Updates

Welcome to the Humber Updates page. 

Here you will find the latest information about emerging or ongoing issues impacting Humber operations or the Humber community. This information will be updated as required. You are encouraged to bookmark the page for future reference. 

Humber Campuses closed due to winter storm - Feb. 16

Due to inclement weather conditions and based on local recommendations, all Humber campus locations, including the University of Guelph-Humber, will be closed on Sunday, Feb. 16. Residences remain open. 

There are no classes scheduled. Services will continue to be offered remotely, wherever possible.  

Humber will also be closed on Monday, Feb. 17 for the Family Day holiday. 

Any further updates will be shared on humber.ca/updates or our social media channels.

Humber Polytechnic is delighted to welcome three new Governors to serve on Humber’s Board. Taking on these roles are:

  • Phil Graham, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Planning, Ontario Ministry of Education
  • Jane Mallen, Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Policy Division, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General
  • Gillian Steeve, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care

These individuals bring a collective depth and breadth of experience and expertise to our work and Institution. The Board and Humber’s leadership team are laser-focused on delivering unparalleled student experiences and working towards increasing productivity and strengthening our economy.

I would like to thank the Ontario government for their swift action to address the Board’s vacancies. When the entire post-secondary education sector is navigating unprecedented levels of uncertainty, these appointments ensure that the business of Humber Polytechnic can move forward without delay or distraction.

In the meantime, our core business of providing exceptional polytechnic education and preparing students for the jobs of today, and the challenges of tomorrow, continues thanks to our incredibly talented, dedicated and resilient faculty, support staff and administrators.

Ann Marie Vaughan
President and CEO

On Tuesday, January 7, the College Employer Council and Ontario Public Service Employees Union CAAT-A (OPSEU) bargaining team completed mediation and agreed to binding arbitration. 

There will be NO STRIKE on Thursday January 9 or in the foreseeable future. 

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union CAAT-A (OPSEU), represents full-time and partial-load faculty, librarians, and counselors at all 24 Ontario colleges, including Humber Polytechnic.  

The winter term begins today, as scheduled. We are pleased that Humber and other students across Ontario will continue their learning uninterrupted. We wish you a successful and enjoyable semester. Thank you for choosing Humber. 

We would like to share information about the potential impact of severe weather and/or campus closure on college operations as a reminder to the Humber community.

To all members of the Humber and University of Guelph-Humber communities,

As we experience colder temperatures and snow in the coming weeks, we would like to share information about the impact of severe weather and/or campus closure on Humber’s operations.

Only in-person classes and assessments being held on campus will be affected by inclement weather and (physical) campus closure. Inclement winter weather is not expected to impact current online classes, courses, or programs or most faculty and staff who are working remotely.

All Humber online classes and assessments will continue regardless of weather conditions or if Humber campuses are closed due to severe weather. If inclement weather affects online class delivery, such as a power outage or internet disruption, Humber will assess the impact on online classes and will confirm if they are to continue as scheduled.

If any in-person classes, assessments or exams are cancelled due to severe weather/campus closure, the professor of that class will contact their students to make alternate arrangements for coursework.

Employees who regularly work on campus, and who are unable to attend campus due to severe weather/campus closure should contact their supervisor.

All Humber faculty and staff working remotely will continue to perform their normal responsibilities, even if the physical campus is closed due to inclement weather.

Overall, during the winter season, we are planning to be open each day and to operate as normal. If an institution-wide or specific campus closure is required due to severe weather, an announcement will be posted on humber.ca, our main Facebook, X and Instagram channels, and Humber Updates, as well as Guelph-Humber channels, guelphhumber.ca, Instagram, X and my.guelphhumber.ca by 5:30 a.m. for morning classes, and 3:30 p.m. for evening classes, or as soon as possible. Unless a closure notice is posted as above, please consider Humber and Guelph-Humber to be open.

For students who have in-person classes, if you think the roadways near your home or your respective campus are unsafe due to severe ice or snow, please call or email your instructor if you decide not to come to class. For employees who think it is unsafe to travel to campus because of severe ice or snow, please contact your supervisor.

You can sign up to receive notification of Humber campus activity, including closures by downloading the Humber Guardian App available from your phone's app store. Be sure to enable push notifications in both your main system preferences as well as in the app to receive emergency notifications.

Humber will also inform GTA media of a campus or institution-wide closure. For Downtown Campus students and employees, please note that separate announcements will be sent to you, as the weather downtown is not always the same.

If a physical campus closure occurs, students scheduled to be in-person at external organizations for an internship or placement, or for other Humber-related activities, will follow the protocol of the external organization with respect to cancellation of activities or closure of the facility. It is the student’s responsibility to advise their external placement advisor or supervisor of any situation that prevents them from attending their placement or work.

For more information, please see the Severe Weather Closure Procedure.

Finally, this time of year also marks the return of flu season and an increase in other contagious illnesses as more people gather indoors. Humber reminds all staff and students that if they are feeling unwell to remain at home to help prevent the spread of infections and keep each other healthy and safe. If you are unwell and stay home, please contact your supervisor or instructor accordingly.

We wish you a safe and warm winter season.

Humber and U of GH’s ongoing commitment to Inclusion and Belonging

The following message was sent to students on September 26, 2024.

Dear Students, 

At Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber, we believe that inclusion and belonging are values and essential pillars that strengthen our community, enrich our society, and shape our collective futures. Our commitment to fostering an environment in which every individual feels valued, respected, and included is unwavering.  Belonging is our bedrock as we are dedicated to actively embedding inclusion across all aspects of the student experience.  

The Importance of Inclusion and Belonging 

Inclusion and belonging are fundamental to the well-being and success of our community. By empowering us to embrace diversity, we celebrate our unique brilliance and learn from one another. By fostering an inclusive environment, we enhance the educational experience and prepare ourselves to contribute positively to society. A community in which everyone feels they belong is a community in which innovation, creativity, and collaboration thrive. 
 
Our Shared Responsibility 

Creating a culture of inclusion and belonging requires the collective effort of every member of our community. It is our shared responsibility to be considerate of others, challenge biases, stand against discrimination, and support one another. Together, we can build a community of care in which everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. 

Resources for Support 

We understand that some students may face challenges and seek community and mental health support. Here are some resources available to you: 

Be a Builder of Brilliance: 

We encourage you to actively participate in fostering a sense of belonging on our campuses. Join our events, engage in our on-campus events, learning and development sessions, and be a leader in fostering an inclusive community. Your involvement is key to creating a supportive and respectful environment for all.  

Today we launched the Building Connections: EDIB Action Plan which details actions the Humber/UofGH community can do to continue to foster an inclusive campus culture. The EDIB Action plan outlines how inclusion and belonging is at the forefront of everything we do. I encourage you to review the full plan on the Inclusion and Belonging webpage. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our diverse and vibrant community. Let’s continue to work together to ensure that Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber remains a place where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. 

Warm regards, 

Ian Crookshank 
Associate Vice-President, Learner and Career Success 
Dean of Students 
Humber Polytechnic 
Melanie Spence-Ariemma  
Vice-Provost, Chief Academic Officer 
University of Guelph-Humber