Announcements

Humber Statement on Disconnecting from Work
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When:
June 29, 2022

Dear Humber employees, 

Over the last few weeks, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness has received questions about Ontario’s disconnecting from work legislation that came into effect for some organizations earlier this month.  

We want to ensure that all employees are aware of our commitment to work-life balance, health and well-being and the ability to unplug from work. Therefore, although we are exempt from the provincial requirement to have a formal disconnecting from work policy, we are planning to embed the principles and concepts of the need to disconnect from work within our current remote work policy, applicable and relevant practices and the future of work framework currently being developed.  

Humber supports a healthy and respectful work environment and the importance of disconnecting from work. We also recognize that individual roles require different working arrangements and hours than others. As we did at the onset of the pandemic through our Humber at Home pledge, we encourage you to be respectful and supportive of your colleagues, and they to you. One of the challenges related to separating work from home, is balancing the fact that there may be times outside of your regular working hours when we  need to connect with one another, while respecting that everyone needs to disconnect from work to maintain a healthy workplace and home life. Keeping that in mind, if there is a time outside of your workday in which you want to send an email or complete a task, please know that you should not expect to receive a response or action from the other person until their regular working hours resume. 

Thank you for your collective commitment to a healthy campus. We look forward to sharing more information about the future of work framework in the fall. We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable summer. 

Lori Diduch
Vice-President, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness 


Q&A 

Q: Does/will Humber have a disconnecting from the workplace policy? 
A: No. Humber does/will not have a disconnecting from work policy, as we are exempt from the provincial requirement. As we are committed to work-life balance, health and well-being and the ability to unplug from work, we are planning to embed the principles and concepts of the need to disconnect from work within our current remote work policy, applicable and relevant practices and the future of work framework currently being developed. 

Q: Can I email/contact a colleague outside of their regular working hours?
A: If there is a time outside of your workday in which you want to send an email to a colleague or complete a task that impacts a colleague, you may do so, though know that you should not expect to receive a response or action from the other person until their regular working hours resume. You can also consider scheduling your message so that it is sent  at a predetermined time when the recipient will be working. 

Q: Am I expected to respond to emails or other work tasks outside of my regular work hours? 
A: Individuals are not expected to respond to emails or other work tasks outside of regular work hours. If the matter is an emergency that needs to be addressed outside of your regular working hours, your manager will contact you accordingly. We encourage all employees be mindful of work-life balance and disconnecting from work to maintain that balance. 

Another after-hours consideration for employees is that individuals may choose to turn off notifications from software such as Outlook or Teams so that work does not appear on their devices at any hour of the day. 

Q: My role requires me to be on call. How am I affected by Humber’s approach to disconnecting from work? 
A: Individuals whose roles require them to be on call as scheduled are expected to fulfill their regular on call shift, including responding to after-hours inquiries or tasks as per their regular work.  

Q: Is there a message that I can add to my email signature? 
A: If you wish to include a message in your email signature that supports a healthy workplace, please use the following to ensure consistent language across the college: 

My working day may not be your working day. I respect your boundaries around personal time and well-being. If you receive correspondence from me outside your working hours, I do not expect a response or action until you are at work. 

Time's Running Out! The H-Drive will be Decommissioned June 29
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When:
June 28, 2022
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster
Red clock on a cabinet

Times running out! If you haven’t had the chance, don’t forget to register for OneDrive Training!

The H-Drive will be officially decommissioned tomorrow June 29, 2022. To register for a session, access the booking calendar and get your files transferred over to OneDrive before it’s too late.

If you have questions in the meantime, please contact the IT Support Centre at 416.675.6622 x8888, or chat at humber.ca/techtalk. 

Hope to see you soon.

Information Technology Services

Reminder: Mask Mandate to be Lifted July 1
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When:
June 28, 2022
Reminder: Mask Mandate to be Lifted July 1

As previously announced, the mask mandate will be lifted on July 1 at Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber.  

Unless the public health situation in the province changes dramatically, in July and beyond, indoor masking on campus will be a personal choice.  

There may continue to be scenarios in which masking is required, including working or learning environments in which close proximity is required for extended periods of time.   

Everyone is encouraged to continue to complete the self-screening in the Humber Guardian app before coming to campus each time. As a reminder, if you are feeling unwell, do not come to campus.  

Throughout the pandemic, we have focused on creating safe places to learn, work and live. We appreciate your continued cooperation and consideration of others.   

While masking will be optional, respect is mandatory. 

The Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE) Submissions Handbook is out
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When:
June 28, 2022
Contact:
Anju Kakkar
Email:
anju.kakkar@humber.ca
The Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE) Submissions Handbook is out

To our research and innovation community,

The Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE), Humber Press, Office of Research & Innovation (ORI), has compiled a comprehensive and detailed JIPE Submissions Handbook which we have the pleasure of sharing widely with our research and innovation community. You may make submissions to JIPE.ca at any time.

Have you participated in or conducted a research/innovation study? Do you have research you want to share? Every research project, study or initiative is a journey. Researchers and innovators embark on this journey, and their work advances essential knowledge and changes the way we understand the world.

JIPE welcomes research stories and manuscripts from seasoned and emerging researchers from across the polytechnic and community college sectors, both within and outside Canada. Students/research assistants are also encouraged and invited to submit in collaboration with a faculty member/researcher.

JIPE publishes original research papers, review articles, brief reports, book reviews and our “micro-dissemination” options: innovation spotlights and more.

As part of Humber’s sustainability plan, JIPE will only be published electronically to reduce paper consumption. JIPE is an online, open-access journal for double-blind peer-reviewed submissions/manuscripts that mobilize knowledge and insights generated by the global polytechnic community. The articles published in this open journal are published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Read it today: JIPE Submissions Handbook

Full-Time Support Staff Bargaining 2022
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When:
June 27, 2022

The College Employer Council has posted "Full-Time Support Staff Bargaining 2022" on its website.

More information is also available on the CEC’s website and the OPSEU website.

Dr. Patrice Esson, Associate Dean, Department of English
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When:
June 24, 2022

I am excited to announce that Dr. Patrice Esson has accepted the role of Associate Dean, Department of English, effective August 2.

Patrice has more than 20 years of experience working in interdisciplinary and polytechnic post-secondary environments both in Canada and the United States. She brings to the role diverse professional experiences and passions for post-secondary education and leadership, and she is a forward-thinking, empathetic leader who is dedicated to supporting the creation and augmentation of engaging, supportive, and barrier-free learning experiences that facilitate student success. Patrice’s interdisciplinary approach to education has created many opportunities for her to engage with colleagues in the field of writing, communications, and ESOL, which have led to innovative pedagogical strategies, multiple grant-sponsored applied research projects, and EDI-focused workshops.

Patrice joins us from Sheridan College where she has served as both a faculty member and academic administrator. As a faculty member, Patrice was active in the visioning, development, and implementation of new programs and was the successful recipient of multiple applied research grants. While serving in academic and administrative leadership capacities as Associate Director of International Services and Interim Associate Dean in the Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design, Patrice facilitated the achievement of strategic goals and developed and implemented pan-institutional initiatives, including Sheridan’s COVID readiness plan to support international students, hosting community conversations and workshops surrounding EDI and pedagogy, and being a founding member of Sheridan’s Advisory Council. 

Patrice is the recipient of several awards recognizing her achievements and impact in the following areas: teaching and learning, creativity and innovation, Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous partnerships, and student-engaged applied and community research. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Virginia Tech, as well as a graduate certificate in Post-Secondary Pedagogy. 

Please join me in welcoming Patrice to Humber.

John Stilla
Senior Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences

A Reminder About Pronouns
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When:
June 24, 2022
Contact:
Kathryn Edgett
Email:
kathryn.edgett@humber.ca

Humber College is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive culture in which all members of the College community study, work and live free from discrimination and harassment. The College has the right, as well as the legal and moral responsibility, to ensure that all its members are treated fairly, equitably, and respectfully, in order to provide a learning, working and living environment free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity and gender expression; and one in which transgender and non-binary individuals are included, respected and encouraged to reach their potential as members of the College community.

Discrimination and harassment based on gender identity and gender expression are prohibited under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code). The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) defines gender identity as "each person's internal and individual sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither, or anywhere along the gender spectrum." Our names and pronouns are two fundamental ways we express gender and how others perceive our gender. The words people use to describe themselves and others are very important. The OHRC also reminds us that "The right terms can affirm identities and challenge discriminatory attitudes. The wrong ones can disempower, demean and reinforce exclusion".

Pronouns such as she/her and he/him do not fit everyone's gender identity. There are numerous other pronouns a person can use, such as they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, ey/em/eir, etc. We cannot assume a person's gender identity from their pronouns. Humber's Gender Diversity Policy states, "All individuals within the College community are entitled to be referred to by the gender pronoun(s) of their choice." Under the Code and Humber's Human Rights Policy and Gender Diversity Policy, everyone has the right to self-identify their gender. "Misgendering," referring to someone with the incorrect pronouns, is a form of harassment. (source)

It is increasingly common for people to introduce themselves with their pronouns or to include them in email signatures- great steps towards increased inclusion. However, no one should ever be forced, compelled, or pressured to share their pronouns publicly, i.e., at a meeting or in a classroom. This may have the effect of making the person feel they have no option but to "out" themselves. "Outing" is the act of disclosing a 2SLGBTQ+ person's sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent or without the person feeling safe or ready to do so. Outing someone would be a violation of Humber's Gender Diversity Policy, Human Rights Policy, and the Code. Consider asking people to share their pronouns only if they are comfortable and having an option to do so privately.

If you have questions about pronouns, please contact Kathryn Edgett, Advisor, Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion at kathryn.edgett@humber.ca.

Thank you for your continued commitment to an inclusive working, learning and living environment at the College.

Save the Date: President's Breakfast
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When:
June 24, 2022
Save the Date: President's Breakfast

Please join us for President Ann Marie Vaughan's first President's Breakfast at Humber College on Tuesday, August 30, 2022.

#HumberTogether

Get Transfer Ready Virtual Sessions
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When:
June 24, 2022
Contact:
Risha Toney
Tel:
x4833
Email:
risha.toney@humber.ca
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

The transfer team would like to inform you of our upcoming Get Transfer Ready Virtual Sessions. These sessions are targeted to new domestic and international students with previous life, work, or postsecondary experience. 

As part of this series, in the months of June and July, we will be offering the following:

Sessions 

Welcome/Overview to Get Transfer Ready 2022 June 27, 2022 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Understanding Financial Aid and Fees June 28, 2022 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Transfer Credit Clinic - Session 1 July 5, 2022 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Transfer Credit Clinic - Session 2 July 7, 2022 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Records and Registration July 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Advising and Career Services July 14, 2022 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Tours 

On-Campus: North Campus Tour June 30, 2022 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
On-Campus: Lakeshore Campus Tour July 8, 2022 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Virtual Tour: North Campus July 15, 2022 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Virtual Tour: North Campus July 15, 2022 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Please check out the registration and session descriptions at https://humber.ca/gettransferready.     

If you have any questions, please contact us at transferoptions@humber.ca.

Black/African Employee Resource Group - Call for Membership
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When:
June 23, 2022
Contact:
BAERG
Email:
BlackERG@humber.ca

Humber has identified as its Strategic Priority #7 under Pillar #3, Healthy and Inclusive Community, to continue to build a diverse and inclusive community of exceptional students, faculty, and staff. The specific supporting action is to establish and implement an institutional framework and strategy for equity, diversity and inclusion that addresses the needs of both students and employees.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) bring together employees who share a common identity, characteristic and set of interests. They create a culture of inclusion that enhances employee engagement and further supports organizations’ vision and values.

The Black/African ERG was launched in September 2020 and is one of two ERGs that Humber College currently offers for all eligible staff and faculty. (Source: Catalyst)

Humber employees who identify as Black/African and are interested in joining the ERG are invited to send an email to the Co-Leads, Shernett Bennett at shernett.bennett@humber.ca or Patricia Suleiman at patricia.suleiman@humber.ca.

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