tail porcupine and a dourcouli night monkey, all on loan from The Buffalo Zoo. Pictured here, students from the Early Childhood Center School #17 on Delavan Avenue get a personal tour of Tropical Trek.
Canisius International Student Host Family Photos
More than 20 Canisius College faculty and staff opened their homes to Canisius international students this year to serve as host families. A host family invites their adopted student to dinner once a month and includes them in holidays or family outings. NetGazette invited this year’s host families to share photos of some of their experiences with the campus community.
(l-r) At this year's Canisius Ramadan Dinner on October 5: Sean Johnson (age 16), Rared Husaiyn (from Bangladesh), Dede Johnson, administrative associate for the Center for Teaching Excellence. Standing: Roger Johnson. Missing from photo: Ian Johnson
Click here for more host family photos.
CANISIUS KUDOS
Canisius Receives Habitat Award, 38 Glendale Place to be Dedicated
Pictured left to right: Joe Van Volkenburg, assistant to the director, campus ministry; Mark Tortelli ’10, Canisius Habitat chapter treasurer; Ben Lafko ’09, chapter president; Matt Lindenberg ’10, chapter vice president; Jake Nichols ’10, chapter secretary; Ron Talboys, president, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo; Dean Becker, mechanical trades manager, facilities management and Tom Strausser, construction supervisor, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo.
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Canisius has donated two houses in two years to Habitat for Humanity Buffalo. Seventy Eastwood Place is home to the Burton family. 38 Glendale Place, which will be dedicated on Sunday, December 16 at 3:30 p.m., will soon to home to a family of seven. At the ceremony, the family will receive the house keys and a bible from Habitat. Canisius faculty, staff and students have spent many hours on the home renovations, which are nearly complete. Pictured right, Staci Carney Studesville, director of the college’s sport administration program, stains one of the home’s doors on Saturday, December 8.
Courtney is New Creative Services Director
Andalyn Courtney is the new director of creative services in the Department of Public Relations. Courtney is responsible for management of the creative services team, which creates printed materials for college marketing, fund raising, recruitment and promotion. Prior to Canisius, she was a creative supervisor at Eric Mower and Associates. Courtney has also served as an adjunct lecturer at Canisius College and Buffalo State College. She earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Buffalo State College in 2000.
Lenhardt Receives Unsung Hero Award
Ann Marie C. Lenhardt, PhD, professor of counseling and human services, received an award from the AM Lockport Toastmasters for being an unsung hero in the Western New York community. Lenhardt recently finished a long-term national study that examined the social roots of school shooters. She looked at the behaviors and patterns of 15 school shooters who were involved in pre-meditated and targeted shootings between 1996-2005. Lenhardt also established the Canisius Youth Connection, which researches issues related to youth at risk, and provides prevention-intervention services and training to local agencies, families and students; and instituted Student Assistance Programs (SAP). Newest Public Safety Officer Sworn In
Kenneth C. Kruly (right), director of government relations, swears in Michael J. Acquino (left), the college’s newest public safety officer, on Tuesday, November 13 in Lyons Hall. Acquino, who is assigned to the night shift, holds an associate degree in criminal justice and previously worked as a security officer at various locations around the city of Buffalo.