Accommodations aim to address systemic inequities and make education accessible to learners with disabilities, but some instructors view these as special privileges, not understanding that they help level the playing field. 

The chapter Misconceptions about Accommodations and Integrity, from the book Discipline-Based Approaches to Academic Integrity (Anita Chaudhuri, 2024), addresses the importance of: recognizing and dispelling misconceptions about accommodations, supporting equitable access to education, and promoting academic integrity by understanding and addressing the diverse needs of learners with disabilities.  

Misconceptions about Accommodations: 

• Some believe that accommodations (e.g. extra time) give learners an unfair advantage, but the true purpose is to level the playing field for learners who start at a disadvantage due to their disabilities. 
• There’s a misconception that learners who receive accommodations are more likely to engage in academic misconduct. However, no research supports this claim, and learners with disabilities might even be more frequently investigated for misconduct, but this doesn’t equate to cheating. 
• Accommodations don't make assessments easier; they provide equitable opportunities for learners to demonstrate their knowledge without lowering academic standards. 
• It's also incorrectly assumed that most learners seeking accommodations are taking advantage of the system, but most accommodations are based on legitimate needs, and the number of learners misusing the system is minimal. 

Accommodation and Academic Integrity: 

• Some instructors misunderstand the relationship between accommodations and academic integrity, viewing accommodations as unfair advantages or a form of cheating. This misconception can lead to the denial of accommodations. 
• There's no evidence linking accommodations to cheating, and accommodations should help learners demonstrate their knowledge without compromising the integrity of the course or program. 

Cultural and Ethical Considerations: 

• Supporting learners with disabilities aligns with the values of academic integrity, which emphasize fairness, respect, trust, and responsibility. 
• Building a culture of integrity in education involves understanding and respecting the diverse needs of all learners, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. 

Visit our ALS Information for Faculty website to learn more about accommodating learners 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. 

The dates for the Spring 2025 Convocation ceremonies at the Toronto Congress Centre are as follows:

Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to wear their graduation regalia. For rental or purchase enquiries, please contact: Gaspard and Sons Ltd, at gaspard.ca or call 1.800.380.8214.

If you are receiving inquiries or questions, please direct students to humber.ca/convocation for further details.

The Orientation Team within Student Success and Engagement (SSE) is excited to begin collaborating with Academic Faculties and campus partners in preparation for Summer 2025 Orientation. We look forward to working together to welcome all the new students in their transition to Humber Polytechnic. 

Orientation comprises of virtual pre-arrival events, online guides and resources, program-focused Meet Your Faculty sessions, Mentor Meet Up sessions and on-campus events and activities.    

Outline for Summer 2025 Orientation 

April 7 – 25: The First Year Experience (FYE) and Orientation Team will be offering virtual Pre-Arrival Mentoring Sessions. These sessions will welcome and guide students in their transition into Humber over three weeks, providing information on what to expect in post-secondary education, engagement, and support. Pre-Arrival Mentoring Sessions are designed to provide students with an opportunity to have all their orientation questions answered and connect with the FYE Team and their peers before they begin their classes.  

Tuesday, April 29 & Wednesday, April 30: In partnership with campus partners and the on-site team at the Downtown Campus previously known as the International Graduate School (IGS). These two dates will provide in-person campus partners programming comprising of Student Services. Academic Orientation in partnership with Faculties will follow Thursday, May 1, delivered in-person or in a hybrid option.  

Wednesday, April 30: In partnership with our Academic Faculties, we will host Academic Orientation with our Meet Your Faculty sessions at North Campus and Carrier Drive Campus. These sessions will be in-person, on-campus.   

Thursday, May 1:  In partnership with our Academic Faculties, we will host Academic Orientation for Virtual - Meet Your Faculty sessions supporting all three campuses that register for virtual hosting including Distant Learning programs.  

Friday, May 2: In partnership with our academic faculties, we will host Academic Orientation with our Meet Your Faculty sessions at Lakeshore Campus. These sessions will be in-person, on-campus.   

May 5 – 9: Orientation will host Welcome Stations on campus each day to further support and orient our students to Humber Polytechnic.    

May 5 – 30: Orientation, with the support of our campus partners, will host Welcome Month Events for students. This programming will focus on well-being and social connection, and we will continue to promote services and resources available to students throughout their time at Humber. We will reach out to campus partners with further information on how to get involved.    

We welcome feedback from all our partners and appreciate the continued support from the Humber Polytechnic community.    

If you have not previously been involved with Orientation but would like to partner with us in welcoming students in Summer 2025, please reach out to:  

Each year, students at League board colleges are invited to take part in a literary competition through the League for Innovation in the Community College. This year’s theme is “The Power of Imagination and Play.”

• Fictional short story (3,500 words)
• Creative Nonfiction (3,500 words)
• Poetry (67 lines)
• Personal essay (2,500 words)
• One-act play (3,500 words incl stage direction)
• Spoken word (3 minute video)

Prizes

• First Place: $500
• Second Place: $200
• Third Place: $100

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 1, 2025