Part 3: Important initiatives

This group of initiatives signal that, even in challenging times, Seneca continued to move forward.

Academic excellence

From ongoing program development and review to innovation in program delivery to strengthening pedagogy, academic excellence initiatives ensure that Seneca’s credentials and courses are high-quality, relevant and meet the needs of students, employers and the economy.

Business Plan Outcome 1: submitted eight new programs to the Board of Governors, including three new degree proposals, to meet labour market needs

Achievements:

received Board of Governors approval for nine programs:

Honours Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology
Emerging Digital Technologies graduate certificate
Inclusive Design for Business Local College Certificate
Honours Bachelor of Information Technology Design & Management
Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Global Business Management two-year graduate certificate
Business Information Technology two-year graduate certificate
Cloud Based IT Administration graduate certificate
Korean Language Skills Local College Certificate

Business Plan Outcome 2: launched a case development centre to establish case-based learning methodologies

Achievements:

trained second cohort of faculty on case-based learning methodologies with third cohort in progress; alumni cohort trained
prepared first case for publication

Highlights of 2020-21

New suite of microcredentials help students and professionals update their skillsets
Seneca promoted more than 100 microcredentials or short courses to help individuals reskill or upskill, whether to advance their career or respond to job loss caused by the pandemic. Seneca continued to add microcredentials in business, creative arts, animation and design, media and communications, education, community and social services, engineering technology, information technology and science.

Professor appointed to the Order of Ontario
School of Media Professor Hershell Ezrin was among the 25 appointees of the Order of Ontario for 2020. The Government Relations graduate certificate program professor’s distinguished career includes serving in the Privy Council Office under former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and a Canadian Consul in Los Angeles and New York.

Teaming up with Microsoft and RBC to drive digital literacy for the workforce of tomorrow
Seneca, in collaboration with Microsoft Canada and RBC, is helping students, graduates and professionals enhance their digital expertise by offering free Microsoft Azure Fundamentals workshops that build in-demand skills in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and productivity tools. The Azure short courses will enable participants to learn data analytics, AI and cloud computing certifications — critical skills for the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Air Seneca takes off
A B737 aircraft trainer dubbed Air Seneca landed at Newnham Campus in the new Flights Hub, making Seneca the first postsecondary institution in Canada to have this kind of simulator on campus. The trainer is fully equipped and can simulate cabin fires. The $1.7-million Flights Hub also includes an A320 door trainer, mock cabin and a five-metre evacuation slide. It was partially funded by the province’s College Equipment and Renewal Fund.

Joining provincial effort to train more personal support workers
The Ontario government has invested in training more personal support workers (PSWs) to meet growing demands in the health care sector, particularly the hard-hit long term care homes. Seneca has done its part by offering a new accelerated Personal Support Worker program with free tuition provided by the government. The first of three intakes started on April 5, and all three are fully enrolled. Graduates will enter the workforce in six months. Minister of Education and King-Vaughan MPP Stephen Lecce visited King Campus with King Mayor Steven Pellegrini to promote the accelerated PSW program.

Advanced manufacturing microcredential receives funding to reskill workers
Seneca received nearly $300,000 from the provincial government to reskill up to 130 workers in the advanced manufacturing and aerospace industry. The funds were used to deliver the new online Computer Numerical Control for Advanced Manufacturing microcredential program at Seneca.

Seneca joins provincial effort to train more personal support workers
The Ontario government has invested in training more personal support workers to meet growing demands in the health-care sector, particularly the hard-hit long-term care homes. Seneca did its part by offering a new accelerated Personal Support Worker program with free tuition provided by the government.

Humber-Seneca Polytechnic Partnership (HSPP)

This innovative, first-of-its-kind partnership between the two polytechnics, Seneca and Humber, is designed to enhance access for our students to further learning opportunities and to co-operate on a number of planning and development fronts.

Business Plan Outcome 1: established six new program pathways between Seneca and Humber to expand student opportunities

Achievement:

finalized agreement with more than 200 program pathways between Seneca and Humber to encourage transfers from diploma to degree programs

Due to the pandemic, some of the work with HSPP will resume in fall 2021.

Highlights of 2020-21

Seneca and Humber sign milestone agreement to increase diploma-to-degree pathway opportunities at both institutions
A new agreement under the Humber-Seneca Polytechnic Partnership created more than 200 academic pathways between the two institutions. This agreement provides diploma students at Seneca and Humber opportunities for degree completion options in business, data science and analysis, public safety, mental health and interdisciplinary studies. Read more about the agreement

Seneca and Humber partner to improve youth employment in Maldives
Seneca and Humber College partnered with Global Innovation & Skills Development Canada to develop an entrepreneurship incubation hub in Maldives that will increase employment and earning opportunities for local youth. The project draws from the expertise of Seneca’s HELIX incubator and innovation centre while Humber’s interior design program will help design the new hub.

HSPP collaboration procures security services
PARAGON Security Services became the new provider of security services at all Seneca and Humber locations — a result of the first successful joint procurement project of the Humber-Seneca Polytechnic Partnership. The partnership promotes co-operation and collaboration between the two institutions while enhancing and expanding learning opportunities for students.

The student experience

Supporting students is at the core of virtually all areas of Seneca. In 2020-21, several initiatives were focused on major issues affecting all postsecondary institutions, Seneca included: mental health, personal resilience and sexual assault.

Business Plan Outcome 1: introducing a new model for student services and support — spanning the student journey from recruitment to graduation — to streamline services

Achievements:

started work on two fronts:
- development of a new more virtual services model that will keep transactional services online while adding virtual connections options to in-person services when they safely resume
- a triage model to provide better and faster service to students

Business Plan Outcome 2: developing an integrated service delivery for mental health and wellness

Achievements:

launched Seneca-wide mental health initiatives such as:
- Bell Let’s Talk Day
- peer groups for students on the autism spectrum and within the 2SLGBTQ+ community
- virtual programming for varsity athletes and e-sports
contracted with keepme.SAFE as a 24-7 mental health and personal counselling support for Seneca students living outside of Canada

Business Plan Outcome 3: supporting student retention and leadership development through the introduction of Strive: Strengths, Resilience and Excellence program

Achievements:

increased attendance at Strive workshops and 1:1 Academic and Study Skills Coaching in 2021
continued to build traffic on the Learning Centre’s YouTube channel

Business Plan Outcome 4: strengthening a culture of respect and academic honesty

Achievements:

held Winter Academic Integrity Week with activities for students and faculty
formed Academic Integrity Community of Practice
completed sanctions guidebook learning outcomes and outline

Business Plan Outcome 5: establishing a peer-led program to assist survivors of sexual violence

Achievements:

expanded program this year to include a second group of survivors as well as Humber students
launched Stepping Up project — a partnership with Yellow Brick House and Mount Royal University to research and deliver peer-led programming regarding intimate partner violence on campuses

Highlights of 2020-21

Seneca graduate goes prime time on CBC
Ginella Massa has made international headlines including in The New York Times and The Guardian as Canada’s first hijab-wearing news reporter, television anchor and host. But the Seneca Journalism graduate, who recently stepped into national spotlight as host of CBC's Canada Tonight, says she just wants to be seen as a journalist and be judged by her work.

Convocation package, website and video celebrate Class of 2020
More than 9,000 Seneca 2020 graduates received a convocation package that included their Seneca credential, a congratulatory letter from President David Agnew and a keepsake Seneca bookmark this summer. To celebrate this important milestone during the pandemic, the #SenecaProud Graduation website launched exclusively for new graduates, their families and friends to learn about graduation services and alumni resources.

Seneca-TD collaboration “recharged” to support mid-career professionals
Thanks to a new donation from TD Bank Group, Seneca has extended the successful Career Recharge series of free upskilling sessions through to the end of 2021. These virtual sessions help mid-career professionals across Canada re-enter the workforce, advance in their field, change careers or start a new venture.

Seneca President and Microsoft CEO discuss jobs of tomorrow
President David Agnew and Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, discussed preparing today’s students for the careers of tomorrow to a virtual audience of more than 1,300 students and educators from across Canada.

Seneca joins national network supporting student mobility
Seneca took its next steps in its digital adoption strategy by joining Canada's official credential wallet and national network led by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC). The ARUCC National Network provides students with the ability to access and share official, digitized transcripts, credentials, badges and microcredentials — anytime and anywhere.

Bell Let’s Talk Week
In recognition of Bell Let's Talk Day, Seneca offered a variety of programming all week for students and employees to promote and bring awareness to mental health. Students and employees participated in events about wellness, counselling and accessibility, as well as mental health through Webex and Instagram.

Academic Integrity Week
Seneca hosted a series of events to raise awareness about contract cheating during Academic Integrity Week. Events highlighted the importance of academic integrity and the resources available at Seneca while also marking the International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating — a form of academic dishonesty where one person completes academic work for another, who then submits it for academic credit.

Seneca steps up with Yellow Brick House
Thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Seneca partnered with Yellow Brick House to support students through The Stepping Up program. The peer-facilitated three-year program aims to support 450 students in exploring ways of helping their peers who may have had a violent experience. Students will discuss healthy relationships, social media and bystander intervention through a series of events and projects.

Esports club game on at Seneca
Seneca Esports became the biggest student club at Seneca with nearly 800 members. It meets on Discord, a chat app for video gamers. Not unlike other sports clubs, it has two coaches and a manager.

Enhancing the employee experience

Seneca is fortunate to have a talented and dedicated workforce, highly engaged and motivated. Recent employee surveys have focused on communications and innovation and the initiatives below respond to the recommendations made by Seneca’s employees.

Business Plan Outcome 1: launching a new intranet for employees to improve internal communications

Achievement:

implemented new employee intranet

Business Plan Outcome 2: establishing Seneca Innovates, a program to encourage and recognize employee innovation

Achievement:

launched Seneca Innovates with a focus on ideas related to COVID-19 and working remotely

Business Plan Outcome 3: expanding the Seneca Leader and Individual Development Planning to provide increased professional development opportunities for employees through enhanced online training

Achievements:

converted the Seneca Leader curriculum to online delivery
developed an online learning path for managers, using a competency-based approach aligning with the Seneca Leader Model
assembled additional program materials and resources to provide strategies to more effectively lead virtual teams
integrated the Seneca Leader model and the Individual Development Plans in succession planning process

Highlights of 2020-21

New MySeneca intranet launches for employees
After a year in development, Seneca’s new employee intranet launched in December. A one-stop shop,
the new MySeneca is where employees receive information, share content, complete administrative tasks and learn.

Introducing Seneca Innovates
Seneca Innovates is the first initiative of the renamed Seneca Innovation department. It welcomed ideas from employees on fighting COVID-19 and working remotely.

Seneca ranks top employer for the 12th consecutive year
Seneca was once again among the winners of the annual Greater Toronto’s Top Employers competition, which recognizes employers with exceptional human resources programs and forward-thinking workplace policies. Criteria for distinguishing top employers includes professional development opportunities, an inclusive culture and support for new parents.

Strengthening our foundations

As postsecondary education evolves, Seneca continues to innovate its business model to maintain its leadership role in 21st century education. The core of what we do remains: offering a great educational experience to students. How we do that is changing.

Business Plan Outcome 1: launching Seneca Innovation as the new hub for internal and external innovation and entrepreneurship open to students, employees, industry and the community

Achievement:

launched Seneca Innovation to foster culture of research and innovation

Business Plan Outcome 2: establishing an integrated business development model across the organization to strengthen partnership relationships

Achievements:

through Marketing and Advancement, established the Challenge Accepted strategy to build brand strength, student recruitment and fundraising efforts
deployed second phase of Challenge Accepted campaign, contributing to growth in domestic enrolment
continued emphasis on enhancing internal communications, providing excellent customer service in all operations and strengthening the collaborative culture across Seneca

Highlights of 2020-21

Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences launches
Seneca launched the Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences, a first-of-its-kind applied research facility, where students and faculty can connect directly with industry partners to develop, enhance and validate innovations in diagnostics and cosmetics. The project was made possible through a $2-
million Innovation Enhancement grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

HELIX scores innovation fund
Seneca’s on-campus incubator HELIX received $10,000 towards the HELIX Summer Institute to support the culture of innovation in York Region’s health-care sector. HELIX was one of six recipients of ventureLAB and York Region’s first annual Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund, awarded to startups and non-profit organizations that support innovation in York Region.

Seneca research project receives federal grant
A collaborative project between the School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry and Wellesley Therapeutics Inc. received a research grant through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Engage for Colleges program. Seneca’s contributions will result in commercial methods that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances to help Wellesley Therapeutics use green chemistry approaches to recover and purify its products.

Interdisciplinary research on pet loss gets global attention
Seneca professors Kirsti Clarida and Angie Arora have collaborated on an interdisciplinary applied research project to address a gap in training and support for veterinary teams and pet owners dealing with a pet's end of life. With a Seneca Innovation grant, the research team partnered with VCA Canada, the country’s largest network of animal hospitals, to publish a report that received attention globally.

More than $5.5 million in capital from province will renew infrastructure and classrooms
Seneca received $5,590,800 in capital funding from the Ontario government for infrastructure renewal and instructional equipment. Among the projects supported by the funding are energy efficiency upgrades and computer purchases.

Writing the next chapter of Eaton Hall’s story, with help from Peter & Pauls Hospitality Group
Drawing on the creativity it has shown overseeing restaurants and event venues across the Greater Toronto Area and internationally, Peter & Pauls Hospitality Group will be helping Seneca turn Eaton Hall into a hospitality and cultural destination in King Township and a revitalized academic/event space for Seneca students.

Odeyto’s architecture acknowledged yet again
Odeyto, Seneca’s Indigenous Centre, has received Wood Design & Building magazine’s 2020 Wood Design & Buildings Award in the Citation category. This annual award celebrates the world’s best wood architecture in diverse locations.