Announcements

College Council Highlights - November 2020
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When:
December 1, 2020
Contact:
Risha Toney
Email:
risha.toney@humber.ca

The Humber College Council (HCC) held its third meeting of the 2020-2021 academic year on Thursday, November 12, 2020, online using Microsoft Teams. To ensure the Humber community is informed of upcoming events, new initiatives, and important issues, the College Council reports the highlights of its meetings. For more information or to provide feedback on these highlights, please contact risha.toney@humber.ca.

Roundtable

Keith Manalo [Student Success & Engagement] announced that the 4th annual Transition to Work event will take place online, Thursday, December 3, 2020. The event consists of webinars presented by community partners, focused on employment preparation for individuals with disabilities. More information about the event can be found here. If you have any questions, contact Keith at keith.manalo@humber.ca.    

Mona Nouroozifar [Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Innovative Learning] announced that FLA is hosting their 2020 Research Analyst Program (RAP) forum, taking place on November 23, 2020. More details about the event and registration can be found here.

HCC Holiday Fundraising Initiative

Karen Stefou [Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellness] provided an overview of Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter. The shelter supports over 400 women and children escaping abuse and violence and provides all necessities. They provide counselling services and programs as well as access to the shelter’s on-site donation rooms and foodbanks. Each year, Humber College Council holds a raffle and fundraising holiday event in support of Ernestine’s yet due to the current situation, this will not take place. However, Ernestine’s is accepting donations. Gift cards and donating via Canada Helps would be appreciated. We welcome all members of the Humber community to donate to Ernestine’s. For more information, please contact Karen Stefou at karen.stefou@humber.ca.

Digital Campus Plan

Scott Briggs [Chief Information Officer] discussed the process and timelines of Digital Technology Planning. He noted that digital does not always mean new technology and includes how we learn, work, and engage in the Humber community.

The IT Digital Campus Plan has developed a series of pillars which are: transforming the experience for Humber students; enhancing and supporting innovation across the community; reaching new learners and increasing access; and working smarter by making data work harder. Within each pillar, specific goals/items were planned for 2021/2022. Because of COVID-19, some items in the plan have been accelerated while others have been delayed. However, four priority items moving forward are: technology refresh (software and hardware), risk management, capital development, and COVID-19.

To remain technologically current, plans are in place for academic classroom audio/visual and computer lab upgrades, as well as ongoing upgrades to enterprise software platforms such as Banner, Destiny One and Oracle HCM.

To mitigate risk, the IT department will continue to work on Humber localization upgrades to help with disaster recovery. The IT Security work plan includes multi-factor authentication+ to improve our cybersecurity.

Capital Development initiatives relating to the Digital Campus Plan include strategic commitments such as the International Graduate School and the Lakeshore Redevelopment and Cultural Hub. While renovations will include the Faculty of Business offices, North campus receiving (DX), retail development, and classroom renovations. There are other proposals that are yet to be determined as per the process outlined by the Capital Planning and Space Management Committee.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, remote study and work and return to campus plans continue to be a priority. As part of the Digital Campus Plan planning process, there are questions being asked about the future of teaching, testing, and remote proctoring, modernizing the LMS experience with Blackboard Ultra, and using AI enabled chatbots to help assist students as they visit our websites.

Q & A with Senior Vice-President, Academic

Laurie Rancourt [Senior Vice President, Academic] provided an opportunity for College Council members and constituents to ask her questions during this open style presentation. Laurie noted that this occasion also provided her the opportunity to hear concerns and feedback about the fall semester. She indicated that this dialogue is helpful to her and the senior leadership team.

A question was asked about the future of learning at Humber, in-class vs online, and how this can best be conveyed to prospective students. As part of her response to this question, Laurie noted that many innovative ideas and resources in teaching and learning have resulted since the start of the pandemic. 

A question was brought forward noting that as classes have moved online, the workload to implement and teach these classes have, for some, increased tremendously. L. Rancourt acknowledged these efforts and how the Standard Work Formula (SWF) does have its challenges, yet it is the tool that has to be worked with. She noted it’s a situation where it is not one size fits all. One thing that was put in place is the delay of the start of the winter semester by two weeks. The dialogue about workloads is going to continue as well as looking at additional tools to support faculty.

 

The next meeting of the College Council will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2020. For meeting highlights, supporting materials, and opportunities to provide feedback, please visit the College Council website.

#HealthyHumber Recipes
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When:
December 1, 2020
Super Breakfast Cookie

This recipe comes from Michailla, a third-year student completing the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle program. She runs a food page on Instagram (@nutritioneats_) to share yummy recipes and connect with other foodies around the world. 

Check out her Super Breakfast Cookie, filled with fibre and super easy to take on the go. You can make them in large batches as they can freeze for up to three months.

For those of you who don’t have certain ingredients like oat flour or flax seed, we suggest going to your local bulk store and buying the exact amount you need for the recipe instead of buying a whole bag. 

Super Breakfast Cookie
(Makes 8-9 cookies. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan.)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup oat flour  (or any flour you prefer!)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries 
  • 1/2 cup unsalted pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seed
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 large mashed banana
  • 3 tbsp coconut oil 
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup 
  • 2 tbsp almond milk (or any milk you prefer!)

Method: 

  • Preheat oven to 325ºF. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl—oats, flour, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.⠀
  • Stir in mashed banana, coconut oil, maple syrup, and almond milk until well blended. Let the mixture rest for 4–5 minutes, giving time for chia and flax to bind everything together. If your dough has gotten too thick, stir in an additional 1–2 tablespoons of milk before scooping out onto your baking sheet.⠀
  • Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or lightly greased). These cookies don't spread much while baking, so I like to gently press the dough with the palm of my hand to flatten a bit.⠀
  • Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until cookies are lightly golden around the edges.⠀
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days or freeze
Humber’s New Remote Working Policy
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When:
December 1, 2020

Humber College has a new Remote Working Policy which is effective December 1, 2020. This policy sets forth Humber’s commitment to facilitating opportunities for employee well-being and engagement through the reinforcement of a culture of performance and care. At the heart of this policy is the overarching principle that employees can commit to and achieve organizational goals and objectives when motivated by opportunities for flexible working arrangements such as remote working.

More information on the Remote Working Policy, can be found at: Remote Working Policy.

HROE Wellness Series – Pause, Recharge, Re-centre
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When:
December 1, 2020
Contact:
Leanne Henwood-Adam
Email:
leanne.henwoodadam@humber.ca

Are you looking for a certified personal trainer to keep you motivated or to spark more physical activity in your daily routine?  

Did you know that Humber Athletics provides year-round personal training packages and they have already adapted for an online experience?

For today’s promotion of HROE’s Healthy Humber campaign to Pause, Recharge, and Re-centre, we are focusing on personal training.

Here are three reasons to get a certified staff personal trainer.

  1. Motivation: If you know you have an appointment to exercise with a trainer, you are more likely to keep that appointment as you have paid for it. It isn’t as easy to “excuse” your way out of an appointment with a trainer.
  2. Individualized program design: A consultation with one of our personal trainers will determine what your goals are. Each client receives an “individualized program” to help them reach their goals – no “cookie cutter” programs. A trainer helps keep you on track and can tweak your routines to keep you moving toward that ultimate goal.
  3. Efficiency: Personal trainers will help you focus on results and how to effectively and efficiently get maximum results in a minimum amount of time. A certified personal trainer will also be able to push you past your “comfort zone” so that you will see results faster than you would on your own.

If you can align with any of the three reasons, click here to get a personal training package that suits you. If you missed the Communiqué about virtual fitness classes, please click here.

Take some time out of your day to pause, recharge, and re-centre and don’t forget to get social with us and upload/tag any related pics to #HealthyHumber.

Contact:

Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness

OneDrive Tips - Recent Files
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When:
December 1, 2020
OneDrive Tips - Recent Files

You can see all your recent files in one area by clicking on Recent in the menu on the left in OneDrive. It will show around six weeks’ worth of your recent documents for a quick and convenient way of accessing them.

Learn the basics of Microsoft 365 by signing up to 1:1 Virtual Coaching at its.humber.ca/coaching.

Happy #GivingTuesday!
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When:
December 1, 2020

Greetings everyone and Happy #GivingTuesday!

Not only is it that time of year again when we officially launch Humber Gives – today is also Giving Tuesday – a day dedicated to giving back!

We are thrilled to be the Co-Chairs of Humber Gives once again this year, as we both firmly believe in the importance of going the extra mile and giving back to our students, especially during times like these.

As many of you know, students have been some of the hardest hit during this pandemic, as many of them have lost the jobs they rely on to help pay for learning and everyday essentials, in addition to all of the stress this pandemic has caused.

You will be receiving an email from our very own Ian Crookshank telling you more about what our students are going through. Together, we are asking everyone to join the Giving Tuesday movement and to make a donation to the SOS Fund to support students.

Starting today, Humber will be matching every donation to this fund until December 31. This means your donation can go twice as far to help even more struggling students. Visit humber.ca/SOSFund.

A big thank you to the hundreds of faculty and staff who supported the SOS Fund this past spring. You have made a difference in the lives of so many of our students.

Thank you again for all that you do for our students each and every day.

Sincerely,

Alvina Cassiani and Wanda Buote
Co-Chairs, Humber Gives

Toy Drive
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When:
December 1, 2020

We are continuing to collect unwrapped toys in support of the Salvation Army by donating to #Santa9114kids foundation and the CHUM Christmas Wish.  

Unwrapped toy donations can be dropped off at the North Campus in the main lobby of the LRC and the Student Residence or at the Lakeshore Campus at M building or the Student Residence.

Donations can also be shipped to the North Campus addressed to the Department of Public Safety. Please consider ordering toys online and having them shipped directly to the Department of Public Safety at 205 Humber College Blvd., Toronto, ON, M9W 5L7. All donations are required by December 18.

Thank you for your generosity and continued support.

Stay safe, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!

Thank You for Joining us in the 12 Days of Holidays
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When:
December 1, 2020
Contact:
Humber PR Degree Class
Email:
12DaysofHolidays@gmail.com

Happy Holidays everyone! 

Thank you for joining us for the Humber Holiday Party: 12 Days of Holidays. You truly brought the energy this year and made it one of our best ever! 

If you haven’t experienced all of the 12 Days yet, visit https://humber.ca/lakeshorecampus/holidayparty.html. Here you can join in on any number of craft activities, see a greeting from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and receive best holiday wishes from our President Chris Whitaker.  

Thank you to the Office of the President, the Principal’s Office, and Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness for making this year’s event possible.  

We would like to know how you enjoyed the 12 Days of Holidays. Please fill out a survey with your feedback. It should only take a 3-5 minutes to complete. 

We wish you all a Happy Holidays!

Your Group Life Insurance Beneficiary Information is Moving to mySunLife.ca
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When:
November 30, 2020
Contact:
HRMS Change Team
Email:
hrmsChangeTeam@humber.ca

Starting today, November 30, 2020, all eligible employees can now directly manage their Beneficiary Designation, through an eDesignation process, for their group life insurance benefits on the mysunlife.ca website. ​​

Employees can easily add, view and update their beneficiary designation without having to submit the Benefits Enrolment Form. It’s important to note that employees will still have to use the form during their initial benefits enrolment and to report a life event.​​

Helpful information:​

  1. Please continue to contact the HR Support Centre for all HRMS and Compensation & Benefits related matters, however if you require any support for the mysunlife.ca website or my Sun Life mobile app then you must directly contact the Sun Life Support Centre. ​

  2. It’s a good idea to regularly review and update your beneficiary designations. We recommend you pick a date that you will easily remember (maybe a birthday or anniversary) to review your information. This will help to protect your family if you pass away. It will also help us to pay your beneficiaries, as you had intended. ​

  3. The process to change an irrevocable beneficiary is not changing. If you wish to change a previously designated irrevocable beneficiary, you will need to submit a completed the My Benefits Enrolment Form to the Compensation & Benefits team. This form can be found on the HRMS springboard, under the Me tab.

Winter/Severe Weather/Campus Closure Reminder
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When:
November 30, 2020

To all members of the Humber and University of Guelph-Humber community,

As we experience colder temperatures and snow in the coming weeks, we would like to share information about the impact of severe weather and/or campus closure on college operations in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Only in-person classes and assessments being held on campus will be affected by inclement weather and (physical) campus closure. Inclement winter weather is not expected to impact current online courses and activities, or most faculty and staff who are working from home.

All online classes and assessments will continue regardless of weather conditions or if Humber campuses are closed due to severe weather. In the event that inclement weather affects online class delivery, (such as a power outage or internet disruption), the college will assess the impact on online classes and will confirm if they are to continue as scheduled.

If in-person classes or assessments are cancelled due to severe weather/campus closure, the professors impacted by the closure will contact their students to make alternate arrangements for coursework, as required.

Employees who regularly work on campus, and who are unable to attend campus due to severe weather/campus closure should contact their supervisor.

All faculty and staff working from home will continue to perform their normal responsibilities, even if the physical campus is closed due to inclement weather.

Overall, during the winter season, we are planning to be open each day and to operate as we have been during the pandemic. In the event that a college-wide or specific campus closure is required due to severe weather, an announcement will be posted on humber.ca, our main Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels, and Humber Guardian by 6 a.m. for morning classes, and 3:30 p.m. for evening classes, or as soon as possible. Unless a closure notice is posted as above, please consider the college to be open, per provincial and health authority guidelines.

For students who have in-person classes, if you think the roadways near your home or the college are unsafe due to severe ice or snow, please call or email your professor if you decide not to come to class. For employees who think it is unsafe to travel to the college because of severe ice or snow, please call or email your supervisor as early as possible.

You can sign up to receive notification of Humber campus activity, including closures here.

We will also inform GTA/Orangeville media of a campus or college closure. For Orangeville Campus students and employees, please note that separate announcements will be sent to you, as the weather in Orangeville and Etobicoke is not always the same.

If a physical campus closure occurs, students scheduled to be in-person at external organizations for an internship or placement, or for other college related activities, will follow the protocol of the external organization with respect to cancellation of college activities or closure of the facility. It is the student’s responsibility to advise their external placement advisor or supervisor of any situation that prevents them from attending their placement or work.

For more information, please see Humber’s Unscheduled Closure of Campus Buildings (and severe weather procedure) policy and visit our ongoing Updates page.

We wish you a safe and warm winter season.

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