Announcements

Questions of the Month at the Innovative Learning Support Centre - September & October 2025

When:

November 12, 2025

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Each month Innovative Learning highlights faculty questions received by our Support Centre. This month we are sharing questions from both September and October. These are not necessarily the most frequently asked questions, but helpful for all faculty members to know. If you need further support with any of the materials shared, please contact us: Innovative Learning Support Centre.

Question: How do I setup the overall grade for my course?

Answer:

You can learn how to set up the Overall Grade by completing this simulation created by Innovative Learning. If you prefer, here are the steps below:

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If you haven’t done anything in your Gradebook, at the bottom of the Gradebook you will see the Set it up option. The overall grade page will open up.

The option to set up overall grade, with an arrow pointing to the 'Set it up' button on the right.

Select the Overall Grade Calculation option. Please select Weighted.

The selection of the overall grade calculation, with options for points, weighted and advanced, with weighted selected.

Read the instructions located at the top of the screen. These instructions describe the function of each symbol within the overall grade calculation.

The instructions for assigning, unlinking, unlocking or excluding grades from the overall grade.

Please select how gradable items within the category should be distributed. By selecting proportionally, items are distributed based on their total points. For example, an item with 100 points will have twice the weight of an item with 50 points. Equally will ignore the total point and equally distribute weight for each item.

The options to proportionally or equally weigh gradable items within a category, with the option 'proportionally' selected.

If grading by category, input the correct weights of each category in their respective areas. Categories that are not being used can be exempted (grayed out row with a purple icon on the right as in the Homework category below).

The homework grade category is exempt.

If grading by individual items, unlink them from their associated category. This can be done by selecting the dropdown of the category and selecting the unlink icon next to the item that needs to be separated.

The option to unlink the grades in the category using the 'unlink' button on the right side of each graded item.

The item should now have a separate place to enter it’s individual weight.

The new 'assignment 2' category that appears after unlinking the grade category for assignments.

Note: The overall grade allows you to include both category and individual items in the calculation if desired.

Once all the appropriate weights have been entered, there are additional settings to the right of the screen. Here, you can dictate whether you want overall grade calculated based on the total of points earned.

Note: if these settings are not selected, the overall grade calculation will be a non-running total, and students are not able to view it. If you select Percentage, you can show the current running total in percentage.

Overall grades settings, with 'percentage' and 'show to students' selected.

Question: How do I teach using Teams? How do I use Breakout Rooms?

Answer:

Microsoft Teams is Humber’s official video conferencing tool for online course sessions. Microsoft Teams comes fully equipped with robust, professional features to maximize content sharing, collaboration and accessibility. When using Microsoft Teams to teach, you first need to create a meeting link; you can learn more by following Innovative Learning's article on creating Teams links, or follow the steps listed below:

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Step 1: Log into Outlook with your Humber login credentials.
Step 2: Go to the Calendar and Create a new event.
Step 3: Add a title, date and time to this meeting. Make sure to toggle on Teams meeting and click Save.
Step 4: Join the meeting, click the People tab and select Share invite to copy the meeting link.
Step 5: Share the meeting link with students by adding the meeting link to the Course Content area and Calendar in Blackboard. You can also share the link in an Announcement to the class.

Before the class, you can edit various meeting settings to ensure students participate in the way that is desired for. You can also share your screen or share live PowerPoint presentations during your Teams sessions.

During your sessions, you can encourage discussion and collaboration by using Breakout Rooms; please note that students will need to login via their Humber emails to join in Breakout Rooms. If students login using their personal emails, they will not be available to assign to Breakout Rooms.

Question: What is a rubric? How do I Create and Edit Rubrics in Blackboard?

Answer:

A rubric is a scoring tool you can use to evaluate graded work. When you create a rubric, you divide the assigned work into parts. You can provide clear descriptions of the characteristics of the work associated with each part, at varying levels of skill.

There are two ways to generate a rubric in Blackboard:

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You can create one manually,
or You can generate one using the AI Design Assistant.

Learn more about both options by reading Innovative Learning's creating a rubric resource. Rubrics can be added to assignments, tests, discussions and journals.

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For tests and assignments, you must associate a rubric before adding questions.
For discussions and journals, you must first enable grading before you can associate a rubric.

Learn more about adding rubrics to content items by reading Innovative Learning's article.

Please also note: Rubrics cannot be edited once students submit an assignment, test, discussion or journal that uses the rubric you are trying to edit.

Question: How do I create groups in Blackboard? How do I grade group assignments?

Answer:

There are a few different kinds of groups available for you to create:

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Custom – You manually create groups and assign students to each group.
Randomly assigned – Students are automatically assigned evenly to groups.
Self-enrollment – This must be a visible group. Once created, it generates an announcement to notify students to sign up to a group. Students must self-enroll to a group to become part of it before a group assignment.
Reuse groups – You can reuse an existing course group or group set you had previously created in your course.

Learn more about grading group assignments by viewing these instructions.

Question: How do I give a student an Accommodation, Exception, or an Exemption in Blackboard?

Answer:

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An Accommodation (learn more about setting up Accommodations in Blackboard) is course-wide and applies to due dates and time limits for all assessments in your course for a specific student.
An Exception (learn more about setting up Exceptions in Blackboard) applies to a specific assessment for a specific student, where you can change the visibility dates, or the number of attempts for that student, to allow them to resubmit an assessment. (If the student already has the Accommodation that covers the Exception you want to apply, you do not need to set it again.)
An Exemption (learn more about setting up Exemptions in Blackboard) applies to a specific student to be exempted from a specific assessment, meaning they will not need to complete the specific assessment.

Contact the Innovative Learning Support Centre if you need support. We are here to help!

Starting Soon: SFQ Season for 14-Week Courses

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When:

November 12, 2025

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The Student Feedback Questionnaire (SFQ) is Humber’s primary mechanism for collecting anonymous student feedback on the learning experience in each course, every semester. This process reinforces Humber's shared commitment to academic quality and reflective teaching practice and facilitates the continuous improvement of the student learning experience by using insights gathered from the students' responses. SFQ results are confidential and are not used in employment or contract negotiations. This process reinforces our shared commitment to academic quality and reflective teaching practice.

Before SFQ's begin for your course, instructors can add up to three personalized Likert scale questions and three personalized open-ended questions to the SFQ. This is a valuable way to align the SFQ with your specific course content, teaching practices, and initiatives, and it offers a convenient opportunity to gather meaningful feedback. About a week before your course’s SFQ opens, watch your Humber email for a reminder to submit your questions (for 14-week courses, you can expect to receive this email in Week 9, the week of November 9th to 15th, 2025).

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Some examples of likert-scale questions are as follows;
- “The unit assignments made sense to me; I understood their purpose.”
- “Student response systems kept me engaged.”
- “Mixing groups to work with different peers helped me see other perspectives.”
Some examples of open-ended questions are as follows;
- “What teaching methods were most effective in helping you understand the material?”
- “Was there anything about the course structure that helped or hindered your learning?”
- “How did inclusive practices (e.g., flexible deadlines, diverse content) impact your experience?”

Reach out to the Innovative Learning Support Centre to speak with an Educational Developer if you need help with forming these personalized questions for your course(s), or to the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Humber Polytechnic by completing this request form, where you can meet with and/or discuss your personalized questions with a member of their team.

If you do not receive an email with instructions on how to add your personalized questions, please double check using the SFQ date tool to confirm when the dates for your SFQ start; please also check your inboxes for messages from StudentFeedbackQuestionnaire@sfq.humber.ca (check your junk or spam mail if you don't see it in your inbox). If you have not received this email and want to add custom SFQ questions, please reach out to the Innovative Learning Support Centre.

Please note that once your SFQ dates begin, you will not be able to add personalized questions. This option is only available before your SFQ starts.

For more information regarding the SFQ and your SFQ dates, please check the SFQ News website available from Innovative Learning.

November SSE Splash

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When:

November 11, 2025

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The November edition of the Student Success and Engagement Splash is here!

In this month’s issue, we’re excited to share a message from Dimple Rai, Associate Director of Advising & Career Services, in celebration of National Career Month. You’ll also find monthly highlights, Humber Hawk news, top social media videos, and a roundup of upcoming events to keep you informed and engaged.

We invite you to explore the SSE Splash.

Peer Active Listening Sessions Now In-Person and Online

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When:

November 11, 2025

Contact:

Wellness Education and Programs

Email:

wellness@humber.ca

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Help spread the word: Let your students know about Peer Active Listening (PAL) sessions!

Peer Active Listening (PAL) offers 45-minute one-on-one sessions with trained Peer Wellness Educators who provide a safe, unbiased space to talk, vent, or share what’s on your mind.

What learners will gain from attending a PAL session:

Know where to turn – discover campus and community resources to support you and your friends.
Know yourself better – build awareness of your own needs, experiences, and communication style.
Feel more connected – strengthen your sense of belonging and community on campus.

In-person sessions are now available at North Campus, Lakeshore Campus, and University of Guelph-Humber, alongside virtual options.

Note: Peer Wellness Educators are fellow Humber or UofGH students trained in Active Listening as part of the Wellness Education and Programs team.

Scan the QR code or register online, attend your first session, and receive a $15 digital gift card.

Humber Spa Microdermabrasion Promotion Extended

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When:

November 11, 2025

Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

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Reveal a brighter you! Microdermabrasion Promotion has been extended to November 14:

Microdermabrasion - $45
Microdermabrasion w/ LED Light Therapy - $50

Spa Services & Retail Boutique Hours:

Monday and Friday - 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:45 to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2:45 to 6:30 p.m.

Medical Esthetic Services Hours:

Wednesday to Friday - 3:45 to 8 p.m., by appointment

Spa services will be available starting Tuesday, September 16, 2025 to Friday, December 12, 2025.

Appointments can be made in-person, by email or phone at thehumberspa@humber.ca or 416.675.5033.

Celebrating the Retirement of Angelo Presta

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When:

November 11, 2025

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After a decade of transformative leadership at Humber Polytechnic, Angelo Presta, Associate Vice-President, Facilities Management and Development, retired at the end of September 2025. His contributions have left a lasting mark on Humber’s campuses, students and community.

Angelo joined Humber in 2015 as Senior Director of Capital Development & Facilities Management and was promoted to Associate Vice-President in 2021.

Under his leadership, Humber has seen the completion of signature projects including the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, The Parking Hub, the Student Welcome Centre at Lakeshore Campus, and the Lakeshore Student Fitness Centre. He has also championed major sustainability initiatives, including Humber’s Integrated Energy Master Plan, which is positioning Humber as one of Canada’s most sustainable post-secondary institutions.

Among the most ambitious projects during his tenure is the Humber Cultural Hub at Lakeshore Campus. The 365,000-square-foot, multi-phased facility, which will feature world-class performance spaces, film studios, classrooms and more.

Before joining Humber, Angelo began his career in healthcare as hospital planning and management where he had nearly 25 years of extensive experience in capital development and facilities management.

Colleagues will remember Angelo not only for his leadership, but also for his collaborative spirit and ability to inspire those around him. His work has helped create learning environments where students can thrive for years to come.

To celebrate his many accomplishments and wish him well in retirement, a farewell gathering will be held on Friday, November 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the NX111 North Community Room. All are welcome to stop by and share their thanks and best wishes.

We are also including a digital retirement card below if you would like to add your farewell thoughts and best wishes to Angelo.

Angelo's Digital Retirement Card

2025 Holiday Closure

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When:

November 10, 2025

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Dear Humber Employees,

As the holiday season draws near, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work and dedication each of you brings to our Humber community. Your efforts continue to make a meaningful impact, and we are truly grateful.

To recognize your dedication and show our appreciation, Wednesday, December 24, 2025, has been designated as an Employee Appreciation Day. This special day is our way of saying thank you for the outstanding contributions you make throughout the year.

Humber Polytechnic will be closed for the holiday break from Wednesday, December 24, 2025, to Friday, January 2, 2026.

Humber will re-open on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Managers received guidance in early December regarding employee scheduling, time entry, and payroll considerations during this period. Please refer to the Payroll Calendar for key dates.

While many of us will be away, we recognize that some employees will continue to support operations on campus throughout the break. Thank you for your ongoing commitment during this time.

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday season surrounded by your loved ones. Thank you again for your dedication to student success and to Humber. We look forward to starting a new year together with renewed energy and purpose.

People(s), Culture and Organizational Excellence

Flags at Half-Mast on Remembrance Day

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When:

November 10, 2025

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Flags at Humber will be at half-mast on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 for Remembrance Day.

Join the Humber community for our Remembrance Day Service at North Campus.

Togetherall Partnership - Supporting Student Mental Health

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When:

November 10, 2025

Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

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Supporting the mental health and well-being of our students is not just important, it's essential. That’s why we’ve partnered with Togetherall.

Togetherall’s online community is clinically moderated by mental health professionals and offers students a safe and anonymous place to express their thoughts, concerns and successes. Resources are free for students (aged 16+) to use and are available 24/7/365. Students are able to draw strength and insights from peers that have real lived experiences, as well as access a range of self-directed, clinically validated tools to promote positive mental health and well-being. Togetherall integrates with Humber's existing campus mental health services and after-hours supports.

Watch this one-minute explainer video to learn more or visit www.togetherall.com.

Togetherall was officially made available to Humber students on September 15, 2025.

Please find the attached program flyers. We kindly ask that you share this information widely, including within your classrooms.

Gabriela Yepez
Associate Director, Counselling & Mental Health
gabriela.yepez@humber.ca

Medical Esthetic Treatments are Available at The Humber Spa

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When:

November 10, 2025

Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

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Appointments are available:

Wednesday to Friday
3:45 to 8 p.m.

Laser Hair Promotion – Let’s get ready for the new year!

Complimentary consultations
20 per cent off laser treatments

Medical Esthetic treatments available now inlclude microdermabrasion, nanoneedling, and skin consultations.

Coming soon:

OxyGeneo
Photorejuvenation
Chemical Peels

Medical Esthetic services will be available starting Wednesday, October 1 to December 12, 2025.

Appointments can be made in-person, by email or phone.

Contact thehumberspa@humber.ca or 416.675.5033.

Humber Communiqué

Announcements

Question: How do I setup the overall grade for my course?

Answer:

Question: How do I teach using Teams? How do I use Breakout Rooms?

Answer:

Question: What is a rubric? How do I Create and Edit Rubrics in Blackboard?

Answer:

Question: How do I create groups in Blackboard? How do I grade group assignments?

Answer:

Question: How do I give a student an Accommodation, Exception, or an Exemption in Blackboard?

Answer:

Pages

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Question: How do I setup the overall grade for my course?

Answer:

Question: How do I teach using Teams? How do I use Breakout Rooms?

Answer:

Question: What is a rubric? How do I Create and Edit Rubrics in Blackboard?

Answer:

Question: How do I create groups in Blackboard? How do I grade group assignments?

Answer:

Question: How do I give a student an Accommodation, Exception, or an Exemption in Blackboard?

Answer:

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