Academic College Council Update | Academic Newsletter | Seneca Polytechnic

by JoAnn Purcell, Academic College Council Chair

in the December 2019 issue

This past semester, I took on the role of Acting Chair of the School of Creative Arts and Animation and thus I have a unique perspective into how the college works. Previously as Faculty and Program Coordinator, I focused on my program, the students, and the curriculum. Now as Acting Chair, I have the unique outlook both to the frontline with faculty and students, and to the pressures and concerns of administration: enrollment targets, budget, and facility constraints. What unites the college at every level are the conversations and agenda items that look to meaningful student experience in the classroom with industry partnerships, field placements, or international opportunities. The focus on the students is what makes Seneca an excellent place to work and study.

In my role as a different kind of chair, that of the Chair of Academic College Council (ACC), I’d like to remind the Seneca community that communication is valued at ACC; by this I mean communication from the college community to their ACC representatives and in return from the ACC back to the community. Seneca is a large college, and with such diverse programs, delivery methods, students, faculty, and campuses, it is a real challenge to ensure all voices are heard and in turn informed of the work of ACC. As a start, you can find the website on the My.Seneca Employees tab under Faculty Resources:

The direct link is https://employees.senecapolytechnic.ca/spaces/34/academic-college-council/home. On the website, you’ll find our mandate, membership, minutes, agendas, and archives. We do invite the college community to bring items forward through their area representative as they arise.

As we wind down the semester, I wish you all the best. For the first time in almost 20 years, I will not be doing the final grading; rather, I will be supporting faculty, students, administration with my 360-degree vantage point.

View the December 2019 issue of the Academic Newsletter.