Announcements

When:
June 25, 2021

I am pleased to announce that Monique Krasek will succeed Nancy Brennan and join the Administrative Services portfolio effective September 1, 2021. 

Monique joined Humber’s Senior Administration Office in 2019 as the Executive Assistant supporting Rani Dhaliwal and the Transformation and Strategic Partnerships portfolio. Over the past few years, she has worked diligently to provide strong support on numerous college priorities. Her organizational and project management skills have been instrumental in contributions to several initiatives such as the Humber-Seneca Polytechnic Partnership, Unlimited Campaign and University of Guelph-Humber’s Brampton opportunity.

Monique will continue to support Rani until her retirement at the end of December 2021 while transitioning into her new role.

We are thrilled to have Monique join the Administrative Services portfolio!

Sincerely,

Sanjay Puri
Vice-President, Administration and CFO

When:
June 25, 2021

You can now take Humber’s active attacker response training, Run Hide Defend, online! This training is available to all Humber and University of Guelph-Humber students and staff. As the pandemic continues to impact our ability to deliver training in person, this important training is now offered virtually for all our community members. The training session is 30 minutes in length and includes a short quiz. Once you have successfully completed the training and the quiz, you will receive a Certificate of Completion via email. It’s important to know what to do in the unlikely event of an active attacker, regardless of where you are; and this training will give you the knowledge and tools you need to succeed!

Click here to take the training

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Kathy Branton, Manager, Business Continuity & Emergency Management at kathy.branton@humber.ca.

 

Rob Kilfoyle
Director, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management

When:
June 25, 2021

Enhancing Institutional EDI Knowledge of Disability and Academic Accessibility: 

  • ALS recognizes that for many summer courses, there is a changeover in faculty teaching the course that occurs mid-way through the semester. 

  • For Humber specifically, if the new faculty member taking over is assigned as an instructor of the course on MyHumber/Banner, then they may already notice student Accommodation Letters on the ALS Faculty Web Portal

  • As faculty, if you are only teaching the first half of a course, we recommend that you alert the incoming faculty about which students in the course already have existing accommodation letters.  

  • Remember, although most student Accommodation Letters are available on the Faculty Web Portal, some students prefer to share their letters directly with faculty independently and these will not be listed on the portal. To ensure this is addressed, we recommend that an announcement is made asking students who have chosen to distribute their Accommodation Letter independently to submit the letter to the faculty taking over for the second half of the semester.  

  • We also encourage new faculty taking over the course to reach out to students with Accommodation Letters in the course and confirm you reviewed the letters on file and are happy to support the student moving forward. 

  • If you have any questions about accessing the faculty web portal, feel free to reach out to us at accessible-learning@humber.ca.  

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

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. 

When:
June 25, 2021
Contact:
Anju Kakkar

Researchers at Humber College, funded by the NSERC Engage Grant, worked in partnership with industry partner Hamilton Plastic Systems Ltd. (HPSL) to redesign the circuit boards for the operation of their Integral Vacuum Loaders.

The research project was led by Savdulla Kazazi, Ph.D. P.Eng., Professor and Program Coordinator, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (FAST), as the Principal investigator. The research team collaborated with HPSL to design, optimize, and develop a cost-efficient circuit board solution that can be reprogrammed based on the need.

Learn more about this project's success story here.

When:
June 24, 2021

We are horrified and heartbroken as more details emerge about unmarked graves found at the site of another residential school - this one in Saskatchewan.

We stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples at this incredibly difficult time. You are our friends, our colleagues and an integral part of our community.

There is support available for students and staff. Students can contact the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre at counselling@humber.ca for support. GoodToTalk (1-866-925-5454) is a 24-hour mental health support for Post-Secondary Students in Ontario.

Therapy Assist Online is available at taoconnect.org and staff may access Employee Assistance Plan services at workhealthlife.com.

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society has set up support lines. They are available toll free at 1-800-721-0066, or on the 24hr Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 if you require further emotional support or assistance.

This information was also shared on Humber's social accounts. 

When:
June 24, 2021
Book cover of Indigenous Knowledge and Mental Health: A Global Perspective

Link to the book

This book brings together Indigenous and allied experts addressing mental health among Indigenous peoples across the traditional territories commonly known as the Americas (e.g. Canada, US, Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Brazil), Asia (e.g. China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia), Africa (e.g. South Africa, Central and West Africa) and Oceania (New Guinea and Australia) to exchange knowledge, perspectives and methods for mental health research and service delivery.

Around the world, Indigenous peoples have experienced marginalization, rapid culture change and absorption into a global economy with little regard for their needs or autonomy. This cultural discontinuity has been linked to high rates of depression, substance abuse, suicide, and violence in many communities, with the most dramatic impact on youth. Nevertheless, Indigenous knowledge, tradition and practice have remained central to wellbeing, resilience and mental health in these populations. Such is the focus of this book.

Editors: Danto, David, Zangeneh, Masood (Eds.)


Dr. David Danto is a clinical psychologist and Head of Psychology at the University of Guelph-Humber. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), is Board Liaison to the CPA Committee on Ethics, past Chair of the CPA Indigenous Peoples section and is a past trustee for the Psychology Foundation of Canada (PFC). In 2017 he chaired the CPA and PFC Task Force on Responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, and he currently Chairs the CPA Standing Committee on Reconciliation. Dr. Danto has worked in psychiatric hospitals, university counselling centers, private practice, and correctional facilities in Canada and the United States. In partnership with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, Dr. Danto developed a field course on Indigenous Mental Health, which he has delivered in Mushkegowuk territory along the James and Hudson Bay coast for the last nine years. Dr. Danto researches resilience and mental health within Indigenous communities, with particular focus on the role of the land in healing the impacts of colonialism and intergenerational trauma. 

Dr. Masood Zangeneh is a professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Innovative Learning, Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. He is the founding editor of International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, and is a consultant to numerous scientific journals and universities for interdisciplinary, multi-cultural research and development addressing mental health, addiction and resilience among marginalized populations. In 2019 he co-edited Culture, Diversity and Mental Health - Enhancing Clinical Practice (Springer).

When:
June 24, 2021
Contact:
Susan Sidiropoulos
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

What is changing?

The cash office at North Campus is now permanently closed.

Why was this change made?

During the last several years, the College has taken steps to reduce the use of cash as a form of payment for Humber owned establishments and events. This was in response to changing personal preference and evolution of financial service landscape with enabling technologies. The pandemic impacts to our campuses and activities over the past year have accelerated the decline of cash usage in favour of electronic payment methods.

What does this mean for me?

All the College-run services and establishments accept online banking, credit and debit card payments and will no longer be accepting cash as a method of payment. Chartwells, Bookstore, and other partner-run retail and food services are not impacted by this decision.

In order to facilitate any time-limited collection activity, Moneris payment terminals are available for temporary, short term rentals from Finance by submitting a Moneris Terminal Rental Request form. For ongoing or longer term solutions that may be required, please contact treasury@humber.ca to discuss your needs and options available.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support of this change.

When:
June 24, 2021

ONECard is coming to Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber (UofGH). 

Information Technology Services will begin rolling out ONECard to the Humber and University of Guelph-Humber community starting this Fall. ONECard is a digital identification, digital key, and digital wallet solution (app) compatible with most smartphones that will fully replace student cards and employee badges over the next few years.

Humber and UofGH services that will use ONECard starting Fall 2021:

  • Bookstore
  • Book lending machine at the Humber International Graduate School
  • Dining (residence and on-campus eateries)
  • Laptop lending machine at the Humber International Graduate School
  • Parking (permit parking and a new declining balance parking option)
  • Student printing and copying

NOTE: ONECard will run parallel with existing solutions for the 2021/2022 academic year. Students will still be able to upload a photo to myHumber to get a physical student card. Similarly, employees will still be able to use their current employee badges where appropriate for business purposes.

Future/Planned Humber and UofGH services that will use ONECard:

  • Athletics
  • Libraries
  • On-campus doors secured with electronic card readers
  • Photo Identification
  • Residence (including laundry)

More information about ONECard and how and where it can be used will be provided in time for fall. At that time, once you install the free ONECard app, you will be able to scan your device at applicable locations on-campus to access a service, pass into a secured area, and/or pay for goods/services.

Humber also has plans to integrate its ONECard solution with Seneca’s as part of the Humber-Seneca Polytechnic Partnership to make select services available to both communities.

For more information about ONECard at Humber or University of Guelph-Humber, please contact ryan.burton@humber.ca.

When:
June 23, 2021
Posters/Attachments: Event Poster

As part of the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project, crews will be undertaking wet utility relocation at the intersection of Humber College Blvd and Highway 27, home to the future Humber College stop. The work is scheduled to start on Thursday, June 23, 2021, for three weeks, approximately. Signs will be posted to keep residents and businesses informed in advanced.

Work hours

  • The closure is anticipated to start on June 23, 2021, at 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on July 15, 2021, approximately.
  • Signs will be installed to keep local residents informed about the closure.
  • Dates are tentative and may change. Please visit us at www.metrolinx.com/finchwestlrt for up-to-date information.

What to expect

  • A Paid Duty Officer will be on-site managing traffic, as needed.
  • Due to the nature of this work, at times there will be noise, dust and vibration around the work area.
  • Vibration monitors are installed.
  • Noise monitors will be installed if required.
  • Please take extra care when walking near work sites, and always make eye contact with the driver before crossing in front of any equipment or vehicle.
  • Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience.
When:
June 23, 2021

As the summer begins, I want to thank each of you for your ongoing commitment and support of students and each other. The last 15 months have been difficult. Many of you have been coming to campus and adapting to evolving health and safety measures, while others have been working remotely delivering services and teaching in new ways. Everyone has been balancing work, home life and other responsibilities, coupled with the fact that we have not been able to spend time with friends and family.

Although there is some uncertainty about how the province’s reopening plan will continue to proceed, I hope you will have time this summer for some important rest and relaxation. Recognizing that everyone’s facing different challenges, please remember to connect with friends, family and peers regularly and to take advantage of the many supports available to you.

Some of these supports include:

  • Specific training that will be made available to managers and employees by the Organizational Effectiveness department which will focus on supporting hybrid work arrangements, skills development and well-being. Find some of these resources using this link: well-being resources
  • Access to resources available via our EAP services provider at https://lifeworks.com/en/resource

Looking ahead to the fall term, I know we are all eager to know how classes and our work will be impacted. We expect fall to be a term of transition, with increased opportunities for on-campus, and in-person interaction and activity. There will also be more employees working on campus. As departmental on-campus plans are completed by teams across the college this month, we will have a better sense of exactly what that will entail.

As we shared with students earlier this month, our plans for the fall are based on assumptions about the continued availability and public participation in the provincial vaccine rollout, as well as future public health guidelines and government regulations. Managers are actively planning for the academic and service models that will be needed when students return to campus in September. We will need to be adaptable to meet student needs as the fall term progresses and as public health measures evolve.

While we will have more on-campus activity, we are still following current physical distancing requirements which will impact everyone’s work interactions. Some employees will be asked to continue to work remotely, while others will be required to be on campus. Please speak with your manager over the next couple months to ensure you understand your team’s plans for the fall term.

We will continue to share updates this summer with employees by direct email and in Communiqué. Our Updates, FAQ and Return to Campus pages will continue to be updated to provide key resources and information about our current situation and what to expect when coming to campus.

As fall term plans continue to come together, we remain guided by the Humber at Home Pledge. Let’s continue to:

  • Be respectful of individual circumstances and supportive of colleagues
  • Prioritize our own health and wellness
  • Be thoughtful about how we conduct meetings and use technology
  • Be dedicated to opening the lines of communication
  • Adjust our expectations and respect boundaries

Thank you for all that you do for Humber students and for each other.

Be well,

Lori Diduch
Vice-President, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness

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