Accessible Learning Services shares some best practices considerations:

• Neurodiversity was first coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in the 1990s. It emphasizes that everyone has a unique brain composed of diverse strengths and weaknesses. 

• The Cleveland Clinic defines Neurodivergent as “a nonmedical term that describes people whose brains develop or work differently”. This includes individuals who report having ASD, ADHD, LD and some mental health conditions. 

• Neurodivergent ways of thinking can bring new perspectives to the labour force and fuel innovation. 

• Read how Ernst & Young has developed initiatives and programs to target this underrepresented and valuable group of employees. View the article.

References: 

• The Neurodiversity Hub

Visit our ALS Information for Faculty website to learn more about the Accommodation Letter process. 

Please email us at accessible-learning@humber.ca with suggestions for key accessibility-related topics that you would like us to address through the Communiqué. 

Welcome to the monthly series of “Did you know? Helpful HR-related information and best practices.” Every month, there is a Communiqué Announcement posted that covers tips, best practices, and general HR-related topics. 

This month’s topics include important information about employee vacation planning and carry-over requests.

For future topic ideas, we would like to hear from YOU!

If there is any general HR-related information that you think would be helpful for yourself and/or your colleagues, please email your suggestions to oe@humber.ca.

Understanding Vacation Planning and Vacation Carry-Over Requests

Did you know that planning your vacation early helps to ensure that you have a set time to rest and further helps to build a healthy work-life balance?

Employees are encouraged to fully utilize their annual vacation allotment in order to have time away from work to focus on personal and individual responsibilities as well as to rest and recharge. To ensure adequate departmental coverage, employees should indicate their preferred vacation time as early as possible, in discussion with their manager. 

Vacation Carry-Over Requests

Administrative Employees

Administrative employees who wish to apply for a Vacation Carry-Over Exception need to consult their reporting manager to complete and submit the Vacation Carry-Over Exception Form, by June 1, 2023.  

Employees and managers should ensure that all required information has been captured on the exception form prior to submission: vacation carry-over details, reason(s) for the request, a plan for using excess carry-over days and the manager’s recommendations/comments. 

All requests must be approved by the employee’s manager and their Vice-President, and the Vice-President, People(s) and Culture.

Unionized Employees

The vacation carry-over requirements and limits for unionized employees are covered within the respective Collective Agreement. Therefore, unionized employees are not required to submit a Vacation Carry-Over Exception Form.

If you have any questions, please contact the HR Support Centre. Tune in next month for more helpful HR-related information.

Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE), Humber Press, Office of Research & Innovation (ORI), would like to invite Humber’s growing research and innovation community to become a peer reviewer for the journal.

By becoming a reviewer, you would help advance the wider scholarly and polytechnic community by:

• Advancing your field of expertise by providing valuable feedback to authors;
• Being up-to-date on the latest research developments;
• Developing your own research and writing skills by evaluating manuscripts and providing constructive feedback.

Whether your research interest lies in the areas of Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, life sciences, social innovation, health, psychology, Indigenous education, or STEAMS, the JIPE editorial team is seeking your expertise!

Please reach out to the Humber Press team at humberpress@humber.ca if you’re interested in becoming a peer reviewer.

About JIPE:

The Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE) is an online, open-access journal for peer-reviewed papers that mobilize knowledge and insights generated by the global polytechnic community. JIPE is electronically published by Humber Press at Humber College’s Office of Research & Innovation.

JIPE publishes original research papers, review articles, brief reports, book reviews and our “micro-dissemination” options: innovation spotlights and essays. The journal welcomes submissions from researchers, seasoned and emerging, and scholars from across the polytechnic and community college sectors, both within and outside Canada.

Visit JIPE.ca to learn more.

The deadline for submitting proposals for Showcase 2023 has been extended!

Take advantage of this opportunity and join us in commemorating and exploring the diverse aspects of this year's Showcase theme, "authentic," by submitting proposals for Workshops, Exhibits, and/or Sharing Circles.

New deadline to submit a proposal: Thursday, May 25, 2023