Announcements

When:
November 15, 2021

November is an important month for Indigenous education at Humber. National Indigenous Education Month is currently underway, and Humber’s annual Indigenous Knowledge Gathering events and initiatives are taking place this week. 

It’s also a perfect time to revisit Humber's 2021-2023 Indigenous Education Plan (IEP). This plan reiterates the college’s longstanding commitment to Indigenous learners, families, communities and organizations. 

The IEP supports the principles outlined in College’s and Institutes Canada's Indigenous Education Protocol, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Report and Calls to Action, and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

To learn more about the IEP’s specific priorities, goals, and action items, please visit the following webpages: 

Indigenous Education Plan Information 

Indigenous Education and Engagement Website

Thank you to Humber’s Indigenous Education Council members, Elders, Indigenous Communities and Organizations, students, faculty, and staff.  

In addition, partnering colleges, universities and polytechnics, both nationally and internationally, have been integral to this plan’s development. 

All members of the Humber community have a place and role in the important work ahead. This work will create frameworks that will benefit all students, staff, faculty, administrators, and communities connected to Humber. 

We look forward to working with everyone on this critical work for the college and beyond. 

Jason Seright 
Dean, Indigenous Education and Engagement 

When:
November 12, 2021
Contact:
Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion

There have been queries about reverse discrimination (racism) and Special Programs - Section 14 of the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code).

Section 14 of the Code states:

Special programs
14. (1) A right under Part I is not infringed by the implementation of a special program designed to relieve hardship or economic disadvantage or to assist disadvantaged persons or groups to achieve or attempt to achieve equal opportunity or that is likely to contribute to the elimination of the infringement of rights under Part I. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, s. 14 (1).

In response to concerns about reverse discrimination, the Ontario Human Rights Commission offers the following:

At one time, "equality" meant that everyone should receive the same or similar treatment. This is often referred to as “formal equality.” The problem is that “formal equality” ignores historical and ongoing barriers that some groups face, doesn’t recognize special needs, and can even perpetuate inequality for certain groups.

The first purpose of section 14 is to make sure that special programs, designed to help a disadvantaged group, cannot be challenged by people who do not face the same disadvantage. In legal terms, section 14 protects special programs from challenges based upon “formal equality” principles.

The second purpose of section 14 is to promote substantive equality.

“Substantive equality” means understanding and meeting the needs of disadvantaged persons or groups using historical, legal and social contexts. It takes into account discriminatory barriers in their many forms, not all of which are obvious or intended. For example, discrimination may be built into an organization’s behaviour, practices and policies. This can lead to a genuine disadvantage for some people based on a Code ground. This is called systemic or institutional discrimination. Organizations and institutions have an obligation to be aware of these forms of discrimination. When systemic discrimination is found to exist, an organization must change its practices.

Developing and putting in place special programs is an additional way that organizations can address systemic discrimination and promote substantive equality.

Some questions and concerns may arise about an organization’s decision to set up a special program. One question that an organization may be asked is, “Will the special program lead to ‘reverse discrimination’ where less qualified people are employed or assisted?” 

It is common to see resistance to special programs based on the perception they just change who is being discriminated against. Special programs must respond to a proven need and real disadvantage. Systemic discrimination is often hidden. People from historically disadvantaged groups (for example, people from racialized groups, women and people with disabilities) often do not have access to the same opportunities as others. Special programs help level the playing field. (Source: Your guide to special programs and the Human Rights Code)

You are invited to read the following article on reverse racism - The Myth of Reverse Racism.

The Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion thanks you for helping to build a more inclusive Humber.

When:
November 12, 2021

The College Employer Council has posted Management Bargaining Team Update November 11, 2021 on its website.

For more information, visit https://www.collegeemployercouncil.ca/en.

When:
November 12, 2021
Contact:
Andrea Chan
Faculty Rock Star: Phil Fung

Mother Earth keeps on giving, providing all living beings with efficient and vibrant ecosystems. Over 3.8 billion years of resiliency, adaptation, endurance and an unparalleled capacity to bounce back from calamity–it is something to aspire to–it is an ecosystem that we need to protect and give back to.

Nature! Taking a mindful walk in a garden or by the lake, swimming in the expansiveness of our oceans and seas, listening to the sounds of nature, walking our pets, singing around a bonfire, and the laughter of children playing brings about a healing sense of ease and weightlessness. We are assured you can relate to that feeling. On a long hard day, have you not found solace connecting with plants and animals?

At Humber’s Office of Research & Innovation (ORI), we are constantly looking for ways to direct the impacts of research and innovation where it is most needed. Biophilia, not a new term, has come up more and more in our discussions lately. We had the opportunity to talk to Humber’s Biophilic Expert, Professor Phil Fung, at length about his urgent appeal to focus on bio-inspired and regenerative design. View the full article, "Faculty Rock Star: Phil Fung.”

When:
November 11, 2021
Contact:
Elisabeth Springate, Communications and Events Coordinator, Teaching Excellence
The Staff Lounge Podcast

Listen now and subscribe on the Innovative Learning website or wherever you get your podcasts.

With the astonishing rise of the Learning Management System in higher education, what does this mean for faculty? How has this impacted our teaching practice? As we move to Blackboard Ultra, how can faculty leverage the LMS to increase accessibility and maximize inclusivity? Digital specialist, Donna Sparkes and Nicole Chuchmach interrogate the latest LMS and share their insights into how to make the most of the new features.

“It is offering a more flexible learning experience. It offers more accessibility and that’s a huge part of it.”
— Donna Sparkes, Faculty Support, Digital Specialist, Centre for Innovative Learning

“I like to explain to my students...this is a place we gather and share our course materials with one another. So I tell them it’s the house for our course. You can find everything within the house.”
—Nicole Chuchmach, Professor in the Faculty of Business, Secondee, Centre for Innovative Learning

Learn more about Humber's plan and find a wide range of training and resources:

When:
November 11, 2021

Winter semester (January 2022 through April 2022) part-time staff parking permits go on sale online through MyHumber effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, November 30.

Thank you.

Humber Parking
parking.sales@humber.ca

When:
November 10, 2021
Contact:
Rebecca Fitzgerald
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

Hundreds of Humber College students will develop global skills through two newly launched projects made possible by the Government of Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity program, valued at $1 million from 2021 to 2025.

"Participating in the Global Skills Opportunity program will build on Humber’s award-winning international activities and internationalization strategy. These life-changing study and work abroad experiences offer students the chance to make a difference around the world,” said Gina Antonacci, senior vice-president, academic, Humber College. "International academic and work-integrated learning initiatives are critical to carrying out Humber’s mission to develop career-ready global citizens with the knowledge and skills to lead and innovate. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with our global partners as we launch these meaningful projects.”

The newly launched projects are:

  • Global Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing & Co-Learning: This project will provide students with an immersion opportunity to complete academic credit courses on sustainability and bi-culturalism co-guided by Indigenous elders and knowledge holders at Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand and Humber College in Canada. The Etuaptmumk approach engages Indigenous and non-Indigenous students as equal partners in the learning process, valuing all ways of being, knowing and doing.  
  • Storytelling for Social Change: This project will equip students to be community changemakers through social impact storytelling drawn from their global learning experiences and rooted in their lived narratives of sustainability plus equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Centred in social justice principles and Indigenous storytelling practices, students will undertake co-curricular training on ethical approaches to storytelling before, during and after their study and work experiences abroad. The project will strengthen participants’ EDI mindset and Humber Learning Outcomes skills such as critical thinking, communication, and digital literacy.

Global Skills Opportunity is a national outbound student mobility program that is expected to enable more than 16,000 Canadian college and undergraduate-level university students from across the country to acquire the global skills employers want and the Canadian economy needs. A key component of the Government of Canada’s International Education Strategy, Global Skills Opportunity is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and is administered jointly by Colleges and Institutes Canada and Universities Canada. 

While open to all Canadian post-secondary students, the national program targets groups for whom international experiences have traditionally been less accessible — specifically Indigenous students, students from low-income backgrounds and those with disabilities. It also aims to diversify destination countries where Canadian students pursue international learning. 

Compared to similar countries, fewer Canadian students – only about 11 per cent of university undergraduates and three per cent of college students – participate in work or study abroad experiences during their studies. The new program stands to change that. By empowering post-secondary institutions to implement innovative solutions to barriers to participation, Global Skills Opportunity will expand the horizons of Canadian students from coast to coast, and improve Canada’s competitiveness on the world stage.  

“Study and work abroad programs are invaluable learning experiences that ensure students are culturally literate, resilient, adaptable and ready to succeed in an increasingly globalized world. This is perhaps more important than ever, which is why we are so proud to work with our partners to deliver Global Skills Opportunity,” said Denise Amyot, president, Colleges and Institutes Canada. “This groundbreaking program will allow more Canadian students to access these opportunities to develop the skills they need to gain a foothold in today’s global marketplace.”

When:
November 10, 2021
Contact:
Indigenous Education & Engagement
Indigenous Knowledges Gathering 2021 poster

Naawsidoong Mino Nawendiwin: Building Good Relationships 

Learning never takes place in isolation; it is always a collective endeavor. Join the 8th annual Indigenous Knowledges Gathering on November 15 to 19, 2021. Bringing together a diverse array of educators, practitioners, scholars, students and members of Indigenous communities, the Indigenous Knowledges Gathering provides a safe space to think about and actively engage in meaningful conversations about the role and inherent responsibilities of education. 

There are still some spaces left. Be part of the learning journey by registering here: https://bit.ly/VIKG2021 

To learn more, please contact: indignenous@humber.ca.

When:
November 10, 2021

The Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre (SWAC) will be holding Flu Vaccine clinics for Humber College and Guelph-Humber faculty, staff and students who are working or learning on campus, as well as students who live in residence.

Appointments are required to ensure physical distancing. To book an appointment, please access this link Book My Flu Shot.

Flu Clinic Hours & Locations

Lakeshore Campus
WEL 201 (Student Life Lounge)
November 15 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
North Campus
E-Concourse
November 16 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
November 17 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All individuals will be screened prior to entering the clinic and will need to wait for 15 minutes after their vaccination for observation. Appointments for flu shots will continue to be available in the days and weeks ahead, while supplies last. Please read the Flu Vaccine Information document for more information about the Influenza Vaccine.

When:
November 10, 2021
Humber College Retirees' Association logo

Are you about to retire at the end of December? Consider joining the Humber College Retirees’ Association (HCRA).

This is a way to keep in touch with colleagues and even to meet those fellow employees your work didn’t give you a chance to know better. The majority of our activities are social, but we also support students through the Retirees' Bursary and Scholarship Programs.

Your retirement information from HR will include the HCRA brochure that has membership information.

Join us on our webpage

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