Dear Colleagues,
It was a pleasure to share some time with all of you this week as we gathered in the SEQ Courtyard to enjoy lunch together and kick off our fall semester. I found the faculty presentations on their initiatives related to retention, the Curriculum Integration Project, sustainability, internationalization, and more, particularly inspiring.
All are aligned with our Strategic Plan, which was highlighted by President David Agnew in the All-Employee Meeting.
Some of the priorities over the next three years:
- Getting our students career-ready and world-ready — ensuring some form of experiential learning in every program.
- Bespoke education — providing greater flexibility in building programs, choosing courses and learning modes — watch this video to learn more about Seneca's digital transformation and why Microsoft ranks us among the best in higher education for digital innovation.
- Student and employee experience — using the new student Service Hub as a model, exploring a hub for employees to access the services they need from Human Resources, Finances, ITS, Campus Services and more.
- Strong foundations — through our strong partnerships beyond our borders and our longstanding diversification strategy, enriching our campuses and programs with students from a huge range of countries, cultures, languages and ethnicities
President Agnew also shared some of the successes and milestones related to the three pillars of Au Large, which underpin the Strategic Plan:
- Equitable Seneca — highlighting our first comprehensive equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) plan titled Reconciliation and Inclusion: A Shared Commitment with Responsibilities and our 2022 gold award from Colleges and Institutes Canada for our work in EDI.
- Sustainable Seneca — celebrating the many sustainability initiatives happening across our campuses, including a focus on intensive controlled-environment farming at Newnham Campus.
- The More Virtual Seneca — illustrating the investments in flex delivery classrooms and labs.
The meeting also included a fascinating discussion with Dr. Elka Walsh, Associate Vice President, Learning and Teaching at Microsoft Canada. Dr. Walsh outlined how Artificial Intelligence is affecting postsecondary education. The first story in our newsletter this month is Seneca’s Institutional Statement on how we will approach these technologies. A key principle is that we want our students to understand the potential benefits, limitations and possible harms and misuses of AI.
Stay well and stay safe.
Kurt
From Marianne Marando, Vice-President, Academic & Students and Riaz Saloojee, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Chair, Seneca AI-ET Working Group.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT and its counterpart DALL-E have had a significant impact on postsecondary education. While many institutions reacted quickly with attempts to block, then later find ways to integrate AI technologies, we have taken a more forward-thinking approach.
Our mandate is to get our students career- and world-ready. We prepare our graduates to move seamlessly into their chosen careers, which includes providing them with opportunities to critically engage with AI-emerging technologies (AI-ET). We want our students to understand the potential benefits, limitations and possible harms and misuses of AI.
That commitment has led us to develop an Institutional Academic Statement (IAS) on AI-ET. The statement aligns with our Strategic Plan.
We have also prepared a set of accompanying Guiding Questions and Considerations to help facilitate conversations in your respective academic and professional areas on how to critically engage with AI technologies.
These documents are a product of consultation and input from faculty and administrators in academic and student support areas. Members of our Program Advisory Committees were consulted to ensure industry alignment, and provided strong endorsement for both documents. Student representatives and student government were also consulted in the process.
We hope our IAS on AI-ET helps further contribute to Seneca’s role as a world leader in polytechnic education.
The 2023 International Animation School Rankings have been published, with Seneca’s program ranking 3rd in Canada and 5th Internationally. These are the 12th annual international rankings that Animation Career Review has done. They considered nearly 200 schools with animation programs from across the globe to determine this year's rankings. The criteria for the rankings consider everything from academic reputation, to employment data and the depth of programs.
Seneca's rankings
Top 25 for Animation Internationally (#5)
Top 10 for Animation in Canada (#3)
Mark Jones, Director, Seneca Film Institute and Chair, School of Creative Arts & Animation, has left Seneca. Mark’s last day was Friday August 25th.
Mark’s long and illustrious career at Seneca began in 2001 when he accepted a part-time teaching opportunity in what was then the School of Communication Arts. Over the next 22 years he established himself as a strategic and empathetic leader with a comprehensive grasp of industry trends and a gift for inspiring his team.
Mark became Chair, School of Creative Arts & Animation (SCAA) in 2010. Under his leadership, the SCAA has thrived as a hub for industry collaboration, excellence in teaching and innovation in the classroom.
Some highlights:
- Animation co-production projects such as Subconscious Password, Nothing to Say and DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver.
- Successful launch of Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Design in Interactive Media degree.
- Visionary leadership in the creation of the Seneca Film Institute as one of the most comprehensive film training institutions in Canada.
We wish Mark all the best in his new role as Sheridan’s Dean of Animation, Arts and Design.
The search for Mark’s replacement is underway. In the interim, Tina Cortese has accepted the role of Acting Director, Seneca Film Institute and Chair, School of Creative Arts & Animation, effective August 25. This will be in addition to her current duties as Chair, School of Media.
Tina played a significant role in the launch of the Seneca Film Institute and the development of associated credentials and was recently honoured with the Radio and Television Digital News Association Canada Lifetime Achievement Award.
Seneca Government Relations Alumni Association and Government Relations (GRM) faculty, with the Seneca Alumni Office gathered recently to reconnect and network with past and present GRM students. GRM grads in attendance are working in organizations such as CAA, Sheridan College, Sussex Strategy Group, Enterprise Canada, Creative Currency, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), City of Hamilton.
Sijia Liu, a graduate of the previously-offered Broadcast Journalism program, is leaving CTV News Windsor to become an anchor and reporter with CTV News Kitchener. Sijia worked with the Windsor team for more than three years, sharing her passion for local stories.
“Having participated in the hiring process to bring Sijia to Windsor, I can say without a doubt, she is better than expected! Every single challenge or task we threw her way, she attempted without complaint and completed them all above expectations,” said reporter and assistant news director Michelle Maluske.
Jodie Davis, a graduate of a previously-offered program in radio and television broadcasting, discussed his career as a producer for major entertainment events and TV shows on the Media People Podcast. Jodie shared what it was like growing up in Uxbridge, Ontario, simultaneously attending both York University and Seneca Polytechnic, a producer’s collective duties, and what it’s like producing Canada’s biggest entertainment news show.
In the latest episode of The Dean's Desk, Kurt is joined by School of Marketing professor Hemant Sangwan. He talks about how growing up in an environment surrounded by positive experiences with teaching and education and always finding himself drawn to it. In speaking about the work he's done in marketing that's involved data and consumer trends, Kurt and Hemant discuss the use of psychology, then look to the future of AI, data literacy, and how to properly prepare students for working in the industry. Beyond marketing, Hemant discusses his life in Canada, his love of writing, and his hidden bartending skills.
Johnny Kennedy, a graduate of the Independent Music Production (IMP) program, discusses his new single "Cottage Country Girl". Kennedy’s songwriting, which he often does while driving north to Muskoka, takes inspiration from his life growing up on a farm in New Tecumseth and cottaging in Irondale. Since graduating from Seneca in 2018, his songs have seen successful releases with features on local radio stations throughout Ontario and shows around the province.
“Cottage Country Girl showcases the lifestyle of girls who grew up visiting their family cottages and spending the summer on the water, learning to love cottage country for what it has to offer – things like water skiing, fishing and driving a boat.” Johnny Kennedy
Journalism students in the Journalism and Public Life course took part in an experiential learning opportunity with the Toronto Jazz Festival during Reading Week. It was a 10-day experience that involved interviewing emerging multicultural jazz artists about how they are trying to educate and unite communities through their diverse music. Students also interviewed jazz experts, fans and organizers and produced content for the Toronto Jazz Festival.
"Creating content for the Toronto Jazz Festival's social media has been an amazing experiential learning opportunity for our journalism students," said professor, Barbara Caines. "This fall, my JRN110 students will be doing video stories on emerging, multicultural jazz artists who are uniting communities through their unique music."
This is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Toronto Jazz Festival and Seneca’s journalism program. In the 2023 winter semester, students collaborated with Toronto Jazz and did visual stories on many of the same artists.
András Máté Gömöri, an incoming student soon to start the Acting for Camera & Voice program, is a well-known actor and bodybuilder in Hungary. András shared the details of how he’s preparing for the move to Canada, how it will impact his bodybuilding schedule and competitions, and how his family is supporting his decision to pursue the program.
Constant Yen, a graduate of the Animation program, had their short film Look selected for the Ottawa International Animation Festival. The OIAF received a total of 2165 entries for this year’s edition, representing 85 countries; 40 of those submissions were selected for this year’s Shorts competition. The selected animated works will be judged and awarded by a jury formed by the expertise of Alla Gadassik (Canada), Parissa Mohit (Canada) and Xi Chen (China).
Constant’s film was selected under the Canadian Student category, which is awarded for the most outstanding Canadian student animation work, with a $5000 CAD cash prize courtesy of NBCUniversal. The award-winning films will be announced on Saturday, September 23rd at 7:30pm during the OIAF’s Awards Ceremony.
The Seneca Film Institute is thrilled to announce that Annalie Bonda will be joining as Community and Industry Development Consultant.
Annalie’s diverse background spans program development, social enterprise leadership, workforce development, policy advising, alternative education, non-profit and community-based strategy, as well as arts and culture advocacy. She is best known in the Toronto creative industries as the former Executive Director at The Remix Project, the ground-breaking arts and entertainment incubator for youth from marginalized and underserved communities that count artists like Jessie Reyez and Jebril “Fresh” Jalloh as alumni. Having run her own fashion sales agency and contributing to advancing Canadian independent music artists and companies, she brings valuable experience in strategy and program development, both locally and internationally. Collaborations with industry giants like Google, Nike, and Sony Music, along with engagement with significant contributions in programs and policy at all three levels of government, showcase her ability to advocate for voices and stories that need to be heard.
Annalie’s two-decade journey at the crossroads of business, community, and creativity will provide rich insights into empowerment and innovation at the Seneca Film Institute.
Please join us in welcoming Annalie to the Seneca Film Institute.
Brianne Service started her career teaching in the Illustration Program at Seneca in 2020. She has also taught in the Illustration Program at OCADU since 2018. Her teaching experience stems from her time spent living and working in Florence, Italy for five years as an English and Art teacher. Brianne is also a professional fine artist, and has exhibited her work internationally throughout Canada, Italy, and France. Brianne has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Art, Media and Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drawing and Painting from OCADU. She also holds a diploma in Illustration, and a certificate in Art Fundamentals from Sheridan College.
Jeremy Rayment has been designing, producing and teaching interactive media for well over two decades. Jeremy has an Honours BA in Communications, a Masters of Education Instructional Design and a graduate diploma in interactive media. Jeremy is a massive fan of all things science fiction/fantasy as well as an avid gamer who can be often found in Elder Scrolls Online aiding the people of Tamriel. When Jeremy unplugs odds are he is reading, cooking/barbecuing, playing the bass guitar or hanging out with his family. In addition to teaching and designing interactive media for Seneca, Jeremy has taught interactive media courses for Humber College, Sault College, Centennial College, and 7th Generation Educational Institute.
Amanda Herold is the newest full-time professor to join the School of Marketing. Amanda started her career teaching at Seneca in Winter 2020 and has proven herself to be a multifaceted team member who is always willing to go the extra mile to help her colleagues and students in various roles, including Partial-load Professor, Course Lead of MRK 317, and Acting Program Coordinator. She has also taught at York University since 2019 as Course Director of Introduction to Marketing and Digital Marketing courses. Prior to joining Seneca, Amanda held roles with Bell Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Bank of Montreal (BMO), and KPMG in marketing, management consulting and corporate training.
Amanda holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto/Rotman School of Management with a double major in Consulting and Leadership and Change Management and was voted her class' valedictorian at graduation. Additionally, Amanda earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from York University with a specialization in Marketing and a certificate in Human Resource management. She has also assisted in conducting scholarly research on Consumer Behaviour at each of her alma maters. Outside of Seneca, Amanda is a trekking enthusiast who has completed several treks around the world, including summiting Kilimanjaro and completing the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Please join me in welcoming Amanda to the team.
Tarah Burke began her studies in International Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology with study divided between their New York, Paris, and Florence campuses. In addition, she has a Bachelor of Arts from the London College of Fashion and a Master of Arts from Toronto Metropolitan University. This fall, Tarah begins her doctoral studies in the Communication and Culture program at Toronto Metropolitan University. The focus of this degree will be the preservation of intangible cultural heritage through craft as a tool for community building and economic growth. Tarah grew up in the Canadian Fashion Industry participating from a young age in her family’s retail display business. Tarah worked as costume designer and technician for film and television, as well as a cross promotional product developer and strategic production management consultant before transitioning to a career in post-secondary education. Tarah’s research bridges historical costume and making practices and opportunities to draw on the past to create more sustainable, equitable and ethical design and manufacturing policies.
Michons Marigot is a distinct design talent with a myriad of skills in both technical and creative design. She is currently based in Toronto, Canada where she works in fashion education and product development. With a breadth of global industry experience, technical acumen, and an unparalleled tenacity, Michons is well-rounded with a mind that thinks outside the box and aims to work in an innovative and sustainable way. Michons Marigot is also behind the small namesake brand that ascribes to the Slow Fashion ideology and creates seasonal collections of mindful luxury.
Rushmita Alam is a professor at the School of Fashion. She worked in the fashion industry for over 24 years and developed a strong background in Teaching, Research, Design and Business planning. She has a wide range of experience in the global fashion industry and is particularly interested in sustainability and inclusive design. Her life began to intersect with design interests in the early stages of her life in Japan. The Japanese culture and customs significantly impacted her life, which later shaped her design interest, further nurtured by Canadian exposure and experience later in life.
Prior to Seneca Polytechnique, she was a professor at the School of Fashion at George Brown College and Academy of Design, Toronto Film School. Notably, she played a pioneering role as the founding Chair of the Fashion Designing and Technique department at BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, the first fashion school in Bangladesh.
Rushmita’s passion for inclusive design led to the creation of the adaptive clothing brand “e3 Koncept”, dedicated to addressing the fashion needs of individuals facing mobility challenges. Her engagement in research has led her to collaborate with prominent entities such as the United Nations, European Union, British Council, London College of Fashion, and more, within the realm of sustainable fashion. She has published and presented numerous papers on Sustainability, Inclusion and Fashion topics at Toronto Fashion Week, TFI conferences, York University, University of Toronto, OCAD University, Simon Fraser University, Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and London College of Fashion. Her other professional activity includes working with various international Organizations such as the Society of Dyer & Colorist, the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institute, etc. She holds both an MBA and MEds degrees from OCAD University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto.
Mark Schranz is the successful candidate for the permanent Academic Program Manager position in the School of Creative Arts & Animation (SCAA).
For the past year, Mark has been the Acting Academic Program Manager for the Schools of Marketing, Media and the SCAA, and previously held the roles of senior student advisor and student adviser in the SCAA.
Mark has more than 15 years of experience working in postsecondary education. Prior to joining the Seneca team, he worked at an affiliate of St. Lawrence College and taught at the University of Toronto.
For the interim, Mark will continue to support the Schools of Marketing and Media, and will transition to the SCAA exclusively once his replacement for the Schools of Marketing and Media have been hired.
Mark holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto (U of T), as well as a master of education in student development and student services, and a master of arts in philosophy, also from U of T. Mark earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy and classical studies from York University.
Scott McAllister has been with Seneca since 2011 as a part-time and then partial-load faculty member in various event-based programs. In 2020 he took on the role of program coordinator for the Event Management – Creative Design program; followed by acting program coordinator for Visual Merchandising Arts, 2022-2023. During this time, he also co-built the Foundations of Sustainability in Event Management microcredential.
After great success catering numerous events throughout North America, Scott discovered his enjoyment for event design. With a focus on corporate events from brand activations to high profile galas, Scott thrived on the creativity of designing events for new clients. When it was time for another challenge, Scott put a focus on event consulting, specializing in logistics and complex event scenarios – all while sharing his experiences with the next generation of event professionals at Seneca. His event accolades include: Farewell Dinner for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Beefeater 24’s Canadian Launch, HealthAchieve, and numerous Toronto International Film Festival premier parties.
Scott is excited to join the great School of Fashion team in a full-time position.
Seneca is committed to providing a safe and secure learning and working environment for students and employees. This entails maintaining robust security measures to ensure our students, employees, property and assets are protected in various scenarios. The Security and Emergency Management Department works to create a safe, secure, and equitable environment for all members of the Seneca College community and visitors to work and study on campus.
In the Security and Emergency Management Wiki page, you will find critical information detailing Seneca's efforts to keep people and assets safe, as well as the strategic measures recommended for both students and employees during emergency situations. In the safety campaign Wiki, Your Safety Matters, you will find information and tools for ways to keep you and your family safe off campus.
Seneca SAFE App
As a part of the commitment to campus safety, we use Seneca SAFE as the official campus safety app on mobile devices and classrooms podiums. It immediately connects users to Security and Emergency Services during situations that require assistance.
On The Go
Download the Seneca SAFE app to have instant access to campus safety resources including emergency contacts, response plans, counselling and medical resources.
Seneca SAFE allows you to use your mobile device as a Mobile BlueLight to connect with security personnel when you feel threatened or unsafe. When you activate the Mobile BlueLight,
Campus Security will be alerted of your location and you will be connected to an on-duty officer. If you are unable to speak due to the nature of the emergency, Campus Security will respond to the location of the alarm.
On Campus
BlueLight emergency stations allow students and employees to request assistance during an emergency. The BlueLight emergency stations are installed across campus.
In the Classroom
Seneca SAFE can also be accessed on classroom PC-based podiums to alert Campus Security of an emergency. To request assistance, click the desktop and tray icon three times. You will receive a notification that the alarm has been activated.
WorkAlone Feature
With a new hybrid work on campus model, the WorkAlone feature will allow you to self monitor your work time and if you face a personal emergency, Security will be immediately sent to the area to investigate and assist.
Current Projects
Security Access Control Integration to Virtual OneCard
Support the virtual OneCard initiative to allow students and Staff to access buildings/areas with using mobile credentials.
Video Surveillance System Upgrade
Installed 200 new cameras across the campuses with 400 more cameras to be installed. This will provide an security ecosystem that can assist the College and allow Security staff to be more proactive in the community.
Crisis De-Escalation Training
Preparing and educating staff on campus to be prepared to manage difficult behaviour.
Situational Awareness Training
Working with Toronto Police, Metrolinx, York Regional Transit, and TTC, to train and provide information to the Seneca community about criminal activity, neighbourhood trends, and ways to keep safe both on and off campus.
Emergency Management
- Moving to the second phase of our Active Attacker Program by implementing Stop the Bleed.
- Revising the Fire and Evacuation response plan and program to address the new hybrid environment.
WorkAlone Feature
With a new hybrid work on campus model, the WorkAlone feature will allow you to self monitor your work time and if you face a personal emergency, Security will be immediately sent to the area to investigate and assist.
The Library offers various resources, tools, and support for faculty. Check out our Library Information for Faculty guide for more details, or get some quick library training through our Library Bootcamp Game!
Resources
- Discover teaching tips to help launch your virtual and in-person courses.
- Online nutshells are available, including Designing for Emotion in Online Courses, Getting Started with Online Teaching and Setting up Question Pools, Tests, and Assignments.
- Register for an upcoming Blackboard Ultra webinar.
- Find out how to meet the Learn@Seneca minimum requirements in Blackboard Ultra.
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