Dear Colleagues,
Innovation focused on the future. That’s the thought that occurred to me as I reflected on the initiatives highlighted in this month’s newsletter.
These projects include the development of new micro-credentials focused on digital skills associated with Salesforce, others aimed at helping businesses thrive in a more inclusive economy, and the adoption of new technology that will enable professors meet students where they are via flexible delivery.
It’s an impressive, but by no means comprehensive list, one that leaves me confident our graduates will continue to excel in the years to come. I am extremely proud of the work FCAD employees are doing to ensure that success.
The newsletter also includes content related to the tragic situation in Ukraine. The impact of this war on students and staff who have family in Ukraine is difficult to comprehend. We are also hearing from our students from Russia who are concerned about the conflict and its repercussions on them and their families.
I recently spoke with a professor whose parents in Ukraine faced a heartbreaking choice: Leave everything they have ever known and escape, or remain and spend each day wondering when a bomb would destroy their home and take their lives.
As President Agnew has said, our responsibility is to support the students and staff who have mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, friends and relatives back home, and help them through this terrible time.
There are many worthy organizations sending aid and resources to the region. The Canadian government will match donations up to $10 million to the Canadian Red Cross for its Ukrainian appeal.
Stay well, and stay safe.
Kurt
Student supports:
- Phone or video chat appointments with Counselling & Accessibility can be scheduled by emailing senecacnas@senecacollege.ca
- Good2Talk: call 1.866.925.5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868
- Mental Health Helpline: call 1.866.531.2600
- International students in Canada can access immediate crisis text / video counselling support through MyWellness
- Students outside of Canada can access counselling wherever you are located through the keep.meSafe program
Employee supports:
- All employees can receive confidential support through the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), which is available 24-7
The Globe and Mail recently recognized Seneca’s upcoming Salesforce Canada micro-credential program as a much-needed addition to the post-secondary landscape. The pilot micro-credential program will launch in September 2022 and allows students to pick up essential digital skills associated with Salesforce. With a workforce that is rapidly shifting to the digital sphere, it is crucial for employees to be equipped with these skills, and micro-credential programs allow them to do so at a lower cost and less time commitment than degree programs. The article calls this a game-changer.
Seneca's Graphic Design program was recognized by the Globe and Mail for "delivering new educational programming in a burgeoning field with the Inclusive Design for Business (IDB) program."
Professor Lauretta Wood and Professor Donna Saccutelli described the growing industry demand for employees trained in IDB, and how the courses offered in Seneca's program, which features micro-credentials, train students in these principles of inclusivity and accessibility.
They delve into how the courses are designed to address real-world problems ranging from local matters such as connecting Toronto neighbourhoods to global issues such as combatting COVID-19 misinformation.
In working with the academic areas and understanding the different formats of course delivery, ITS has added innovative technology for instructors to use for teaching in the flexible format. The technology-enabled classrooms include an auto-tracking camera, audience/student facing camera, dual monitors and a ceiling microphone that allows for in-person and synchronous online deliveries. They have received very positive feedback from instructors and students on the experience while online, feeling like they are in the classroom even though they were not.
This is an innovative learning space that is dedicated for professors to come on campus to teach their online remote class to students.
What technology is available in these spaces?
- Auto-tracking camera (Tiny Obsbot) with gesture control
- Document camera (upon request)
- Secondary monitor
- Whiteboard
"The conflict in Ukraine has significant and dangerous global impacts, but the effects are being felt most keenly by the people in that country’s cities, towns and villages. We have seen the images of brave soldiers and civilians taking to the streets to defend their country, while others are forced to take to shelters to escape the constant shelling."
If you would like to support the people of Ukraine through a charitable donation, there are many worthy organizations sending aid and resources to the region. The Canadian government will match donations up to $10 million to the Canadian Red Cross for its Ukrainian appeal. Other international organizations include UNICEF, Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders and more. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is a charitable organization coordinating aid to Ukraine.
Monetary donations are also being collected through the B’nai Brith Canada’s Emergency Ukrainian Relief Campaign, with 100 % of the funds raised going directly toward purchasing essential items. All donations in any form will be appreciated and will make a big difference to families going through this significant upheaval.
Professor Mark O'Connell's article "Natural Practices: The Creative Autonomy Encoded within First Nations Dye and Weaving Processes of the Chilkat Blanket" has been published in Textile: the Journal of Cloth and Culture.
This article is derived from research he conducted at the American Museum of Natural History on Chilkat blankets.
EXCERPT
This article describes two research residencies undertaken at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) during the months of August and October 2019, wherein Dr. Mark Joseph O’Connell looked specifically at weaving and dye techniques found in a form of ceremonial dancing blanket called the Chilkat. The examination of these artifacts provides valuable information on pre-colonial First Nations industry, the ongoing impacts of colonial processes, and also offers clues to a pre-colonial fashion history, one that re-contextualizes these exquisitely crafted garments and thereby re-situates them within previously held notions of political and social spheres of community life
Seneca celebrated International Women's Day on March 8th. The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 was #BreakTheBias.
Don’t let anyone, male or female, tell you that you don’t have what it takes. And don’t let anyone, male or female, tell you that you should be stronger... Figure out who you are, figure out what’s important to you, and then go for it. - Marianne Marando
Career Recharge: Women in Leadership
Career Recharge celebrated International Women’s Day with a panel discussion featuring Mary Anne Chambers, former Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges & Universities and Minister of Children & Youth Services; Marianne Marando , Vice-President, Academic, Seneca; Eleanore Fang, Associate Vice-President, Business Management & Governance, Canadian Personal Bank; and Renata Dinnocenzo , Vice-President, Students and Strategy, Seneca; discussing the role of academic institutions, government and corporations play in developing female leadership. The panel was moderated by Alison Sylvester, Marketing Specialist.
Hershey’s Chocolate Bar for International Women’s Day Features Seneca Grad
Like Willy Wonka’s golden tickets, they aren’t for sale. But you can check out a special edition of Hershey’s Her/She chocolate bars and get a taste of what Natalya Amres is all about.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Hershey Canada has launched the Her For She campaign, featuring five women from across Canada on the wrappers of its classic milk chocolate bar. Natalya Amres, who graduated from the Fashion Business Management advanced diploma program in 2013, is one of them.
Make It Happen – Career Fuel for Next-Gen Marketers - Tuesday April 26
Students in the Sports, Entertainment & Events (SEM) program have been busy organizing the 4th annual Make It Happen experience, which is taking place Tuesday April 26 on Hubilo.com. Make It Happen is the signature event for students studying marketing programs at Seneca.
All faculty in FCAD are invited to attend this event.
At Make It Happen, students will learn how to kickstart their careers in marketing from top industry leaders and Seneca Alumni.
This event will feature top North American Futurist, Mathew Sweezey, Director Market Strategy Salesforce, who will speak on the Web 3.0 & Its Effect on the Future of Marketing as well as Marketing Careers in the Metaverse. Sharifa Khan, President & CEO of Balmoral Multicultural Marketing, and 2022 Inductee into the American Marketing Association’s Canada Marketing Hall of Legends, will speak on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace.
Students can celebrate their end of term at the virtual Make It Happen Student After Party.
See you at Make It Happen on April 26!
For more information about the event please contact Nancy Bodi, Program Coordinator SEM
The latest article in the Seneca Canadian Fashion Diversity Project "Engineering Storyteller' of the Online Fashion World" features alumnus Anita Clarke who graduated from the School of Software Design & Data Science, and went on to become one of the first fashion bloggers in the world!
She has always fused tech and fashion, and is now the Senior Managing Editor of the Shopify Engineering blog.
She is also donating a piece from her collection by Canadian designer Evan Biddell to our Seneca Fashion Resource Centre.
Professor Sabine Weber partnered with her husband to publish an academic paper titled "How Fashionable Are We? Validating the Fashion Interest Scale through Multivariate Statistics"
The data she used for the article goes back to her first Applied Research Project when she surveyed Seneca’s fashion students about their fashion interests.
Excerpt
A person’s fashion interest describes how familiar a person is with fashion. There are major differences among consumers in terms of fashion interest that can be used as a segmentation criterion for markets. Understanding the drivers of clothing consumption can be used to develop strategies to address consumption habits, including overconsumption.
Consequently, many studies strategies to address consumption habits, including overconsumption. Consequently, many studies have developed questionnaires and interview guidelines to define fashion interest or other fashion related attitudes and behaviors. However, there is a gap in research about validating fashion scales.
This study validates a fashion interest scale by comparing a random sample with a control group of fashion students, demonstrating differentiation between groups.
Alumnus Noah Harney, who graduated from the Television (RTVT) program, penned a heartfelt note to Professor Bob Sorger.
Read Below:
Hey Bob,
I hope you are doing well and you are enjoying the year so far! I wanted to reach out and give you an update on current progress after graduating from Seneca in the summer. I recently landed a casual job at CBC in the digital media presentation department downtown just before Christmas. My role in this position includes editing timecode markers for tv shows and documentaries, sending live streams across the country though elemental sources through the digital router, as well as publishing the nightly newscasts. What landed me this job was the experience I got from your studio classes as well as working with the video crew for the Uxbridge Bruins Junior C hockey team.
I also had the wonderful privilege to work the Beijing 2022 Olympics this month which you can see from the attached image, my name was added to the final credits on CBC Sports (here is the link to the full video). I'd also be more than happy to give you permission to share this story with your current and future students as it could really help encourage and motivate them to know that hard work pays off and that dreams come true!
Although Seneca taught me the basics of this industry, I have been able to gain so much knowledge of the real world industry. A HUGE thanks goes specifically to you for your help during my 2-year program as it was both the small and big lessons I was able to learn along the way that brought me to where I am today as I start the launch of my career!!
Roberta Aquino
Academic Program Manager for the School of Marketing and Media, and School of Creative Arts and Animation.
A proud Seneca graduate, Roberta Aquino has more than +15 years of experience working with academic management, consulting services, and ERP implementation.
She has been working with the SCWI/Dual Credit department for the last four years. She managed all the logistical and administrative activities, supporting faculty and at-risk students transitioning to postsecondary.
She is also a part-time faculty for the School of Business, teaching courses related to Global Supply Chain Management and SAP ERP Systems.
She is very excited about bringing her experience to the Faculty of Communication, Art & Design!
Teaching and Learning
Online nutshells, including Student Engagement, Authentic Assessment in the Online Classroom and Let's Get Real: Authentic Assessment and UDL, are now available.
Read the new Teaching & Learning Centre Spark Plug: Solving Online Assessment and Feedback Challenges.
Check out resources to keep your students actively engaged
Learn about accessibility when using technology tools available at Seneca, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, BigBlueButton and Webex.
Assemble your Faculty Portfolio to get a better understanding of the next steps to improve your teaching.
Register for FunFlex — Fundamentals of Flexible Course Design and Delivery beginning on Monday, April 4. Registration closes at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
Leadership & Employee Development activities:
Explore learning events like Agents of Adaptability and more.
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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