Canisius College

Health Insurance Forum This Afternoon
Canisius will hold an important health insurance forum today, Wednesday, April 19 at 2:30 p.m. in the Regis Room North, to discuss the college’s move to a single health-care provider.  All employees who did not attend the first meeting on April 11 are strongly encouraged to attend this forum, as a final decision on a single medical insurance provider will be made by the end of April.

About 18 months ago, the Board of Trustees directed the college to explore a single source of medical insurance coverage to determine if a cost savings could be achieved without reducing the plans.  Currently, the college pays a “community rate,” which means that regardless of our utilization, the college pays the same rate for the same plan as any other group in the community.  The alternative to this is an “experienced rated plan.”  An “experience rate” is based on the actual utilization of the participants.  In order to obtain an experience rate, a group must utilize one insurance provider.

The college, along with a health benefit subcommittee has been working with Lawley Benefits Group, a benefits consultant.  The college’s current carriers, BlueCross and BlueShield of Western New York, Independent Health, and Univera were asked to provide quotes.  You can view the proposed plans at www.canisius.edu/hr/health.asp.

The quotes reflect plans that are very similar to the plans we offer.  For example, Independent Health quoted not only the HMO plans, but also a traditional indemnity plan, that models our traditional Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan.  Independent Health provides this coverage to several municipalities and schools, including Daemen College.  Another example is BlueCross and BlueShield added to its HMO the lifestyle benefit that participants in Independent Health utilize. 

The cost savings are significant, more than $400,000.  This means that both the college and employees will pay less for essentially the same coverage. 

Univera, which now covers only 12 percent of the college’s participants, could not provide a competitive quote because of the low number of participants in the plan.  Univera offers health services through its Lifetime Centers, which are essentially one-stop health centers.  Those who now use Univera may be interested to know that Independent Health has reached an agreement with Univera’s Lifetime Centers and BlueCross and BlueShield is also in negotiations with Univera.  However, the extent to which Canisius employees will be able to utilize these centers under either provider is unknown at this time.

It is important to note that both insurance providers are good choices.  Ninety-eight percent of Western New York physicians participate in both networks.  Both BlueCross and BlueShield, and Independent Health offer HMO type plans and traditional plans. 

Watch your mailboxes for information regarding open enrollment meetings in early May. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the plan information, please contact Human Resources at Extension 2240.

Parrotta Named New Men's Basketball Coach

Director of Athletics Bill Maher and Tom Parrotta

After a nationwide search, Canisius College named Tom Parrotta as the new men's basketball coach. Director of Athletics Bill Maher made the announcement at a news conference April 10.

"Tom brings to Canisius great experience in both the MAAC and Western New York as a coach and student-athlete from his playing career at Fordham University," said Maher. "He has progressed through the coaching ranks at Nazareth, Niagara and Hofstra to earn this head-coaching opportunity at Canisius College. I am confident that he has the passion and energy to help us toward our goal of winning MAAC Championships."

Parrotta signed a four-year contract and became the 22nd men's basketball coach in the 103-year history of the program. He comes to Canisius from Hofstra University, where he spent the last five seasons under head coach Tom Pecora.

"I'm excited to become a part of the proud tradition of Canisius basketball," said Parrotta. "This is an excellent opportunity for me not only to become a head coach of a first-rate Division I basketball program but to return to the MAAC, a league filled with quality institutions that I'm very familiar with."

For more information, click here.

Wanted: Commencement Volunteers
The University at Buffalo has instituted a new policy for undergraduate commencement that requires everyone who enters Alumni Arena to have a ticket, except workers with an ID badge.  In addition to marshals, Canisius will need additional volunteers to serve as ushers and ticket takers. Marshals assist graduates with their caps and gowns, lead them into the ceremony and pass out diplomas after they cross the stage. All volunteers receive paid time off for their service.  To sign up as a volunteer for either the undergraduate or graduate commencement ceremonies, contact Judy Bruce, secretary to the dean of students, at Ext. 2130.

Graduate Ceremony Wednesday, May 17
Approximately 275 degrees will be conferred at the graduate commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Koessler Athletic Center.  Steve Forbes, editor in chief of Forbes magazine and president and CEO of its publisher, Forbes, Inc., will give the commencement address and also receive an honorary degree. Wilson Greatbatch, inventor of the cardiac pacemaker, will also receive an honorary degree during the ceremony.

Baccalaureate Mass Friday, May 19
Canisius College President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., will be the prinicipal celebrant at the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 19 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 Ceremony Saturday, May 20
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.  Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., is the commencement speaker.  Philanthropists Sebastian and Leonore Rosica will receive honorary degrees, along with Luiz F. Kahl, former president of The Vector Group, posthumously. 

LaSalle Medal Goes to DiVita
The Canisius College Alumni Association will confer the LaSalle Medal on Richard DiVita '55.  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.

Father Cooke Visits Great Wall

Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., with the breathtaking expanse of the Great Wall of China in the background.

College President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., took some time out while in China this March to visit the Great Wall. The purpose of his trip was to explore study abroad possibilities for Canisius undergraduate students at the Beijing Center for Chinese Studies at the University of International Business and Economics. In addition, Father Cooke visited the University of Peking. Canisius is a member of the consortium that staffs the university's MBA program.

April Connections Now On-line
The April issue of Connections, the on-line newsletter of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), is now available by clicking here.