College Council had its first meeting of 2014 on Thursday, January 9, 2014, at the North Campus. In the interest of keeping the Humber community informed about upcoming events, new initiatives, and important issues, I will be continuing to report the highlights of the monthly meetings. For more information on any topic, or to give me feedback on the reports, please feel free to contact me directly, at lisa.salem-wiseman@humber.ca.
New Programs
In keeping with Humber’s strategic focus on providing students with pathways to a wide variety of credentials, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences is excited to be offering a new Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing and Communications. This one-year post-graduate professional writing and communications program balances theoretical understanding with hands-on practice in the craft of writing and provides students with the core transferrable skills that they need to build successful careers in a wide variety of communications sectors. The one-year program will culminate in an internship that will allow students to connect with potential employers while building upon their skills in a practical setting.
This program is a logical evolution for the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as many of their faculty members are also employed as professional writers in a range of different industries, and a number have won awards for their writing.
2014-2015 Academic Calendar
Barb Riach, Humber’s Registrar, explained that every six years the calendar cycle raises some scheduling challenges with regards to the start of winter semester. January 1, 2015 will fall on a Thursday, which leaves only one day for orientation if classes are to start the following Monday. This last occurred in 2009; the issue was accommodated by starting classes the second full week in January and running classes into May, while organizing exams to minimize the number of students who needed to be here at the beginning of May. However, Humber is now a much larger institution, and similar accommodations would not be possible. Therefore, the Calendar of Events for 2014-15 proposes a mid-week start.
The college will re-open on Friday, January 2, 2014, with orientation scheduled to run Monday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 6,2014, and classes scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 7, 2014. As a result, classes will end on a Tuesday: April 14, 2014, for Humber-UNB; April 21, 2014, for Humber Bachelor Degrees; and April 28, 2014, for Humber Post-Secondary. The wraparound week will make up for the teaching days lost at the beginning of the semester. Although this is not common practice for Humber, many other institutions do operate in this way.
Strategic Planning Items
1) Finance and Administration: Strategic Investments in Infrastructure
The Finance and Administrative Services portfolio supports the implementation of initiatives outlined in Humber’s Strategic and Business Plans, including strategic enrolment management, on-line learning, classroom delivery and technology standards, integrated advising, and co-curricular records.
Rani Dhaliwal, Vice-President, Finance & Administrative Services, led an overview of Humber’s strategic investments in infrastructure. Humber has experienced significant growth in the last 5-7 years and anticipates that future growth will be moderate. The 2013-18 development plans for both North and Lakeshore were highlighted, and, beyond ongoing regular renovation, construction, and maintenance initiatives, large capital projects include: the Learning Resource Commons (LRC), LRC backfill, parking, and Lecture Hall at the North Campus; and the Welcome Centre, Athletics Centre, parking, and building A/B expansion at the Lakeshore Campus.
The new strategic investments in infrastructure align with all three priorities of our Strategic Plan: Strengthening our Polytechnic Identity; Sustained Focus on Learning Excellence; and Maximizing the Impact of Partnerships.
2) Student and Community Engagement: The Role of Student and Community Engagement in Humber’s New Organizational Structure.
Following a re-organization in 2013, Student and Community Engagement currently comprises the following operational areas: Student Success and Engagement, the Registrar’s Office, Library Services, and Community Outreach and Workforce Development.
Jason Hunter, Vice-President, Student and Community Engagement, highlighted each area within his portfolio and noted the key initiatives for 2014-2015, including the implementation of the co-curricular record, facilitation of an integrated advising model, completion of new ESP implementation and integration, preparation for the opening of the LRC and integration of services, and development and delivery of bridging programs.
The Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) framework also rests within this portfolio. Vice-President Hunter provided the following definition of SEM: “a comprehensive approach to integrating all of a college or university’s programs, practices, policies and planning related to achieving the optimal recruitment, retention and graduation of students” (David Kalsbeek, 2009). He went on to explain the role of the Executive Advisory Council (EAC) in developing Humber’s SEM framework, and how the EAC and the core SEM team will aid in setting enrolment targets, facilitate differentiation discussions, participate in the new program development process, define other emerging needs, and engage the Humber community.
The key focuses in developing Humber’s SEM framework include: differentiation, the establishment of Centres of Innovation, the Strategic Mandate Agreement process, further establishing our polytechnic identity, and implementing success strategies that will aid in increasing retention and graduation as well as development of employment skills.
In keeping with Council’s new mandate to report back to the President on key items, members of Council met in small working groups to discuss the evening’s presentations and to make notes that will be brought to the President. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 6, 2014, at the North Campus.