Guide for New Faculty
Welcome to Canisius University!
Overview
This guide is designed for new faculty, full-time and part-time, at Canisius University with the goal of answering your questions about academic procedures, resources, and technical support. You are encouraged to reach out to your department chair for advice and assistance as well as other colleagues within your department. Here you will find links to resources from various offices that may be helpful as you begin your career at Canisius.
Our hope is that you will enjoy your contact with students and that you will contribute significantly to the excellent education they have come to expect from their Canisius experience. Your commitment to our students and their learning is greatly appreciated.
Our Jesuit Mission
Canisius University, a Catholic and Jesuit university, offers outstanding undergraduate, graduate and professional programs distinguished by transformative learning experiences that engage students in the classroom and beyond. We foster in our students a commitment to excellence, service and leadership in a global society.
At the Core of our Mission and Identity
Catholic & Jesuit
Canisius is an open, welcoming university where our Catholic, Jesuit mission and identity are vitally present and operative. It is rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition’s unity of knowledge and the dialogue of faith and reason. Founded by the Society of Jesus as a manifestation of its charism, Canisius espouses the Jesuit principles of human excellence, care for the whole person, social justice, and interreligious dialogue. Jesuit spirituality calls us to seek God in all things and Jesuit education aims to form students who become men and women for and with others.
To learn how to incorporate Catholic and Jesuit identity into your teaching, see our Mission in Curriculum Guide
Transformative Learning & Student Engagement
Steeped in Jesuit ideals, our undergraduate and graduate academic programs are distinguished by academic excellence, student-faculty interaction, and a variety of experiential learning opportunities that engage students and transform the mind and spirit. Our undergraduate core curriculum enriches students' academic pursuits and delivers a strong foundation in liberal arts, critical thinking and diversity. Graduate and professional programs promote the application of theory and practice. Faculty support each other in engaging and sustaining the Canisius Ignatian mission in our academics.
Service & Leadership
Benefiting from academically-rich, values-based experiences in their interactions with faculty, staff, and community members, students develop their abilities to lead and inspire others. At Canisius, students practice these leadership skills in the classroom and through co-curricular activities in ways that animate our Jesuit values to serve others and benefit our world.
Our Pledge
The Canisius University community is dedicated to academic excellence and is, therefore, committed to establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of trust. All members of the community agree and pledge to exercise complete integrity in their academic work. Academic integrity is the foundation of true intellectual growth; it demonstrates respect for oneself and for others. The students, faculty and administration of Canisius University understand their responsibility for maintaining academic integrity to be both individual and collective. Fulfilling this responsibility requires us to uphold high standards in our own conduct and to exercise fairness towards each other. All instances of academic dishonesty are a breach of community standards. Students, administrators and staff, course instructors and their representatives are expected to report violations of the Code of Academic Integrity. All members of the Canisius University community are committed to administering the Code of Academic Integrity in a manner consistent with our mission: to teach responsibility, to foster learning and to care for the intellectual and ethical development of the whole person. Violations of the Code of Academic Integrity shall be dealt with in a manner which is just to all parties and contributes to the learning process. Sanctions shall be shaped by the belief that infractions are not simply occasions for punishment, but are opportunities for learning and for improving the ethical standards of the individual and the community.
Diversity & Inclusion Statement
Consistent with our Catholic Jesuit mission and identity, we stand in solidarity with and advocate for everyone of all abilities, identities, life experiences, and perspectives. As a campus located in a diverse Buffalo community, we are committed to:
Creating a culture of acceptance, awareness, learning, respect, and understanding inside and outside of the classroom
Pursuing academic excellence through a curriculum of diverse ideas and vibrant interpersonal classroom experiences that challenge individuals to grow
Promoting a safe and welcoming experience that encourages questioning and discussion
Advancing equity by removing institutional barriers to success for all members of the community
Developing lifelong learners who contribute to an increasingly diverse and global society
Emergency Teaching Guide |
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For emergencies that prevent faculty, staff, and students from accessing the Campus for more than a few days, please review the Preparedness for Academic Continuity Guide. |
Getting Started |
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Once your contract has been accepted and returned you will be issued a user name and instructions for creating your password. These login credentials will work across all platforms.
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Before the Semester Begins |
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Order Books from the Bookstore: Click the link HERE to be directed to the Canisius Bookstore online ordering system. You can also go to bkstr.com/canisiusstore and scroll down to "On-Line Adoption"
It is important that ALL course materials are available in the bookstore so that EVERY student has equal access. View your teaching schedule with room assignment:
View your course roster:
In D2L, you can also download a simple roster in .csv format. The Course Management System, Desire 2 Learn (D2L) offers a dynamic environment in which faculty can engage with students outside of the classroom. The Center for Online Learning and Innovation provides information about for training and support for D2L or other class-related technology. For specific questions or to report problems with D2L features, contact the Canisius University Help Desk at (716) 888-8340, or helpdesk@canisius.edu. |
Preparing your Course Syllabus |
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A course syllabus is necessary for each class you will teach at the University, a copy of which must be distributed to each student by the first or second class meeting. Your syllabus serves as a contract between you, as a representative of the University, and the student. It is kept on file as the official record of what the class requirements were and the material that was covered. Two copies of the syllabus for each course you are teaching must be submitted to your department chairperson; the department keeps one copy and one copy is forwarded to the appropriate Dean. Please include the syllabus in the course management system for students to access electronically. Your department may have requirements/guidelines it requests to be included in your syllabus; consult with your chairperson to see if such requirements/guidelines exist. The University allows great flexibility in setting up your syllabus, but some topics should always be included. Please at least include the following information:
Click here for an inclusive teaching syllabus template |
During the Semester |
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It is critical to take attendance on a regular basis. You may be called upon by certain offices of the University to verify a student's attendance record in your class. For example, the Financial Aid staff may need to know when a student stopped attending your class in order to comply with Federal guidelines. At the end of the semester a student must be listed on the roster from the Student Records and Financial Services Center in order to receive a grade. We all have felt the tangible good of extra-classroom experiences that bear on our learning. Please keep the following rules in mind when you take your class on a Field Trip:
In the event that a student cannot go on a field trip due to another commitment, it is suggested that an alternate assignment be provided. Class Cancellation and Rescheduling /Inclement Weather
The Tutoring Center (OM 317) provides a variety of opportunities for students to achieve academic success. The services are free of charge and open to all Canisius students – undergraduate and graduate. Individual tutoring services allow students to receive one-on-one academic assistance from peer and adjunct professor tutors. Tutors are available in the majority of academic disciplines and employ various academic strategies to help address individual student needs. No appointment is necessary for most assistance. Math and writing tutors are available at all times; tutoring in other academic disciplines are available on an on-call, as-needed basis. Additional academic support can be accessed through the Supplemental Instruction Program and the Study Center Program (OM 318). The Griff Center for Student Success will notify you when a student with a documented disability is registered for your class. Notification is given via the MyCanisius portal, and will provide what academic accommodations are available for that particular student. Note that not all students with disabilities are registered with the Griff Center. It is up to the student to disclose a disability and provide current and professional documentation to the Accessibility Support Office within the Griff Center. If you have a student about whom you are concerned or who has disclosed a disability but who has not registered with the Griff Center, you are encouraged to contact the Griff Center at (716) 888-2170, for assistance in the matter.
The Student Health Center will:
Academic Concerns can include but are not limited to:
Behavioral Concerns can include, but are not limited to:
The first week of classes is Drop/Add Week, and students have the option to change schedules by dropping and/or adding an open class online, without your signature. Students who add your class during drop/add week should show you a printed copy of their schedules with the current date to verify that they have registered for the course. You will receive updated class rosters the end of the second week of the semester verifying your final enrollment, and the roster in D2L is updated nightly to reflect accurate course enrollment. If a course is closed, students must speak with you first for permission to Overload. Students should have a registration permit with them. Sign the slip only if you are willing to admit another student. The student returns the form to the Student Records and Financial Services Center, which will then register the students into your course. Also, consult with your chair regarding overloads; some departments have specific policies regarding course overloads.
Medical Emergencies in the classroom should be called into Public Safety. A trained public safety officer will respond to the scene. If an ambulance is needed for hospital transport Public Safety will request one. Public Safety will also transport students to the Student Health Center for treatment and first aid. Additionally, the Public Safety supervisor has mobile Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment onboard and will respond within 3 to 5 minutes of a call to 711. If there is a medical emergency, you should call one of these numbers:
Communication between the emergency scene and the Public Safety dispatcher is of the utmost importance. Remain CALM. The dispatchers are the life line and are trained to ask specific questions. They will dispatch the officers to the scene while they are taking your call. The CALLER SHOULD.....
The service done in the community becomes like a "living text". It is part of the course like every other aspect of the course. Service is required when the course involves community-based learning. The same experience may apply to more than one course. |
End of the Semester |
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At the end of each semester you will be required to Submit a Grade for each student through the Banner system. You can access Banner through the MyCanisius portal. Detailed instructions will be sent out by the Student Records and Financial Services Center near the conclusion of the semester. If you have any questions, please contact your department Chair. University policy also requires that you provide the department chair with a copy of your grade book. If you keep all of your grades in D2L, you have met this requirement. Any graded material that is not returned to the student must be retained for a full year after the end of the semester and must kept on campus. Normally, a Final Exam should be given in each course during the final examination period. A final project (due during final exam week) is an appropriate substitution for a final exam. To omit the final examination requires the prior approval of the Department Chair. No final exams are to be administered during the final week of classes. The schedule of final exams is posted approximately three weeks before the end of the semester. You will receive a copy of the schedule via the MyCanisius portal. Some departments require instructors to file copies of their final exam(s). Please check with your department chair. Faculty copies of student final exams/papers are to be retained for one year after course completion. |
Important Numbers & Links | |
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888-2120 888-2130 888-2150 888-3294 888-2160 888-2600 888-2476 888-8353 888-2170 888-2485 888-2335 888-2240 888-8340 888-8411 888-8531 888-2330 888-3130 | |
Other Helpful Links: The Dome (Faculty & Staff Newsletter) |
Our Campus |
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There is a system of tunnels and bridges which connect many of the buildings on the main campus (Churchill Academic Tower, Old Main, Horan-O'Donnell, Student Center, Palisano Pavilion, Bosch, Frisch, and Dugan Residence Halls), as well as an overpass connecting Old Main to Churchill Academic Tower. This is very convenient in inclement weather, in the evenings and on weekends. |
Annual Reports, Tenure & Promotion Resources |
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All tenure-track faculty members (except faculty on approved leave) who have not received tenure are required to prepare an annual written report that self-assesses the faculty member’s professional activity in teaching, scholarly and creative work, and service. The /wiki/spaces/AcadAffairs/pages/34963599 will provide further detail. You will find other important resources for preparing your annual report and tenure and promotion application /wiki/spaces/AcadAffairs/pages/34963633. |
Adjunct Faculty |
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Adjunct faculty Contracts will be mailed and must be signed and returned to Human Resources before classes begin. New and returning Adjuncts who have not taught at Canisius for one year or more are required to submit a completed application, background check authorization, I-9 and W-4 forms to Human Resources, Old Main 100,(716) 888-2240. After all documents have been received, you will receive your Canisius login information granting access to web-based resources, email, MyCanisius, D2L, or class computers. Human Resources will also provide access to required compliance training. Note that there are special provisions related to Canisius Staff who might have a secondary role as an Adjunct Professor (Canisius Policy 3.6.7 Secondary Assignments Policy) Adjunct Faculty must adhere to all applicable polices contained within Policy Manual V: Academic Policies. (These are worth reading, since they often provide guidance on how to handle specific situations when teaching courses.) Adjunct Parking hang-tags can be ordered HERE. There is a fee for hang-tags payment options are presented at the time of registration. You may pay by payroll deduction, cash or check. Hang-tags will be mailed to the address on your contract. The University encourages mentoring of students and open communication between faculty and students. Part-time faculty should consider keeping one to two Office Hours for each course they teach, and, if possible, staggering the times to allow as much flexibility for students as possible. Let students know when and where you will be and how you can be contacted. Encourage students to use email for communication. In addition, use of the course management system (D2L) can facilitate and enhance individualized contact with students by creating “virtual office hours.” Adjunct faculty may have a Telephone or may share a telephone, if an office is provided. Upon request, all adjunct faculty may have a voicemail account, so you can have easy access to messages from your students without circulating your home phone number. The ITS staff will help you set up an account. Please contact the helpdesk@canisius.edu at (716) 888-8340. If an adjunct faculty member needs to make an off-campus local call and does not have an office telephone, check with your department concerning using the phone in that office. Adjunct Office Space has been set aside for adjunct faculty on the 4th floor of Old Main (OM-411). It contains small cubicles, desk space, a computer and printer for class preparation, and a telephone. The primary purpose of this office is a safe space for faculty to meet with students and to do course preparation. This is a shared office space, so be considerate of those who may be meeting with students or doing other course-related activities. The room is secured with a coded lock, and you may contact COLI at (716) 888-8353 for the code. The Faculty Lounge is located on the first floor of Old Main (OM -109), This is where many adjunct faculty get organized before classes. Faculty Lounge amenities include comfortable reading chairs, study carrels, a computer for checking e-mail and other internet services, campus telephones, a small kitchen with coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, limited storage space and a coat closet. Adjunct faculty are required to conduct formal course evaluations in each of their classes. Please consult with your department chair for further information. All adjunct faculty will participate in the online evaluation. Messages will come from the Office of Institutional Research giving instructions and timelines. In order to have the best response rates, all faculty are urged to remind students about the evaluations and to tell them that you value the feedback you get from them. Some faculty have had success with students using their laptops or handheld devices (there is smart phone access) in the classroom; however, the instructor should not be in the room when the evaluation surveys are completed. Adjunct faculty evaluation responses are available to both the chairperson and the Dean. Adjunct faculty are entitled to a Tuition Waiver for one course per semester of the academic year in which you teach at Canisius University and only for themselves (not a spouse or child). The courses must be completed within the same academic year in which you teach. |
Resources for Teaching with Technology |
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The Center for Online Learning and Innovation (COLI) assists full- and part-time faculty with technology in teaching and learning. COLI also provides assistance with course design, online and hybrid teaching. COLI can help you design online courses or activities, or learn to use our learning management system (D2L), Google Apps, plagiarism detection software, graphics and video editing applications, Microsoft Office, and more. All full- and part-time faculty are welcome to schedule an appointment here: Book a Consultation with COLI Staff Each Semester, and in the summer, COLI offers the five-week Online Faculty Development Course, an all-online class where professors can get started teaching online and hybrid courses. Training, Tutorial, and Documentation Resources for commonly Used Tools
If you need assistance or training on the equipment in your room, contact the Help Desk at (716) 888-8340 or email helpdesk@canisius.edu |
Library Services |
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The reserve desk is located on the main level of the library. You may make materials available to your students on a reserve basis. Any material from the University's own collection may be put on reserve, including print materials and videos. You may also put personal copies on reserve. Books from other libraries may not be put on reserve. There are various forms of reserve including “library use only” reserve, and “overnight” reserve. You will want to consult with the reserve librarian to determine which policy is best for you and your students. You should allow the reserve staff sufficient preparation time to record, process and put your materials on the shelf. Usually two or three weeks are necessary for this, especially at peak periods. The library staff provides Library Instruction/Information Literacy Classes tailored to the needs of different disciplines. You are encouraged to include library staff whenever students will engage in research. You may arrange a specialized presentation by conferring with the reference staff. When assigning a research project you will want to review what is available in the University's holdings and, if necessary, consult with the library staff in order to be certain you have a clear understanding of what is available in the subject area. Canisius Library has extensive holdings, but, on occasion, instructors have been unaware that a project they have assigned to students would be difficult to complete given the library's own holdings. The collections, development, and acquisitions librarian would be happy to learn of any needs you might have. The library also has access, through “ConnectNY,” to a number of private college libraries in the state of New York. In addition, the library staff will be able to offer more effective support to you and your students if you see to it that the reference staff has copies of your assignment. If you have asked your students to complete a research project, you no doubt have given them a reasonably detailed handout of instructions for completion of the project. Such handouts usually include a discussion of the type of research paper to be completed (a survey, an analysis), the appropriate scope and area of research, as well as nuts and bolts information regarding documentation style and other matters relating manuscript preparation. Print vs. Internet Sources: The Internet has created new opportunities for conducting research as well as a host of related problems. Novice researchers and writers, excited by the access the Web provides to unique sources, are not fully aware of the importance of evaluating a source's authority and may not recognize that not all sites on the Web are equally authoritative. The Library website includes guidelines for evaluating Internet sources and the University's reference staff can assist you further in this area. In addition, you may want to limit the percentage of Internet sources a student uses in a research project to ensure a diversified research experience, as well as quality research from other than electronic sources and sites. The University's Interlibrary loan is intended to help faculty, students, and staff to conduct thorough research and do so with efficacy and efficiency. The Internet in combination with online journal article allows researchers unprecedented access to research materials from other libraries and institutions. Students and faculty are likely to find materials they wish to order from other libraries via interlibrary loan. Students are not always aware, however, that getting material through interlibrary loan can be time consuming. If they are relying heavily on interlibrary loan they need to plan their time carefully. Students and faculty must have a valid ID card in order to check out materials from the library. Students are allowed to check out circulating materials for four weeks and to renew books for four weeks. Faculty are allowed to check out books for six months. |
Other Campus Services |
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The Media Center technicians and specialists provide the following services:
Departmental copying facilities vary considerably, and you will need to contact your department to determine your department's policies. You may be asked to turn the materials over to the support staff in advance of the date the materials are needed, or you may be asked to do the work yourself. In general, if you need twenty-five or fewer copies, you may complete the job yourself at any printer on campus using your ID card.
Telephone Services Full-time faculty can make local Off-Campus Calls by dialing “9” before the phone number. Authorization codes, with the approval of the department Chair, are available for those who need to make Long Distance Calls for Canisius University business. Contact the helpdesk@canisius.edu at (716) 888-8340 for more information.
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Relevant Academic Policies |
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Human Resources Policies - Refer to the Canisius University Policy Manual on the portal. FERPA Take care to keep students’ progress, attendance, and grades confidential from other members of the class; do not post-test grades or final grades in a public space (personal web page, office or classroom door, etc.). Graded papers should be returned directly to the student. Do not leave graded papers in a pile or pass graded papers around for students to retrieve their papers, and discuss such issues with students in private. Academic Integrity at Canisius All members of the Canisius University community are committed to administering the Code of Academic Integrity in a manner consistent with our mission: to teach responsibility, to foster learning, and to care for the intellectual and ethical development of the whole person. Violations of the Code of Academic Integrity shall be dealt with in a manner which is just to all parties and contributes to the learning process. Sanctions shall be shaped by the belief that infractions are not simply occasions for punishment, but opportunities for learning and for improving the ethical standards of the individual and the community. Additional information about how to handle academic integrity violations can be found in the Graduate Course Catalog or Undergraduate Course Catalog All Canisius University students are automatically bound by the Code of Academic Integrity. As a reminder and reinforcement of the ideals this code embodies, course instructors are encouraged to place a pledge on scheduled tests and assignments, as well as in the course syllabus. Students, in turn, are asked to carefully consider and sign the pledge, which reads: “As a member of the Canisius University Community I understand and will uphold the standards for academic behavior as stated in the Code of Academic Integrity.” |
Personal Safety |
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Blue Light Emergency Phones are located throughout the campus (see Campus Map above). These phones are easily identified by a blue light mounted directly above them. They can be used to report actual or suspected criminal incidents, fires and/or medical emergencies to Public Safety. They may also be used to request a shuttle van. To operate the phone, briefly depress and release the red button on the panel. The phone will automatically dial the Public Safety dispatcher. When the dispatcher answers, talk in your normal tone of voice to relay your message. If for some reason you don't respond verbally, a uniformed officer will respond to the phone location to investigate. Calls will automatically disconnect in 3 minutes. Blue Light Emergency Phones are available at the following locations:
In the event of a medical emergency on campus such as illness or injury, or if a student is emotionally upset and appears to be in danger of hurting him/herself or others, contact Public Safety by calling 711. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, please consider reaching out to our Counseling Center for help. |
Our Leadership |
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The Senior Leadership Team at Canisius University includes President Steven Stoute, chief administrators who oversee the key functional areas of the institution, and the president’s associate vice president. The Canisius University Board of Trustees is the governing body of the university. It is comprised of thirty-five trustees of whom at least five are members of the Society of Jesus. Members are appointed to three-year terms. The full board meets four times per year and oversees, formulates, and recommends policy to the Canisius University president to ensure that the university fulfills its mission and purpose. Also see Committee Membership lists and Organizational Charts for more information. |
Other Benefits |
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The Koessler Athletic Center facilities are open to faculty with a valid ID card. The facilities house a swimming pool, basketball courts, and weight/workout room. Rules governing the use of the center are posted in several areas around the building. The K.A.C program runs through the academic year (September through mid-May). The center’s facilities and hours are modified during the summer months, and are closed during university holidays, Christmas and spring breaks. Activity areas may be used any time there are no instructional classes or special events scheduled. Please contact the Koessler Office for information regarding hours and available facilities at (716) 888-2950). |
The Pedagogy Primer Podcast provides basic and practical directions, tips, and other insights for teaching in Higher Education. The series is produced primarily for Canisius University faculty, but also may help professors or instructors elsewhere. We try to have at least one new episode each month. You can also find and subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.