Academics

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences forms the foundation of the Niagara University’s curriculum and serves as the basis for its designation as a liberal arts college. All Niagara students complete a portion of their coursework in the College of Arts and Sciences, as numerous general education courses are housed within this unit.

A majority of Niagara’s academic departments and faculty are housed within Arts and Sciences, including: Biochemistry/Chemistry, Biology/Life Sciences, Communications, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, English, History, International Studies, Liberal Arts, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Nursing, Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Social Sciences, Social Work, and Theater Studies.

The College of Arts and Sciences also offers Master’s degrees in both Criminal Justice Administration and Interdisciplinary Studies.

On October 8, 2008, Niagara University announced that a $10 million gift, the largest gift in the university’s history, had been made to the College of Arts and Sciences by B. Thomas Golisano, the CEO of Paychex and the owner of the Buffalo Sabres. The gift will fund a new science building, to be known as the B. Thomas Golisano Center for Science. The project is scheduled for completion by 2011.

College of Business

With programs in Accounting, Business Administration, and Commerce, the College of Business continues to enhance its academic standing at the local, regional, and national levels. Each year, students in the College of Business conduct tax return processing as a community service for area residents.

On January 23, 2006, the University announced a gift of $5 million from College of Business alumnus Gerald Bisgrove, Class of 1968. At the time, it was the largest single gift in Niagara’s 150-year history. $4.5 million of this gift has been appropriated to expand the College of Business facilities. Groundbreaking occurred on this project in May 2006, and Bisgrove Hall was opened to the public in August 2007. The remainder of Mr. Bisgrove’s gift will be allocated to academic scholarships in the College of Business.

College of Education

Niagara has a long-standing commitment to training teachers for K-12 schools. Education students major in the College of Education and choose a concentration in the College of Arts and Sciences. Student teaching takes place in area schools, many of which are located in rural or low-income urban districts.

College of Hospitality and Tourism Management

The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Niagara’s newest, is an offshoot of earlier tourism programs at the university. The College includes course offerings on tourism, hotel, restaurant, recreation, and sports management. Many students supplement their classroom experience with internships in local hotels as well as luxury hotels around the world. In addition, the College boasts a popular study abroad program in Lake Como, Italy.

The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management is ranked 6th in the nation among hospitality programs. In recent years, graduates have a near-100% job placement rate. Faculty members come from around the world and most hold the terminal degree in their field. The College is located on the top floors of the newly-renovated St. Vincent’s Hall, which features a modern hotel atrium and spectacular views of the Niagara River Gorge and Canada. However, beauty of the hall ought to not be the school’s primary focus.

The College is also a founding member of The Leading Hotel Schools of the World, a partnership between 9 hotel schools around the world with The Leading Hotels of the World. This partnership allows Niagara Students the privilege of interning at one of Leadings 450 five star hotels around the world.

College of Nursing / Department of Nursing (New)

The College of Nursing, long a Niagara institution, graduated its last class in 2003. Although nursing alumni objected to the administration’s decision to close the college, many remain active members of the alumni community and Niagara University Nursing Alumni Council(NUNAC).

In response to the chronic shortage of nurses, Niagara University recently created a new department of nursing in the College of Arts and Sciences to offer a Bachelor of Science completion program for nurses with an associate’s degrees.

The new cohort Nursing program began in 2006 and offers a flexible degree-completion format for the working nurse, which builds upon the foundation gained in their associate and diploma programs. The program also works closely with the nursing alumni community.

Graduate Education

Niagara has an expanding graduate education program. Currently, master’s degrees are offered in Business Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Education.

Continuing & Community Education

In the past five years, Niagara’s renewed emphasis on community enrichment and regional development has produced a substantial increase in its continuing education offerings. Currently, over 1000 students register annually for online courses and certificate programs. In addition to biannual brochures distributed throughout the Niagara Frontier, the Continuing and Community Education website (www.niagara.edu/cce) provides access to registration information online.

Student life

ROTC

The Reserve Officers Training Corps of the Army has an award-winning unit at Niagara. ROTC students participate in regular university classes and majors, as well as military science instruction throughout their college careers. Each Thursday, cadets participate in military lab exercises and, by tradition, wear their army combat uniforms (ACU) to classes for the remainder of the day (completely optional). On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, ROTC students wake up early to participate in physical training exercises.

Community service

The Niagara University Community Action Program (NUCAP) and Learn & Serve Niagara are the lead offices for the university’s renowned community service program. All Niagara students are encouraged to give back to their community by participating in the numerous NUCAP and Learn & Serve opportunities offered throughout the academic year. Many courses at Niagara include a service learning component as a part of the class curriculum. Generations of Niagara students have served as volunteers for area nursing homes, hospitals, and schools, the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the Upper Mountain Volunteer Fire Company, among others.

Residence Life

Niagara University features 5 traditional residence halls as wells as 6 community houses called the Varsity Village as well as on campus student apartments. Traditional buildings include Seton, Ohea, Oonoughue, Lynch and Clet Halls.

Lynch Hall (coeducational by floor); a five floor building with one straight hallway on each floor accommodating rooms and common area facilities. Rooms are mostly single occupancy with a limited number of non-singles. The extra basement area of Lynch is a large lounge and game room.

Oonoughue Hall (coeducational by floor with one coed floor); a four floor building with one straight hallway on each floor accommodating rooms and common area facilities. Rooms are mostly single occupancy with a few doubles.

Clet Hall (coeducational by floor); a four floor building with straight hallways making up three wings in a shape. Common area facilities are located at the ends of the wings. Rooms are fashioned for single, double and triple occupancy. Location of Dining Commons and Theatre.

Varsity Village (male/female); consists of six separate houses (three for male students and three for female students) of two floors each. Common area facilities are located in each house and rooms are fashioned for single, double and triple occupancy. The majority of the spaces in “the village” are generally chosen by upperclassmen.

O’Shea Hall (coeducational by floor); a high rise building with seven floors set up in a rectangular fashion with common area facilities in the center of each floor. Rooms are fashioned for double occupancy. Location of some International and some athlete housing, as well as the Housing Office.

Seton Hall (coeducational by floor); a high rise building with seven floors set up in a rectangular fashion with common area facilities in the center of each floor. Rooms are fashioned for double and triple occupancy. Location of some athlete housing.

Apartments (coeducational building/single gender apartments); consists of six separate buildings of two floors each with eight 4-person apartments. Each apartment is fully furnished and contains all the amenities of an off campus apartment. Each individual bedroom contains a vanity with mirror, sink and cupboards. Apartments are available to juniors, seniors and graduate students only.

Campus Activities

The Campus Activities office, along with the Niagara University Student Government Association, sponsors numerous opportunities to get involved in campus life, including Greek life. Currently, Delta Chi Epsilon, a local fraternity, and Tau Kappa Epsilon, an International fraternity, are the only active fraternities on the Niagara campus. There are two active national sororities, Alpha Sigma Alpha and Phi Sigma Sigma. http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/button_link.png

The Niagara Index

The Niagara Index, originally called the Niagara Tribute, is the school’s newspaper. The first issue of the Tribute was published on January 1, 1870, making it the third oldest sporadically-published college newspaper in the United States. The next year, the Tribute was renamed the Index Niagarensis, Latin for its current title, which was adopted on December 15, 1874. The Index’s founder and original editor was Fr. John W. Hickey, C.M.

WNIA

Currently, Niagara’s radio station is going through a major change. Its name has changed from WRNU to WNIA. It is currently streaming online at www.wniaradio.com as well as on campus channel twenty. It will have a mix music format and will also have sports and other shows available for listening.

CURRENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

General Manager & News Director: Geoff Redick

Programming Manager: Jessica Garfinkel

Production Manager: Kristen McAuley

Sports Director: EJ Giacomini

Promotions Manager: Cathryn Mason

Web Manager: Dan Chesebro

Faculty Advisor: Fred Heuer

Athletics

The Niagara University Athletics Department sponsors 18 Division I sports. The Purple Eagles compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in all sports except ice hockey. Both the men’s and women’s teams compete in College Hockey America, however, the men’s team is moving to Atlantic Hockey in 2010. The athletics director is Ed McLaughlin.

Niagara’s athletic teams have fared well in the 21st Century. The men’s basketball team won the MAAC Championship in 2005 and in 2007, earning automatic bids to the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, known colloquially as the “Big Dance”. Niagara’s first appearance in the Dance came in 1970, when All-American Calvin Murphy led the Purple Eagles to the Sweet Sixteen. On March 13, 2007, Niagara defeated Florida A&M 77-69 in the so-called “Play-In Game”.

Further information: Niagara Purple Eagles men’s basketball

The men’s hockey team won the College Hockey America Championship in 2000, 2004 and 2008, appearing in the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship those years. In 2000, the “Purps” upset the University of New Hampshire to advance to the Elite Eight. Two years later, the women’s hockey team shocked the college hockey world by advancing to the Frozen Four, eventually tying the University of Minnesota in the third-place game.

Three other Niagara teams have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in their respective sports: softball (1998); women’s soccer (2006); and women’s tennis (2003 & 2005).

Further information: Niagara Purple Eagles men’s soccer

The Athletics Department also operates the Kiernan Centeriagara’s on-campus fitness facilitynd sponsors a comprehensive slate of intramural sports, including basketball, broomball, flag football, indoor soccer, softball, street hockey, and rugby union.

Controversy

While Niagara has had success in athletics, it has also had its share of controversies.

In 2006, 6 members of the men’s basketball team were arrested in connection with assault on a fellow Niagara athlete.
Also in 2006, Niagara’s women’s lacrosse team were involved in a hazing incident, in which new team members participated in underage drinking.

Notable alumni

Jay S. Albanese, Ph,D., Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University

Kyle Andrews, Niagara County Legislator.

Joe Arlauckas, professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings and FIBA Europe.

Douglas E. Artusio, Chairman and CEO Dellisart Lodging

Cathy Barr,CEO of Bethesda Hospital, ST. PAUL, MN

Chris Begg, professional baseball player for the Connecticut Defenders (Double-A) and Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A).

Alfred F. Beiter, was a Democratic U.S. Representative from New York (1933-1939, 1941-1943).

Sean Bentivoglio, CHA Player of the Year (2006-2007); professional hockey player for the New York Islanders organization.

Jerry Bisgrove, Arizona philanthropist; Chairman and CEO of Stardust Companies.

John P. Bobo, United States Marine Corps officer; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam.

James Boldt, CEO of Computer Task Group Inc.

Hubie Brown, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame; former NBA coach and TV analyst.

Earl Brydges, former Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate.

Michael Buenzow, Senior Managing Director, FTI Corporate Finance

Joseph L. Carrigg, was a Republican U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1951-1958).

Carol Cassell, Senior Vice President, Internal Operations and Health Care Services, Independent Health

Frank J. Clark, Erie County former longtime District Attorney.

Rev. Lt. Thomas J. Conway, US Navy chaplain and World War II hero.

Eugene R. Corasanti founded and Chief Executive Officer of Conmed Corp., holding company of Linvatec Corporation

Larry Costello, former NBA player and coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kevin F. Crawford, Chairman and CEO, Unimin Corporation

William Joseph Donovan, head of the World War II Office of Strategic Services; “father” of the CIA.

Barret Ehgoetz, professional hockey player for the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL).

Greg Gardner, first ice hockey player from NU to become professional.

Jerome C. Gorski, Judge on the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division (Fourth Department).

Dennis Holtschneider C.M., President of DePaul University.

Jeffrey R. Holzschuh, Vice-Chairman, Institutional Securities, Morgan Stanley

Frank Layden, former coach and President of the Utah Jazz.

Dave Levac, Canadian politician.

Marshall Mackinder, Director of Marketing, Rockford RiverHawks Frontier League baseball team

Patrick Sarsfield Manley, World War I Flying Ace and Prisoner of War

George Maziarz, Republican New York State Senator from Niagara County.

Joe McCarthy, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Paul McManus, President and CEO, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

Venerable Rev. Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus.

Juan Mendez, MAAC Player of the Year (2004-2005); highest scoring Canadian in Division I men’s basketball history.

Kandia Milton, Convicted ex-Deputy Mayor. City of Detroit, Michigan. Plead guilty to accepting bribes while acting as a public official.

Calvin Murphy, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame; three-time All-American (1968-1970); NBA All-Star (1979); and former TV analyst for the Houston Rockets.

Leo O’Brien, U.S. Representative from New York State (1952-1966).

David M. O’Connell C.M., President of The Catholic University of America

Marc J Odien, noted Photojournalist and CEO of WNYMedia.net

Hon. Robert P. O’Neill, Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Becky O’Donohue, American Idol contestant and Maxim (magazine) model.

Jessie O’Donohue, Maxim (magazine) model.

John O’Hara, noted American writer.

Gilbert Parent, Past member of Canadian Parliament. Served as Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons between 1994 and 2001.

Gregory Pearl Peck, Father of actor Gregory Peck

Jan Pitass, Founder of St. Stanislaus Parish in Buffalo

Bill Press, Political commentator and former Chairman of the California Democratic Party.

Les Reaney, professional hockey player in the Edmonton Oilers organization.

Kyle Rogers, professional hockey player in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.

Wally Rooney, former 23 yr. NBA referee; Supervisor of referees; and President of the NABR union.

Dan Schaefer, was a Republican U.S. Representative from Colorado (1983-1999).

Michael Scheuer, CIA analyst and author of Imperial Hubris.

Kenan Simmon, Vice President, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

Frederick J. Scullin, Senior Judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Joe Tallari, Hobey Baker Award finalist (2003); professional hockey player for the Manchester Phoenix (EIHL [UK]).

Bernard Turi, Vice President, Utica Mutual Insurance Co.

Robert Wegman, Founder, Wegmans Super Markets.

References

^ As of June 30, 2009. “U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009” (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2009_NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values.pdf. Retrieved February 24, 2010. 

^ Rey, Jay (2008-10-08). “Golisano’s $10 million gift to Niagara University largest in school’s history”. Buffalo News. http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/457940.html. Retrieved 2007-10-08. 

^ http://www.purpleeagles.com/sports/mhockey/release.asp?release_id=11115 Niagara Men’s Hockey To Join Atlantic Hockey

^ http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_251211544.html

^ http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2006-09-12-niagara_x.htm

^ http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:BZF9XATjXrgJ:www.badjocks.com/archive/2006/apr0206.htm+niagara+university+women’s+lacrosse+hazing&cd=13&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E1DC1F30F931A25757C0A9609C8B63

^ http://www.insidehazing.com/articles_view.php?id=52&category=Quoted

^ “Patrick Sarsfield Manley”. The Aerodrome. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/manley.php. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 

External links

Niagara University webpage

Niagara University Continuing & Community Education

History of the Niagara Index

Niagara University Eagle Alumni Magazine

Coordinates: 430816 790216 / 43.13786N 79.03777W / 43.13786; -79.03777

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Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Canisius  Fairfield  Iona  Loyola (MD)  Manhattan  Marist  Niagara  Rider  Siena  Saint Peter’s

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College Hockey America

Men

Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (Von Braun Center)  Bemidji State Beavers (John S. Glas Field House)  Niagara Purple Eagles (Dwyer Arena)  Robert Morris Colonials (Island Sports Center)

Women

Mercyhurst Lakers (Mercyhurst Ice Center)  Niagara Purple Eagles (Dwyer Arena)  Robert Morris Colonials (Island Sports Center)  Syracuse Orange (Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion)  Wayne State Warriors (City Sports Center)

NCAA  List of champions: Men / Women

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Vincentian Colleges and Universities

DePaul University  Niagara University  St. John’s University 

Adamson University  Universidad de Sta. Isabel 

Categories: Niagara University | Niagara County, New York | Universities and colleges in New York | Roman Catholic universities and colleges in the United States | Educational institutions established in 1856 | National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools