| September 8, 2006 | Vol 8. No. 2 |
Academic Convocation
More than 200 Canisius faculty, staff and administrators gathered in the Montante Cultural Center on Wednesday, September 6 to hear Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., deliver his annual state-of-the-college address. Father Cooke emphasized the role of collaboration in undergraduate education, as he updated the college community on everything from current enrollment to the status of fund raising for the interdisciplinary science center.
Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., presented his annual state-of-the-college address on Wednesday, September 6 in the Montante Cultural Center.
Undergraduate enrollment, according to Father Cooke, was down slightly for fall 2006 with 760 incoming freshmen (773 in fall 2005) and 178 transfer students (202 in 2005). However, this number is consistent with our 10-year average of 760 freshmen. And, the college remains “very much on track” for its long-term enrollment goal, set forth by the Plan for Academic Excellence, to have 3,275 full-time undergraduate students enrolled at Canisius by 2008.
“Although we have had several good years where we met or exceeded enrollment goals, we are confronted by the stagnant demographics in Western New York,” said Father Cooke. “Still, we remain the largest private institution in the area and our admissions staff is working hard to fine-tune our enrollment strategies for next year.”
Graduate enrollment credit hours saw gains this fall. The School of Education and Human Services enrolled 9,184, up from 8,951 in 2005; the Wehle School of Business enrolled 2,224, up from 2,095 in 2005; and the College of Arts and Sciences enrolled 261, up from 168 in 2005.
The college’s academic profile also continues to improve. Father Cooke noted “significant progress” in the college’s selectivity rating, or percentage of applicants who were admitted to Canisius, which went from 83.4 percent in 2003 to 76.4 percent in 2006. He explained, “We have been able to cut off the low end of the academic achievers in terms of who we admit.”
Canisius remains “very strong” in attracting residential students. This fall, 70.7 percent of incoming freshmen live on campus. That is more than a 10 percent increase in residential living since 2003. Additionally, the college recorded a 10 percent increase in its geographic draw of students from outside Erie County. Still, added Father Cooke, that out of the area “Canisius faces the challenge of name recognition.”
According to Father Cooke, the high school averages of incoming freshman remain at around the “same level,” at 89.2 percent, as do SAT scores, at 1099.
He noted the very respectable accomplishments of Canisius student athletes, including a cumulative GPA of 3.15 for all student athletes. In 2005, 73 student-athletes were named to the MAAC All-Academic Honor Roll. For the 2005-2006 season, both softball and men’s lacrosse won regular season MAAC Championships, and women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse finished second in the MAAC regular season.
More than 200 faculty, staff and administrators heard updates on everything from current enrollment to the status of fund raising for the interdisciplinary science center during Father Cooke’s annual academic convocation.
New service upgrades on campus this fall include a 24-passgenger shuttle bus, which runs a fixed evening route from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. weekdays, a security guard at the entrance to the Heath Science Building from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and an information booth staffed by public safety personnel at the Jefferson entrance of the BlueCross/BlueShield ramp from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays.
In July, Canisius announced its purchase of the Mount St. Joseph Academy School property. The school will continue to operate under a lease for the next two years while it searches for an alternative site. The college’s long-term plans for the property include the demolition of the existing buildings and the possible development of new residential and classroom space.
Father Cooke said the college remains on target to takeover the BlueCross BlueShield Building and parking ramp for the interdisciplinary science center in December 2007. He also updated the audience on the status of fund raising for the project.
“We are in the quiet phase of a campaign and are doing very well,” said Father Cooke, “We are more than one-third of the way to our goal.” The expected goal of the campaign is $85-$100 million. Campaign gifts will go toward the BlueCross BlueShield building renovation, merit and need-based scholarships, professorships and funded chairs, and annual giving.
In closing, Father Cooke reiterated the mission and identity of Canisius College. He also shared nine purposes for teaching undergraduate students by referencing a recent book by Derek Bok, acting president of Harvard University. The book suggests that undergraduate education in the United States is vastly underachieving. Father Cooke challenged each member of the audience to evaluate their role at the college and to collaborate with others to determine what can be done to make education better for undergraduates at Canisius.
“It’s not just elite committees or faculty members who influence the education of students,” said Father Cooke. “Much of a student’s undergraduate education happens in residence halls, on athletic fields and during extra-curricular activities. Each individual can contribute to the education of undergraduates. In the year ahead, consider what we can do to improve undergraduate education at Canisius College.”