May 12th, 2021

President's blog: Diving into tomorrow

the new lab is a circular, open space with a blue ceiling and grass-like flooring. There are tall green plants in the foreground and large, shell-like chairs and a computer lab in the background.

Welcome to a new term, full of possibilities. 

Humber College is focused on the future, planning for a summer term of both in-person and online instruction and setting goals for tomorrow. 

We are now into the last two years of our 2018-23 Strategic Plan, which set bold objectives for the college.  

Entering our second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have determined a refreshed set of future-focused strategic priorities. We want to apply all we’ve learned over the past months,  respond to the changing needs of Humber’s diverse learners and continue to make progress towards our goals. 

Humber Tomorrow, our new vision document, summarizes our current operating environment and outlines the five strategic priorities on which we will focus our efforts in the next two years: Flexible Learning Strategy, The New Polytechnic Approach, Remote and Hybrid Work Culture, Health and Inclusive Community and Digital Campus. 

We are always looking for ways to enhance teaching and learning. Here are a few highlights of Humber’s Digital Campus recent initiatives: 

We have overhauled the way Humber accesses WIFI. Education roaming, or eduroam, is a secure, worldwide WIFI roaming service that allows students and employees from participating institutions to connect to the Internet at other institutions. Humber joins participants like Ryerson University, Sheridan College and the University of Toronto. 

You can find details on how to use eduroam here. 

A new space at North Campus, the Techzone,” will be Humber’s newest innovation showcase and service hub. The cutting-edge, centrally located space offers IT support and promises to be a collaborative space for innovation. You’ll find demonstrations of innovative technology and advice on digital solutions for academic and business challenges. Techzone is a collaborative project between all the Faculties and the Centre for Innovative Learning. 

We have also created a unique open access lab at North Campus. H205 is a collaboration between IGNITE, ITS and the Department of Capital Development and Facilities Management. It brings the outside in, outfitted with large windows, a floor designed to look like grass and a living wall - a section of the lab that is void of technology. 

The lab also has new PC and Mac computers equipped with software, table surfaces made of whiteboard material and more. We are looking forward to students being able to benefit from these new spaces in the coming months  

In upcoming blogs, I will be sharing more about Humber Tomorrow, and I am looking forward to hearing from staff through the consultations happening this spring 

We have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks and months, including Orientation, Convocation, warmer weather and continuing to work together on what comes next for Humber.