Continuing My Coursework

Faculty have plans in place and will contact students in their classes. Updated syllabi will be placed on D2L to detail how classes will change in response to these extraordinary circumstances so that online classes can continue uninterrupted.

Students who need technology support should contact Information Technology Services at helpdesk@canisius.edu or visit www.canisius.edu/its. The college’s library, Wi-Fi connectivity and computer workstations will remain available for student use.

For students who do not have internet access, Spectrum has offered free high-speed internet for the next 60 days.

The Library closed on March 23 and will remain so throughout the spring semester. Library services will continue online.

The library has extended due dates so that all items currently checked out will not be due until May 8.

The Griff Center will be offering phone and video appointments in order to meet with students and answer any questions they may have. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm. For more information use the contact information below:

Academic Achievement: 716-888-2170

Career Development: 716-888-2174

Support Services: 716-888-2485

As of March 12, 2020, college sponsored co-curricular activities were suspended for all student clubs and organizations, and intramural and club athletics.

Additionally, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has cancelled all spring sports competitions, practices (including captain’s practices) effective March 13, 2020, and other athletic related activities for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester. The remainder of the MAAC’s current conference tournament is also cancelled.

If you have students with accommodations provided by SAS, please know that these accommodations remain in effect throughout the Academic Continuance Plan.

For detailed guidance, contact the Griff Center at (716) 888-2170.

Success in an online class requires a lot more careful and critical reading than many are used to. Here are some general tips to help you make a smooth transition.

• Be prepared to maintain the same workload. Online classes are not easier by any stretch of the imagination. You will have the same or a similar amount of work to do; you will just have more flexibility over when you will tackle the job prior to the due date.

• Read all of your new syllabi carefully and fully.

• Plan your time appropriately. The work you complete for online learning takes more initiative and self-discipline than you might realize. And it takes strict time management as well.

  • Set a schedule – Setting a clear schedule for how and when you are going to accomplish all of your course work can be beneficial. Find a schedule that works for you. And stick to it.

  • Make a revised calendar – Mark down all of your new due dates, online discussions, or online meetings.

  • Set time limits – Estimate how long a task or assignment may take you. Try to then stick to that time frame. This can help you stay disciplined and motivated. It will also prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.

  • Study plan – Figure out and respect how you learn best. If you work better in the morning, make sure to plan out a portion in the beginning of the day to get your work done.

• Dedicate a specific space to work. Find the space that works best for you, but be sure you have:

  • Reliable access to the internet

  • Limited distractions

  • Access to required textbooks or materials

• If you are having trouble with staying focused on your computer, you may want to look into different applications where you can temporarily block access to certain websites, such as social media sites. Examples of these website blocking programs to increase productivity can be found here: https://freedom.to/blog/8-website-blockers-for-studying-productivity-focus/

• D2L (and Zoom or Google Hangout) is your new classroom. It is important for you to participate in that environment just as you would your normal classroom. Engage in discussion boards. Participate in virtual office hours and class meetings. Find creative and effective technologies to communicate with classmates and group members. Use this opportunity to get comfortable with digital collaboration tools!

· You are strongly encouraged to maintain social distance and work from home as much as possible. If you live in the area, and do not have internet access, please be aware that you may use the library and other campus computer workstations. The library will post it hours on their webpage https://library.canisius.edu/library-hours. All campus buildings will be open during regular business hours.

· Speaking of faculty… Each faculty member is going to create a different class with different expectations. It will be your responsibility to become familiar with the expectations for your various classes.

• • Faculty will generally explain their policy about responding to email. Do not expect, however, to get an instant response to an email set at 2:00 am. Many faculty give themselves 24 hours to respond to student emails. You must plan your work and schedule accordingly. Stated more simply, do not wait until the last minute and be upset because the faculty member didn’t respond to your question immediately—causing you to miss a due date. Success in online courses means you have to be ultra-organized and on top of things.

• Finally…expect technical difficulties! Even the best online courses experience technical problems. A quiz or exam might “shut down” on you in the middle of the time allotted. Your internet could goes down. Don’t panic. Email the professor right away. Explain the situation. Wait for a response to know your next step. Leaving work until the last possible minute is the wrong strategy in an online class. Plan for problems and you won’t be stressed out when they happen.

• Read your emails. This remains an important way of communicating with you. Please read messages from faculty carefully and thoroughly so that you don't miss important information pertaining to your coursework.

• Contact the Griff Center for Student Success for assistance.