Congratulations to Dr. Darren Lawless, Dean of Applied Research and Innovation, on his appointment to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The Council sets the strategy and high-level policies for NSERC, with the goal of advancing research and development in Canada. NSERC’s Council consists of the President and up to 18 other members from the private and public sector.

Dr. Darren Lawless (Ph.D. and B.Sc. Inorganic Photochemistry, Concordia University) is an accomplished senior research and development executive. Prior to joining Humber College, he served as the first Dean of Undergraduate Research & Innovation at Sheridan College. 

Darren has been extensively involved with NSERC, serving on numerous committees, including chairing the Synergy Awards Committee, and multiple college project and program review committees. During his time at Concordia University, he received Undergraduate Research Awards and a graduate scholarship.

He has served as a volunteer member of numerous provincial and national research boards and organizations, including acting recently as the Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board for the Innovation Council of the Conference Board of Canada, a member of the Heads of Applied Research of Ontario, and invited NSERC and OCE project reviewer.

Darren has contributed to more than 50 Canadian and US patents and has more than 40 papers published in numerous refereed journals, peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings.

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced the appointment of the four new council members:

• Dr. Susan Chatwood, Scientific Director, Institute for Circumpolar Health Research; McCalla Professor and associate professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta; and assistant professor, Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
• Dr. Darren Lawless, Dean of Applied Research and Innovation, Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
• Dr. Ishwar K. Puri, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering, McMaster University
• Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Frontier Institute

Read the official press release from the Government of Canada here.

As you all know, we are only one-week away from Go-Live of the Human Resource Management System (HRMS). It will Go-Live on August 5, 2019!

In a previous communiqué, we shared a short video which highlighted the benefits of Guided Learning and how it will simplify the learning for you. Guided Learning will accelerate your understanding of the new system as you learn by performing actions within the system.

While we have created a lot of helpful Guided Learning flows to train you as you navigate through the new system, there are still some activities within the HRMS that require more detailed knowledge, which cannot be supported through Guided Learning.

To provide you with that additional knowledge, today we are excited to launch the HRMS Knowledge Base, also known as the HRMS KB. This is a one-stop repository and learning resource that houses content that support various roles to execute HR related functions on the HRMS. This self-service KB provides you with an online library of content such as webinars, job aids, short videos, forms and other resources, to support you (end users) in building your knowledge and in executing actions on the HRMS. The KB is structured for users, such as yourself, to have the ability to access learning content anywhere and at any time that is convenient to your schedule.

Check out our HRMS KB today by visiting the HR website at hrs.humber.ca and clicking on the HRMS Knowledge Base icon.

Keep a lookout for our upcoming communiqué announcements where we will be sharing more details with you regarding new functionalities within the HRMS, upcoming events, important dates and training sessions.

HRMS Team

Have you missed our previous announcements?
Don’t know what the HRMS is?

The Human Resource Management System (HRMS), is a new Human Capital Management fully integrated, cloud based system that will replace Humber's existing legacy system. The new HRMS will serve as a central source of information for all HR related processes and programs, making it accessible to staff, faculty and other stakeholders through their computer, on or off campus.

Once deployed, the new HRMS provides access to core HR functions, based on your profile as a manager or an employee. Some functionality includes:

• Entering and tracking attendance
• Benefits enrollment
• Entering and approving time
• Talent management (Which includes Recruitment)
• And much more!

This would allow HR to:

• Become Better business partners to faculties and departments
• Deliver real-time data & information that will improve decision-making
• Have enhanced reporting capability
• Streamline processes to enable faster transactions

For managers and employees, the direct access functionality will become the new way of interacting with HR giving you the flexibility, autonomy and a sense of ownership for a better overall manager and employee experience.     

As we get ready to Go-Live all impacted stakeholders will be receiving training information to ensure that the transition to the new HRMS is easy and seamless.

To find out more about the HRMS, contact the HRMS Change Management Team at HRMSChangeTeam@humber.ca.

We’re excited to announce that beginning July 30, all Humber community members will have access to the newly launched LinkedIn Learning platform – an on-demand learning solution designed to help you gain new skills. LinkedIn Learning will be replacing Lynda.com. All Lynda.com account data, including one's viewing history, will be migrated to the new platform.  

When will this happen?

On July 29, 2019, Lynda.com will be permanently shut down, to be replaced by LinkedIn Learning on July 30. Lynda.com will not be accessible on July 29.

For more information regarding the transition from Lynda.com to LinkedIn Learning, please visit here. 

All current Lynda.com users at Humber will receive an invite to LinkedIn Learning after the go-live date.

Update (July 25): Farzad has raised over $8,000 during his Camino de Santiago journey to support Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (FAST) student scholarships! Associate Dean Carl Oliver announced that for every $1,000 milestone achieved over $7,000, he would walk from Humber North to Humber Lakeshore campus in support. Associate Dean Shaun Ghafari and other FAST staff joined him in this adventure on July 22. Please donate today to reach Farzad’s goal of $9,000 and Carl and Shaun will walk again! Follow Farzad's journey at twitter.com/FarzadRayegani

Update (July 18): Farzad has surpassed $8,000 raised! To send him congratulatory messages and words of encouragement as he passed the half way mark of his Camino de Santiago journey, you can follow him on Twitter.

We are excited to announce that FAST Associate Dean Shaun Ghafari will be joining Associate Dean Carl Oliver in walking from North Campus to Lakeshore Campus in support of Farzad and our students. Carl has mapped out the route, and he will be walking Monday, July 22 at 7:30 a.m. from the Arboretum entrance. Please donate today to help Farzad reach his new goal of $9,000. For every new $1,000 milestone achieved, FAST Associate Deans will also walk from Humber North campus to Humber Lakeshore campus in support of Farzad and our students.

Update (July 11): Farzad has been making strides on his Camino journey. The Humber community has helped him surpass yet another goal of $7,000! To see how he’s doing, follow him on Twitter.

The Humber FAST Management Team has also announced that they will match the next $500 in donations from FAST faculty and staff members. We’re excited to announce that they have achieved this goal and have contributed $1,000 in total. Associate Dean Carl Oliver has announced that for every $1,000 milestone achieved over $7,000, he will walk from Humber North campus to Humber Lakeshore campus in support of Farzad and our students. Please donate today to help us raise $8,000 to support Humber students and get Carl walking alongside Farzad (in spirit)!

Update (July 4): Farzad has arrived in Spain and has officially started his journey! He has surpassed his newest goal of $6,000 and has now increased his goal to $7,000! Please donate today to support our students. 

Update (June 27): Farzad leaves next week to begin his hike – he has almost reached his new goal of $6,000! Please donate to encourage him and support our students.

Update (June 20): Senior Dean Farzad Rayegani has surpassed his fundraising goal of $5,000! Farzad is so grateful for the incredible support: “I thought I would be walking the Camino alone, but I have received so much encouragement, support and positivity already. Just like you will be cheering me on as I walk up the Pyrenees on my first day, you will also be there for our students and supporting the exciting journey they have ahead of them!” Farzad believes that together, we can reach a new goal of $6,000 for student scholarships. Please show your support and give now.

Update (June 14): Senior Dean Farzad Rayegani set out to raise $2,500 for Humber FAST student scholarships and has reached his goal in just two days! Thank you to his generous supporters. He’s increasing his goal to $5,000 to help even more Humber FAST students to make their academic dreams a reality. Please show your support and give now.

In July, Farzad Rayegani, Senior Dean of Humber’s Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology, will be hiking the Camino de Santiago, an 800 km hiking trail in northwestern Spain. Thousands of people walk the Camino de Santiago each year. The vast majority of pilgrims are on their own quests, whether they be physical, recreational or spiritual.

On his journey, Farzad will draw upon the same mental and physical resilience that Humber students display in pursuit of their academic goals. As part of his trip, he is aiming to raise $2,500 to support student scholarships in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology.

70% of students who withdraw from their studies at Humber do so because of financial constraints. Scholarships ensure that all deserving students can complete their studies, regardless of their financial situation. A gift in the form of a scholarship not only provides students with valuable support, but also gives them the encouragement to go further than they ever thought possible.

In Farzad’s own words:

“For me, this month-long hike will be an amazing challenge, but an achievable one too. I have packed, repacked, planned and prepared, and soon I will have 30 days to follow my thoughts wherever they want to go. I will soak in the history, explore large cities and meander through fields, small towns and villages. My time will be my own and all I need to do is keep a simple rhythm of daily needs: eat, walk, sleep – putting one foot in front of the other to meet the often grueling demands of the Camino.

As Rumi said, ‘It’s your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.’

Each one of you will be with me in spirit as I make this journey, and I hope you will support our students as they embark on their demanding academic journeys as well. Buen Camino!”

Give now to help Farzad reach his goal and help students achieve an education and bright, prosperous future.