College Council Highlights: November 2015
Humber College Council held its second meeting of the Fall semester on Thursday, November 12 at the North Campus. In the interest of keeping the Humber community informed about upcoming events, new initiatives, and important issues, I will be continuing to report the highlights of the monthly meetings. For more information on any topic, or to give me feedback on the reports, please feel free to contact me directly at lisa.salem-wiseman@humber.ca.
Staff and Children’s Holiday Party #snowmuchfun
Brian Wilson and Shakira Garell, students in the Public Relations Postgraduate Program, told Council members about Humber’s Annual Staff and Children’s Holiday Party. This event is sponsored by the President’s Office, supported by the Faculty and Support Staff Unions, and organized by the students in the PR Postgraduate program.
The party will be held at the Lakeshore Campus, Building L, on Saturday, November 28 from 8:30-11:30 AM. This year’s theme is “Snow Day” and the event will feature a hot breakfast, as well as cookie decorating, crafts, balloon artists, decorations, a photo booth, and, of course, Santa Claus. Nonperishable donations to the Daily Bread Food Bank can be exchanged for raffle tickets. The event is BYOP (Bring Your Own Pyjamas).
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children, and are available at the bookstores at the North and Lakeshore campuses (cash only), or online at humbersnowday.eventbrite.com
Donations to Ernestine’s Shelter
As it does every year, College Council’s December meeting will include a fundraiser for Ernestine’s Shelter, a shelter for women and children leaving violent home situations. As the women often arrive at Ernestine’s in the middle of the night, with no supplies, donations of toiletries and baby items (including diapers) are welcomed, as well as toys and gifts. If you would like to make a donation, please contact your College Council representative.
HSF Student LifeLine Program
Ahmed Tahir, President, HSF, and Kimberly Daniels, Services Coordinator, HSF, spoke to Council about the new Student LifeLine, part of an initiative to modernize the ways that HSF provides services to students. Recognizing that student life does not happen only during office hours, the Student Lifeline provides free, confidential student assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via a toll-free telephone number, online website, or mobile app.
Services and resources include the following:
- Short-term counseling (in person, over the telephone, or via live webcam)
- Online resources (articles, blogs, podcasts, self-assessments, interactive tools and educational materials) including an Online Depression Centre
- Referral to campus and community resources
- Free consultations on legal, financial, personal, wellness, and relationship issues
For more information, please see Humberlife.com/lifeline
(user ID: students; password: hsf)
New Programs
Graduate Certificate in User Experience Design
This two-semester graduate certificate program, proposed by the School of Media Studies and Information Technology, would provide pathways for degree and diploma holders in the growing employment field of User Experience Design (UXD). UXD studies the larger context surrounding innovations in order to ensure that all the interactions between people and the products or services they use are as productive, enriching, and enjoyable as possible. Currently, there is no specialized degree in the field, but there are many skills that UX designers find useful, and Humber proposes to package these skills together in a unique graduate certificate program. This program will offer an additional pathway from graduates from existing diplomas and degrees offered by the School, demonstrating Humber’s strategic commitment to polytechnic education.
Bachelor of Design
This unique eight-semester Baccalaureate degree program, proposed by the School of Media Studies and Information Technology, would provide pathways for students in the emerging field of User Experience Design (USD). Responding to the high demand in the labour market as organizations develop digital technologies, the program would offer students a combination of creative, critical, and technological learning opportunities, as well as provide students with numerous opportunities to connect with practicing professionals through industry mentorship and field placement opportunities.
In keeping with Council’s new mandate to report back to the President on key items, members of Council met in small working groups to discuss the evening’s presentations and to make notes that will be brought to the President.
The next meeting of College Council will be held on Thursday, December 3, at the North Campus.