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2025-2030 Equity Strategic Plan: Our Jesuit Mission in Action

2025-2030 Equity Strategic Plan: Our Jesuit Mission in Action

 

Canisius University is guided by the Universal Apostolic Preferences, which call us to stand in solidarity with those on the margins and to accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future. In doing so, we are not simply advancing the mission of our institution; we are investing in humanity.

Beginning in the summer of 2024, the equity strategic planning committee engaged in a thorough review of assessment data, including the Racial Campus Climate Survey, the Campus Pride Index, and the Interfaith, Spiritual, Religious, and Secular Campus Climate Index (INSPIRES). Through this process, institutional gaps were identified that affect a broad range of identities and lived experiences.

In today’s shifting political landscape, it is more important than ever to articulate a strong and clear connection to our Jesuit mission. This moment calls us to boldly draw upon the religious heritage of our university and to put our faith into action in the pursuit of equity. Each equity principle is intentionally rooted in mission, serving as a foundation for the goals and objectives. The 2025–2030 Equity Strategic Plan: Our Jesuit Mission in Action continues our deep commitment to the Jesuit mission and the Universal Apostolic Preferences.

The Equity Strategic Planning Committee was comprised of representatives from across the university, with each vice president appointing a member:

  • Mary Braun, Human Resources (2024)

  • Nick Coil, Finance & Administration

  • Kim Griffin, Athletics

  • Aaron Hall, USA Executive Board

  • AnneMarie Haumesser, Institutional Advancement

  • BJ Kahng, Academic Affairs

  • Stephanie Masood, Enrollment Management

  • Monika McFoy, Student Affairs

  • Jonathan O'Brien, Academic Affairs

  • Eric Redpath, Academic Affairs

  • Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Chair, Academic Affairs

  • Ginny Shim, Enrollment Management (2024)

  • Tikana Truitt, Academic Affairs

  • Bennie Williams, Student Affairs (2024)

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each member of the Equity Strategic Planning Committee for their insight and collaboration. Your commitment to justice, inclusion, and the Jesuit values guided our work and shaped a plan reflecting both courage and compassion. Thank you for walking with us in this important journey toward a more equitable future for our entire university community.

 

2025-2030 Equity Strategic Plan: Our Jesuit Mission in Action

Distinctive Abilities and Experiences

Equity Principle 1: Recognizing & Valuing the Distinctive Abilities and Experiences of Each Employee

Goal 1: Establish transparency in the title and salary structure for all positions within the university, ensuring fairness, equity, and clarity.

  1. Review current job titles and salary bands across all departments and units within the university.

  2. Analyze compensation data by comparing salaries within similar positions.

  3. Identify disparities across a variety of characteristics.

Goal 2: Develop and implement an internal search process that increases access and opportunity for staff promotion, ensuring equity, transparency, and inclusion in career advancement.

  1. Analyze promotion data, e.g., frequency of internal promotion.

  2. Identify barriers or biases that may limit access to promotion opportunities.

  3. Establish a career progression framework with milestones and benchmarks for advancement.

Goal 3: Expand opportunities for professional growth for staff, faculty, and administrators by providing mission-focused development programs that enhance skills, leadership, and job performance.

  1. Increase support for Faculty Development Week.

  2. Generate a directory of internal expertise.

  3. Improve university onboarding for new employees across departments.

  4. Implement opportunities for mentorship for new faculty and staff.

 

Comprehensive Support for All Students

Equity Principle 2: Offering comprehensive support to all students in their pursuit of a Jesuit education

Goal 1: Improve retention and graduation rates for all students by creating an inclusive, supportive, culturally relevant academic environment.

  1. Utilize data from the Retention Committee to provide the resources necessary for student success.

  2. Create a supportive community to address the academic and socioeconomic challenges.

Goal 2: Increase campus resources and support for LGBTQIA+ students, staff, faculty, and administrators.

  1. To utilize the Pride Index data to identify institutional gaps.

  2. To develop an LGBTQIA+ Campus Climate survey.

  3. Disseminate the survey and analyze the results.

Goal 3: Increase the number of undergraduate students from first-generation and/or economically challenged backgrounds enrolling in graduate programs at Canisius.

  1. Review institutional data/literature and develop a survey to assess barriers to enrolling in Canisius graduate programs.

  2. Review literature and identify opportunities to support students' transition from undergraduate to graduate programs at Canisius.

  3. Identify funding sources, including assistantships, grants, and scholarship opportunities for graduate students from first-generation and/or economically challenged backgrounds.

 

Pursuing the Jesuit Mission

Equity Principle 3: Sustaining Our Jesuit Mission of Justice and Service

Goal 1: Ensure appropriate resources are allocated to support initiatives and programs of justice and service as articulated in the Answer the Call Strategic Plan.

  1. Review budget allocations for justice and service: training, hiring, and community partnerships.

  2. Set clear financial targets and fundraising goals (e.g., total amount to raise, number of donors, fundraising events).

  3. Collect data from internal and external sources to understand the current level of institutional investment.

  4. Identify specific justice and service initiatives and allocate financial resources.

  5. Encourage donors to accompany the university in justice by highlighting positive outcomes for students, alumni, and the community.

 

Inspiring Intellectual Curiosity

Equity Principle 4: Inspiring Intellectual Curiosity Rooted in Ignatian Pedagogy

Goal 1: Support and broaden the curricular offerings to facilitate the academic growth of students and faculty.

  1. Develop a mechanism for collecting student input on curricular interests.

  2. Create incentives for increasing courses with diversity, global awareness, justice, and ethics attributes.

  3. Identify interdisciplinary opportunities to leverage the expertise of community organizations and leaders to provide transformational learning experiences.

  4. Promote collaboration by developing a structure for identifying shared interests in teaching, research, and service to help build and sustain capacity.

 

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