Post-pandemic Seneca
Flexible work approach
In FY2022-23, goals included:
- Implementing a flexible work approach that responds to the academic and service needs of
students while respecting employees’ desire for more choice in where they work – on any campus or remotely
Year-end outcomes:
- Feedback from employees on flexible work approach continues to inform guidelines and resources
- Strategy underway to build awareness and engagement of employee hotelling and collaboration spaces at each campus
Enhancing the campus experience
In FY2022-23, goals included:
- Investing in capital projects and improvements that will continue to position Seneca’s
campuses as attractive, modern, safe and welcoming spaces for students and employees,
including:- Planning for the Health and Wellness Centre at Newnham Campus
- Planning for the Garriock Hall replacement at King Campus
- Building new facilities at our campuses, including new lab for health care programs and new networking lab (Newnham), SCILS Bio-Chemical Lab (Seneca@York) and Training Centre for contract training (Markham)
- Continuing to refresh areas at all campuses, such as the Fashion area at the Newnham Campus, the courtyard at the Stephen E. Quinlan building and digital innovation installations across all campuses
- Completing the revamp of access control system and security cameras to enhance
campus safety and security
Year-end outcomes:
- Refresh of School of Fashion area at Newnham Campus
- Refresh of Stephen E. Quinlan Building courtyard at Seneca@York Campus
- Digital innovation installations across campuses
- Completed access control upgrades at six campuses
- Design firm selected for Health and Wellness Centre with procurement of construction management firm underway
- First draft of the new Garriock Hall functional space programming was completed; project will continue in FY2023-24 with the selection of the architectural consultant and completion of architectural design
- Construction of networking lab at Newnham Campus underway
- Construction of the SCILS Bio-Chemical Lab underway, with completion expected in FY2023-24, as scheduled
- The Kaleidoscope room at Seneca@York Campus installation underway
- Markham Campus access control project underway, with security camera system upgrades continuing into FY2023-24
Expanding learning opportunities
In FY2022-23, goals included:
- Developing and implementing a framework to integrate learning outcomes and experiences into curricula, including principles of:
- equity, diversity and inclusion
- sustainability
- essential and core employability skills
- internationalization
- Expanding global mobility opportunities for students and employees to engage in activity focused on equity, sustainability and cutting-edge virtual educational experiences
- Launching a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning program that supports faculty-led teaching and learning research projects
Year-end outcomes:
- EDI plan was launched in April 2023
- Curriculum integration framework developed and piloted; integration will continue in FY2023-24
- Living laboratory initiative for student projects has been initiated and will continue to be developed
- Established active Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) engagements in six countries with nine international partners on 29 projects; more than 1,000 Seneca students and 32 faculty members participated
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning program launched, with four faculty research projects awarded funding
Highlights of 2022-23
What’s Next for Seneca Polytechnic?
Hundreds of students, employees and many external stakeholders shared their thoughts on Seneca’s Strategic Plan – The Next. Through in-person consultations, virtual sessions and online surveys, participants offered ideas on Seneca’s future direction, focusing on topics such as student experience, building the ideal postsecondary institution and what differentiates Seneca in the marketplace. As we embark on our new Strategic Plan, we are providing an explicit commitment to students that we will provide them with the polytechnic experience — that’s why we’ve decided to add “Polytechnic” to our name.
Court upholds Seneca’s vaccination policy
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice upheld Seneca’s vaccination policy, rejecting an application for an injunction brought by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms on behalf of two students. The decision found that the policy is legal, enforceable and does not violate rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
An epic Graduation Celebration
Seneca honoured individuals who graduated between December 2019 and December 2021 during the two-day Graduation Celebration. The events were hosted by Melissa Grelo, a Seneca Broadcast Journalism graduate and Co-host of CTV’s the Social, and included remarks by President David Agnew, Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors President, and Col. Chris Hadfield, former Commander of the International Space Station.
Ryan Reynolds steals the show, thrills students
Seneca welcomed Ryan Reynolds, the proudly Canadian movie star, producer and entrepreneur, to Seneca@York, where he generously connected with (many) students and toured the Faculty of Communication, Art and Design. Mr. Reynolds posted about the visit to his 21 million Twitter and 47 million Instagram followers.
Minister of Colleges and Universities tours Newnham Campus
The Honourable Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, visited Newnham Campus for the second time since becoming minister in 2021. Minister Dunlop met with President David Agnew and took part in a tour that included stops at The Service Hub and the Fashion Resource Centre.
#SenecaProud to celebrate new graduates
Downtown Toronto was Seneca Red as we honoured April and August 2022 graduates at the Fall 2022 Convocation, which took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This was the largest set of convocation ceremonies in Seneca’s history, with 8,000 graduates and more than 18,000+ guests attending 12 ceremonies over six days.
Seneca hospitality for our southern neighbour
Susan Crystal, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Toronto, visited Newnham Campus. President David Agnew led a tour with stops at The Service Hub, the Kuka Robotics Lab, Siemens Mechatronics Lab and HELIX.
Construction begins on the Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences
A new $9.4-million life sciences lab at Seneca@York will power a significant increase in applied research for the diagnostics and cosmetics industries while providing advanced learning opportunities for hundreds of Seneca students and recent graduates. The Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences will conduct applied research in life science diagnostics and novel cosmetics formulations overseen by Seneca’s School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry – home to Canada’s first graduate certificate program in cosmetic science.
Exploring campuses in Egypt
Seneca and Cairo-based Al Ahly CIRA Company for Educational Services are moving forward on a plan to establish two Seneca campuses in Greater Cairo — one in 6th of October City and one in Badr City — with programs in business, engineering, information technology and English language training. An MOU was signed in Cairo by Seneca President David Agnew and Karim Saada, Managing Director of Al-Ahly Capital Holding Company and Chair, Al-Ahly CIRA Company for Educational Services.
Providing students global experiences
With funding from the Government of Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity program, Seneca’s Global Learning and Engagement team has developed faculty-led programs to Ecuador, Peru and Denmark. The funding offered support to participate in these international experiences to students who otherwise could not afford the trip. More than 70 per cent of the Seneca students who went self-identified as requiring financial assistance.
A community recreation centre at King Campus
Seneca President David Agnew joined local politicians for the groundbreaking of the Township-Wide Recreation Centre at King Campus. Funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments and local developers, the centre will feature 11,500 m² of indoor and outdoor athletic facilities. Seneca and King Township signed a 99-year lease agreement for the land at a cost of $1 per year.