Buffalo, NY - The Buffalo Niagara Partnership named Canisius University an Economic Champion for 2026, recognizing the university's investments in workforce development, student success and campus facilities.
The Economic Champions program honors businesses and organizations whose initiatives contribute to economic growth and opportunity throughout Western New York. Canisius was recognized for expanding educational pathways in high-demand fields while continuing investments that enhance the student experience and support the region's workforce and economic vitality.
This past year, Canisius University launched a new Master of Science in Occupational Therapy pathway with St. Bonaventure University. The partnership provides students with a direct pathway into a rapidly growing healthcare profession at a time when demand for occupational therapists continues to rise nationwide.
Canisius also expanded opportunities in engineering and technology through a new 4+2 pathway with Syracuse University. Available to students in several science and mathematics disciplines, the program allows graduates to earn a bachelor's degree from Canisius and a master's degree in engineering or computer science from Syracuse University, preparing them for careers in some of the nation's fastest-growing fields.
The recognition also reflects the university's continued investments in campus facilities and student success infrastructure. In March 2026, Canisius opened the $4.4 million B. Thomas Golisano Center for Student Success. The center brings together academic support, career development and student wellness services in a renovated 30,000-square-foot space within the Andrew L. Bouwhuis, SJ, Library. The university also continues work on a multiphase modernization of Old Main, building on a $750,000 first-phase investment that transformed former administrative suites into state-of-the-art HyFlex classrooms equipped with mobile furniture, interactive whiteboards and advanced audiovisual technology.
The 2026 designation marks the second consecutive year that Canisius has been named an Economic Champion. In 2025, the university received the recognition for investing more than $6 million in campus improvements, including the development of the Golisano Center for Student Success, the modernization of learning spaces in Old Main, upgrades to Science Hall and enhancements to athletics and wellness facilities. Several of those projects continued into 2026, including the opening of the Golisano Center and the ongoing modernization efforts of Old Main.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
