Canisius University Explained

Canisius University
Former Name:Canisius College (1870–2023)
Type:Private university
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
Academic Affiliations:ACCU AJCU NAICU
Endowment:$170 million (2022)[1]
President:Steven Stoute
Faculty:283 (122 full-time/161 part-time)[2]
Students:2,630[3]
Undergrad:1,866
Postgrad:764
City:Buffalo
State:New York
Country:United States
Campus:Urban, 72acres
Colors: Blue & gold[4]
Sports Nickname:Golden Griffins
Sporting Affiliations:NCAA Division I - MAAC AHA
Mascot:Petey the Griffin

Canisius University is a private Jesuit university in Buffalo, New York. It was founded in 1870 by Jesuits from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. Canisius offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and minors, and around 34 master's and certificate programs.

History

Canisius has its roots in the Jesuit community that arose from disputed ownership of St. Louis Church in Buffalo in 1851.[5] [6] Rev. Lucas Caveng, a German Jesuit, along with 19 families from St. Louis Church, founded St. Michael's Church on Washington St.[6] The college followed, primarily for serving sons of German immigrants, along with the high school in 1870, first at 434 Ellicott St. and next to St. Michael's.[7] In 1913 construction of the Old Main building at 2001 Main St. was completed.[8] The early presidents of the college were German Jesuits.[9]

In 2010, John Hurley was named the first lay president of the college, serving in that role until his retirement in 2022.[10]

In July 2020, President John Hurley and the board of trustees laid off 96 employees, including 25 faculty positions, most of them tenured. Several majors were eliminated, including Classics, Entrepreneurship, European studies, Fine Arts, Human Services, International Business, Physics, Religious Studies and Urban Studies.[11] [12] In response, the college's faculty senate issued votes of no confidence in the president and board of trustees.[13] [14] [15]

In June 2021, the college was sanctioned by the American Association of University Professors "for infringement of governance standards".[16]

Several affected tenured faculty members sued the college for violation of contract.[17] The move attracted criticism from numerous academic organizations, including the American Historical Association and the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies[18] [19]

Steve Stoute took office as the 25th president of Canisus on July 1, 2022.[20]

On April 27, 2023, Canisius announced that it had successfully petitioned the New York State Education Department Board of Regents for university designation.[21] It officially changed its name to Canisius University on August 1, 2023.[22]

Title IX investigations

In 2015 Canisius College was one of more than 90 colleges investigated by the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights for its handling of sexual assault and harassment complaints.[23] In 2021, three former female student athletes filed a federal lawsuit in the Western District of New York alleging a hostile environment and that the college "failed to take appropriate action in response to these reports and complaints of sexual harassment, abuse and sexual assault".[24] [25] On June 27, 2022, a judge allowed the lawsuit launched by former Canisius athletes’ to proceed, describing the college’s delayed response to sexual assault allegations as “inexplicable.” [26] [27]

In a separate federal lawsuit filed in 2022, five former female students alleged that Canisius College ignored sexual misconduct complaints against Professor Michael Noonan and allowed him to retire in 2019 rather than pursuing Title IX complaints against him.[28] [29]

Campus

Christ the King Chapel

Christ the King Chapel, designed by Buffalo architect Duane Lyman,[30] is centrally located to "symbolize its importance".[31] It was completed in 1951 and has seating for 492.[30]

Science Hall

Science Hall was built as a Sears and Roebuck store in 1929.[32] The college has allocated $68 million for its renovation, over $35 million of which has been raised[33] with help from the John R. Oishei Foundation.[34]

Science Hall Parking Ramp

The parking ramp originally served the Sears and Roebuck building at 1901 Main St. However, throughout the history of ramp, Canisius students have used it for parking, with Sears advertising in The Griffin student newspaper that parking was free.[35] [36] Acquisition of the property has eliminated parking problems.[37] The ramp was demolished in 2022. A new green space surface lot is planned to replace it.[38]

Churchill Academic Tower

The 11-story Churchill Academic Tower was built in 1971, designed by Leroy H. Welch.[39] It is named for its chief benefactor, Rev. Clinton H. Churchill and his wife Francis.[40] The Tower is routinely derided but serves as a highly functional space.[39]

Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library

Built in 1957 and upgraded in 1988[41] and from 2013 through 2015,[42] Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library, named for Andrew L. Bouwhuis, S.J., college librarian from 1935 to 1955, furnishes extensive area for study and research.[43] It seats 500 people.[44]

The Koessler Athletic Center

Located at 1833 Main Street in Buffalo, the Koessler Athletic Center is named after J. Walter Koessler, class of 1922.[45] The facility has a swimming pool, two weight rooms, two gymnasiums and locker rooms and offices for athletic coaches and support staff.[46]

Academics

Canisius offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs. The college is accredited by the Middle States Association Commission on Higher Education, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Through the George E. Schreiner '43, MD, Pre-Medical Center, the college caters to the biological and health science fields and holds close relationships with both the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.[47]

Rankings

Canisius earned the 21st spot in the top tier of U.S. News & World Report's 2022 rankings of America's Best Regional Universities – North.[48] U.S. News also ranked Canisius thirteenth in the 2016 "Great Schools, Great Prices" listing among regional universities in the North.[49] Canisius earned the eighth spot among 49 regional universities in the North in U.S. News' Best Colleges for Veterans Ranking, as well as #4 in Best Value Schools and #26 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, for 2022. Canisius College alumni ranked first (1st), overall, in New York State on the 2014 CPA exam cycle, with a 75 percent pass rate, in the category of medium programs.[50]

Student life

Canisius has on campus about 90 clubs and organizations, vetted by the Undergraduate Student Association and its senators. Program offerings include the Best of Buffalo series, Fusion game nights, the Fall Semi-Formal, the Canisius Royals competition, the Mass of the Holy Spirit with Fall BBQ and Bonfire, Griffin Week, and Griff Fest.[51] [52] With a growing student population in its colleges, Buffalo has begun offering free Canal-side concerts, along with "Shakespeare in the Park", the Polish Broadway Market, Silo City "Boom Days" on Buffalo's industrial history, and Dyngus Day.

Athletics

See main article: Canisius Golden Griffins.

See also: Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball and Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey. The college sponsors 20 NCAA Division I athletic teams and is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as well as the Atlantic Hockey Conference.[53] Men's sports include baseball, ice hockey, and golf. Women's sports include volleyball and softball. The Golden Griffins compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) for most sports, except for men's ice hockey which competes in the Atlantic Hockey America. In 2013, the men's ice hockey team won its first Atlantic Hockey Championship, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. In 2008, Canisius men's lacrosse won the MAAC tournament and earned its first bid to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament.[54]

The Women's Lacrosse team won MAAC Championships four years in a row (2010-2014). The 2008 Baseball team won its first regular season MAAC championship, with a 41–13 season, and the following year made its first appearance in the MAAC Championship game.[55] In 2013, the team won the MAAC Championship and received its first bid to the NCAA tournament. The Canisius College softball team won the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament for its 3rd consecutive title, marking the team's 11th trip to the NCAA tournament in 15 years.[56] In its rivalry with Niagara University Canisius won the Canal Cup two of the first three years (2008 and 2009).[57] Intramural sports are also offered for students, faculty, and staff.

Canisius' mascot is the Golden Griffin. The college adopted the Griffin as a mascot in 1932, after Charles A. Brady ('33) wrote a story in a Canisius publication honoring Buffalo's centennial year as a city. Brady wrote about Jesuit-educated explorer Rene-Robert LaSalle's Le Griffon, which was built in Buffalo. The Griffin was first used on the La Salle medal in 1932 and from there spread to the college newspaper, The Griffin, and sports teams.[58] [59] [60] [61] According to GoGriffs.com, the griffin is a "legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and an eagle's talons as its front feet." It represents values such as courage, boldness, intelligence, and strength befitting students and athletes alike.

The college was also the first home field of the Buffalo All-Americans of the early National Football League. Around 1917 Buffalo manager Barney Lepper signed a lease for the team to play their home games at Canisius College. The All-Americans played games at Canisius before relocating to Bison Stadium in 1924.

Greek life

The three college-approved Greek organizations on campus are the Lambda chapter of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp), the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma, and the professional organization Alpha Kappa Psi (AK Psi).[62] Also there is a Classics Club which fosters the Jesuit value of a Classical education, as well as cura personalis.[63]

Media

The student weekly newspaper is The Griffin, which replaced The Canisian in 1933 and continues to print weekly.[64] The annual Quadrangle magazine contains student writings, artwork, and photographs. Public-access television cable TV broadcasts to Canisius College from its fourth floor studio at Lyons Hall. The WIRE, replacing WCCG, is the college's radio station, which broadcasts over the campus television system and is online through the college website.[65]

ROTC

Canisius is the Reserve Officer Training Corps hub for Western New York. The Golden Griffin Battalion is composed of students from Canisius, University at Buffalo, Hilbert College, D'Youville University, Daemen University, Buffalo State University, and Erie Community College.

Notable alumni

See main article: List of Canisius University people. Canisius has approximately 40,000 living alumni worldwide who are working in the fields of business, journalism, government, law, medicine, and sports.

Academia

Business

Journalism and television

Government and law

Medicine and science

Psychology

Sports

Other

See also

External links

42.9253°N -78.8528°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: President John Hurley on his legacy, Canisius's future . April 29, 2022 .
  2. Web site: Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness . August 5, 2016 .
  3. Web site: Enrollment at a Glance. Canisius.edu. 19 November 2021. Enrollment at a Glance.
  4. Web site: Canisius College Style Guide 2014 . June 16, 2014 . August 18, 2017.
  5. Web site: St. Michaels' RC Church. buffaloah.com. 18 August 2017.
  6. "ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, JESUITS' ORIGINAL BASE; IN AREA, TO MARK 150TH YEAR WITH MASS." The Buffalo News (New York). (September 29, 2001 Saturday, FINAL EDITION): 863 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  7. "MASS TO MARK 125TH YEAR OF CANISIUS COLLEGE, HIGH." Buffalo News (New York). (September 16, 1994, Friday, City Edition): 240 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  8. "BRAND NEW OLD MAIN TO MAKE ITS DEBUT." Buffalo News (New York). (November 9, 2001 Friday, FINAL EDITION): 390 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  9. "Loss of Jesuit leadership could mark an ending." Buffalo News (New York). (November 1, 2009 Sunday): 510 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  10. Web site: John J. Hurley Announces Retirement Canisius University - Buffalo, NY . 2024-11-01 . www.canisius.edu.
  11. Web site: July 21, 2020 . COVID roundup: Colleges revert to virtual fall, Canisius and Carthage plan faculty layoffs . 2020-07-23 . www.insidehighered.com . en.
  12. Web site: Reporter . Thomas J. Prohaska News Staff . July 20, 2020 . Canisius College, citing $20 million deficit, lays off 96 employees . The Buffalo News.
  13. Web site: Anstey . Evan . July 23, 2020 . Canisius College President, Board of Trustees receive "no confidence" vote . July 25, 2020 . WIVB.
  14. Web site: A majority of Canisius faculty has voted "no confidence" in President John Hurley in a faculty-wide vote conducted by the faculty senate. . 2022-05-13 . Twitter . en.
  15. Web site: July 23, 2020 . Opposition mounting against planned layoffs & cuts at Canisius College . WKBW.
  16. Web site: July 21, 2006 . Sanctioned Institutions . November 1, 2024 . AAUP .
  17. Web site: February 23, 2021 . Canisius professors fight to keep tenure . 2022-05-13 . www.insidehighered.com . en.
  18. Web site: AHA Condemns Tenured Faculty Layoffs at Canisius (July 2020) | AHA . 2022-05-13 . www.historians.org.
  19. Web site: 2020-09-28 . ASEEES Statement of Concern Regarding Firing of Faculty without Due Process and Loss of Programs . 2022-05-13 . ACADEME BLOG . en-US.
  20. Web site: Steve Stoute, JD, Named 25th President of Canisius University | Canisius University - Buffalo, NY. www.canisius.edu.
  21. Web site: Canisius College Awarded University Status Canisius College - Buffalo, NY . 2023-05-01 . www.canisius.edu.
  22. Web site: Canisius leaves behind college title as university title becomes official. August 1, 2023. wgrz.com.
  23. Web site: January 21, 2015 . Canisius College Under Federal Investigation . 2022-05-13 . wgrz.com . en-US.
  24. Web site: 2021-04-20 . Lawsuit accuses Canisius College of allowing rape culture on running teams . 2022-05-13 . WKBW . en.
  25. Web site: April 22, 2021 . Lawsuit Claims Canisius College Discriminated Against Female Athletes | Inside Higher Ed . 2022-05-13 . www.insidehighered.com . en.
  26. "JD1 v. Canisius College", https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59845298/31/jd1-v-canisius-college/, accessed July 8, 2022
  27. "Former Canisius College athletes can proceed with lawsuit: 'Culture on the team was so toxic'" https://buffalonews.com/news/local/former-canisius-college-athletes-can-proceed-with-lawsuit-culture-on-the-team-was-so-toxic/article_73e280de-f962-11ec-ac73-b76bcccc0191.html
  28. "Under the Rug and Quietly Out the Door", https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/06/02/canisius-accused-ignoring-complaints-about-professor, accessed June 4, 2022
  29. "Judge allows sexual harassment lawsuit to proceed against Canisius College" https://buffalonews.com/news/local/education/judge-allows-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-to-proceed-against-canisius-college/article_50f24ec2-c731-11ed-8337-b339c9877594.html
  30. Web site: Canisius College - Christ the King Chapel. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120904092240/http://www.canisius.edu/about-canisius/campus/chapel/. 2012-09-04. 2015-11-05.
  31. Web site: Christ the King Chapel Canisius College. 2015-11-05. Canisius.edu.
  32. "Canisius receives boost in funding for Science Hall." Buffalo News (New York). (June 7, 2008 Saturday): 407 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  33. "Canisius College president donates $250,000 toward Science Hall." The Buffalo News (New York). (December 17, 2014 Wednesday): 359 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  34. Web site: Science Hall. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151202022410/http://www.canisius.edu/about-canisius/campus/science-hall/. 2 December 2015. 2 November 2015. Canisius.edu.
  35. The Griffin: volume 15, issue 04 - Nov. 7, 1947 pg. 5
  36. The Griffin: volume 16, issue 04 - Nov. 5, 1948 pg. 5
  37. "Canisius' purchase expands campus." Buffalo News (New York). (November 22, 2008 Saturday): 329 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  38. Web site: Canisius College begins tear-down of parking ramp . August 2022 .
  39. "Unloved, maybe, but standing tall; Canisius College Amherst 50 Delaware Ave. 200 Niagara St. Downtown Buffalo 701-705 Maple Road, Amherst 1425 Main St. 153 Franklin St. 1300 Elmwood Ave.." The Buffalo News (New York). (March 8, 2015 Sunday): 1999 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  40. "FRANCES G. CHURCHILL, PHILANTHROPIST, SUPPORTER OF ARTS; EDUCATION, DIES AT 82." Buffalo News (New York). (January 23, 1999, Saturday, FINAL EDITION): 687 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  41. "FATHER DEMSKE HONORED FOR SERVICE TO CANISIUS COLLEGE AT GRADUATION." Buffalo News (New York). (May 22, 1993, Saturday, Final Edition): 734 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  42. Web site: Bouwhuis Library Becomes Technology-Based Learning Commons | Canisius College. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806124631/http://www.canisius.edu/newsevents/bouwhuis-library-becomes-technology-based-learning-commons. 2016-08-06. 2016-05-03.
  43. Web site: Who IS Andrew L. Bouwhuis, S. J.? - Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library. 18 August 2017. library.canisius.edu.
  44. Web site: About the Library. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151113181654/http://library.canisius.edu/about. November 13, 2015. November 3, 2015. Canisius Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library.
  45. "JOHN W. KOESSLER JR. IS DEAD AT 69; TURNED GREATER BUFFALO; PRESS INTO INDUSTRY LEADER." Buffalo News (New York). (April 14, 1997, Monday, CITY EDITION): 1118 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  46. Web site: 29 April 2016. Sports & Athletic Facilities. 18 August 2017.
  47. Web site: September 20, 2016 . Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professions . Canisius College.
  48. Web site: Ranking. 2021-12-17. www.usnews.com.
  49. Web site: Ranking. 2019-10-21. colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com.
  50. Web site: Canisius College Accounting Graduates Rank 1st Overall in New York State on 2014 CPA Exam | Canisius College. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160807160739/http://www.canisius.edu/newsevents/canisius-college-accounting-graduates-rank-1st-overall-in-new-york-state-on-2014-cpa-exam. 2016-08-07. 2016-05-09.
  51. Web site: Events. https://web.archive.org/web/20090914150818/http://www.canisius.edu/campus_leader/events.asp. September 14, 2009. dead. December 27, 2009.
  52. Web site: Oktoberfest 2009 Tonight . December 27, 2009 . July 19, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100719073425/http://www.canisius.edu/images/userImages/danieu1/Page_12311/utd_102309.pdf . dead .
  53. Division 1 Sports. Canisius.edu. April 29, 2016. en.
  54. Web site: Canisius routs VMI, earns MAAC championship and NCAA bid . 2008-05-05 . May 4, 2008 . InsideLacrosse.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20080517012928/http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189560 . 2008-05-17 . dead .
  55. Web site: Baseball History & Records - The Official Web Site of Canisius College Athletics. gogriffs.com. 5 April 2015.
  56. Web site: Softball History & Records - The Official Web Site of Canisius College Athletics. gogriffs.com. 5 April 2015.
  57. Web site: Battle of the Bridge - The Official Web Site of Canisius College Athletics. gogriffs.com. June 23, 2008 . 5 April 2015.
  58. "THE NAME GAME; NICKNAMES FOR LOCAL TEAMS PASS THE TEST." Buffalo News (New York). (May 20, 1996, Monday, CITY EDITION): 1397 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2016/05/03.
  59. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-05-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160806140703/https://www.canisius.edu/alumni/alumni-news/canisius-online/march-2016/ . 2016-08-06 .
  60. Web site: Biography – CAVELIER DE LA SALLE, RENÉ-ROBERT – Volume I (1000-1700) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography. 18 August 2017.
  61. Web site: LaSalle-Griffon.org. greatlakesexploration.org. 18 August 2017. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185541/http://greatlakesexploration.org/expedition.htm. dead.
  62. Web site: Canisius College Greek Life. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160503185022/http://www.canisius.edu/campus-life/cpld/leadership-development/student-clubs/greek-life/. 2016-05-03.
  63. Web site: Classics Club: CanisiusCollege. Canisius College. 3 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150411235033/https://canisius.collegiatelink.net/organization/classicsclub. 2015-04-11. dead.
  64. Web site: Home . griffinnewspaper.com.
  65. Web site: The Wire - Canisius College Radio. Comdma.com. 5 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150410143924/http://www.comdma.com/~wire/. 10 April 2015. dead.
  66. News: Eric . Pace . James Demske, 72, A Jesuit Priest Who Led Canisius College . . 1994-06-17 . 2017-07-28.

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