It has been less than a year since a new strategic plan was implemented at Canisius but already the college is making great strides towards it goals.  At Wednesday’s Academic Convocation, Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., highlighted the progress the college has made on several initiatives while outlining the challenges that lie ahead.  

The college’s efforts to attract a more residential and increasingly talented student body are evidenced in the Class of 2007.  Freshmen enrollment surpassed the college’s target number and currently stands 843.  The academic quality of incoming freshmen continues to climb as well.  SAT scores among the Class of 2007 averaged 1109; high school averages increased to 89.76.  Sixty percent of freshmen are living on campus.  And the percentage of enrolled female freshmen is 51 percent; the highest in Canisius history.   Despite a shortfall in overall graduate enrollment, Father Cooke noted the college is seeing improved enrollment in the Sport Administration and Organizational Communication & Development programs.   He added that the college’s budget is balanced and “very stable.”

Faculty, administrators and staff fill the Regis Room in the Richard E. Winter '42 Student Center for Academic Convocation.

This fall, Campion Hall reopened as the new Intercultural Living Center.  Home to 48 students from around the world, including the United States, the residence facility recently underwent a $2.1 million renovation.  (Look also for the college to break ground on a new residence hall during the spring 2004 semester!)  Also new on campus is a financial markets lab, otherwise known as The Bloomberg Room, located in Old Main 111.  The room was designed to support The Golden Griffin Fund, a finance course developed by Nelson Civello that provides students with the opportunity to manage an actual investment fund.  Canisius College is the only college in Western New York to have this technology.

A new digital media arts lab was also added in Lyons 122.  The Koessler Athletic Center now houses an Internet Plaza, similar to the one in Old Main.  Twenty classrooms received technology upgrades.  The library increased its number of laptops to 50.  And 10 of Canisius’ 16 varsity sports now have full-time coaches available.

Father Cooke also discussed the principal challenges that lie ahead.  At the top of his list is a detailed plan for academic excellence, the center of which is the development of a “realistic and affordable” plan for the development of the BlueCross/BlueShield building.  Although the actual purchase of the building will not be completed until December 2007, Father Cooke mandated that two detailed plans be in place by March 2004.  He explained, “A detailed plan of how to utilize the future science center, and the funds needed to renovate it and the vacated spaces will play an instrumental part in the college’s next capital campaign.”

Adding that an initial feasibility study was completed over the summer, Father Cooke noted that the college is implementing a multi-phase plan for the next comprehensive capital campaign.

Finally, Father Cooke concluded with an appeal to all faculty, administrators and staff to “tell the Canisius story.”  Saying that each employee plays an important role in attracting and retaining quality students, Father Cooke stressed that each employee can help make a great college even better by spreading the word about Canisius and its efforts to further enhance academics, student life, and the college’s learning environments and opportunities.