President’s Breakfast Virtual Series Speech – Part 1
(Monday, August 31, 2020)
Welcome to the first-ever President’s Breakfast Virtual Series.
Over the coming days I hope you will join me as we review some of the milestones and accomplishments of the past year and look ahead to the very different Fall term we have ahead of us.
I will miss seeing all of you in the gymnasium this year, full of anticipation, eager to reconnect with colleagues, listening to me talk for exactly 37 minutes and looking forward to a plate full of Chartwell’s famous breakfast.
While we are physically apart, it is important to stay connected. The current situation isn’t easy, but working with talented, dedicated, and compassionate colleagues makes it easier.
I hope you will join in the conversation on social media over the coming days using the hashtag Humber Together (#HumberTogether). A different hashtag for a different kind of year.
I wish we could be together in-person to celebrate our many achievements and start the academic year in our usual way. We have a great deal to be proud of and I am grateful for all of your tremendous work.
Before I provide some highlights of the past year, I want to thank everyone who has been involved in Humber’s response to COVID-19. So many of you have been instrumental in guiding our decisions, adapting our way of working and delivering a Humber education, and keeping our community safe and informed.
In particular, I would like to acknowledge the academic division; ITS; Government Relations, Marketing and Communications; Finance; Human Resources; the Registrar’s Office and Public Safety. Thank you also to Gina Antonacci and Angelo Presta for chairing the COVID-19 Resuming on Campus Operations Steering Committee.
I would also like to thank the Executive team and their respective divisions for their leadership and continued contributions during this time.
Now, let’s reflect back on some of our milestones from the last year.
Last Fall, Humber endorsed the federal government’s Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Canada Charter. It aims to address systemic barriers in post-secondary education and research, particularly those experienced by members of underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. MP Kirsty Duncan joined us for the on-campus signing event.
In September, Humber College, together with NIIT Canada became the new accredited education provider of the Real Estate Salesperson Program in Ontario. The program is delivered on behalf of the Real Estate Council of Ontario.
We also launched our new Sustainability Plan that was developed with input from across the college including the unique perspectives of our students. On a related note, we were also selected as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the fifth time.
Humber Libraries instituted the Idea Lab, where students from across the college use and learn about emerging technologies in order to be ready for changing work environments.
Humber was listed amongst the top 10 of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges. This is a result of our applied research activity that sees our faculty members and students working alongside industry professionals.
In October, Humber and Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) announced a collaboration aimed at addressing the skills gap, broadening academic delivery, increasing program options and enhancing technology and innovation across the College.
Throughout the Fall term, students impressed their colleagues with their efforts in competitions locally and on the world stage in everything from research and design to mechatronics and culinary.
In November, we announced the revitalization of the Lakeshore Campus and the establishment of the Humber Cultural Hub. Substantially increasing the footprint currently occupied by Building A, the Hub will provide students with access to cutting-edge technology and experiences, benefit the GTA’s cultural and creative industries, and provide access to arts and entertainment outside of the downtown core.
We had the opportunity to explore and celebrate our collective histories and current realities with special events. This included our annual Indigenous Knowledges Gathering days, International Development Week, Black History Month and Bell Let’s Talk day.
In February, Premier Doug Ford and Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities visited Humber’s North Campus to tour the College’s simulated patient care suites and interact with nursing students and faculty. During the visit we discussed our plans to pursue an independent Bachelor of Nursing.
In fact, throughout the year, we welcomed several government officials to campus to hear about our plans for the future and to highlight student successes.
Nationally, across the college system, the Humber Hawks participated in the most national championships and earned the most medals in national championships.
Also, did you hear about Chloe Rowe? The Business Administration student and Badminton player was named Humber’s 2020 Female Athlete of the Year after winning her fourth consecutive title and becoming the most decorated female athlete in Humber history. Way to go Chloe!
When we gathered for the Breakfast last August, I spoke about the road ahead of us. Little could we have known what the world would be facing in a few short months.
We had to transition the final weeks of the Winter term to online and did so in keeping with our history of teaching and learning excellence.
Following the physical closure of our campuses in March, we certainly have had our share of “firsts.” Our first Virtual Open House, Orientation and Graduation Celebration required incredible collaboration across Humber. Each of those experiences helped to remind our current and future students, that they are at the centre of everything we do.
Our Faculties prepared to offer the Summer term entirely online – another first.
Within Teaching and Learning, comprehensive Learning Kits were developed for both faculty and students to help with the transition.
These feats were accomplished quickly and collaboratively. Thank you to everyone in the Academic division who helped to ensure our students could continue to their studies and be successful.
As part of the Unlimited Campaign, we launched the COVID-19 Support Our Students Fund to help students through a challenging and rapidly changing time. Our community, both at Humber and beyond, responded to the call for donations and together we raised more than $500,000. The provincial government also provided funds to Humber. We added to those funds and devoted them to financially supporting students.
IGNITE also responded to the call to assist students with generous donations totaling more than $500,000 . In total, more than $1.2-million has been provided to students during the time of COVID.
As a community, we learned to adapt to a new way of working and interacting with each other. I know I have enjoyed the opportunity to see the children and pets of colleagues as we have worked from kitchen tables, balconies, backyards and home offices.
I also think it might be safe to say that a new tagline for Humber should now be, “I think you’re on mute.”
I would like to give a particular nod to everyone in ITS for helping to make sure that Humber staff are equipped with the technology they need to stay connected and supporting us all through this time.
With their help, we have had several Town Halls to share information and hear from you about your questions and concerns.
I know that the last five months have been challenging. They have also provided us with opportunities.
Throughout July and August, we welcomed back a limited number of students to complete in-person requirements from the Winter and Summer terms.
We also launched the five-week Global Systems Gap Challenge. Teams of four collaborated virtually with mentors from Humber to examine complex problems and identify possible paths to a future solution. This unique experience involved 378 students from 48 countries, and included students from each of Humber’s faculties.
In the wake of the campus closure, the Student Success and Engagement team instituted a call back program to check on students, provide support and connect them with resources and services to help them continue to succeed.
We celebrated the 11th annual Humber Orangeville Campus Student Success Awards in May – held virtually for the first time through Facebook Live.
While our community has come together impressively and consistently, the inequities that exist amongst us have also come to the forefront amid a global anti-racism movement. There have been thundering calls for collective action to dismantle and eradicate systemic and individual racism. We are listening and taking action.
Equity is a core value at Humber and our dedicated Taskforce continues to work to ensure our campuses are places where all are welcome, feel they belong, and can be successful and safe. This includes plans for revising hiring practices, providing robust educational sessions about anti-Black racism, and the establishment of an African/Black Employee Resource Group .
Faculties have also made specific commitments. We know that more must be done.
Our Humber at Home Pledge outlines the expectation that we be respectful of individual circumstances, respect boundaries and be thoughtful about the how we interact with each other. As we move into the next term and more of staff return to campus, this pledge still applies. This term will be different for everyone, but we are in this together.
As we outlined in our Commitment to Students, we know that as we try new approaches we will likely make some mistakes. When that happens, we will acknowledge them, learn from them and work together to fix them. We will also continue to learn from each other.
We are stronger together.
Thank you for joining me this morning. Over the next few days I will be turning the microphone over to some colleagues to talk about their experiences and we will acknowledge the impressive work of this year’s President’s Award winners.
I will be back with you again on Thursday, September 3, as we look ahead to the Fall term.
Thank you.
President’s Breakfast Virtual Series Speech – Part 2
(Thursday, September 3, 2020)
Good morning.
Thank you for joining me again. I hope you have enjoyed the last two days reflecting on our colleagues’ unique experiences and accomplishments.
Today, I am turning my attention to the year we have ahead of us.
As a community we have proven to be resilient, adaptable and truly focused on supporting our students.
Heading into this next term we will continue to follow public health and government recommendations as we deliver sixty per cent of our programs entirely online, with the remainder having both online and in-person components.
Learning will be different and the classroom experience will be different.
Some faculty and staff will return to campus and some will work remotely. We will continue to work together to provide an exceptional educational experience for students. We will also continue to support each other and work to stay connected, regardless of where we are working.
Our hallways, classrooms and offices will look different then they normally would. Signage indicating health and safety measures is now on our doors, floors and walls.
The Campus Compass navigational app that we launched last Fall now includes the Lakeshore campus. As not all on-campus services will be physically open this term, the app also directs people to what’s open and available at both Lakeshore and North.
We will continue to support our students with online and virtual services.
Employees can find resources and support on the Human Resources webpages and I encourage you to visit them whenever you need them. Several Town Halls will be held this Fall on a range of themes and encourage open communication across the college. I hope you will participate.
I would also encourage you to stay in touch with each other, whether you will be on campus, or working from home. The Humber community has always been close-knit and remains so, even when physically separated.
Humber will continue to partner with leading businesses and community organizations to provide students with enriching learning experiences and real-world opportunities.
We are still Humber and that is because of all of you.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment, diligence and impressive work over this last year.
Normally, I would start the President’s Breakfast by dancing into the gymnasium. Since this year is different, I thought I would ask some of you to help me dance into the new term – together.