April 30th, 2020

Our Commitment

“In a rapidly evolving world, that often pushes the boundaries of possibility, conventional practices in post-secondary education are not enough.”
 
This is the opening line of Humber’s Strategic Plan. Written three years ago, it has a prescient quality when thinking about our current situation. We have all been unexpectedly thrust into a global pandemic situation that has changed our daily lives. At Humber, we are experiencing significant impacts on how we work, collaborate and support our students.
 
Over the next months, our ability to make decisions will be shaped by a different set of factors than during regular operations. We are evaluating options for fall program delivery and how we may be able to adapt in-person education to meet health and safety requirements. What I want you to know is that no matter what, our decisions will continue to be rooted in our values:  Courage; Innovation; Equity; Health and Well-being; and, Sustainability.
 
Our staff, students and partners are the foundation of our community. We have made it clear that we intend to continue to maintain the employment of all employees with whom we have an ongoing relationship. We have also provided historic levels of financial support to our students to help them stay enrolled.
 
As we look ahead, knowing we are in unchartered territory, these are our commitments to you:
 
  • We will continue to be bold in charting a new course in high-quality education and we will drive innovation and creative enterprise.
As we move many of our courses to an online format, we are taking steps in unchartered directions. Our programs have always been high quality and cutting edge. Now, we are drawing on the expertise we have across Faculties and departments to translate key components of polytechnic education to an online learning experience. We know that elements of hands-on learning cannot be replicated. Yet, we have employed new ways of teaching and harnessing technology and we will continue to find creative approaches to program delivery.
 
  • We will cultivate an environment where all individuals can achieve their full potential.
We will be inclusive and mindful of our community members’ different circumstances. At Humber, equity means applying specific measures and practices to achieve equality of opportunities and outcomes for all. We are committed to treating each other with respect and creating environments where all feel included. This is the same whether we are on campus or online.
 
We have found new ways to provide virtual services to our students and we will continue to innovate to help support their success. We will continue to address issues of unequal access to technology.
 
  • We will nurture the health and well-being of our communities, and will remain dedicated to preserving our collective future.
The health, well-being and safety of the Humber community is always our top priority. We will continue to follow the guidance of public health authorities and to look at the ways in which we continue to put our commitment to sustainable practices into action.
 
We will prioritize individual physical and mental health, and work together to help fight isolation, anxiety and stress through strong lines of communications and our resources.
 
We know that in needing to adapt quickly and in trying out new approaches, we will likely make some mistakes. When that happens, we will acknowledge them, learn from them and work together to fix them. Although we can’t gather together on campus, we are connected and can achieve so much when we work collectively. With our values guiding us, Humber’s culture will remain strong.
 
We are Humber, and we will get through this together.