Seneca Annual Report 2013–2014 | Plans and reports | Seneca Polytechnic

Message from the chair and president

Reflecting on all that we have achieved in the 2013-14 academic year, it’s clear why we are fond of saying it’s a great time to be at Seneca.

We welcomed a record number of students in both our full- and part-time programs, saw innumerable examples of outstanding student, faculty and staff achievement, opened a state-of the-art new aviation facility and for the fifth time were named a GTA Top Employer. In classrooms, labs and online, faculty engaged students with fresh approaches to teaching and learning.

This year, we introduced new approaches to orientation and advising during semester start-up to ensure our new students have the supports they need to be successful. Experience Seneca, a full-day orientation on the first day of classes was piloted and the Faculty of Business launched Business411, a new streamlined advising service that eliminated long and time-consuming lineups for students. Dozens of employees volunteered to welcome students during the first weeks of the fall and winter semesters and a new website for first semester students was created.

We were delighted to open in January the Peterborough Aviation Campus, located at the Peterborough Airport. Students in years 2, 3 and 4 of the Bachelor of Aviation Technology program will take classes and flight training at the new purpose-built facility building with first-year students and all other aviation programs being offered at our Newnham Campus. We have been warmly received by the Peterborough community and the program is off to a great start in its new home.

Much progress was made on one of our most significant and far-reaching initiatives, the i3 project. When finished, i3 (which stands for Innovation, Integration and Information) will bring new and integrated student, human resources and finance systems to the College, replacing the ARIES and SIRIS systems that have served us for many decades.

We are on a transformative journey at Seneca. With our Strategic and Academic Plans, we’re moving ahead with an exciting range of activities across our academic and support areas. We’re building a different kind of school, focused on inspired learning, innovative opportunities and great student experiences.

We are reminded daily that none of the great work that happens at the College can take place without the commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff as well as the enthusiasm, diversity and passion of our students. While now may indeed be a great time to be at Seneca, the future too looks bright and promising.