Academic Council met for the first time this semester on January 19, 2012 at the North Campus. Here are the highlights of our meeting:

Academic News

Nancy Burt, Ann Dean, and Rick Embree gave a presentation on the Program Review Process. Since 2008, over 65 program/program cluster reviews have been completed, including four degree programs. Planning and Development began reviewing eleven programs in Fall 2011, and will begin reviewing eleven more in Winter 2012. In addition, in Spring 2012, Humber College will undergo a PQAPA (Postsecondary Quality Assurance Process Audit) Review, a college-wide assessment of academic operations, policies and procedures. In April, external auditors will visit Humber and meet with various representative groups, including students, faculty, and administrators. This review is organized by the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service, part of Colleges Ontario, and is mandatory for all Ontario Colleges every five years.

Pam Hanft, Sharon Kinasz, Tanis Boak, and Clay McDougall provided an update on preparations for the implementation of the new Student Registration System in Fall 2013. The primary goal is to have a new Humber transcript that is nationally and internationally recognized, to assist students who go on to seek additional credentials. To this end, the Academic Framework Committee and the Academic Operations Committee have been examining various academic policies and procedures, including the following:

• Consistency in course numbering (100’s for diploma, apprenticeship, and certificate programs; 1000’s for degree programs, and 5000’s for post-graduate certificates)
• Consistency of credits in programs (3 credits for most courses)
• Consistency in course grading (50% as the minimum passing grade in diploma and certificate program courses, as well as degree courses)

In September, the School of Applied Technology will launch a new one-year Plumbing Techniques Certificate, designed to provide students with practical skills and experience that will improve their chances of finding employment within the industry. Graduates of the program will find a range of employment opportunities through plumbing apprenticeship programs, construction and industry work, green energy, and municipal water and sewage treatment systems.

Guelph-Humber

George Bragues, the Assistant Vice-Provost and Program Head of Business, provided an update on Guelph-Humber. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Guelph-Humber, which opened in 2002 with three programs and 200 students and has now grown to seven programs and 3800 students. To mark the anniversary, a website will be launched in February, highlighting milestones and notable achievements of faculty and alumni, and events will be planned throughout the year, including an Open House and a VIP dinner, both in October.

Copyright Regulations

Lisa DiBarbora, Humber’s Virtual Services and Copyright Librarian, and Mark Hanna, the Director of Professional and Continuing Education for the Business School, introduced the new i copy right initiative. This campaign is designed to assist faculty in complying with the new copyright regulations that will come into effect in September 2012, when Humber’s agreement with Access Copyright ends. Beginning January 30, bookmarks will be distributed across Humber College to promote a new website featuring faculty testimonials describing the support they received from the library copyright staff.

Student Services

As part of Humber’s evolving focus on student mental health and wellness, Dr. Rummy Gill, a licensed clinical and school psychologist, has been hired as the new Manager of Student Wellness and Development.

Bradley Watson (VP Administration North) and Rosa Figueroa (VP Administration Lakeshore), from the Humber Students’ Federation, gave us an update on recent expansions to student support and services, including a new flexplan that allows students to select a health and dental plan that suits their individual needs, free legal advice, a free financial coach, and a new pharmacy at the North campus. The new HSF strategic plan was approved in March 2011, and HSF continues to rethink student governance at Humber, addressing the needs of Humber students at all campuses, including Guelph-Humber. In keeping with this innovative thinking, the theme of the upcoming HSF elections is “Mission Possible” and the slogan is “become an agent of change.”

In the interest of keeping the college community informed of new initiatives at the college, I’ll be reporting on the highlights of the monthly Academic Council 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.