Dear Colleagues,
I hope you had a relaxing and refreshing holiday, filled with warmth, comfort and quality time with family and friends.
I am excited about what 2023 will bring – if it is anything like 2022, there will be significant opportunities for Seneca to innovate, collaborate, and provide superior leadership in ways that benefit our students, our employees and community partners.
Of course, there will be no shortage of challenges: From technological changes, to shifting labour markets, to geopolitical conflicts that impact our Seneca community.
I am confident that you will respond to these opportunities and challenges the way you always have in the past – with creativity, patience, and above all an unwavering commitment to providing our students with a great education.
Upon your return to campus to provide that great education to your students, an update on some protocols for the winter term:
Our vaccination policy ended on Dec. 31, 2022, which means students, employees, contractors, and visitors will no longer be required to be vaccinated to enter Seneca’s campuses. But, as President Agnew has said, getting vaccinated remains the best defence against the flu and COVID-19 to help keep our communities safe. Please make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
Masks will continue to be required in instructional spaces such as classrooms, labs, IT labs and studios. Faculty who are teaching and students who are presenting may remove their mask when speaking if they are physically distanced
Masks are also required in other enclosed spaces where physical distancing is not possible such as small meeting or consultation rooms, washrooms, etc.
Wearing masks in areas such as corridors, libraries, computing commons, cafeterias and other more open areas will be your choice.
Finally, in the interests of safety and to assist with resourcing, scheduling and planning, Seneca will continue to have students and staff tap their One Card each time they enter a campus building. Guests are welcome on campus and will need to be registered in advance with the Campus Experience team. Consult the Visitor Protocol for more details.
I wish you all a successful start-up and a productive and rewarding semester.
Stay well and stay safe.
Kurt
Seneca hosted and won this year’s Ontario Colleges’ Marketing Competition (OCMC) held December 1st and 2nd in Toronto. More than 200 students, enrolled in specialized marketing programs at a dozen Ontario colleges, competed in the event
Students were placed in teams of two, and competed in one of 12 case categories, focusing on subjects such as integration marketing communications, direct marketing and entrepreneurship. Each team had 30 minutes to analyze a real industry case and recommend strategies to address the problem in a 15-minute presentation to a panel of industry judges.
“These marketing students have worked hard over the past several months preparing for this event,” said Scott Campbell, professor and OCMC 2022 committee head. “OCMC is a prestigious event that attracts the best and the brightest college students in Ontario. It is an extraordinary experience for them and is often the pinnacle of their academic journey.”
As hosts of the event, faculty and staff from the School of Marketing and Media spent over a year planning the event. Every year the host school gets to customize the theme of the event and Seneca chose the theme “Game Changers” to celebrate the next-generation marketers who will shape the industry’s landscape as thought leaders and innovators.
Marketing student Swaraj Bhowmick shared his experience competing at OCMC on LinkedIn recently.
First, I'm glad to be a part of the first place champions of the whole event - Seneca College! Countless hours of preparation were put in by the whole team, students and coaches, and it was a thrill to see all that dedication paid off.
I'm also humbled and honoured to have received the prestigious Lydiatt Award - I know it's an award with a meaningful history and lots of great competitors have taken it home in the past. I know it's an individual award but I share it with everyone that's in my corner.
I'd like to shout out my teammates, they are amazing - including Yasmine Shateri, Juan Torres, and Shameer Ali Khan who went to battle with me on the stage for Quiz Bowl. A big thanks to the professors as well - Domenic "Coach" Gasparro, Stefan Kanitz, Scott Campbell, and the rest of the faculty. Not only for coaching, but setting up the whole event which was a lot of work because Seneca was the host college this year.
Last but not least, I'd also like to congratulate the other colleges for a great OCMC event. It was a truly unique experience sharing the Sheraton in downtown Toronto with passionate marketing students from across the province.
Under the leadership of professor and program coordinator John Switzer, Independent Music Production students contributed to a collaborative project that won a global Open Education (OE) Awards for Excellence.
Seneca and Brock University co-authored The Technologist module of the Liberated Learners project, with Seneca creating a series of original, lo-fi, hip-hop beats for studying and relaxation. The goal of the Liberated Learners project was to design an OER guide to support students’ overall wellbeing. The Technologist module is just one of four modules designed to develop specific skills and competencies.
“It would have been easy to use pre-existing stock music for this project, but Terry’s idea of having original pieces composed was brilliant and welcome,” said John Switzer. “Any opportunity for our music students to participate in real-world projects outside of their normal schoolwork and assignments is incredibly valuable.”
Mark Jones, Chair of the School of Creative Arts & Animation, has been appointed Director of The Seneca Film Institute (SFI), a transformative new initiative within the Faculty of Communication, Art & Design (FCAD).
Under Mark’s leadership, the SFI will advance Seneca’s impact in screen-based industries through world-class programs, business development partnerships and community outreach. It is designed to be one of the most comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable film training institutes in Canada, with a focus on innovation in storytelling forms and technologies.
The Seneca Film institute will enhance the market position of current and future programs across FCAD, preparing talented graduates for success in front of or behind the camera — building on our successes in fields such as animation, television production, acting, fashion, marketing and more.
The SFI will also bring together FCAD’s exceptional faculty, industry partners and alumni to provide an enriched cross-disciplinary experience — including applied research and co-productions with external partners — that will give graduates the skills and experiences to thrive in Canada’s booming screen industry.
Mark, who will also remain in his current role as Chair, School of Creative Arts & Animation, is the ideal person to bring the vision for the SFI to life. He is an award-winning, 20+ year veteran of the creative communications and digital technologies industries, having worked as a producer, artist and writer. He founded CyberStage Communications and was the executive producer of Chris Landreth’s animated short, Subconscious Password, which won the Grand Prix at Annecy in 2013 and the 2014 Canadian Screen Award for Best Animated Short.
Mark is also a founding board member of The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International. He holds a master’s degree in communications and culture from Toronto Metropolitan University and York University.
Event Management – Creative Design students helped craft the decor for Bloor Street Entertains, an annual fundraising event hosted by the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR). From start to finish, students put their studies into practice to create a unique experience at six downtown Toronto venues. This year's event took place on Wednesday, November 30th and raised $1.3 million for HIV research.
Seneca will plant hundreds of shrubs and dozens of trees at its Seneca@York campus after receiving a $75,000 grant from the city. This is the third time Seneca received City of Toronto's Greening Partnership Grant. The funds will also support ongoing naturalization work at Newnham Campus, at Finch Avenue East and Don Mills Road.
This is part of a larger renovation project at the Keele Street and The Pond Road campus, which also includes an enhanced outdoor events space, new lighting and the addition of a rain garden.
Process, Protocol, and Procedures Reminder
This month and in every subsequent newsletter we will include a gentle reminder about our 3Ps: PROCESS, PROTOCOL and PROCEDURES in an effort to make every aspect of our work as clear and as straightforward as possible. This may include the necessity for contract faculty to communicate their scheduling restrictions in a timely manner, when to look at your schedule when a new semester is about to begin, criteria for consideration of schedule or delivery mode changes, and others. Together, we can work to reduce the pain points involved in making an increasingly complex system work well for ourselves and our students.
Cancelling a Class
If you need to cancel a class, please follow these steps:
- Notify your students through “Announcements” at Learn@Seneca (blackboard) notification
- Send an email to the class cancellations listservs, so that administrative and reception staff are aware and can communicate to students or post notices.
- som.cancellations@senecacollege.ca (for Media faculty).
- smkt.cancellations@senecacollege.ca (for Marketing faculty).
- scaa.cancellations@senecacollege.ca (for SCAA faculty).
- schooloffashion@senecacollege.ca (for Fashion faculty).
- Please connect with your APM or Chair for special arrangements for the class cancelled.
Important reminder:
No make-up classes should be scheduled during Study Week and statutory holidays. On-campus or virtual classes need to follow the same schedule and routine for students.
Seneca has been named as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for the 14th time.
This year, Seneca was recognized for its commitment to equity, a flexibile work approach and the many professional development and continuing education opportunities available to employees.
“We are #SenecaProud to once again be recognized among Greater Toronto’s Top Employers. Our employees drive our success. We are committed to helping them realize their potential by offering the supports and opportunities that help them reach their personal and professional goals so they in turn can help our students realize theirs.” - Caroline Riley, Vice-President, Human Resources.
Beginning with inspiration from professor Anna Cappuccitti and then Canadian ethical fashion icon Linda Lundstrom, Gagan Singh co-founded Clean Planet, a sustainable textile manufacturing company. The graduate of Seneca’s Fashion Business diploma program shares how his company helped produce medical gowns for the healthcare industry and focuses on sustainable fashion.
Nezhada Gomes, graduate of the Fashion Business Management class of 2020, is featured for taking advantage of a diploma-to-degree pathway to earn a bachelor’s degree in international fashion from Manchester Metropolitan University. The program included a six-month internship, and her placement was with one of the biggest names in luxury fashion: Dior.
School of Fashion professor Dr. Mark O'Connell announced that Bloomsbury UK will be publishing his next fashion history book: Canadian Fashion Economies: A Select History of Fashion Culture, Commerce, and Colonialization. In it, he traces the social and economic impacts of iconic garments from Canadian fashion history. Look for it early 2024!
School of Creative Arts & Animation professors Eyal Assaf, Steve Kahwati, and Joe Raasch completed the Unreal Worldbuilding Fellowship. The intensive fellowship was a three-week, virtual course that centered on the core principles of real-time production design, with emphasis on the environments needed to tell a compelling story. At the end of the fellowship, they demonstrated their ability to create/stage elaborate worlds in a final short.
This was SO MUCH FUN. I learned a lot about Unreal and how it’s an awesome fit for environment work. I learned so much about how it procedurally scatters foliage, how it handles grass, new features like Data Layers and Packed Level Instances. But honestly, the best part was being given a creative task and just digging into it. - Joe Raasch
Seneca's Sustainability Plan
The SEC has approved Seneca’s Sustainability Policy. The policy outlines Seneca's commitment to sustainability and the objectives within the Sustainability Plan.
For questions or comments about the policy, contact Don Forster, Director, Office of Sustainability.
Full-time Faculty Sustainability Research Project
Full-time faculty are invited to consider participating in the research project: Beyond the Concepts: What Faculty Need to Feel Ready to Teach Sustainability in the Classroom – A Collaborative Inquiry Project. This research project is funded by the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) at Seneca.
Please visit Beyond the Concepts for more information about the opportunity.
Faculty interested in learning more about the goals, logistics and direction of the project can access a recording of the virtual information session held on Monday, Jan. 9.
If you have any questions, please email the project co-investigators:
Dr. Carmen Schlamb
Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies
carmen.schlamb@senecacollege.ca
Dr. Nadia Kelton
Professor, School of Environmental & Civil Engineering Technology
nadia.kelton@senecacollege.ca
President David Agnew has announced that masks will continue to be required in the winter term in all instructional spaces and enclosed spaces where physical distancing is not possible. Masks will be optional in open areas such as corridors, cafeterias and libraries.
As of January 2023, all visitors to Seneca, including guests of students or employees, contractors and industry partners will need to sign in to come on campus.
Students and employees will use their OneCard to tap in every time they enter a campus.
Visitors on campus
Pre-arrival
If you are bringing a visitor to or expecting a contractor on a Seneca campus, please email the Campus Experience team with the following information at least one day prior to their arrival:
- Visitor’s first and last name
- Their phone number
- Whether they are a visitor or a contractor
- Campus to be visited and approximate time of arrival
- Destination on campus
This information will help speed up the process of coming on campus.
Upon arrival
When a visitor arrives, the Campus Experience team member who greets them will:
- Confirm they are registered
- Ask them for a government-issued photo I.D. that confirms their identity
- Guide them to their destination
Not registered
Visitors who are not registered will be asked to sign in using laptops located at each of Seneca’s designated campus entrances. Students or employees without a OneCard will also be required to sign in.
Children on campus
Children are allowed on campus but are not permitted in classrooms during academic sessions or in offices/work stations during work hours. They will not require a government-issued photo I.D. to enter a campus.
Questions?
For more information, please contact campus.experience@senecacollege.ca.
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
- 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.
- Register for a Better Together account and connect with Seneca colleagues to discuss research and innovation.
- New enhancements to Support Staff benefits will took effect on Thursday, December 29th.
- The deadline to apply to receive up to $15,000 through the Social Innovation Research Fund is Friday, January 13th.
- Don't for get to update your computer to use Webex in the new year.
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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