| July 16, 2008 | Vol 9. No. 16 |
Canisius: A Great College to Work For
The Chronicle of Higher Education “Great Colleges to Work For: 2008 Survey” recognized Canisius College as a leader in providing an exceptional work environment for employees. The results were based on responses from more than 15,000 administrators, faculty members and staff at 89 institutions – 39 public universities and 50 private colleges. Participation was limited to four-year institutions.
Among medium-sized colleges and universities (those that employ between 500 and 2,499 people), Canisius College ranks among the top five institutions in 20 out of 27 categories polled. Those categories in which Canisius College is recognized for best practices and policies are: healthy faculty-administration relations; collaborative governance; compensation and benefits; facilities and security; job satisfaction; work-life balance; confidence in senior leadership; internal communications; connection to institution and pride; tenure clarity and process; physical workspace conditions; tuition reimbursement; housing assistance programs; supervisor or department chair relationship; perception and confidence in fair treatment; respect and appreciation; policies, resources and efficiency; career development, research and scholarship; engagement index; and vacation or paid time off.
“The Chronicle survey is a welcome validation of what our faculty and staff have been telling us for years: that Canisius College is an outstanding place to work and pursue a career. We’re delighted with the results,” says John J. Hurley, executive vice president of Canisius College and vice president of college relations. “Our campus environment is one in which we all strive to communicate and engage with each other. The result is a more collegial and productive atmosphere, which in turn has made us a more successful university.”
The Great Colleges to Work For 2008 Survey was administered by ModernThink LLC, a human-resources-consulting firm, which has conducted many “Best Places to Work” surveys for various groups. To learn more, click here.
Canisius Annual Fund Reaches New Record of Giving
Robert Wunsch ’76 (left), vice chair of the Annual Fund Campaign Cabinet, presents a check to Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., (right) president of Canisius College.
The Canisius College 2007-2008 Annual Fund campaign set a new record with $2.389 million in pledges, gifts and gifts-in-kind. This represents a nearly $82,000 increase from last year. More than 9,000 Canisius alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, friends and businesses contributed to the fund. Three hundred and forty-eight faculty and staff gave a total of $110,184, which is an increase of nearly $23,000 over last year!
Canisius will build on the success throughout A Legacy of Leadership and increase the annual fund by 50 percent over seven years, from $2 million to $3 million by 2010.
“It is a very exciting time at Canisius College and the response from our donors is a great indication of the support we have as we move forward,” said Kirsten L. Reppert MS '07, director of annual fund. “My sincere appreciation goes out to our volunteers for their hard work and to everyone who played a part in this achievement.”
The annual fund plays a critical role in the college’s success. Gifts to Canisius strengthen resources, build scholarships and create a vibrant learning atmosphere. The annual fund is essential to the college’s commitment to offer students the best education possible.
The 2008-2009 Annual Fund is underway with a goal of $2.625 million. The 2009 campaign will conclude on May 31, 2009.
Canisius Mourns Beloved English Professor
The Canisius community lost a dear friend on July 3, when Joseph P. Lovering, PhD, passed away. He was 87. A professor emeritus of English, Lovering’s career at Canisius spanned more than three decades. In the classroom, he shared with students his enthusiasm for the literary works of James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, Charles Dickens and Charles A. Brady '33, PhD, who was Lovering’s close friend and colleague. As a scholar, Lovering authored three books on literary figures, including The Well-Made Historical Novels of Charles A. Brady. The 2006 book introduced readers to the many works of the late Canisius College English professor.
Renowned at Canisius for his love of music and sports, Lovering played the violin much to the delight of colleagues who heard him practice in his office. He also served 18 years as the official scorekeeper of Canisius College basketball.
Lovering is survived by his wife, Eileen, their four sons and two daughters.
Piemonte Named New Director of Golden Griffin Fund
Michael S. Piemonte, assistant professor of finance, is the new director of the Golden Griffin Fund (GGF). The GGF is the college’s first real-money, equity investment fund managed by undergraduate and graduate finance majors at Canisius. As director of the fund, Piemonte is the primary faculty advisor to the student-managers. He brings nearly three decades of experience with him to the position. Prior to Canisius, Piemonte was senior vice president at M&T Bank, where he oversaw corporate finance, investor relations, retail strategy and planning, and mergers and acquisitions. He was also the chief financial officer of the publicly held Citibank subsidiary Student Loan Corporation, and served in management positions at Mellon Bank, Sallie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Piemonte replaces Nelson D. Civello ’67, who established the Golden Griffin Fund in fall 2003, when he came to Canisius as a visiting professor of finance. Under his leadership, the fund grew from its initial $100,000 investment, from the college’s endowment, to more than $140,000, and is invested in 20 individual stocks and four Exchange Traded Funds.