Canisius College

August 27, 2007

Vol 9. No. 1

Welcome Back

Nick Brodnicki '08, resident assistant from the sixth floor of Frisch Hall, and members of the women's softball team help a new Canisius College family move their daughter into Eastwood Hall. Approximately 600 freshmen moved into the college residence halls during "Move-in Day" on Friday, August 24.

Classes for the 2007-2008 academic year began today and the fall semester is underway at Canisius College. Freshmen enrollment for fall 2007, which closed in early June, is one of the highest in the college’s recent history at 845, as reported on the front page of today's Buffalo News.

The School of Education and Human Services closed enrollment for fall 2007 graduate programs in mid-August. And, graduate programs in deaf education and college student personnel administration closed earlier this summer.

“We have much to celebrate as a community as we open the fall semester,” said Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, vice president for academic affairs. “New student enrollment goals at the undergraduate and graduate levels were exceeded, and we closed admission earlier than ever.” Chadwick says the strong enrollment speaks to the great work of faculty and staff, who offer high-quality, innovative experiences to Canisius students. “It is evident that we are realizing our vision to become a ‘major regional university.’”

	(l-r) Benjamin Lafko '08, president of the Canisius College chapter of Habitat for Humanity and Rev. John P. Bucki, S.J., director of campus ministry. Nearly 25 Canisius students participated in the Welcome Weekend community service project at the Habitat for Humanity House at 44 Brinkman Ave. in Buffalo on Sunday, August 26.

Seventy-two (72) percent of this year’s freshman class live on campus and contribute to the growing national trend or residence living among college students. According to Matthew H. Mulville, associate dean and director of residence life, the college’s residence halls are filled to capacity.

This past weekend, nearly 1,500 incoming freshmen and their parents attended “Team Canisius – Keep Your Eye on the Goal,” the athletic-themed Welcome Weekend 2007. Organized by the Office of Campus Programming and Leadership Development, Welcome Weekend provided an introduction to campus services, a family Mass and blessing, community service project, social activities and entertainment.

The start of the academic year will be commemorated at the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Thursday, August 30 at 1 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel. The Mass will be followed by a chicken barbeque in the Quad at approximately 2:00 p.m., sponsored by the Senate Programming Board (SPB). In the event of rain, the barbeque will be held in the Penfold Commons of the Palisano Pavilion.

Campus Parking Options Expanded 

Science Hall-Main Street Lot, Science Hall Parking and the lot adjacent to the Mount St. Joseph’s School will give faculty and staff additional parking options.

The on-campus parking crunch is over. Approximately 450 new parking spaces are now available to faculty, administrators and staff, as a result of the college’s pending acquisition of the BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) building and parking pavilion and the move by the Mount St. Joseph’s School to its new location.

The following new lots are now open to those who hold A and B permits:

• The second floor of the BlueCross BlueShield ramp (425 spaces)
• The surface lot adjacent to the BlueCross BlueShield ramp, across from M&T Bank (25 spaces)

In September, approximately 50 new parking spaces will become available in the lot adjacent to the Mount St. Joseph’s School.  Once the school completes its move, the college will re-seal and re-stripe the lot.  Main Street and Jefferson Avenue remain as parking options for the Canisius community, as do the Spillman and Koessler lots.

The first floor of the BlueCross BlueShield ramp is designated for students.  The third floor of the ramp will remain closed as a cost-effective measure until it is determined that parking needs warrant its use.

“I think we are going to see a tremendous shift in parking patterns on campus,” says Ellen O. Conley, PhD, vice president for student affairs.  “We anticipate that the availability of these new parking spaces, particularly in the ramp, should alleviate most of the parking concerns on campus.”

According to Public Safety Director Gary M. Everett, the college has also acquired the BlueCross BlueShield ramp camera security system.

“The system, which includes four cameras located throughout the ramp, is compatible with our public safety surveillance system,” says Everett. “In addition, we have a public safety officer on staff in the ramp, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and the Buffalo Police Department also includes the ramp on its regular patrols.”

Shuttle service also resumes this semester with departures every 10 minutes. The shuttle runs between the Delavan Townhouses, the Health Science Building, the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center and Old Main.  The evening shuttle also continues its regular schedule between 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. For a compete list of evening shuttle stops, click here.

To view the updated campus parking map, click here.(.pdf)

Canisius Ranks in U.S. News & World Report’s Top Tier
Canisius College earned its highest ranking in the college’s history, when it listed 22nd in the top tier in U.S. News and World Report’s 2008 rankings of America’s Best Colleges, Northern Universities – Master’s.  Consistently ranked among the top regional colleges in the northeast, Canisius jumped seven spots in the 2008 listing.

“This significant increase in our rank is a testament to our excellent teaching faculty and the high-quality learning experiences they provide for our students,” said Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, vice president for academic affairs. “Our investments in learning and living spaces, such as our new residence halls, provide a vibrant residential campus and increased recognition that Canisius College is successful in producing well- educated, highly sought after students who are also grounded in concern for others.”

Canisius also ranked 12th in the Great Schools, Great Prices category.  “This indicates a measure of value based on academic quality, as indicated by a school’s U.S. News ranking, relative to the average cost of attending the school,” added Chadwick.  “Thus, Canisius is rightly perceived as a high-quality, high-value school.”

The rankings are published in the magazine’s August 27 issue, on newsstands today.  They are also available online at www.usnews.com/colleges.

For more information, click here.

New Study Abroad Destinations Offered
Canisius College students have six new study abroad destinations. Among the new locations are John Cabot University in Rome, Italy; the Mediterranean Center for the Arts & Sciences in Sicily, Italy; Lorenzo De’Medici in Florence, Italy; the Berlin School of Economics in Berlin, Germany; The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies in Beijing, China and Sacred Heart University in San Juan Puerto Rico.

In addition, The Atlantis Grant Study Abroad Opportunity in Strasbourg, France and Antwerp, Belgium now offers students the opportunity to earn a European degree as well as a Canisius degree, and provides students with a $1,200 monthly living allowance. The United States Department of Education awarded only seven of these prestigious grants nationwide in 2006.

“With the addition of these locations to our study abroad program, we have greatly enriched our offerings and can more effectively direct a student based on his or her area of interest, such as business, international relations, art history, or language,” said Esther A. Northman, director of international student programs and study abroad.

The college now offers a total of 16 study abroad and eight semester exchange options.

For more information, click here.

Canisius Receives $1 Million Gift from the Jesuits
Canisius received a $1 million gift from its Jesuit community, which will serve as the basis of a challenge grant to the college’s alumni to increase giving to the annual fund campaign. Once the challenge is completed, the Jesuit Community gift will support the Jesuits of Loyola Hall Scholarship Fund and the college’s Urban Leadership Learning Community Program (ULLCP).

“Our gift directly supports the college’s mission to educate and care for those who are most in need,” said Rev. Michael F. Tunney, S.J., rector of the Jesuit community, professor of fine arts and director of the Studio Art Program at Canisius. “Funding the Loyola Hall Scholarship Fund and the Urban Leadership Learning Community Program will keep the dream of a Canisius education affordable for the best graduates from Jesuit high schools around the country, as well as for young leaders emerging from Buffalo high schools. My Jesuit brothers and I are delighted to teach and help all of these students.”

“It is fitting that the Jesuit community has designated their generous gift to benefit the students of Canisius College through these scholarship programs,” said Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president. “Since 1870, the Jesuits at Canisius have devoted their lives to their students. A Jesuit education is synonymous with the highest intellectual standards and provides the foundation for our students to become leaders in all walks of life.”

For more information, click here.

Canisius Receives $1 Million Gift from Peter Vogt
Canisius College has received a $1 million gift from local philanthropist Peter A. Vogt, which will be used to establish the Peter A. Vogt Scholarship Program. Vogt Scholarships will be awarded to students who would qualify for the college’s highest merit-based scholarships. Vogt scholars must demonstrate academic merit, leadership potential and the ability to inspire their fellow students by example in the classroom and in the college community.

“The Canisius community is grateful to Peter for his tremendous support and generosity,” said Canisius College President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. “The Vogt Scholarship Program will be a key part of our strategy to recruit the best possible students to Canisius who can truly enhance the intellectual life of the campus. We expect that the Vogt Scholars will be leaders in every sense of the word.”

“Canisius has been a wonderful asset to our community and I am pleased to be able to play a part in helping the college recruit high-achieving students who can become leaders in our community,” said Vogt.

For more information, click here.

Labor Day Shutdown
The college will be closed, except for essential operating personnel, on Monday, September 3 in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.

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CANISIUS EVENTS

Contemporary Writers Series Welcomes Clarke
The Canisius College Contemporary Writers Series will host acclaimed fiction writer Brock Clarke in the Grupp Fireside Lounge on Tuesday, September 25. Clarke will read from his works, followed by an audience question and answer period, book signing and reception. The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7 p.m.

Clarke is the author of a novel, The Ordinary White Boy (Harcourt 2001), and two short-story collections, What We Won't Do (Sarbande 2002), which won the Mary McCarthy Prize in short fiction, and Carrying the Torch (University of Nebraska Press 2005), which won the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction. His second novel, An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England, published by Algonquin Books, will be available in September 2007.

For more information, contact Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor of English at Ext. 2662 or click here.

Sixth Annual Summer Science Camp
On August 9, teams of Canisius Summer Science Camp students used physics concepts to construct bridges from popsicle sticks and then competed in the Quad to see how much weight they could bear. (Left photo) Students watch with anticipation as camp teachers add weight to a bridge constructed during camp activities. (Right photo) The bridge breaks and the crowd goes wild! More than 100 local middle school students attended the sixth annual camp from August 6-10, which is coordinated by Steven Szczepankiewicz, PhD, associate professor of chemistry/biochemistry.

38th Annual NYSP at Canisius

Students participate in a team building exercise during this year’s National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) at the Koessler Athletic Center.

More than 200 local youth, ages 10-16, took part in this year’s NYSP from July 2 – July 20 at the college’s Koessler Athletic Center (KAC). The program includes three hours of sports activities each day, with a minimum of three hours per week of classroom instruction in drug education, health, nutrition and career development. Canisius faculty and teachers from Western New York public schools served as program instructors.

Canisius supports the NYSP with $85,000 in-kind donations and $25,000 in direct contributions. In addition, the New York State Assembly appropriated $10,000 to Canisius for the NYSP in its 2007-2008 budget.

Campus Ministry Summer Picnic

Patricia B. Van Verth, PhD, associate professor of computer science and James E. Van Verth, PhD, professor emeritus of biochemistry, get ready to enjoy some good food and good company at the Office of Campus Ministry Summer Picnic in Bart Mitchell Quad on Tuesday, July 10. The event, open to the campus community, was held to thank the volunteers who helped out at the various campus ministry events throughout the 2006-2007 academic year.

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CANISIUS KUDOS

Grebenok Receives NSF Research Fellowship, USDA Grant 
Robert J. Grebenok, PhD, professor of biology at Canisius College, is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) research fellowship. Fifteen faculty and students from colleges and universities all over the world were invited to participate in the NSF- funded program from June through August.

For his fellowship, Grebenok performed summer research on the Chloroplast 2010 program at the Della Penna Laboratory at Michigan State University. Specifically, he worked as a visiting professor on Arabidopsis thaliana genetics, where he examined gene expression within the chloroplasts of higher plants.

Chance and Choice Recounts the Life of Joan Lorch 
Professor emerita of biology I. Joan Lorch, PhD, recounts the first 30 years of her life in a new book entitled Chance and Choice. Born in 1923 Germany, Lorch's memoir conveys the spirit of the times. She writes about what it was like to be a young Jewish girl growing up under Hitler's reign, how it felt to be an enemy alien while she later lived as a German national in war-torn England, and how she became a female biologist in what was then a largely male field. The story concludes in 1952 with Lorch's marriage to Peter Staple, a young English dentist and doctoral student.

Chance and Choice: My First Thirty Years sells for $19.94 and is available at www.lulu.com.

Volonino Serves as Guest Editor of Journal Linda A. Volonino, PhD, CISSP, chair and professor of information systems, served as guest editor of the July issue of "Journal of Information Systems Management." The theme of the issue is Electronic Records Management (ERM). To read the issue, click here.

Baskerville Baskerville is Newest Public Safety Officer

(l-r) Corey Baskerville, officer for public safety, Kenneth C. Kruly, director of governmental relations and Gary Everett, director of public safety.

Officer Corey Baskerville was sworn in as a NYS peace officer by Kenneth C. Kruly, director of governmental relations, on Tuesday, July 17. Baskerville has served in the U.S. Army including a tour of duty in Iraq. He also previously worked for BRINKS security.

Public Safety Participates in National Night out Against Crime
Canisius student-athletes Dave Kasch '08 and Dan Evans '09, Director of Public Safety Gary Everett and Lieutenant James A. Murphy III represented Canisius College at an August 6 news conference at Cheektowaga Town Park to kick off the National Night out Against Crime. Kasch and Evans took the stage with local law enforcement, government officials and crime victim advocates in a tribute to the college students who lost their lives at Virginia Tech University.