After more than 11 years of outstanding dedication and service, Dr. Rebecca Milburn, Associate Dean, Preparatory Programs and Mathematics in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences has accepted the position of Associate Vice President, Academic at Durham College and will be leaving Humber effective January 4, 2016.

Rebecca first began her career at Humber in the School of Applied Technology in the Chemical Engineering program. As a faculty member and program coordinator in that program, she was able to help establish key partnerships for the program in industry allowing the graduates to move almost seamlessly into a variety of positions. In 2009, she joined the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences as a faculty member who taught in both of our General Arts and Science and mathematics areas. Before long, her she found herself once again in the role of program coordinator and in 2012, assumed the position of Associate Dean, Preparatory Programs and mathematics. Under her leadership and underpinned by her belief in providing students with access to, through and beyond  Humber, the General Arts and Science programs have grown and established key partnerships across Humber with graduates now streaming into over 70 different programs at Humber. 

In addition, her focus on student success has translated itself into the re-imagining of our math learning supports delivered through our Math Centres.  Over 10,000 individuals visit the centres each year and over 5000 Humber students are actively engaged in a Math LOOC (Local Open Online Course) supported by a robust Head Start Blackboard site. Beyond her immediate contributions in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Rebecca also gave of her time, passion and insight on a variety of committees at Humber and Councils across the province including the Ontario College Math Council, Ontario College Liberal Arts and Science Council and the College Student Achievement Project to name but only a few.

I hope that you all share with me well wishes as she pursues this new and exciting career opportunity where I am sure she will again foster innovation and creativity while supporting student success and access.

Paula Gouveia, Dean
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Humber Interfaith Calendar - December 2015
Multifath Holy Days and Festivals

In the spirit of diversity and inclusion, we provide the following Multifaith Holy Days & Festivals realizing that it is not exhaustive.

Should you wish your faith’s days to be included, please contact the Chaplain at x 4427 or chaplain@humber.ca for due consideration.

01 Tuesday 
Mnidoo-Giisoons (Aboriginal-Ojibwe)
Little Spirit Moon.

06 Sunday 
St. Nicholas Day (Christianity-Eastern) 
Celebrates St. Nicholas (from 3rd century Asia Minor) as the protector children and the bringer of gifts. Children leave shoes before a chimney or outside the front door of the home in the hope of obtaining Christmas treats. 

07 Monday 
Hanukkah (Judaism) to Dec 14 (The Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication)
Commemorates the victory of Judah the Maccabee for religious freedom plus the rededication of the temple in 165 BCE. Hannukkah begins at sundown the prior day.

08 Monday 
Bodhi Day(Buddhism) 
Celebrates the day when Prince Siddharta Gautama) sat under the Bodhi tree vowing to remain there until he attained enlightenment.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christianity-Catholicism)
Celebrates the birth of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as being conceived without sin. 

11 Friday 
New Moon
The moon is at its least visibility.

12 Saturday
Masa’il (Baha’i) 
Masa’il, meaning Questions, is the fifteenth month of the Baha’i year.

13 Sunday
Aga Khan’s birthday (Islam-Ismaili)
The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect of Islam.

22 Tuesday
December (Winter) Solstice
The time when the Winter season begins. 
Yule (Wicca) 
Celebrates the new year, in the Anglo-Saxon and northern traditions of Wicca, with the birth of the God as the Winter-born King symbolized by the rebirth of the life-giving and life-sustaining sun; a time for ritually shedding the dross of the past year to contemplate spiritual development for the year ahead. 
Tohji-Tasai (Shinto) 
Celebrates the end of the sun’s period of decline (Yin) and its forthcoming renewal of strength (Yang). 

23 Wednesday
Birth of Joseph Smith (Mormonism)
Celebrates the birth of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as Mormons. 

24 Thursday
Eid-Maulad-Un-Nabi (Islam)
The anniversary of the death of Prophet Mohammad (also used to celebrate his birth, date unknown) is celebrated by different observances in various countries for 9 days with colourful fairs, parades and feasts.

25 Friday 
Full Moon
The moon is at its greatest visibility.
Christmas (Christianity-Western) 
Celebrates the birth of Jesus, whom Christians worship as the Christ and Saviour of the world.

26 Saturday
Death of Zarathustra (Zoroastrianism) 
Celebrates Zarathustra (Zoroaster), founder of the Zoroastrian faith (dates uncertain).
Kwanzaa to Jan 01/2015 (West African / North American) 
Celebrated by North Americans of West African descent in recognition of their African and family heritage. 
St. Stephen’s Day (Christianity-Western)
Commemorates Stephen who died as the first Christian martyr. 
Boxing Day (Christianity-Western) 
Collections of gifts are given to those in need.

31 Thursday 
Sharaf (Baha’i) 
Sharaf, meaning Honour, is the sixteenth month if the Baha’i year.
Ghambar Maidyarem to Jan 04 (Zoroastrianism)
Celebrates the creation of the animals and is the time for equitable food sharing. 
Omisoka (Shinto)
To celebrate the new year, Shinto temples ring bells 108 times to remove the worldly desires of persons seeking a long life. 

Contact: Chaplain Len Thomas, 416.675.6622 ext. 4427, chaplain@humber.ca

Marketing and Communications is pleased to announce the release of the Humber Sustainability Report 2014-2015, highlighting the progress made based on the objectives of the 2014-2019 Humber Sustainability Plan that guides the College’s actions towards a sustainable future.

The Report identifies specific progress made in eight focus areas, which include:

1. Recycling and Waste Management
2. Sustainable Transportation
3. Procurement
4. Outside the Classroom
5. Green Building and Landscapes
6. Curriculum and Research
7. Outreach and Awareness
8. Energy and Climate

“The Humber Sustainability Plan 2014-2019 marked a milestone for the Humber community by demonstrating our commitment to be one of the most sustainable post-secondary institutions in Canada. The Humber Sustainability Report 2014-2015 outlines the progress made toward that commitment,” said Dr. Chris Whitaker, President and CEO at Humber College.

The Sustainability Plan is currently in its second year. Future initiatives include:

• Developing a long-term energy master plan;
• Implementing workplace sustainability assessments; and
• Integrating sustainability learning outcomes for all programs.

To learn more about Humber’s long-term sustainability vision, goals and to view the entire report, visit: humber.ca/sustainability.