Dear Colleagues,
As we mark Black History Month, I would like to share a highlight from Dwight Drummond’s appearance at the School of Marketing & Media, part of the In Conversation series. Mr. Drummond, a CBC News anchor with decades of experience as a reporter and anchor, spoke candidly to Journalism Professor Robert Ballantyne about the racism he experienced as a Black reporter.
When Mr. Drummond began his career, diversity was non-existent. He described an episode where he saw that all the reporters covering a particular story not only had the same privileged background – they had even gone to the same school.
“I saw how my community was covered and I didn’t like it,” he said. “I wanted to tell our stories and I didn’t think people had the background or the context to tell our stories.”
Mr. Drummond, who grew up in the Jane/Finch neighbourhood, said that Citytv was the first newsroom where he felt that his background was an asset, rather than a barrier. And he took that opportunity to build a 30 year, award-winning career as a journalist.
In Conversation will continue in the coming months with more distinguished guests. Stay tuned for more details.
I am excited to introduce a new initiative in FCAD to recognize individuals who make the faculty a great place to learn and work. The new FCAD Spotlight Award will highlight employees who:
- Go above and beyond in educating and serving students.
- Support their colleagues and are great team players.
- Enhance Seneca’s reputation with external audiences.
- Bring forward innovative ideas and solutions.
This pilot project is a peer-driven award. All part-time or full-time FCAD employees are eligible.
If you know anyone who makes outstanding contributions, please nominate them for a Spotlight Award.
Who can you nominate?
- Part- or full-time employees
- Anyone, regardless of how long they’ve worked with FCAD
Restrictions:
- You can’t nominate yourself.
- Managers can’t nominate their direct reports and vice versa.
- All nominations must be supported by at least three FCAD colleagues in addition to the nominator.
- The nominator, nominee and supporting colleagues must be FCAD employees.
- Everyone is eligible for one award each year.
The FCAD management team will review each nomination. Spotlight awards will be presented monthly. The dean and/or chair will personally present the awards and recipients will be publicly recognized and profiled in the FCAD newsletter.
Stay well and stay safe.
Kurt
Ask Me Anything with Garvia Bailey
All are welcome to the Ask Me Anything event with award-winning journalist Garvia Bailey on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Ms. Bailey will discuss Historica Canada’s Strong and Free podcast and Black Canadian history.
Register to attend this virtual event.
Learn more about the events and celebrations Seneca has planned for the month!
Acting School of Media Chair Tina Cortese submitted a proposal to The Jane Fund for The Walkie Talkie Project and the project was approved.
The Walkie Talkie Project is for high school students in underserved communities in Toronto to engage in conversations about local journalism and explore the opportunities a post-secondary education provides.
In each of the five designated areas in Toronto, a journalism leader will take a small group of high school students on a walk around their neighbourhood. During this 30-minute excursion, which will be captured with audio and video, the walk-leader will share information about growing up in the area, their own academic journey and career in journalism.
The “walk & talk” will be recorded in each of the five Toronto communities and will be edited by current or former Seneca Journalism students.
The objective is to encourage and inform students about the dangers of misinformation, the value of solid journalism but most importantly to imagine their own future.
The Walkie Talkie Project will connect current Seneca Journalism students with active industry professionals and it will also encourage future students, especially those in underserved communities, to believe that an education is possible for everyone and that it is the beginning of many more opportunities.
Seneca@York had a celebrity sighting for the ages when Canadian actor, producer and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds made a surprise appearance on campus. During his visit to the Seneca Film Institute, he praised the studios, labs and other facilities available to students. The world reacted when Mr. Reynolds tweeted the visit to his 21.5 million followers and the multimedia reaction was swift and widespread.
The coverage included Academica Forum, Access Hollywood, BlogTO, Breakfast Television, CTV News, ET Canada, Etalk, The Social and the Toronto Star.
Naomi Proulx, a student in the Journalism program, shares her story of being surprised in class by Mr. Reynolds, with whom she co-anchored a mock newscast. Ms. Proulx also discussed this experience with CBC Radio and CP24.
Independent Music Production grads Hannah Bussiere Kim (Luna Li) and Derek Hoffman have both been nominated for Juno awards!
Hannah for Alternative Album of the Year, and Derek for Recording Engineer of the Year.
Tune into the Junos on March 13th to cheer them on!
S@Y Radio and Journalism students have been broadcasting Seneca Sting basketball and volleyball games on S@Y radio, Seneca's online campus radio station. This spring a select number of games will be carried on S@Y radio with Seneca's Radio students hosting the pregame and intermission portion and Journalism students calling the play by play.
Students learn the preparation that goes into a live broadcast and how to work together in the studio and on location. On top of the broadcast, the in-game portion has Seneca radio students Felix Sloo and Marisa Henry doing the PA and sound effects within the game.
Nat Brut, an American online arts And literature journal, recently featured the work of 2020 Illustration grads Pardis Pahlavanlu and Sunny Singh. Issue 16 features the full-length mini-comics that were created in the Illustration program’s specialization course on comics creation led by professor Martha Newbigging.
The comics by Sunny and Pardis fit the mandate of Nat Brut to publish exploratory creative work representative of different identities. These two illustrators really dug into the creative use of the comics form to question and portray troubling aspects of their own lived experience. - Professor Martha Newbigging
The School of Marketing and Media is pleased to announce that “Make It Happen,” the annual career symposium for students, will be held Tuesday, March 28 at the Flato Markham Theatre. This event will be held in person and streamed on Zoom.
Make It Happen offers students the exceptional opportunity to learn what it takes to achieve career success from Canada’s top marketers and our School of Marketing Alumni.
What to expect:
Morning Session 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.:
Keynote address and panel discussion from Canadian marketing legends including:
- Matt Kelly, Managing Partner Level5 Strategy, former SVP of KFC USA, SVP Yum! Europe, CMO Yum! Brands Canada, Recipient of Yum! Chairman’s Global Award for Leadership and Tricon Canada Award for Brand and Marketing Leadership
- Arthur Fleishmann, Group CEO, Ogilvy Canada/john st. Country Manager, AMA Canada Hall of Marketing Legend 2016
- Nancy Marcus, Consultant, former CMO Kruger Products, Top 100 Most Powerful Women Award 2014, AMA Canada Hall of Marketing Legend 2020
- Mark Harrison, Founder & CEO T1 Agency and recently The MH3 Group, including T1, Humanity, global conference SponsorshipX, Black Talent Initiative (BTI), and Park Street Education
Interactive networking session with comedians Kelly Fanson and Chris Sawchyn of PhysBiz
Afternoon Sessions 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Concurrent sessions on “How to Make It Happen” in Sales, Advertising, Brand Management, Sports & Entertainment, and Digital Marketing from distinguished School of Marketing Alumni.
- Career Branding Special Workshop presented by Adobe.
Be sure to register and share this news with your students.
Lucia Stafford, a student in the Independent Songwriting & Performance program, was interviewed about her success in track events after setting the Canadian women's record for an indoor 1,000-metre race at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.
“I’m in a music program right now and I make sure I prioritize going for walks or seeing friends and doing all that stuff that makes me happy, so that when I go to the track, I’m focused and fulfilled, instead of kind of like always thinking about track, like that’s been a big thing for me.”
Donna Gall, Professor, School of Marketing & Media, has been championing women and sports for years. Her documentary Play Fair delved into the subject and put the spotlight on some of Canada’s top female athletes, such as Hayley Wickenheiser, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in hockey, Silken Laumann, a champion rower, and Katie Willis, who helped get women’s ski jumping into the 2014 Olympics. The film then inspired Ms. Gall to do her PhD on media coverage for women’s sport.
She’s passionate about the subject. And that’s why Ms. Gall recently spoke to the federal government’s Standing Committee on the Status of Women in Ottawa.
“My core recommendation today is that we need more stories to be told about women and girls in sport to make sport better, more equitable and safer,” Donna told the 11 committee members.
A new study led by Sabine Weber, professor in the School of Fashion, in partnership with the University of Waterloo, showed Canadians throw out about a billion pounds of fabric items per year, making up just over four per cent of landfill waste.
The origin of this paper was based on the Applied Research Project funded by Seneca. However, because Sabine also wanted to calculate the value lost by throwing textiles away, she partnered with three professors from the University of Waterloo to calculate the avoidable greenhouse gas emissions reduction through recycling. The team hopes to build infrastructure to recycle clothing in Canada, to try and change how each province deals with waste and keep clothes out of landfills.
A piece by CTV Kitchener was produced about the project and also happened to have a Seneca connection. Journalist Colton Wiens reported on the story and is a graduate from the Journalism program.
How to Be More Sustainable in 2023
Seneca’s Office of Sustainability (SoS) leads our commitment to becoming the sustainable Seneca. The vision, as outlined in the Sustainability Plan, is to embed sustainability into our culture and we need your support to make that happen.
During the Fall 2022 Term, we launched the Sustainable Seneca space on MySeneca and the Sustainable Seneca Instagram account. Both platforms are great ways to stay up to date with sustainability events and initiatives.
Let’s make 2023 the most sustainable year yet by incorporating practices into your daily routine on and off campus.
Some things you can do:
- Learn about Seneca’s Sustainability Policy
- Submit an innovative idea related to sustainability
- Fill out the Sustainability Impact Statement Form
- Use reusable bottles on campus (find refill stations on the Seneca MOBILE app)
- Think before you print with the sustainable printing initiative
- Learn about Sustainability champions at Seneca
- Connect with the Sustainability Team
As we witness the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, we want to share that everyone at Seneca is here to support those affected and that there are resources available.
- Seneca has established a team of student navigators to connect students with the right person to help them with any challenges or concerns. Students can contact a navigator by contacting theservicehub@senecacollege.ca
- Seneca is dedicated to supporting faculty and staff experiencing personal challenges by offering various support and services.
Please let us know how we can help. Our thoughts are with you and your families.
Visual Effects professor Joe Raasch has been exploring the use of ChatGPT, an AI tool, to help explain codes and concepts from the software used in the program. He found that asking the AI to explain the code like he was 10 years old resulted in a clear and helpful summary.
Joe explains his full process and what it means for helping prepare students in a LinkedIn post.
Animation professor Barney Wornoff appeared on the Corner of Hunter and George podcast to delve into the world of animation from a Peterborough perspective. Barney discusses his work in the industry, teaching at Seneca, and past productions in Peterborough and abroad. They also briefly analyze the relation between AI and animation.
Gina Catenazzo, Instructional Designer & Accessibility Trainer in Seneca’s Teaching & Learning Centre, and Devin Andrade, Digital Content Producer and Podcast Marketer, held a specialized workshop for the CBC. After learning about Seneca’s Accessible Podcasting microcredential, CBC expressed interest in a workshop designed for their employees involved in podcasting. Gina and Devin designed and delivered a four hour workshop that took a group of CBC employees through issues and trends in podcasting and identified what is needed to meet accessibility standards and create inclusive content. By the end, attendees were feeling motivated to improve the accessibility of their podcasts.
Below is some of the feedback they received from a participant.
Went in feeling as though I knew absolutely nothing and found the session eye-opening in terms of thinking about accessibility not just for audiences, but for creators as well; how mobility (not just dexterity limitations) can be a barrier to the podcast experience; what free tools there are out there to help produce accessible digital content, these I can apply immediately to my projects.
School of Marketing & Media professor Scott Campbell was featured in a recent edition Canadian Business' newsletter The Evolution. As an industry expert, he provided his insights on consumer-spending trends for Valentine's Day.
“We saw a dip in Valentine’s Day spending during the pandemic, but there are other factors in why there’s a decline, like macro demographics. Millennials and Baby Boomers make up the largest generations of consumers, and they're aging. These demographics are more settled in relationships and are less likely to spend money on a partner for Valentine’s Day. Gen Z consumers do spend on gifts, but what they spend on is different from past generations. Young consumers seek experiences, like concerts and trips, which may not be considered holiday gifts, but are still being given for Valentine’s Day.”
The Boutique campus store and online store have re-opened for the winter semester!
They have a brand-new collection of clothing and accessories and for the first time, have a small selection of "Pre-Loved"/ gently used merchandise available for a limited time only.
Store hours this semester are:
- Tuesday- Thursday 12:00PM to 6:00PM
- Friday 12:00PM- 4:00PM
Shop online 24/7 from February 16th to April 6th
The SenecaSAFE app now has a WorkAlone feature that allows you to alert Seneca’s Security Services when you are studying or working alone on campus. Through the feature, you are able to create virtual check-ins based on your time on campus, allowing you to control the number of check-ins based on personal preference.
Once the WorkAlone session is confirmed, Security Services gets real-time notifications that you are on campus and can monitor your session through push notification check-ins. If you fail a check-in, Security Services will send a guard to your location and contact you via phone call to ensure everything is okay.
There will be a full implementation of Blackboard Ultra to start the May 2023 Term. This gives all faculty the winter term to become familiar with its new features and take advantage of the teaching and learning resources available.
Seneca has also retained Blackboard experts to convert current courses to Blackboard Ultra. These courses will be available in the coming days as the courses are being converted in batches.
Here’s what is available to help you transition to Blackboard Ultra:
- Along with access to converted courses, you can take part in various workshops offered through Teaching & Learning Centre. Please register through MyPD.
- Drop-in sessions will be available 5 days a week at Newnham campus, and various asynchronous materials are also available on the Blackboard Ultra site.
- If you have questions or need help with your converted course, we’ve created an ‘Ultra request for support page’.
- Teaching and Learning will also be hosting a Blackboard Ultra community of practice when converted courses become available in early February; please let your chair know if you are interested in participating
- If you are teaching during the May 2023 Term, you will have access to your Blackboard Ultra course shell on Wednesday, March 29, 2023; we will also prepare a short video you can insert in the shell that will help students navigate the updated Blackboard platform
We are excited to share with you the many benefits of Blackboard Ultra and how it will enhance the teaching and learning experience for you and our students.
Blackboard Ultra Drop-in Support Session
Got a Blackboard Ultra question? Need some help using Blackboard Ultra’s features or working with your converted course? Come to our drop-in sessions where experts from the Teaching & Learning Centre will be on hand to help you with your questions.
Registration is not needed: drop in anytime on Feb. 23 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern to ask your question(s).
Each month we will be featuring a column from Teaching and Learning, from Teaching and Learning Centre Manager Karen Spiers.
New Ed-Tech Tools for Faculty!
We are excited to tell you about two new ed tech tools the College has secured licensing for; Hypothesis and Kritik.
Kritik is an online platform that facilitates peer-to-peer assessment of student through 3 stages of assessment (creation, evaluation and feedback) giving students an opportunity to learn from their peers, adapt and improve their work and gain a deeper understanding of the topic. To learn more about how you can use Kritik, please visit:
Hypothesis is an easy-to-use pedagogical tool that enables students and teachers to have conversations in the margins of digital texts. Using social annotation gives you new ways to foster student success by building community, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of readings. For more information about how to use Hypothesis please visit: Using Hypothesis in Blackboard Guide
These tools are available via the Educational Technology Tool Finder.
Teaching & Learning Day
February 27th, 2023 (in person, Newnham Campus)
A one-day conference dedicated to showcasing and sharing ideas and activities about how to enhance teaching and learning.
The focus of Teaching & Learning Day Winter 2023 is on Educational Technology.
Keynote Speaker
We're excited to announce that our keynote speaker is Dr. Robert Clapperton, Associate Professor in Professional Communication at The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University and co-founder of Ametros Learning.
Coming on campus
- Download the virtual Seneca OneCard and the Seneca SAFE app to your smartphone; you’ll be tapping your OneCard at a self-serve kiosk each time you enter a campus building.
- If you are driving to King, Markham, Newnham or Seneca@York campuses, you must purchase a parking permit using the Seneca Parking website or the Honk mobile app or website.
- The Seneca intercampus shuttle service will also be running, and public transit is available.
- Wear a face mask while in classrooms, labs or other enclosed spaces (e.g., washrooms) where physical distancing is not possible.
- Faculty who are teaching and students who are presenting may remove their mask when speaking if they are physically distanced.
- All on-campus services and facilities are available, including hotelling workspaces, The Service Hub, libraries, food services and athletic and recreation facilities.
- Face masks will be available at campus entrances for those in need, and personal protective equipment will be provided if required for your classes or labs.
- Guests are welcome on campus and must present a government-issued photo I.D. upon arrival.
- Daily health check: If you are feeling unwell or are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, flu or RSV, please do not come to campus.
All self-service food and beverage stations on campus are open. Buffet, self-serve food and beverage options are now allowed for events. Individually packed meals and bag lunches can still be offered under special requests.
Information about Seneca Dining Services is available on MySeneca.
Reminders
February is Seneca’s annual We Love Our Students Month. There are many ways to support Seneca students financially, during and after February, please consider participating or contributing if/where you can.
- Make a splash for our students: join the Polar Bear Dip or Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money for student financial aid. Not a fan of the cold? Stay warm and support a challenger by making a donation online. The last day for fundraising will be Sunday, March 12.
You can read more about Seneca’s employee giving program – Campaign for Students, Ways to Give
Seneca Alumni Affinity Program
The Seneca Alumni Affinity Program is open for new funding opportunities. The program funds student experiential learning activities and events that connect students and alumni. Previously, the fund has helped students attend industry conferences and networking events.
- Thank you to everyone who participated in the employee survey on inclusion. The results are in and have been posted on MySeneca.
- Temporary changes have been made to off campus working hours and co-op work permits for international students in the Student Self-Assessment tool.
- New enhancements to Support Staff benefits will took effect on Thursday, December 29th.
Resources
- Join Information Technology Services for HyFlex: Flexible Tech Training.
- Explore the online nutshells Introduction to Seneca's Quality Framework and Writing Effective Learning Outcomes.
- Plan your winter 2023 courses with faculty and learning outcome resources.
- Read the Teaching & Learning Centre spark plugs The Teaching & Learning Centre: A Day in the Life... and Work Integrated Learning: Two Students' Experience Working in the Teaching & Learning Centre.
- Learn how to create accessible graphs and charts.
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