Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine - 3

President's
message
UP
FRONT
As the battle against COVID-19 continues
to inch painfully slowly to success in Canada,
the shape of the post-pandemic Seneca
is starting to come into focus.
It starts with this fall, when Seneca welcomed
more students back to our campuses
than at any time since the onset of COVID-19.
While still a small fraction of our
pre-pandemic campus population, it's great
to have more students and faculty bringing
their energy and enthusiasm to our classrooms,
labs and studios.
We're offering four different modes of
David Agnew
delivery in our academic programs: in-person,
online, hybrid and, a new one, flexible.
The last takes advantage of improving technology
that allows professors to teach in
classrooms and labs, and have a camera follow
them as they move around the space,
whether lecturing, demonstrating or
answering questions.
Students have a choice: they can be in
the instructional space or participate
remotely, with a much more interactive feel
thanks to the auto-follow camera. It gives
our students, many with work and family
responsibilities, more choice and flexibility
in their schedules.
However, with our safety-first approach,
we're not rushing to throw open the doors
completely. For the fall, the majority of students
and employees will continue to learn,
teach and work remotely.
We led the postsecondary system across
Canada by being the first institution to
make being vaccinated against COVID-19 a
condition to come on campus for the fall
term. In time, others joined us, and then
the provincial government made a vaccination
policy compulsory for all postsecondary
institutions.
With the arrival of the predicted fourth
wave of COVID-19, we continued to do our
part to promote vaccinations for students
and employees. And yes, I believe that
includes the incentive of being allowed on
campus if you are vaccinated.
The policy has received tremendous support
across Seneca, and I continue to be
greatly appreciative of our community's collective
response to the pandemic. The commitment
and resilience of our students,
alumni and employees has been outstanding.
Back to the post-pandemic, renewed Seneca.
In the last edition of RED, I introduced
you to Au Large, a rich set of initiatives that
will set up Seneca to emerge from the pandemic
even stronger, and continuing to lead
the system. Our cover story will update you
on our progress in building the equitable,
sustainable and more virtual Seneca.
I am particularly proud of the Jane
Fund, a transformative $12-million endowment
providing resources in perpetuity for
student-focused equity, diversity and inclusion
initiatives, including financial aid. It is
now Seneca's single largest endowed fund.
The name reflects Seneca's historic association
with the communities along North
York's Jane Street, including the longstanding
Yorkgate Campus serving the Jane-Finch
community. We are inviting like-minded
individuals, corporations and organizations
to join us in growing the Jane Fund to support
student-focused EDI initiatives.
Our alumni continue to achieve, inspire
and give back. No matter the industry or
sector, the community or country, on the air
or in the air, you'll find a Seneca graduate
showing leadership and creativity.
We are always #Senecaproud to celebrate
your accomplishments.
Stay safe.
David Agnew
President
RED 2021
3
PHOTO: SAKULENSKY/FROST
Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine
