Dear Colleagues,
As we come to the end of Black History Month, I would like to urge all of you to view the presentation by former Governor General Michaëlle Jean, part of the Seneca Talks series. Madame Jean, the first Haitian Canadian and the first Black person to serve as the Governor General of Canada, shared profound insights on Haitian history, Black history and her own incredible journey as a refugee from Port au Prince to becoming Canada’s de facto head of state.
During her talk, Madame Jean said she is as worried as she has ever been about the increasing reach and prominence of racist groups in Canada.
“White supremacist groups that were recently using scaremongering tactics around immigration to gain a foothold, have found new opportunities to stage high-profile confrontations and to recruit in the name of freedom, along with the fundraising bonanza,” she said.
“What do we hear behind shouts of freedom? As we have seen, Black, Indigenous and racialized communities know a thing or two about freedom. One of them is that freedom to rob, freedom to rape, freedom to enslave, freedom to do as I please consequences be damned, are pure perversions. Freedom is not about your right to do anything you want. True freedom starts with the realization that my liberation is bound up with yours. True freedom comes with the choice to overcome injustice, to stand with the least free among us to demand their emancipation.”
The warped concept of “freedom” that Madame Jean describes has led to attacks, slurs and other forms of hate directed at racialized residents of Ottawa and other communities during anti-vaxx protests. As a former journalist, I was impressed by the courage shown by reporters who risked their own safety while covering the demonstrations.
But I was also disappointed at how little coverage, comparatively, was allocated to the impact these protests have had on racialized communities. I believe this can be traced to a lack of diversity in Canadian newsrooms, and media in general.
FCAD is working to address this deficit through collaborations with organizations such as New Canadian Media, POV, AVID and Stratagem. These initiatives are aimed at attracting vulnerable populations to careers in journalism, film, television and other creative industries.
I believe Canadians of all backgrounds should see themselves reflected in the stories and media they consume. These stories must include a recognition of the legacies of colonialism and of systemic racism.
As Madame Jean has said, “When the present doesn’t recognize the wrongs of the past, the future takes its revenge.”
Stay well and stay safe.
Kurt
February and forever, celebrating Black history today and every day.
Every February, we recognize Black History and the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, who have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse and compassionate country it is today. We celebrate resilience, innovation, determination, and diversity.
Seneca takes pride in the vibrant and diverse community we serve, and continues to build an equitable Seneca. Honouring Black History Month and the contributions of Black Seneca employees, faculty, students, and Canadians is just one part of the commitment to building an equitable Seneca. Throughout the month, Seneca students and employees learned about the triumphs of icons in the Black community and participated in a range of events to learn more, including discussions with Scarborough's Kimora Amour on intersecting identity, and Michel Chikwanine, author and former child soldier.
When COVID-19 hit the world in 2019, the broadcasting sector around the globe jumped into action by implementing remote strategies that brought audio and video studios home to hosts’ living rooms, dining rooms, and spare bedrooms everywhere. The industry answered the need and did so with such speed and haste AND with such quality, many viewers and listeners would not have known, but for the occasional appearance of the family’s pet with a surprise “walk-on” or some barking at the doorbell. At the beginning of the pandemic, the technology to make this happen was already in existence and had been used mostly for coverage or support of rural events, but now it is used to seamlessly involve many people to tell many stories from many places… a True Community.
One of the pillars of the renewal initiative, Seneca Au Large, includes a focus on a more virtual Seneca and on that note, in the School of Media, SayRadio.ca and the radio and journalism programs found themselves in need of a large, expensive software upgrade to allow them to go virtual.
S@Y Radio is fully staffed by students in both the radio (RTVR) program and the journalism (JRN) program, and in most cases, air-shifts and work are all related directly to the curriculum in both programs. The content aired is collected from different classes in both programs and includes many live shows and a host of recorded content as well. The main directive of the station is to be "The Voice of Seneca College Truly."
Changing or upgrading this complicated automation software has involved many departments and some big brain thinking to keep things safe and functioning and fully protected from a security standpoint. With the financial support from Seneca Au Large, and Seneca's talented ITS team, the campus station is now significantly more virtual and effective, while at the same time allowing professors to teach students the industry advancements.
We are proud of Seneca's commitment to our students. With an eye to the horizon, this upgrade will allow us to not only survive in this virtual environment but thrive it is as well. Thank you, Seneca Au Large.
When the School of Fashion decided it was time to refresh the corridors, a collaborative project with the School of Creative Arts and Animation was developed. The desire to showcase illustrations from the Fashion Arts program was supported with the help of Graphic Design students. Together, the graphic design students worked in teams, and one of their pieces was selected for the atrium display.
An illustration from Fashion Arts grad Marysol Kim was selected, and the graphic design students went to work in teams to turn it into an art piece.
“We used the illustrations by Marysol itself as a starting point for our layouts,” said Sameeha Sheikh, one of the graphic design students from the team whose piece was selected. “Looking for references online, we created mood boards before we even began working on the layouts themselves. The theme of gender neutral was something that the Seneca School of Fashion wanted to portray so we ensured it was prominent. From the clothing to the gender neutral colours within our layouts, we made sure to be inclusive in our designs to be appealing to those of any gender identity.”
For Sharon Lockwood, professor of the Studio Practicum course in the Graphic Design program, the project couldn’t be better suited. "The course is about learning the ‘real life stuff’ in between and all around the design stuff," says Sharon. "It is about pulling back the curtains, giving students a backstage view of how the industry functions or sometimes how it doesn’t function so well."
“When this project was given and it was about fashion, it gave me a whole different “vision” in designing something different that relates to fashion and doing this project in this industry is a huge help for me in the future and to design something greater,” said Danyela Encarnacion, another one of the graphic design students from the team whose piece was selected.
On a short timeline, the students worked hard, communicating with the client and each other to make sure the project was staying on track. It offered them insights into working on a real design project where things like client meetings, time tracking, and available resources all have to be considered.
With a project of this scale, comes curveballs to navigate. Literally. Since this piece had to be designed to be a very large print for the space, it meant dealing with much bigger file sizes than they were used to. Ensuring they always had enough space on their computers to handle the file was an ongoing challenge they learned to navigate for the first time.
“This project is a valuable experience for me, a graduating student with no work experience, to test and apply our knowledge at the college. It is a real test of our understanding and application, and it made me confident when stepping into the real world of design.” - Ellen Zhao, graphic design student.
As winners, Jatiksha Arora and Maria Paula Espina will also receive marketing exposure through inclusion of their brand on NYX PMU Canada’s product mailing list for their next three launches.
In addition to brand exposure, each winner receives prizes to benefit their entire class — a NYX PMU prize pack for classroom use and a Q-and-A session hosted by NYX PMU Canada. This opportunity will give students access to a virtual panel made up of members of the company’s marketing, education, public relations and social teams who will share industry insight on products, career and more.
The 0-100 themed videos of all three winners will be posted on the official NYX PMU Instagram. Each video will tag the Instagram handles of the winner and their school’s official account.
The Boutique is back for another semester starting on Tuesday, February 22nd. This season, they’re bringing a curated collection of fresh spring wear-now styles. As part of the new collection of affordable accessories, they’re launching Toronto-based, locally made jewellery brand Foxy Originals. They’re also introducing e-gift cards, and have extended their return policy from 7 days to 14 days.
Sign-up for their email list to be the first to know about promotions and events, and receive a 20% off discount code. Join the Boutique Reward program to earn points on every purchase you make.
School of Creative Arts and Animation Professor Julia Paton moderated a voice over panel discussion for the Toronto Black Film Festival featuring voice over actors Kesha Monk, Andrew Lander and George Washington III . The event was held virtually, and is dedicated to giving unique voices in cinema the opportunity to present audiences with new ways of looking at the world.
Seneca is the only college in Ontario and one of 11 institutions across Canada to have programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
The achievement brings international recognition to 23 Seneca Business programs, which includes 3 School of Marketing programs - Honours Bachelor of Commerce (BMRK), Business Administration (BAM), and Business Marketing (BMT).
"The accreditation will increase our graduate mobility, research opportunities, program articulation and global partnerships for faculty and students," said Joelle Allen, Manager, Business Administration.
ACBSP offers accreditation to all levels of business educational programs from diploma and degrees to certificates and doctoral credentials. The accreditation prioritizes scholarly research and faculty engagement within the contemporary business world as ways to improve teaching methodology and contribute to student learning.
With ACBSP recognition, Seneca Business joins a global education network that provides member schools with access to exchanges, study abroad opportunities and research programs.
More than 40 Seneca Business faculty members contributed their knowledge and expertise to the ACBSP accreditation process.
Ryan Laverty, a professor and program co-ordinator in the School of Accounting & Financial Services, says the exercise provided an opportunity to examine Seneca Business's courses from a new perspective and to see how they can be improved.
"You are asked to consider how you can best deliver education," he said. "We also explored how we can evolve that delivery to ensure students continue to develop the skills that employers want."
The ACBSP accreditation encourages faculty to look at multiple factors related to student success, including the student experience, graduation rates and any particular parts of a course that help students prepare for post-graduation employment.
"At the end of the day, we want our students to be on the cutting edge," Mr. Laverty said. "We want them to succeed after they graduate from Seneca."
For Jeff McCarthy, Dean, Seneca Business, the accreditation speaks to the expertise and dedication of the faculty.
"We are thrilled Seneca has joined a very select group of Canadian postsecondary institutions that have earned this recognition," he said. "Having our programs accredited globally sets our graduates apart from the competition when they begin their careers. The co-operative effort from our chairs, staff and faculty was significant. I'm very proud of the Seneca Business team."
Students from the Event Management - Creative Design (EVC) program participated in the inaugural Intercollegiate Event Management Case Study Competition on February 4th - 6th.
Students worked in teams of 4-5 to create an event proposal presentation based on specifications that were provided at the start of the event on Friday. The teams had until Sunday morning to create their proposal and presentation, then they presented to a panel of industry judges.
"What I experienced this past weekend gives me great hope that our Events Industry has a very bright future with creative, talented, and inspired students who will continue to grow professionally and personally through your great guidance along with the other faculty members," said Connie Cay-Santos of Engamio and one of the industry judges.
Even though Seneca's team didn't take home the prize, it was an excellent experience to test their creativity under pressure and meet with industry professionals.
I am extremely proud of the proposal this team of students created in a day-and-a-half; they worked within the parameters provided, applied their course learnings, and confidently delivered a polished presentation. - Scott Mcallister, EVC Program Coordinator
Seneca's School of Marketing is excited to host the Ontario Colleges' Marketing Competition (OCMC) on December 1-2, 2022, a prestigious multi-college event showcasing marketing skills among Ontario students.
OCMC is partially funded through sponsorship including private or public for-profit companies, non-profits, or any organization that wants to support student learning and immersive educational experiences. Sponsors can offer financial support on many levels.
The planning committee would be appreciative of any introductions to potential sponsors, such as previous employers or any organizations you have contact with. Please contact Nancy Bodi, with any ideas for sponsorship or introductions. Thank you!
A warm welcome to the School of Fashion Assistant, Michelle Alexis Villarama (she goes by Alexis).
Alexis Villarama is a “Jane of all trades” with a career that spans over 10+years. Alexis has had extensive training and experience within various industries but mainly focusing on sustainable business and account management industries which include: beekeeping, teaching, accounting, administrative and sales.
For the last 4 years, Alexis has dedicated her life to helping to create a more sustainable world through business and have spent her days learning, and teaching about sustainability, bees and the role that they play in our ecosystem.
Alexis is new to the world of Fashion but is eager to learn and recognizes the important role that fashion plays within sustainability. She is excited to contribute to Seneca’s School of Fashion whichever way she can!
Professor Karen Ellis’s career as a makeup artist spans over 20 +years. Karen has had extensive training and experience in the cosmetic industry which includes: retail management, makeup application for film and television, print and bridal makeup.
Specialising in airbrush makeup application, Karen has lead airbrush makeup training workshops across Canada and the US. As an educator she has taught part time in the CTM program at Seneca College for 15years.
Karen is a passionate and dedicated teacher who is coming to us full time after over 10 years as a makeup artist for the CBC.
Sachel Gordon is the newest team member of the Faculty of Communication Art and Design, as she has taken on the Assistant to the Dean position.
Sachel has gained various valuable experiences working in the academic field, from working as an Administrative Manager at Humber College to working as an Office Coordinator at the York Region District School Board. Sachel possesses knowledge of student information systems, budgeting, and academic processes.
On February 16, Marketing Management and Esports Marketing Management Graduate Certificate students had the opportunity to attend a virtual networking session hosted by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). During this event, students heard career stories and advice from industry veterans at the company including Nick Eaves, Chief Venues and Operations Officer; Rhonda Britton, Director of Talent Acquisition Lead; Tyler Kerdman, Project Manager Strategy & Innovation; Tania Pedron, Director Administration & Operations; and Justin Bobb, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. Throughout the evening, the common theme discussed by the speakers was about building your personal brand, being adaptable, having a positive mindset and maintaining professionalism.
In addition to the virtual networking event, the students will have an opportunity to have an individual networking session with an MLSE employee and were given two free tickets to attend a Toronto FC game this summer.
Two weeks ago, students in the Digital Marketing and Influenced Based Marketing courses were briefed to create a marketing campaign for Häagen Dasz. This is part of an international student contest where hundreds of teams are competing for cash prizes.
Students have until March 21st to submit their proposals. The six finalists will present their refined proposals at the final event in June!
The contest is open to any students who want to participate. We wish our students good luck!
Teaching and Learning
Online learning module, Universal Design for Learning and Your Online Classroom: A Winning Combo nutshell, is now available
Learn more about teaching unique diverse learners and universal design for learning at Seneca
Read the latest Teaching & Learning Centre Spark Plug, Technology is the focus of our Winter 2022 Teaching & Learning Day!
Register for courses on the Science of Learning beginning on Monday, March 7, Globalizing Our Classrooms — Developing Intercultural Competence on Thursday, March 10, and Teaching Unique Diverse Learners beginning on Monday, March 14
More information is available on the Teaching & Learning Centre space.
Test Centres Are Now Open
The Test Centres will open their physical locations at King, Newnham and Seneca@York campuses starting today (Monday Jan. 31) for students accommodated through Seneca’s Counselling & Accessibility Services attending in-person tests.
Hours of operations are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with some extended hours for Faculty of Continuing Education & Training students.
Caricature Yourself For a Good Cause
See yourself as a caricature with the help of our School of Creative Arts & Animation students. For $25, submit a photo of yourself, your partner, your child or your pet and receive an original digital piece back.
Purchase your caricature and submit your photo by Monday Feb 28 at 4 p.m E.S.T. and your item will turn around in approximately one-week's time. Please see below for full details on submission.
100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser supports the Campaign for Students
COVID-19 Updates
For all COVID-19 updates, with resources for faculty and students including those to support online learning, please refer to Seneca’s COVID-19 website for information and FAQ. This is the official channel for COVID-19 related updates.
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