Announcements

When:
July 4, 2024
Contact:
Graham Carter
Tel:
x5450
Pre-Service Firefighter Program Students standing in front of a firetruck

Being a firefighter means connecting with the community you serve. In Humber's Pre-Service Firefighter program, our students frequently demonstrate their leadership.

Recently, this group of six students participated in the Million Reasons Run Charity, raising $4,910 for Canadian children's hospitals and medical research facilities.

Thank you for your generosity:

  • Nathaniel Audino
  • Kennedy Jackson
  • Matthew Hopkins
  • Colin Maclennan
  • Stuart Rosszell
  • Macgregor Stanfield
When:
July 3, 2024
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

This year, as part of the Pride Month celebration, Humber is collecting donations for Friends of Ruby, a youth centre dedicated to the well-being of 2SLGBQTIA+ youth (aged 16-29). They provide mental health services, social services and housing through a comprehensive approach that involves mind, body, and community.

The collection has been extended to July 10!

Items accepted for donation:

  • Unscented hygiene products (shampoo, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, etc)
  • Presto cards
  • Gift cards (preferably for grocery stores)
  • Non-perishable food
  • Nut-free snacks
  • Stationary supplies

Drop off locations:

North Campus Lakeshore Campus

Library (LRC fourth floor)

LGBTQ+ Resource Centre (E140)

Learning Commons (L first floor)

LGBTQ+ Resource Centre (WEL211)

If you have any questions, please email sustainability@humber.ca.

When:
July 3, 2024
Contact:
Desta McCalla
Tel:
x5182

The Postsecondary Education Standards Development Committee (PESDC) 2022 Final Report identified nine barriers to access. Biweekly, ALS will be doing a deep dive into the barriers and recommendations identified.  

The recommendations were founded upon principles that accessibility efforts should be proactive, that all areas of an institution have a shared responsibility in promoting access and that students need to navigate a transparent and seamless system. 

This week’s focus is on organizational barriers. 

  • The recommendations to address organizational barriers in postsecondary were guided by the principles that postsecondary institutions need to create environments that facilitate full participation of all stakeholders and that students with disabilities must have barrier-free access at all stages of postsecondary experience.  

  • The report recommends all admission documents, including applications and tests, be readable using assistive technology and all multimedia material related to admissions be closed captioned. 

  • Postsecondary institutions shall develop policies and practices outlining the extensive documentation required to access academic accommodations including a practice to provide interim accommodations while waiting for documentation. 

  • Institutions shall also develop policies and procedures related to priority access requests (for example, request for priority enrollment in a course, accessible housing placement, etc.) and ensure experiential learning partners are aware of the requirement to accommodate. 

The full report is available online

Visit our ALS Information for Faculty website to learn more about accommodating students with disabilities.

When:
July 3, 2024

Here are the highlights of faculty questions from June. These are not necessarily the most frequently asked questions, but helpful for all faculty members.

Question (Microsoft Teams): Where can I find recorded files of MS Teams meetings?

Answer: You should be able to find them inside the folder called “Recordings” on your One Drive. Here’s the step-by-step instructions: How to locate MS Teams Video Recording

For more tips, please visit MSTeams Tips for Teaching.

Question (Respondus Lockdown Browser Dashboard): I tried to use Respondus Lockdown Browser, but the dashboard gets an error message, and I can’t use it. How can I resolve this?

Answer: Do any of your test names include special characters such as icons or emoticons? Currently, the Respondus Lockdown Browser dashboard has a limitation and cannot process test names with special characters. Please review your test names and remove any special characters. It may have worked in the past, however, software has ongoing updates and behaviour may change at any time.

Question (Respondus Lockdown Browser, student_preview mode): I am planning to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser for a Test in my course. When trying this in the student_preview mode, I receive an error message stating, "You don’t have permission to access this content." As a result, I am unable to load the test into the Lockdown Browser. Is there anything wrong with my test?

Answer: After investigating, we found that your course hasn't started yet. You should be able to use student_preview once your course begins. We recommend trying again after the course's start date.

Question (Suggestions for Blackboard): I have some suggestions for Blackboard, can you pass my suggestions to Anthology?

Answer: Anthology provides an Idea Exchange forum where instructors can share their ideas. To participate, please register and visit the forum. You may find ideas that are similar or identical to yours already posted. If so, you can vote for those ideas. If your idea is unique, feel free to post it. For any ideas you've voted for, commented on, or posted yourself, you'll receive notifications when someone (including Anthology staff) comments or when the status changes.

Another useful platform is the Anthology Community Discussion forum. Here you can ask questions and assist each other in the broader community of Blackboard users. Note that a separate login is required to participate in this forum.

Question (Automatic Zeros): I created an assignment on Blackboard, and enabled it for students. However, Blackboard is assigning a score of 0 to everyone. Now students see a 0 for their grade as if they missed an assignment. What could be the cause of this issue?

Answer: When you create a new assignment, Blackboard automatically sets the due date to the next day. Unless you change this, any submissions past this date will be considered overdue, even if the assignment was just released to students. In the gradebook, automatic zeros are enabled by default, and overdue assignments will automatically receive a zero grade. To prevent this, please set an appropriate due date using this step-by-step guide. Another resource is available online. If you would rather not have automatic zeros, you can turn off this feature.

Question (Copied Test with Pooled Questions): I have copied a test from another course that references a set of questions in a test bank. However, students are complaining that they are unable to save their answers to questions retrieved from the bank. What should I do?

Answer: In your case, the test was not copied successfully. Your test has a corrupted test bank reference. During the process of copying, unforeseen issues may have occurred. It's always recommended to use the student_preview to try the test before allowing actual students to take it.

The full article is also posted on BB Hub: Questions of the Month at the ILSC (June 2024)

Need additional support? The IL Support Centre is here to help!

When:
July 3, 2024
Contact:
Hedi Rahmat
Map at North Campus

We would like to inform you of ongoing construction activities affecting access to Buildings A, B, C, and D at the North Campus. The construction has already begun and is expected to continue for several months, and during this period, certain areas and facilities within these buildings will be temporarily inaccessible.

Key Details:

  • Buildings A, B, C, and D: Expect partial closures and restricted access.
  • Affected Areas: Faculty of Business (Culinary Programs, Golf Management, Sports Management, and Spa Programs), Faculty of Health Sciences (Massage Therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine Programs), TCM Clinic, Athletics, Support Staff Union, and all classes on the second floor of Buildings B and D.
  • Update on B Building Elevator Access: Please note that access to the B building elevators is currently changed. While there is still access to the B-elevators if you enter directly from the B building entrance (Parking Lot 13/14), those entering from Parking Lot 15 should follow an alternative path to reach the elevators. We have attached a layout for your convenience to help navigate this change. 

We encourage all students, staff, and faculty to plan accordingly and allow extra time for navigating the campus during this period.

Weekly Layout Updates: The layout for each week's closures will be posted on the Friday of the preceding week.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

When:
July 2, 2024
Promotional graphic for Incredible Urban Animals week. Photos show a deer, a garter snake, a plaster cast of a track, a child dipping a net in a pond, a child holding up a skunk puppet, a camp leader and child looking at something together

Due to the Canada Day long weekend, the Humber Arboretum has extended the registration deadline for the first week of Nature Camp.

The 2024 season of Summer Nature Camp at the Humber Arboretum kicks off on Monday, July 8 with the first weekly theme, Incredible Urban Animals.

Throughout the summer, the registration deadline for each week of camp falls on the Monday prior, at 11:59 p.m. However due to the long weekend, the registration deadline for Incredible Urban Animals has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3. 

Learn more and register today on the Humber Arboretum website.


All 2024 Nature Camp Themes:

Incredible Urban Animals

  • Monday, July 8 to Friday, July 12
  • Ages 5 to 12
  • Special Guest: Meet live reptiles from Sciensational Sssnakes
  • Registration Deadline: Wednesday, July 3, 11:59 p.m.

Roots of STEM 

  • Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19
  • Limited space available for ages 5 to 12 
    • Junior Naturalists Camp for ages 12 to 14 is full; waitlist available
  • Special Visit: Try out some of the amazing technology in the Barrett CTI
  • Registration deadline: Monday, July 8, 11:59 p.m.

Brilliant Birds 

  • Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26
  • Ages 5 to 14
  • Special Guest: Meet live birds from Wild Ontario
  • Registration deadline: Monday, July 15, 11:59 p.m.

Healthy Planet, Healthy Lives 

  • Monday, July 29 to Friday, August 2
  • Ages 5 to 12
  • Special Guest: Learn about turtles with the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
  • Registration deadline: Monday, July 22, 11:59 p.m.

Wilderness Survival Skills 

  • Tuesday, August 6 to Friday August, 9 and Monday, August 12 to Friday, August 16 [9 days]
  • Ages 5 to 14
  • Registration deadline: Monday, July 29, 11:59 p.m.

Growing Up Gardeners 

  • Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23
  • Ages 5 to 14
  • Registration deadline: Tuesday, August 6, 11:59 p.m.

The Great Nature Games 

  • Monday, August 26 to Friday, August 30
  • Ages 5 to 14  (limited spaces available)
  • Registration deadline: Monday, August 19, 11:59 p.m.

Learn more and register today on the Humber Arboretum website.

Connect with the Humber Arboretum online: Website | Instagram | Facebook Mastodon | LinkedIn

When:
July 2, 2024
Contact:
Meshanda Phillips
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster
Mobile cart with beverages

Lakeshore, it's your turn!

Presenting Sip & Chill Mobile - A Resource on Wheels

Exciting news from the Office of the Dean of Students: introducing the Sip & Chill Mobile service! This in-person mobile service is designed to bring information directly to students in their primary campus spot - the classroom.

How does it work?

During a class break, the Sip & Chill Mobile cart will be outside the classroom to provide students with access to information about student resources, upcoming events, and giveaways, along with a complimentary cup of coffee or tea.

Schedule

The Sip and Chill Mobile Cart is bookable for the date and times listed below.

Date: Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning July 2 and ending August 2
Time: Between 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Lakeshore Campus

How to request a visit from the Sip & Chill Mobile cart for your students

Professors can schedule a visit from the Sip & Chill Mobile cart to arrive during their class breaks. Reservations must be made in advance on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cart can be booked for Lakeshore Campus during the month of July.

If you have a class that does not fall on a Tuesday or Wednesday and would love to book Sip & Chill Mobile or have additional questions, please reach out to Meshanda at meshanda.phillips@humber.ca.

When:
July 2, 2024

Here are the highlights of this month’s new and improved features in Blackboard Ultra. For more details, please follow the links below:

Print answer key for assessments

Last month, Blackboard Ultra added the printing functionality for Tests. Now, the option to print with answer keys is added. By clicking the print button on a Test, a prompt will ask you to choose either to print a blank Test or one with answer keys. This new option allows instructors to save or print a Test with answer keys.

Improvements to prevent printing a question across pages

This release includes enhancements to the printing functionality for Tests. It ensures that a question will not span multiple pages, whether it's a digital or physical document. The following items will now be printed on the same page:

  1. Question header and question;
  2. Answer icon and text;
  3. Table;
  4. List;
  5. Image.

While very long text answer options may spill over to additional pages, the answer choice will be displayed next to the first line of text. In matching questions, the prompt/answer heading will remain with the answer pairs. These updates aim to improve user experience and enhance the readability of printed Tests.

Send a copy to email when scheduling announcements

Previously, the ability to email an announcement was only available for immediate posts. The new option of sending emails with future announcements enables instructors to prepare important messages in advance.

Recording audio and video when adding per question feedback

Per question feedback offers students more targeted advice. It includes a range of feedback options such as adding images and embedding videos, in addition to text-based feedback. However, it previously lacked the ability to record audio and video. To ensure consistency in all feedback mechanisms within Blackboard Ultra, this functionality has now been extended to include per question feedback.

The full list of July updates is available on the Blackboard Help Center website.

The full article is also posted on BB Hub: New and Improved Features in Blackboard Ultra – July 2024 Update

Need additional support? The IL Support Centre is here to help!

When:
July 2, 2024
Contact:
Tanya Perdikoulias
Person taking family photo with mobile device

Welcome all Humber staff, faculty members and students to a survey related to photography!  

People are affected by the photos they see of themselves and their loved ones. The person who displays the photos may or may not be aware of how others may feel about the photos they display. The people who are in the photos may be sensitive to how they are being portrayed, and those who are not in the photos may be sensitive to being excluded from the displayed photos.  

We hope to find out what people’s experiences are with the displayed photos they grew up with and how they might be emotionally/psychologically affected by being included and/or excluded from photos. Additionally, we are interested in learning if cultural backgrounds have any bearing on perceptions and understanding.  

Why participate?  

Your voice matters in understanding how photographs that are displayed of you affect you as the viewer.

Who we need:  

Staff members from all areas—administrative, academic advising, technical support, management, and more. Your unique experience and perspective is critical for a well-rounded study.

Involvement details:

  • A brief, one-time online survey (15-20 minutes).
  • Optional: Engage in a one-on-one interview on Microsoft Teams (about an hour) for deeper discussions.

Incentives for participation:

  • A $5 token of appreciation for completing the survey.
  • Additional $25 for interview participants.

How to Join:  

Access the survey

If you are interested in the one-on-one interview, please indicate so at the survey’s end. Survey closes on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Confidentiality:

All responses are confidential for both SoTL SEED research purposes and potentially a transformational non-fiction book.

The final product will be a workshop (preferably at Humber College’s Showcase 2025) discussing case studies from this project that will resonate with learners. An example or two (with confidentiality guards firmly in place) may even be included in a transformational non-fiction book written by the researcher.

For questions, please contact tanya.perdikoulias@humber.ca.

This survey is for a Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) SEED project. Learn more about SoTL at the Office of Research & Innovation (ORI) website.

When:
July 2, 2024
Screenshot of Capital Development & Facilities Management website

There is an upcoming change to placing a Service Request for Project starting Monday, July 8. We will provide a link to an instructional video to help you navigate the new process.

Thank you for your understanding and coorperation.

Capital Development and Facilities Management

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