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Enrolment management

Enrolment management is the bread and butter of postsecondary education. As enrolment goes, so does our fiscal health, and by extension our ability to invest in the people, services and activities that go into supporting a great polytechnic education.

FY21-22 will see a continuation of the emphasis on enrolment management that took on such importance in the early days of the pandemic. Seneca’s approach to enrolment management has doubled down on two aspects: the use of an increasingly broad range of resources and tools to maintain and increase enrolment, and the all-institution effort to recruit and retain students.

  • A continued focus on key segments: new students, graduating students, graduates and those displaced by the pandemic
  • Building on pandemic-inspired recruitment methods including comprehensive call and social media campaigns supplemented by virtual events increased emphasis on diversifying international markets as travel restrictions ease over the next year
  • Ongoing new program development, including joint degrees with other colleges
  • Exploring co-delivering master’s degrees with university partners and delivering master’s degrees as a standalone offering, subject to government approval
  • Continuing to expand college-to-college partnerships to build pathways into Seneca’s programs, particularly degrees
  • Expanding microcredentials and short courses to serve the market for reskilling and upskilling, particularly among those whose careers have been disrupted by COVID-19
  • Reopening a downtown location to provide more convenient access to graduate and professional education to those working in the city core

Year-end outcomes:

  • Launched next phase of Challenge Accepted marketing campaign with a focus on flexible delivery options and featuring our successful graduates
  • Despite travel restrictions, diversification of international markets is an important objective for recruiters. This year, students from 162 countries applied to study at Seneca
  • Diversification strategies led to a 24 per cent increase in students coming to Seneca from countries outside of India; international team preparing to travel abroad for in-person recruitment activities starting April 2022
  • Strong focus on conversion activities, working with applicants to encourage them to confirm and enrol
  • Nine partnership agreements have been signed with Ontario colleges, with another 11 colleges currently reviewing agreement drafts
  • Eleven microcredentials launched and 31 microcredentials in development
  • Seneca Downtown opened in January, 2022; programming includes executive workshops, professional courses, microcredentials and part-time certificate courses
  • Received approval from the ministry to co-deliver two graduate degrees — MBA and MSc in Information Security and Digital Forensics — with New York State’s Niagara University at Newnham Campus. Further collaboration being planned
  • Ongoing collaboration with Confederation and Humber on the development of an Indigenous leadership degree. Humber and Seneca are also exploring development of joint degree in game design

Highlights of 2021-22

Confederation, Humber and Seneca collaborate on an Indigenous Leadership degree program

The inspiration for the new program is the institutions' collective response to the continued, critical need to advance Indigenous learning and contribute to a process of decolonization and reconciliation. This degree is designed to restore and revitalize customary Indigenous leadership and prepare graduates to build capacity in community, economic, social and cultural development.

Animation programs receive top global ranking

Seneca’s School of Creative Arts & Animation ranked third in Canada and fourth in the world in the influential Animation Career Review animation training program ratings.

Record numbers attend virtual open houses

Seneca welcomed more than 12,000 prospective students, applicants and their families to virtual open houses and program spotlights throughout the year. Attendees chatted with faculty and staff, took virtual campus tours, watched live presentations and explored services and programs available at Seneca.

Stand-alone nursing honours degree will help address growing healthcare needs

Seneca launched a stand-alone Honours Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree program. The program, which offers a pathway for Practical Nursing diploma graduates, was officially announced in the nursing lab at King Campus in November by Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education.

Taking a bow as one of the top 20 Canadian acting schools

Seneca’s Acting for Camera & Voice diploma program was named to Casting Workbook’s first-ever list of the top 20 acting schools in Canada. Schools were selected based on a review of public ratings, media analysis and industry expert consultation.

Study abroad program bolstered with federal grant

Seneca received $500,000 to support student mobility as part of the Government of Canada’s new Global Skills Opportunity program. Thanks to this funding, more than 150 Seneca students will have the opportunity to take their studies abroad to countries such as Thailand, Ecuador, Peru and Denmark.

Challenge Accepted takes over Yonge-Dundas Square

Seneca’s award-winning recruitment campaign was on the big screens at Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto. The third instalment of the Challenge Accepted campaign features outstanding alumni and the theme of flexible learning options. The takeover generated 47 million impressions. Seneca also strategically placed advertising across the Greater Toronto Area on public transit, digital boards, radio, TV and online.

Business school earns international accreditation

Seneca Business received global business accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The achievement applies to 23 Seneca Business programs, including six honours bachelor of commerce degrees. Seneca is the only college in Ontario and one of 11 institutions across Canada to have programs accredited by the ACBSP.

TD continues to help recharge careers 

Career Recharge received $450,000 in additional funding from TD Bank Group. The investment will keep the program running until at least 2024. Offered through Seneca HELIX, Career Recharge delivers resources, workshops and activities that help individuals re-enter the workforce, advance in their field, change careers or start a new venture. The program was established in 2019 thanks to a $1-million grant from the TD Ready Challenge.

Campaign for Students brings employees together in support of students in need

The 2021-22 Campaign for Students raised $298,837 for student financial aid, thanks to thousands of employee donations, various fundraising events and the Seneca Student Federation’s gift match. In total, 176 payroll champions supported the initiative, and more than 5,522 donations were received from 480 employees.

Federal funding for a research centre in artificial intelligence

Seneca received $641,800 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to support applied research on artificial intelligence technologies critical to maintaining a strong Canadian economy. The grant will help establish the Centre for Innovation in Artificial Intelligence Technologies, where Seneca researchers will collaborate with industry partners to find AI solutions in sectors ranging from advanced manufacturing and commerce to creative media and finance.

Investing in academic spaces and infrastructure with provincial funding

Seneca received $4.8 million from the province’s College Equipment Renewal Fund and Facilities Renewal Program. The funding will benefit 16 infrastructure and technology initiatives across Seneca’s campuses, including a new lab for creative advertising and marketing students, opticianry and broadcast studio equipment, technology for academic work stations, loaner laptops for students and various building renovations.

Challenge Accepted goes prime time with Super Bowl commercial

Seneca was the only Ontario postsecondary institution to have a commercial during Super Bowl. The 30-second version of the Now is Your Time ad features current students and graduates and appeared during the pre-game show and third quarter.

Introducing the Centre for Executive & Professional Learning

The Centre for Executive & Professional Learning launched at its new downtown location at King and Yonge in Toronto. The centre provides various options for professional learning, including a new suite of executive certificate programs designed for aspiring senior leaders.