In a major step forward for student experience, Canisius University celebrated the opening of the Golisano Center for Student Success on March 27 — a dynamic new campus hub designed to connect students with the resources and support they need to thrive.
Faculty, staff, students, university leadership, alumni, elected officials, invited guests and members of the media gathered to celebrate the center and recognize the effort behind its creation.
Located on the second floor of the Andrew L. Bouwhuis, SJ, Library, the center unites multiple student support services in a single, modern and collaborative environment, making it easier for students to navigate their Canisius journey from orientation through graduation.
The project was made possible by a $5 million gift from Rochester entrepreneur and philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano, which unlocked a $1 million grant from New York State’s Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap).
Following remarks and a blessing by Canisius Chaplin Rev. Fred Betti, SJ, the ceremony was emceed by Harold Fields, EdD, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. Afterward, attendees were invited to tour and experience the new space.
Canisius University President Steve Stoute was joined at the podium by Brian Murphy ’95, chair of the Board of Trustees, Erica Dayton, executive director of the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation and Analee DeGlopper ’26, president of Canisius University’s United Students Association (USA) for the official ribbon cutting.
Here are the highlights of their remarks about the center’s impact:
- President Stoute emphasized that the center reflects the university’s deep commitment to student potential. “Over the last four years everything we have done is centered on the premise that every student has potential and deserves an opportunity to achieve it,” said Stoute. “The Golisano Center for Student Success further enshrines that ethos.”
- Brian Murphy echoed that sentiment, underscoring the broader impact of the investment. “This new center is more than an investment in a building,” Murphy said. “It is an investment in human potential. Every student who walks through these doors will find the support they need to succeed — in one place, and with one clear message from the institution ‘We see you, we believe in you and we are here for you.’”
- Erica Dayton emphasized the broader impact of investing in students and their futures. “This center is a reflection of that belief: that your success matters
, - Analee DeGlopper reflected on how the center embodies the university’s Jesuit mission and commitment to student growth. “The Golisano Center is rooted in the Jesuit value of magis—the call to do more and be more in service to others,” said DeGlopper. “It ensures that every student, regardless of their background or needs, has access to more—more support, more connection and more opportunity to succeed.”
A Transformational Investment in Student Success: Bringing Resources Together
Combined with the university’s investment, the center brings Canisius’ six-year strategic plan, Answer the Call, to life by expanding student-centered resources and ensuring students can easily access the support they need to succeed.
The Golisano Center features bright, open spaces, flexible collaborative areas and dedicated zones for mentoring, career support, accessibility services, and academic guidance.
Services previously scattered across campus are now under one roof:
- Academic Achievement Team
- Academic Mentoring Center
- Career Development Team
- Student Accessibility Services
- Canisius Cares
The Writing Center also relocated to the same floor across from the main center.
“Our goal was to make support approachable and intuitive,” said Fields. “Students can now see everything available to them in one place, explore new opportunities and feel empowered to seek help when they need it.”
Designed for Connection and Collaboration
Approximately 30,000 square feet of the library’s second floor were transformed for the center, while keeping essential library services and study areas accessible during the construction.
“We wanted every corner of the space to feel welcoming and easy to navigate,” said Joe Snodgrass ’90, assistant vice president for operations. “Natural light, open floor plans,
That intentional design is already making an impression on students who have experienced both the old and newly renovated space.
Toby Mayfield ’26, a biology major with a coaching minor, said he was struck by the transformation. “The incorporation of color makes it feel much brighter and better to be up t
Experiences like Mayfield’s reflect the broader vision for the center as a space that supports students throughout their time at Canisius.
“We envision the Golisano Center as a place students naturally gravitate toward throughout their entire Canisius journey,” said Fields. “When students feel connected, supported and seen, they are far more likely to persist and succeed.”
As the center begins welcoming students this semester, it is already clear it will become a central gathering place — serving as a daily reminder that their growth, goals and success remain at the heart of the Canisius experience.
Public areas of the space are now open during regular library hours, with the Golisano Center for Student Success set to begin full operations on April 6.
