The Faculty of Business is pleased to share with the College the November edition of the monthly Dean's Newsletter.

Visit business.humber.ca/deans-news.html

Welcome to issue #2 of Humber’s Research & Innovation Quarterly SPARK! We feature stories on restructured Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) funding opportunities, NSERC ARTP grants, impactful research projects, social innovation, and highlight our rock star researchers, students, and industry partners. 

SPARK the joy of discovery!

Read the full experience here: Humber's Research & Innovation Quarterly

As we have throughout the pandemic, Humber continues to follow government and Public Health guidelines and directives and respond when there are increases in COVID-19 cases. Due to the growing dominance of the Omicron variant and recent guidance from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, we have decided to move courses and labs online for the first two weeks of the term to provide the Humber community with time to receive their COVID-19 booster shots. As per the Ontario government’s December 15 announcement, booster shots for individuals aged 18 and older will be available as of Monday, December 20.

For the Winter 2022 term, all classes and labs will be held online for the weeks of January 10 to 16 and January 17 to 23. In-person learning is now scheduled to begin the week of January 24. There will be limited exceptions which include some work-integrated learning scenarios, select health sciences labs and commercial driver training. Winter term Orientation activities will also take place online.

Also, the College is limiting on-campus presence to only those employees who are required to be on campus to perform their work, including supporting any in-person services. If you have any questions, please speak to your manager.

We are mindful that many of you have been part of return to campus plans that included an increase in the number of students and in-person student services on campus. We know this decision will require many of you to change some of those plans, and for those in the academic division, we appreciate that it will take time and energy to move to online learning for the first two weeks of the term.

We encourage all team meetings, workshops and internal gatherings to be delivered virtually wherever possible. In addition, no large external events will be held on campus in January. We will review this direction monthly, beginning in January, to advise of the plans for February and every month thereafter.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer has indicated that there may be additional health and safety measures implemented in the next weeks. If there is a reason to further alter our current course, we will respond, adapt and communicate with you.

We remain committed to supporting a great start to the winter term for all students. Student and campus services will be available. Please check www.humber.ca/updates for information on how to access supports and services and what will be open on campus from January 4 to 23.

Humber has health and safety measures already in place that will be maintained or enhanced for the Winter 2022 term. These include:

• Mandatory vaccination policy with limited approved exemptions
• Strong access controls for all campuses and locations
• Mandatory masks indoors and physical distancing where possible
• Enhanced cleaning protocols
• Ventilation improvements 

The end of a term is an opportunity for all of us to look back at milestones and achievements. Faculty and staff have continued to demonstrate their resilience, creativity and innovation and I am proud to work with all of you.

I want to recognize that this has been a challenging semester. I know that each of you have had different experiences over the last few months and may have mixed emotions about the term ahead based on your own circumstances. Once again, we are all being asked to adapt during these uncertain times, and I appreciate we are all feeling concerned and anxious about the weeks ahead.

Over the last year, staff and faculty have overcome challenges, found new ways to engage and innovate and continued to produce ideas and work that inspires, in the interest of ensuring the success of our students and community. No matter what happens, I know that will continue in 2022. Thank you for all that you do.

Take care and be well,

Chris Whitaker
President and CEO

Key Information for Winter 2022

Humber Holiday Closure

Humber will be closed from December 24 to January 3.

Vaccination Requirements for Winter 2022

Beginning in the Winter 2022 term, only staff and students who are fully vaccinated* or who have an approved medical or human rights exemption with proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to attending campus will be able to access campus.

*Per our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, fully vaccinated means having received two (2) doses of a double-dose vaccine or one (1) dose of a single-dose vaccine approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization and having had the final dose at least fourteen (14) days prior.

At this time, a booster shot is not required to be considered fully vaccinated as per Humber’s policy.

Getting to Campus

If you need to come to campus, please note the following:

There will continue to be designated entryways to campuses in the winter term. Information and maps of Exterior Access points are posted. The winter information will be posted in the coming weeks. It is recommended that you bookmark the page and check back regularly for any updates, as information may change.

Anyone entering campus will need to show:

• A completed self-screening on the Humber Guardian App; an alternate format is available for those who need it.
• A Humber Guardian App vaccine passport that indicates you are vaccinated (Green QR code); or
• Proof of an approved vaccination exemption for Winter 2022, plus a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior.

To save time at the door, ensure all your documents are uploaded to the Humber Guardian App as soon as possible for reviewing and processing.

Humber Guardian App

The Humber Guardian App is your one-stop shop for campus entry for the winter term. Step-by-step instructions that outline how to upload your documents are available.

Approved vaccination exemptions can now be uploaded to the app as well. The accompanying proof of a negative COVID-19 test will need to be shown in hard copy or electronic format at the door.

Commuting and Parking

North Campus:
At North Campus there is significant construction underway that may cause delays entering and leaving campus.

Lakeshore Campus:
Ongoing work to replace a gas main is taking place along Lakeshore Boulevard which may also cause delays in the area

Information about parking options can be found on MyHumber.

Winter 2022

Additional information and the latest updates can be found on humber.ca/campus-return, humber.ca/updates and the HROE COVID-19 Resources for Employees page.

The Move to Blackboard Ultra is in full swing and Humber College will be running most courses in Blackboard Ultra starting January 2022. Humber Innovative Learning is here to remind you that help is available.

As you prepare your courses for moving to Ultra, keep in mind:

1. It's not possible to simply export your Blackboard Original course and import it into Blackboard Ultra. Nor can you copy from Original to Ultra.
2. You must use either the Starting Fresh Method or the Ultra Course Preview Method to move a course to Blackboard Ultra.
3. The Instructional Support Studio will close for the holidays December 24, 2021 and re-open January 4, 2022. You can find lots of help in our Self-directed Resources below.

If you need additional support migrating your course to Ultra, connect with the Instructional Support Studio before the holiday break. The Instructional Support Studio re-opens January 4, 2022. Please note, the start of semester is peak season and there will be longer than normal wait times for individual support.

Find more help with our Self-directed Resources

Move to Ultra Kit >

Everything you need to know about Humber's move to Blackboard Ultra

• Choosing the Right Moving Method for your course (5-minute Video)
• Videos and Step-by-step Guides to the two methods of moving
• About Project Page / FAQs
• Training and Help Resources

Faculty Blackboard Help >

• Self-help Portal
• Ultra and Original experiences covered

Blackboard Learn Help for Instructors >

• Built by Blackboard
• Scroll to the bottom to choose the version you want

YouTube Playlist for Blackboard Ultra >

• Short Videos (1-2 minutes)
• Wide range of topics