Academic Council Highlights
Academic Council met for the second time this semester on Thursday, October 11, 2012, at the Lakeshore Campus. In the interest of keeping the Humber community informed about upcoming events, new initiatives, and important issues, I’ll be reporting on 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.
Academic News
Michael Hatton introduced representatives from four different Academic Schools to inform Council members about five new programs and one name change:
In response to recommendations from both external program reviewers and the program’s Advisory Committee, the Graduate Certificate Program in Fundraising and Volunteer Management, offered by the School of Media Studies and Information Technology, has been renamed Fundraising Management. The new name more accurately reflects the content of the program as it has evolved since its inception in 1999.
In order to meet the new requirements for practice under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, the School of Health Sciences will be offering the Funeral Pre-Planner Certificate and Transfer Service Sales Representative Certificate. As the only English speaking college in Ontario to deliver a funeral service education program, Humber is the educational institution of choice for the development and delivery of these certificates. The courses will be offered online, and students will complete a three-month internship with each certificate. Students who successfully complete the two certificates will qualify for advanced standing in Humber’s Funeral Services Diploma program.
The School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism will offer a two-year Baking and Pastry Arts Management Diploma, which will complement existing diplomas and add a new dimension to the existing culinary program. In the first year, students will take foundational courses in kitchen safety and sanitation, baking equipment usage, baking and pastry fundamentals, food costing, and dessert menu management. In the second year, students begin to apply these basic skills through in-depth training in baking and pastry arts. In addition, the program includes courses in business and career management, and entrepreneurship.
The Art Foundation Certificate, offered by the School of Media Studies and Information Technology is a one-year certificate, designed for students who do not have the prerequisite skills for admissions to arts and media programs at Humber. The program will act as a preparatory and complementary program for Humber’s existing diploma programs and will prepare students who require a portfolio of quality artistic pieces needed to further their education.
The School of Social and Community Services will offer a Bachelor of Behavioural Science degree, consisting of eight academic semesters and one 14-week work placement. The first two years of the program will provide students with a strong foundation in applied behavioural analysis, cognitive behavioural approaches, special populations, psychology, research methods, and ethics. The two senior years will include an in-depth study and application of the behavioural sciences. The degree will complement existing programs within the School and will provide the opportunity to meet the needs of the many graduates of related diploma programs within the School who currently must go elsewhere for degree completion.
Student Services
Jason Hunter, Jen McMillen, and Joe Henry gave a presentation on Trends and Practices in Services for Students with Disabilities. Although the numbers of students with disabilities at Humber are increasing – particularly of students with psychiatric disorders and Autism – overall, the story for students with disabilities is a positive one, as this means that more people who previously never thought postsecondary education was an option for them are now coming to Humber. However, we need to continue to evolve our practice in supporting students with disabilities, in order to help these students successfully complete their studies at Humber. Future directions include continued and enhanced transitions programs during the summer periods, increased focus on supports for students with mental health-related disabilities and Autism, and increased training and support for faculty in the classroom. Improving accessibility and creating an equitable and inclusive environment will benefit all students, not just those with disabilities.
Public Safety and Risk Management
Pervez Ditta gave a presentation on The Complex World of Campus Security. The goals of Humber’s Department of Public Safety and Risk Management are: to provide for a safe and secure campus community; to provide public safety services that meet the changing needs and expectations of Humber; to ensure effective emergency services are available in the event of a natural or manmade disaster; and to ensure consistent and effective delivery of public safety services. We heard about the key findings that emerged after the high-profile school shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007: the school’s emergency plan was out of date, their security training did not include shooting scenarios, the messaging system was cumbersome, and the campus was difficult to lock down. The presentation linked these findings to Humber’s current security practices. Council heard that Humber has both the critical security infrastructure necessary to support safety initiatives (including enhanced communication systems, 450 cctv cameras and 800 single-action locks), and a cultural awareness of safety (including training staff in emergency response management, creating a lockdown video supported by Humber’s President, and offering resiliency-building drills and training).
The Communiqué
John Mason and Ingrid Pulpan provided an update on the Humber Communiqué, which moved to an online format last year. Currently Humber faculty and staff access the Communiqué by clicking an icon on their computer desktop or visiting humber.ca/staff. Later this month, Humber faculty and staff will receive an email inviting them to subscribe to the Communiqué. Subscribers will receive email notifications of Communiqué highlights (with an option to unsubscribe at any time), with an embedded link to the full Communiqué.
The United Way Campaign
Paula Gouveia and Jason Hunter shared some information about the United Way campaign. Last year, Humber exceeded our fundraising goal, raising a total of $70,000. With your help, Humber can surpass our goal of $60,000.This year, the campaign kicked off with Thanksgiving pie sales at both the North and Lakeshore campuses and continues with a raffle on October 15, with prizes including parking passes, an iPad, a Kobo reader, and two return train tickets to Montreal, a CN Tower climb on October 20, and the very popular Spinathon, which will be held on November 30 at the North Campus.
The biggest contributor, however, is employee donations, and this year it is even easier to donate: all Humber employees will be receiving an email with a link to an online pledge form, where you can either make a one-time donation or arrange for payroll deductions. To finish up the presentation, Council members watched an extremely moving video that illustrates the incredible difference that the United Way makes in the lives of individuals in our community.