| April 18, 2007 | Vol 8. No. 11 |
Anderson Named Vice President of Student Life at St. Joseph University
Cary M. Anderson, EdD, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, will leave Canisius College in July to assume the role of vice president of student life at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia.“I am grateful for Cary’s dedication over the last eight years, and wish him all the best as he joins our sister Jesuit school,” says Ellen O. Conley, PhD, vice president for student affairs. “His constant focus on student needs has helped us to provide countless leadership and learning opportunities that serve as a foundation for their future successes.”
Conley credits Anderson for his strong contribution to the college’s transition from a commuter school to a primarily residential campus.
Anderson says the decision to leave Canisius was a difficult one.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family, but at the same time it is bittersweet to say goodbye to all of the wonderful people I have worked with at the college,” says Anderson. “Canisius does more than just talk about giving students a high-quality education and personal attention. It is put into practice each and every day by faculty and staff who are truly committed to the college’s mission.”
Anderson has been dean of students at Canisius College since 1999, responsible for the student life departments of Residence Life, Campus Programming and Leadership Development, International Student Programs, Counseling, Health Services and Disability Support Services. He was named associate vice president for student affairs in July 2006.
He holds a doctorate of education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Anderson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Iowa and earned a master of arts degree at Loyola University of Chicago. Prior to Canisius, he served as associate dean of students at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.
Margaret C. McCarthy, PhD, dean of education and human services, will chair the committee that will conduct a national search for a new dean of students.
Core Curriculum Revised
Canisius College adopted a new core curriculum this spring. Central to a Canisius education, the core curriculum provides a well-rounded liberal arts education by introducing students to literature, philosophy, religious studies, languages, history, mathematics and the social sciences. The revised core curriculum was the result of two years of Faculty Senate deliberations but was preceded by work on an earlier reform proposal from a task force on core reform.
“While the new curriculum bears the imprint of the current core, it differs significantly from its antecedent as well,” says Herbert J. Nelson, PhD, vice president for academic affairs.
Specifically, the new core curriculum places particular emphasis on the college’s mission as an American Catholic Jesuit university. “Believe it or not, under the old core curriculum, a student could graduate without ever being introduced to the Catholic philosophical or religious traditions,” states Peter J. Galie, PhD, chair of the Faculty Senate. “The new core requires students to take courses that will introduce them to both. That fills a huge gap in the old curriculum.”
While the number of general studies courses required by every student remains the same under the new curriculum (Freshman Year Seminar I, English 101, Introduction to Religious Studies and Introduction to Philosophy), the number of area studies courses required in each discipline was reduced from two to one.
“While there are fewer credit hours and numbers of courses, the rigor and quality of the core curriculum are being increased substantially,” says Nelson. “This is in the spirit of the adage used by Ignatius and by Jesuits ever since: ‘non multa, sed multum’ – the important thing is not how many things we do but how well we do them.”
Another significant addition to the new core curriculum, notes Galie, are the requirements for well-defined learning goals and built-in assessments.
“Each faculty member must outline their learning goals for students and be able to demonstrate whether those goals were met,” explains Galie. “In other words, we will be able to determine, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, whether students are learning what we think they are learning.”
The last core revision at Canisius was adopted in 1994 but “this is the first full-scale revision of the core curriculum since 1971,” says Galie. The new core is expected to be implemented in fall 2008.
Canisius Remembers Victims of Virginia Tech Tragedy
Plans are underway for the Canisius College community to gather Monday, April 23 at 9:15 p.m. to remember and pray for the victims and families of those killed at Virginia Tech University. An announcement is forthcoming from the Office of Campus Ministry and the Undergraduate Student Association. In addition, through Friday, April 20, 11:30 a.m. weekday Mass in Christ the King Chapel will be dedicated to those who lost their lives in the deadliest shooting in American history.
Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president, sent a message regarding the incident to the college community. He encourages individuals to support one another during this difficult time and to pray for the victims and their families. To read Father Cooke’s message, click here.
Flags at the college at are at half-staff, as an expression of sorrow over the deaths of the 33 Virginia Tech University students and faculty.
The Canisius College Counseling Center staff is available for students who may experience distress over these events. Click here for faculty and staff resources to help recognize such students, as well as referral guidelines.
Chadwick is Named Vice President for Academic Affairs
Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, has been named vice president for academic affairs for Canisius College. Chadwick's appointment follows a national search to replace Herbert J. Nelson, PhD, who will retire after 11 years in the position. Chadwick will assume the role this summer. "Dr. Chadwick has extensive experience in strategic planning, assessment and faculty development," Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., Canisius president. "I am confident that his experience, along with his vision and collaborative leadership style, will serve the college well in the future."
"I am pleased to join such a strong college as Canisius," said Chadwick. "I look forward to working with the exceptional faculty, staff and administrators as we use our gifts for the service of others and to the benefit of our students and society."
As vice president for academic affairs, Chadwick will report to the president and serve as a key member of the administrative team. As the chief academic officer for the college, he will oversee all academic areas, as well as enrollment management and library and information services.
Chadwick earned his doctorate degree in communication studies and a master in business administration degree from the University of Kansas. He also holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology, with a minor in business, from the University of Iowa.
Since 2005, Chadwick has served as associate vice president for academic affairs and director of the Office of Academic Excellence and Assessment at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. He joined the university in 2003 as an assistant vice president. Prior to Creighton, Chadwick was an assistant professor in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University (1997-2003) and an assistant professor in the Department of Speech Communication at Oregon State University (1994-1997).
For more information, click here.
NetGazette Survey Results
The results are in! More than 100 Canisius faculty, staff and administrators submitted responses to the 2007 NetGazette on-line readership survey in February and March. Comments were overwhelmingly positive:
- 93% said the overall quality of the NetGazette was excellent, good or above average
- 74% said they use NetGazette as a source of campus news.
- 83% said that the information in the NetGazette is timely and useful.
- 97% said the length of a typical NetGazette story is just about right.
- 88% said that the current NetGazette Web format is easy to navigate.
Some readers made suggestions for options that are already available. One reader asked that we save past NetGazette issues for reference. To access past issues of NetGazette as far back as 1999, click the Past Issues link (gold button) on the left side of the NetGazette. Click the blue Print Friendly button right above the Past Issues button to print the NetGazette.
We will continue to analyze the survey results that help us consider improvements or potential format changes to the NetGazette. However, we welcome your feedback on the NetGazette. Click the Contact Us link on the left side of any NetGazette page and fill out the comment form. Or contact Kristin Etu, NetGazette editor, directly at Ext. 2795 or send an E-mail to etuk@canisius.edu.
| What do you think? The editors of Canisius College Magazine want to know what you think about your alumni publication. Please take a few moments to complete our on-line readership survey here. |
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Commencement 2007
Graduate Commencement
Approximately 275 degrees will be conferred at the graduate commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Koessler Athletic Center. Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo will give the commencement address and also receive an honorary degree.
Baccalaureate Mass
Canisius College President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., will be the principal celebrant at the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the Koessler Athletic Center. Graduates, faculty and family members will gather to give thanks for blessings bestowed on all graduates.
Undergraduate Commencement
Approximately 600 degrees will be conferred at undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 20 at 11:00 a.m. in Alumni Arena at SUNY Buffalo's north campus. Buffalo Bills General Manager Marv Levy is the commencement speaker. New York State Assemblyman Robin M. Schimminger will receive an honorary degree, along with Thomas E. Baker, former president of the John R. Oishei Foundation.
LaSalle Medal
The Canisius College Alumni Association will confer the LaSalle Medal on Joseph M. Hassett, PhD, '64 and Richard A Neil, '64, MBA '72. The LaSalle Medal is the association's most distinguished award and recognizes substantial contributions in advancing the interests of the college. The medal will be presented at the undergraduate commencement
Commencement Marshals
Marshals are needed to help at both the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies. Marshals will receive paid time off for their service.
Marshals help students properly put on their academic regalia, lead their row of graduates into the ceremony and pass out diplomas to the graduates after they walk across the stage. Marshaling duties will be discussed further at a meeting on Monday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room.
For more information, or to sign up to serve a marshal or to volunteer in any other way, please contact Judy Bruce at Ext. 2130.