Steering through an unprecedented perfect storm: 2025–26 Annual Report

Five priority areas drove our activities in FY2025-26:

• Embracing our role as a polytechnic by creating more entrepreneurship, applied research and experiential learning opportunities for students. 
• Increasing access to higher education through the creation of pathways within and outside of Seneca and through the Seamless Seneca initiative. 
• Leading the system in Artificial Intelligence implementations, inside and outside the classroom. 
• Enhancing how students and employees experience Seneca Polytechnic, both in-person and virtually. 
• Continuing to implement Seneca Au Large initiatives that are helping build the more equitable, sustainable and virtual Seneca. 

• While at a reduced pace, continue the curriculum integration project imbedding AI, human skills, reconciliation, sustainability and inclusion across all programs.
• Increase work-integrated learning opportunities and employment supports to help students graduate even better prepared. 
• Enhance experiential learning through new labs and cross-disciplinary immersive learning hubs. 

• Advanced curriculum integration with 50 programs implementing sustainability, reconciliation and inclusion action plans and 24 programs implementing human skills action plans. Faculty from 50 programs have completed workshops to create action plans to embed AI into their programs. Work will continue to monitor progress and support implementation.
• A career navigator role has been introduced to guide internationally educated nursing students through licensing, immigration and employment processes. This role provides one-on-one and group advising to help students meet requirements, prepare applications and transition from education to employment. 
• A new nursing job portal was launched to support all nursing students and alumni to find employment with employers being able to post available positions. More than 4,000 current students and 13,000 alumni have access.
• Two new HELIX programs supported building entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills development for work-integrated learning students, with 224 students earning academic credit.
• Using a new experiential learning platform to connect students with industry partners, Seneca delivered experiential learning opportunities through 27 projects with 22 industry partners across eight Seneca courses, supporting 256 students in its early stage. 
• Completed the design and engineering work to expand the nursing skills and simulation lab at Newnham Campus. With support from the Nanji Family Foundation and the RBC Future Launch grant, construction is scheduled to begin in July, 2026. 
• Construction to expand the ECE lab at Newnham Campus advanced as planned, enhancing experiential learning for students and supporting fieldwork preparation. 
• A new industry partnership was established with a global vision care company to provide lab equipment. Planning and design work progressed throughout the year, and the project remains on track for a fall 2026 launch. The agreement also includes industry exposure, career engagement and development opportunities for students and faculty.

Seneca received $225,000 from the Business + Higher Education Roundtable and the Government of Canada to help students gain real-world experience through collaborations with industry partners. These funds will support more than 330 project-based work-integrated learning experiences through to April 2027. 

Seneca and York Regional Police signed an agreement to collaborate on building new experiential learning opportunities into Seneca’s Police Foundations program. This partnership includes joint training, research and a new $10,000 scholarship fund for women in the program. 

Seneca has partnered with the Town of Stouffville to provide students with hands-on experience and practical skills to prepare them for careers in public administration. Stouffville is now a host municipality for the Public Administration graduate certificate work term, providing students with real-world challenges and opportunities to contribute to the economy in York Region.  

The School of Fashion was one of the six finalists for Best Event by an Academic Institution at the 2025 Canadian Event Awards. This competition is regarded as the most prestigious in Canada’s event industry and celebrates the best in planning, production, design and execution. 

Students Chloe Quijano, Mary-Anne Ibeh and Masuma Begum finished first in the Programming category at the 2025 Ontario Engineering Competition at McMaster University. The pair then advanced to the Canadian Engineering Competition at Dalhousie University where they finished third in the same category.  

Seneca Polytechnic was well represented at the 2025 Skills Ontario competition. Ivan Shepelev won a gold medal in additive manufacturing, while silver went to Zanielle Yee Fong in IT office software applications and Sudeep Saurabh in cloud computing. Four students also earned bronze: Aldo Kilian Alvarado in cloud computing, Syed Abdullah Rizvi and Yogendra Singh in geographical information systems and Nicholas Rosati in electronics. 

A team of 10 students from the School of Marketing secured third place at the Ontario Regional Marketing Competition. Hundreds of business students from seven Ontario polytechnics and colleges competed in five categories presenting business-related challenges. 

Paralegal student Ruhi Kazmi finished second out of 268 participants in the 2025 Osgoode Cup Distinguished Oralist category. The Osgoode Cup is Canada’s largest undergraduate mooting competition, providing postsecondary students the experience of performing oral advocacy in a realistic legal setting.  

Students from the Faculty of Communication, Art & Design faced off against peers from across Canada and won gold at the 2025 Vanier College National Marketing Case Competition. The team was coached by professors Domenic Gasparro and Stefan Kanitz from the School of Marketing, as well as Yasmine Shateri, a Seneca graduate. The annual competition attracts the brightest students in business and marketing programs from polytechnics and colleges across Canada. 

More than 1,000 students and alumni from 35 postsecondary institutions came together to tackle issues ranging from hunger to wellness at Seneca Polytechnic’s sixth annual hackathon. Teams developed solutions in various categories, including food sustainability, nutrition, wellness and consumer education. Fifty teams qualified for the finals, with first and third place going to Seneca.  

Adam Beik and Sam Davis, students in the Electronics Engineering Technology and Computer Engineering Technology programs, achieved first place at the 2025 OACETT Ontario Capstone Competition. Adam and Sam wowed the judges by creating a device that makes it easier for people with vision-related challenges to navigate the internet. Adam and Sam went on to win. first place at the National Engineering & Applied Science Technology Week Capstone Competition for their invention. 

A team of students from the School of Public Safety – Sonia Baiocchi, Margaret Nott and Camese Olivia Thompson-Broomes – earned first-place at the Inter-Collegiate CSI Challenge. The competition, cocreated by Professor Glenn Barenthin, tests students’ abilities in crime scene investigation, forensic knowledge and teamwork.  

Seneca Business students Thu Hang Duong, George Francis and Divineshia Sharon won first place at the ERPsim Year-End Cup. This international competition challenges students to apply technology to business decisions in manufacturing sustainability scenarios. The team was led by professors Thomas Perdue and Sophia Yi.   

Creative advertising students Jacqueline Carcamo Rosales, Diego Choque Hokama, Renzo Choque Hokama and Chinami Kajihara won gold at the Advertising & Design Club of Canada Student Awards for their Hellmann’s mayonnaise ad, “the Silent Squeeze.” The commercial features various celebrities reacting to a new feature on mayo bottles that ensures every squeeze is silent. 

Kara Smith, a student in the Public Administration program is one of the recipients of the 2025 Laserfiche Run Smarter Awards and named the Tom Wayman Digital Transformation Leader of the Year for her work as a GIS/IT manager for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula. 

Students, professors and alumni from the Event Management – Creative Design graduate certificate program created the décor for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research’s annual fundraising event, Bloor Street Entertains. Their work was included at two standout venues, the Gardiner Museum and Lafayette 148.

Illustration student Dani Tagle was selected by the Society of Illustrators to receive the Ted Lewin Scholarship Award. Dani’s artwork, Bolivian Cholita Climber, is made of clay, wire, wood panel, polystyrene, acrylics and fabric. It is being featured in the Society’s 2025 catalogue and exhibited in New York City. This sculpture was one of 186 works selected from 4,500 submissions. It is being featured in the Society’s 2025 catalogue and exhibited in New York City. This sculpture was one of 186 works selected from 4,500 submissions. 

Vivi Partridge, a graduate from the Illustration diploma program, is making waves with their debut graphic novel, Quiet Crossings. The book was recently featured on CBC’s list of Canadian books for tweens and teens to read this fall. Vivi’s first graphic novel blends eerie storytelling with emotional depth, offering a unique take on grief, identity and transformation. 

The Way of Redirection, a book by Mechanical Engineering Technology student Calvin Smit, is now available for free through Seneca Libraries’ Open Educational Resources Repository. The book, published at the recommendation of Srishti Rawat, Professor, School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering Technology, focuses on Calvin’s two- and three-dimensional linear vector addition formulas. 

Journalism graduate Donna Skelly, MPP, Flamborough-Glanbrook, has been elected as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. She is the first woman, and second Seneca graduate, to be elected to this role. Graduate Alvin Curling was elected as the first-ever Black Speaker in 2003.   

Melissa Grelo, a graduate of Seneca Polytechnic’s Journalism program, cohost of CTV’s The Social and host of the Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo podcast, received the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Melissa was honoured for her work in tackling misinformation on social media and for her contribution to the well-being of Canadian women with her podcast.   

Five graduates were part of a team that beat out 58 competitors to win Best Film at a Toronto 48 Hour Film Project event. The group won for a short film they created from scratch over one adrenaline-packed weekend. The 48 Hour Film Project is a worldwide competition where participants fit their creation into a certain genre, while using a specific prop, character and line of dialogue. 

Michelle Dao, graduate of Seneca’s Illustration program, has illustrated the children’s book Dad, Is It Time to Gather Mint? The book, written by Tyna Legault Taylor, tells the story of Joshua and his dad from Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek (Lake Nipigon First Nation) in northeastern Ontario harvesting mint on the lake’s shore. The book also features a glossary and a pronunciation guide to for the Swampy Cree and Anishinaabemowin words in the story. 

Filmmaker Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, a graduate of the School of Media, was honoured with the Spirit of Cinema Award at the International Film Festival of Kerala for her work challenging racial prejudice against Black communities. The Spirit of Cinema Award honours courageous women filmmakers who use cinema to confront injustice. 

Scott Pugsley, Professor, School of Fire Protection Engineering Technology, received the Lifetime Membership Award from the Canadian Fire Safety Association. He was praised by the organization for his dedication, leadership and contributions to firefighting in Canada. The association’s annual conference featured many Seneca connections, with two graduates presenting and 10 students receiving scholarships. 

Holly Cybulski, Professor, School of Media, was inducted into the Canadian Public Relations Society’s (CPRS) College of Fellows. This prestigious honour is awarded to industry leaders for outstanding contributions to the development of public relations and communications management. The CPRS is a not-for-profit professional association dedicated to the practice, management and teaching of public relations and communications. 

• As the next phase of the Seneca Polytechnic rollout, elevate the brand in international markets. 
• Leverage the current marketing campaign to highlight the polytechnic difference and Seamless Seneca. 
• Grow the community of donors aligned with Seneca’s priorities and long-term goals. 
• Expand engagement of external stakeholders – prospective students, alumni, industry, government and more – through a variety of channels. 

• Despite the challenging student recruitment environment abroad, continued growth in new partnerships and stronger existing collaborations remains a key focus for student recruitment, contract training and Seneca’s own international brand. 
• Seneca’s brand campaign continued through the winter term, supporting the summer and fall 2026 recruitment cycle. The campaign is in market throughout the year and continues to evolve based on enrolment data and feedback. 
• The three-pronged marketing strategy for new, current and returning students, continues to deliver positive results. Similar to the brand campaign, the marketing strategy operates throughout the year and evolves based on enrolment data and feedback. 
• The first integrated graduate showcases were held in April, highlighting the work of graduating students from the Faculty of Communication, Art & Design. The events were held at Newnham and Seneca@York campuses and were open to high school students and their teachers/guidance counsellors in the day, and to alumni, donors and industry in the evening. More than 1,000 attended. 
• A new e-newsletter was launched in May to build Seneca brand loyalty and strengthen connections with audiences, including alumni, donors, employers, government, industry partners, international agents and teachers/guidance counsellors from high schools and adult learning and community centres. The newsletter, featuring highlights about Seneca, will be distributed each term. 

• Establish diploma-to-degree completion pathways, implementing data strategies to track paths and student success. 
• Remove barriers to a Seneca education by recognizing prior academic and life experiences. 
• Expand the roster of applied master’s degrees, three-year degrees and executive certificates.

• Pathways and curriculum licensing agreements were finalized with five academic institutions worldwide. 
• Preliminary mechanisms to track the success of participating students during their studies have been developed with implementation now in progress. 
• The opportunity to get credit for prior experience was launched at the Spring Open House to prospective students interested in the Bachelor of Business Administration and Interdisciplinary Studies programs. 
• A comprehensive inventory of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)‑eligible courses was completed. Review of additional programs and courses is ongoing to determine PLAR eligibility. 
• New credentials launched: 
  • AI Work Essentials (microcredential)
  • Master of Artificial Intelligence Design & Development (master’s degree)
  • Business – Supply Chain & Operations (diploma)
  • Digital Marketing Communications & Analytics (graduate certificate)  

Seneca’s Master of Artificial Intelligence Design & Development program welcomed the first cohort of students in January, on track to graduate in 2028. The two-year program has students attending in person and virtually, including many international students. This is Seneca’s first ever master’s degree and the first master’s offered by any college or polytechnic in Ontario. 

Seneca has launched two new programs: Business – Supply Chain & Operations and Digital Marketing Communication & Analytics. The Supply Chain & Operations diploma offers foundational training in logistics, transportation and supply chain management, while the Digital Marketing graduate certificate is tailored for those looking to enter Canada’s fast-paced digital marketing and communications sector. Both programs are post-graduation work permit eligible. 

The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) has accredited the Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) honours degree program for three years – the maximum possible term the board allows. Recognized internationally, CEAB is a standing committee of Engineers Canada, responsible for accrediting undergraduate engineering programs across the country. 

Seneca has partnered with Queen’s University to offer graduates from the Liberal Arts University Transfer diploma program a pathway to Queen’s Faculty of Arts and Science. Queen’s joins the University of Toronto, York University and Trent University as transfer partners, allowing Seneca graduates to earn a diploma and a degree in four years. 

Seneca is advancing access to postsecondary education in Ontario with the development of a new Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition pre-screening tool. This initiative, supported through a Capacity Building Grant from the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer, will complement Seneca’s current process for recognizing applicants’ past work and lived experiences. 

Seneca is the first postsecondary institution in Canada to issue 1,000 Siemens mechatronics and automation certifications. The milestone reflects a longstanding collaboration with Siemens to equip students with skills to support Ontario’s advanced manufacturing and technology workforce and the broader industrial sector in Canada. 

• -Provide a seamless experience for prospective and current students exploring full- or part-time study options. 
• Enable more nimble responses to student needs through revised approaches to collecting and responding to student feedback. 
• Increase fundraising efforts to support more financial aid for students and access to workplace experiences. 

• Expanding opportunities for students to receive credit for prior learning and work experience, transfer credits from other institutions and pathways into Seneca. 
• Integrating full-time and part-time studies into a single academic model to strengthen institutional oversight and leadership while delivering a more connected and consistent student experience. 
• Progress is underway to enable students to customize their learning through flexible course selection and credential development. 
• A just‑in‑time survey approach was introduced to better understand student needs and improve service delivery across virtual, in‑person and live‑chat interactions. Real‑time dashboards now provide immediate access to student feedback, enabling more timely service improvements. 
• Although achieved, efforts for securing financial aid are ongoing and essential for both student recruitment and retention. Paying for school has become a growing concern for students with the restructuring of OSAP prioritizing loans over grants. 

• Support employee engagement by continuing to provide updates on our financial situation and maintaining positive relationships with union locals’ leadership.
• Provide supervisors with just-in-time training and leadership development sessions to help them better support their teams and each other during these trying times.
• Centralize professional development within HR to strategically invest in employee growth. 

• Maintaining a focus on the employee experience and supporting workforce adjustment through sustained communications to promote engagement during periods of institutional change. 
• Continuing open and respectful engagement with union leadership and its members to support constructive labour relations during periods of transition. 
• Building on the mid‑year launch of the Supervisor Hub, Seneca continued to support supervisors through access to tools, targeted resources and structured supports to help them manage transitions and sustain team engagement during organizational change. This work was complemented by the completion of supervisor roundtables and information sessions that created opportunities for peer connection, shared learning and timely guidance. 
• A Supervisor Essentials training program is underway, with development continuing to focus on strengthening supervisors’ core operational skills and supporting their day-to-day leadership responsibilities. This work will carry forward to ensure sustained, practical support for supervisors as organizational priorities and operating contexts continue to evolve.
• Professional development has been successfully centralized within HR, with a process in place to support requests. Building on this foundation, mandatory training is being integrated as part of professional development, strengthening consistency and compliance across the overall professional development process.

• Continue the construction of the Health and Wellness Centre at Newnham Campus. 
• Continue to upgrade video surveillance across all campuses to ensure community safety.
• Ensure infrastructure safety through targeted preventative maintenance and timely upgrades. 

• Health and Wellness Centre construction continued steadily throughout the year, with foundation and structural work well underway. The project remains on track, supported by continued progress on building systems and the securing of external funding to support sustainable energy projects. 
• Campus security camera enhancements complete. All cameras have been installed and configured, including upgraded replacement equipment for licence-plate recognition capability, supporting improved campus safety and monitoring. 
• Roofing repairs at King and Newnham campuses progressed as planned, with core repair work completed and remaining waterproofing work scheduled for completion this spring. 
• Foundation and slab repairs at Newnham Campus advanced to the construction readiness stage, with procurement completed and construction scheduled to begin in May. 
• Electrical infrastructure upgrades at King Campus advanced during the year, including the completion of the Red Barn main electrical cable replacement and continued progress on high-voltage cable renewal to support long-term system reliability and safety. 

Seneca Polytechnic is now home to a test centre for IELTS, a standardized English test trusted by the Canadian government, educational organizations, employers and professional associations around the world. The IELTS test centre is open to Seneca students, students from other postsecondary institutions and the community. 

Seneca’s AI Lab is open in Newnham’s CITE building for students and employees. The space offers free access to the world’s leading AI software and 12 specialized workstations for experimentation and collaboration.

The design for Seneca’s Health and Wellness Centre received first place in the Global Architecture & Design Awards Sports & Recreation (Concept) category. The award celebrates new buildings that showcase excellence and innovation in architecture and design. 

The new HOYA Vision Care Eyeglass Dispensing Lab at Newnham Campus replicates a highend retail optical dispensing and vision-testing environment. This immersive learning space allows Opticianry students to develop their skills through hands-on experiential learning. This lab was made possible through a generous gift from HOYA Vision Care.

Seneca’s lease in York University’s Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building (DB) will come to an end in May 2027. Some programs hosted there will relocate to the Stephen E. Quinlan (SEQ) Building at Seneca@York, while others will move to Newnham Campus. Moves will be staggered starting in May 2026, with all programs scheduled to move by May 2027.

Through a partnership with Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada, Seneca offered nearly $500,000 in bursaries for students in work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities during the May and Fall 2025 terms. Students received up to $1,500 to help ensure financial constraints do not stand in the way of internships, applied research projects and community service learning. 

has partnered with the City of Markham to create the City of Markham Entrance Award, designed to support students from equity-deserving groups entering the Firefighter, Pre-Service Education and Training certificate program. Eight students will receive the bursary starting in winter 2026. The City of Markham also donated two decommissioned fire trucks to the School of Fire Protection Engineering Technology for use in training. 

Six students from the School of Aviation were among 100 individuals from 30 institutions nationally to receive scholarships from the RCAF Foundation. Congratulations to Matthew Balao, Joshua Chio, Emma De Loreto, Anthony Ghobrial, Olyvia Holmes and Cass Muise. The foundation recognizes Royal Canadian Air Force aviation and aerospace through community engagement, education programs and commemorative activities. 

The annual Seneca Polytechnic Awards took place at The Pond at Newnham Campus, bringing together students, donors and employees for an evening of recognition and celebration. For the first time, Seneca combined its Student Leadership Awards, donor-funded awards and athletic awards into a single event.

In 2026, more than $16,000 was raised by the Seneca community for student financial aid through the Seneca Business Online Auction. The auction featured more than 130 items, with funds going to the Campaign for Students Endowed Bursary.

Seneca Polytechnic capped another successful year of convocations. Seventeen ceremonies took place at Meridian Hall, with more than 15,400 graduates crossing the stage and thousands of supporters cheering them on in person and around the world. Thanks to the outstanding commitment of hundreds of Seneca employees, the ceremonies were a warm and welcoming celebration of our graduates’ success. 

Students from the CivicLabTO course took their classroom to Toronto City Hall to learn about municipal government in Canada’s largest city. They visited the Council Chamber, met Mayor Olivia Chow and connected with city officials. Through various activities, the students explored how Toronto runs and got a front row seat to public policy in action.

Students in their first year of the Honours Bachelor of Communications & Media degree program were audience members at The Social, the popular daytime talk show moderated and cohosted by Seneca Journalism graduate Melissa Grelo. The students visited Bell Media Studios as part of the program’s experiential learning activities.

The Sting women’s indoor soccer team defeated the Centennial Colts to take the OCAA Championship. Goalie Christina Cordeiro and midfield Bekah Lee were named OCAA Championship All-stars

Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology student Bosco Lai and Computer Systems Technology student Jordan Lau captured silver in the men’s badminton doubles CCAA Championship. The pair defeated the team from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to secure second place nationally.

Taylor Kampen, a student in the Honours Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting & Finance degree program, won silver at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association women’s crosscountry competition. Taylor also finished in the top 10 at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association National Championships in Price Edward Island. 

The Seneca Sting men’s and women’s soccer teams both secured bronze in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Championship. The men’s team defeated the Algonquin Wolves 2-0 and the women’s team defeated the Humber Hawks 2-1. 

The Sting women’s volleyball team defeated the Durham Lords to capture the OCAA bronze medal. The provincial championship was hosted at King Campus for the second time in three years.

Marketing student Sina Ayerman was named an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men’s Basketball East Division First-team All-star, while Amari N’Daw, a student in the Liberal Arts University Transfer program, was recognized as an OCAA East Division Second-team Allstar.

Seneca Sting Women’s soccer player Marlene Siwula (911 & Emergency Services Communications) was named the Female Athlete of the Year, while men’s badminton player Anthony Tso (Business Marketing) was named Male Athlete of the Year. The two joined more than 60 student athletes recognized for excellence in 2024-25. 

Bekah Lee, a 911 & Emergency Services Communications student, was named the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association 2025 Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. Bekah was also named Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian, East Division Defensive Player of the Year and East Division League First-Team All-Star

Seneca Sting Coach Matthew Powell was named the 2026 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year. During just his second year with the team, Mr. Powell led the Sting to a 15-1 record – an increase of nine wins from the previous year. This award is presented to a coach who demonstrates exceptional leadership, success and commitment to the development of student athletes. 

• Open the Path to Reconciliation trail, an interactive space at King Campus available to the public, sharing traditional Indigenous knowledge to promote truth and awareness.
• Continue to implement aspects of Seneca’s Reconciliation and Inclusion plan: A Shared Commitment with Responsibilities.
• Develop a wellness and mental health strategy to support programming and services for students.
• Continue to enhance essential counselling and accessible learning supports and technologies, including delivery formats desired by a diverse student population.

• The Path to Reconciliation opened to the Seneca community and the public, with interpretive signage installed. The trail supports learning, reflection and engagement with Indigenous knowledge.
• Launched an integrated student census survey to better understand Seneca students and their needs.
• Implemented an employee census survey to inform efforts to sustain and strengthen workforce diversity.
• A comprehensive wellness and mental health strategy, guided by the recently established Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy, is now in place. Central to this initiative is a stepped care approach designed to provide students with timely and personalized support.
• Accessible Learning Services has developed a multi-pronged approach to transitional supports for incoming students with disabilities, including a self-directed transition guidebook, practical skill-based workshops, drop-in mental health sessions and integrated orientation and parent information sessions.
• Counselling Services continues to strengthen the stepped care approach by curating selfpaced online resources and community-based tools that support student mental health and well-being, addressing topics such as anxiety, low mood and relationships

• Continue to implement aspects of the Sustainability Plan.
• As part of the Health and Wellness Centre, install a geothermal field and solar panels at Newnham Campus.
• Replace end-of-life vehicles and equipment with electric-powered options. 

• The heating plant study for Newnham Campus D building was completed, assessing options to electrify some or all of the heating plant to reduce emissions from burning natural gas. Technical assessments and detailed design work were finalized, providing a clear evidence base to inform future decision-making.
• Design and engineering for the geothermal field and solar panel installation at Newnham Campus were completed as part of the Health and Wellness Centre project. Pre-approval was secured for a $300,000 energy incentive to be paid upon completion of the installation. This supports future implementation while advancing campus-wide greenhouse gas reductions, energy savings and Seneca’s progress toward a zero-carbon building standard.
• Vehicle replacement efforts continued on a limited basis due to financial constraints, with select small equipment and one utility vehicle transitioned to electric options. Future replacements will continue to prioritize electric alternatives as assets reach the end of their life cycle.

• Continue to optimize digital technologies and channels to support student recruitment and conversion.
• Continue to enhance flexible learning and working spaces

• Additional digital strategies and tools have been implemented to support student recruitment and conversion, including: 
  • Website enhancements, including the development of new digital dashboards that support insight for new areas of opportunity and diagnosis of user experience opportunities
  • The successful implementation of a new master’s degree application platform, instrumental in the successful launch of the Master of Artificial Intelligence Design & Development program
  • Salesforce optimization, including work progressing on a comprehensive 360- degree view of the student journey from initial interest through to enrolment
• Former office spaces have been converted into faculty hubs at Newnham Campus to support faculty-student interactions. Former library office space at King Campus has been converted into an expanded employee hotelling area to increase capacity.
• As the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building (DB) lease ends, space at Seneca@York is being reconfigured to support relocations, with employees moving to hotelling spaces and new faculty and employee hubs established.
• Existing ECE office space at Newnham Campus is being converted into a multifunctional lab, classroom and storage area using funds from the Ontario Apprenticeship Capital Grant, with construction expected to be completed by June 2027.

Adebola Adefioye, Professor, School of Early Childhood Education, received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalized populations. The award underscores Adebola’s leadership and commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalized populations, especially within Black and immigrant communities across Ontario.

Seneca has received the City of Toronto’s Urban Forestry Community Grant to help grow the city’s canopy on private land through tree planting. The grant will support the Seneca Polytechnic Enhancement and Refinement Project, which will be implemented in summer 2026. 

Seneca’s achievements and leadership in sustainability were recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, which named the polytechnic one of the top performers on its 2025 Sustainable Campus Index. Seneca was also only one of seven postsecondary institutions in Canada to receive the World Wildlife Fund’s prestigious Living Campus certification. This is the second year Seneca has been recognized with this certification.

Seneca’s commitment to sustainability has once again been recognized, this time in the newest edition of the Guide to Green Colleges, a resource published annually for prospective postsecondary applicants by The Princeton Review. Among the 388 institutions highlighted, Seneca is one of only 33 from Canada.

Pride Month was marked with a series of lectures, workshops and other vibrant activities that shared the stories of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Mark Joseph O’Connell, Professor, School of Fashion, presented powerful narratives of individuals in the fashion sector who have often been overlooked. He also discussed the Seneca Fashion Diversity Project, which documents fashion stories from underrepresented groups.

Seneca Polytechnic’s many partners and service providers hit the links at Angus Glen Golf Course for the annual Seneca Golf Tournament in support of our students and communities. More than $158,000 was raised, with proceeds supporting student bursaries and United Way agencies across the GTA.

The Independence Program, a life skills program offered by Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, is helping teenagers with disabilities prepare to live independently as postsecondary students. Seneca is lending a hand by providing participants access to the Newnham Campus Residence.

Fashion Arts graduate Craig Renaud and Philip Sparks, Professor, School of Fashion, helped lead the fifth annual Blanket Coat Project. Thanks to volunteer support, 90 handmade wool coats have been distributed to Toronto’s unhoused community. The Seneca community has been involved with this initiative from the beginning, with students, faculty, technicians, and retirees contributing their time and skills. 

An applied research team of Seneca students and faculty has built a refrigerator-sized plant that Ionada, a clean-tech company, can use to test new carbon capture systems. Research assistants Nicholas Kwan and Nikolai Lapin started building the mini-plant in 2024 with guidance from Ionada and principal investigator Kyle Valdock, Professor, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering Technology.

Havana, a 16-year-old retired mare from the RCMP’s Musical Ride is joining her former stablemate, Olela, at Seneca’s School of Health Sciences. Havana will receive ongoing care from veterinary students and enjoy the natural beauty and historic barn at King Campus. 

• Implement a data-driven process to support evolving enrolment planning.
• Expand the use of predictive analytics to assess student performance and enable early intervention to support student success.
• Increase partnerships with postsecondary institutions to share expertise, facilities and resources and expand opportunities for program delivery.

• The legacy Hyperion system was decommissioned and replaced with a new financial and enrolment planning system. The new system is now being used to support planning activities.
• Progress continued on the development of an enrolment projection model to support predictive analysis and assist with enrolment management, resource alignment, space planning and strategic decision-making.
• An institutional approach to student retention is under development, building on an established vision to improve student persistence and graduation outcomes. Enrolment and performance data are being used to inform program-level retention efforts, with cross-institutional touchpoints in place to support ongoing planning and alignment with government priority programs.
• Seneca successfully delivered partner-supported courses during the summer term in collaboration with Northeastern University, with instruction integrated within the School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry. Cross-appointments and shared curriculum oversight supported instructional continuity and academic alignment.
• A national training initiative, supporting Canada’s growing biomanufacturing sector, was advanced through the successful integration of a Seneca-led course within the School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry. Curriculum materials and faculty recommendations were formalized, enabling course delivery and ongoing co-ordination of industry-focused training. 

• Enhance international applicant experience through automated application systems and on-demand, self-serve immigration support.
• Nurture and grow relationships with postsecondary institutions, agents, government and industry partners amidst growing international competition.
• Expand English Language Institute (ELI) offerings with a focus on new programming and markets.

• On-the-spot offers continued to expand, providing prospective students with timely admission decisions and supporting international recruitment efforts.
• Agent appreciation events were organized across China, Kenya, Tanzania, the Philippines and Vietnam, strengthening relationships with agents and educational partners. Incentives will continue through to fall 2026 to support international student recruitment in an increasingly competitive environment.
• Entrance scholarships continue to be offered to new international students across all credential levels. The structure and funding levels of incentives are reviewed regularly as part of ongoing competitive analysis.
• Academic pathway partnerships in Africa and India continue to advance, with positive early outcomes and 20 students enrolling to transfer to Seneca. Efforts continue with academic partners across the globe to develop new and strengthen existing pathways.
• Curriculum licensing agreements and pathways were finalized with five academic institutions worldwide.
• Successfully delivered three IELTS, English language test preparation workshops each term, aligned with graduation and PGWP timelines. The workshops were delivered in collaboration with internal stakeholders, supporting awareness and uptake among graduating students.
• The online ELI program was successfully launched and delivered with three annual intakes in September, January and May. 

• Increase corporate training and professional learning opportunities locally and abroad.
• Explore additional grant funding opportunities to offset operating costs. 

• The legacy Hyperion system was decommissioned and replaced with a new financial and enrolment planning system. The new system is now being used to support planning activities.
• Progress continued on the development of an enrolment projection model to support predictive analysis and assist with enrolment management, resource alignment, space planning and strategic decision-making.
• An institutional approach to student retention is under development, building on an established vision to improve student persistence and graduation outcomes. Enrolment and performance data are being used to inform program-level retention efforts, with cross-institutional touchpoints in place to support ongoing planning and alignment with government priority programs.
• Seneca successfully delivered partner-supported courses during the summer term in collaboration with Northeastern University, with instruction integrated within the School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry. Cross-appointments and shared curriculum oversight supported instructional continuity and academic alignment.
• A national training initiative, supporting Canada’s growing biomanufacturing sector, was advanced through the successful integration of a Seneca-led course within the School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry. Curriculum materials and faculty recommendations were formalized, enabling course delivery and ongoing co-ordination of industry-focused training. 

• The first phase of domestic outreach was completed. Planning is underway for the next phase focused on employers affected by tariffs and workers impacted by layoffs or work-sharing arrangements, supported through provincial funding.
• Seneca signed a Memorandum of Co-operation with the Canadian Armed Forces’ Military Personnel Generation Training Group to integrate Seneca’s AI-powered tools into various training environments.
• Corporate training activity was supported by the implementation of a new costing model to improve net revenue tracking and performance.
• Seneca became a Microsoft Authorized Training Services Provider, expanding institutional training capacity.
• Establishing a process to systematically monitor government procurement platforms for opportunities that leverage Seneca’s existing resources, infrastructure and expertise.

• Create a cross-institutional plan that maintains Seneca’s status as a system leader in AI, advancing GenAI even further in curriculum integration and in student and employee supports and experiences. 

• AI capabilities were expanded through curriculum integration, student and employee tools and the launch of a new AI Lab. In addition to the Microsoft CoPilot AI tool that is part of all students’ and employees’ standard productivity software, more than 3,500 students and 200 employees have access to advanced AI-enabled tools, supported by training and institutional guidance.
• A generative AI-powered system was implemented to support students with interview preparation, communication and interpersonal skills. The system uses real-time conversational AI capabilities to provide students with interactive, skills-based practice aligned with workplace expectations.
• Einstein AI was implemented within The Service Hub to accelerate and enhance responses to student inquiries. A new approach to launching departmental AI agents was introduced to streamline student support and improve knowledge sharing.
• The School of Hospitality & Tourism has deployed an AI agent to support training for students studying to work in customer-facing roles in hotels, restaurants and medical and dental clinics.
• A multi-phase initiative to develop a comprehensive student concierge was established in partnership with Microsoft and a Toronto-based AI firm, laying the foundation for enhanced AI-enabled student support. An in-house developed AI callout agent was piloted to support multi-channel outreach to applicants across different stages of the enrolment pipeline. 

Seneca Polytechnic hosted Prime Minister Mark Carney at King Campus for one of his final events of the election campaign. Prime Minister Carney met with President David Agnew, local candidates and supporters, delivered a campaign speech and held a news conference at Magna Hall. He is the third prime minister to visit Seneca along with Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau. 

Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, visited Seneca Polytechnic for the first time with a stop at King Campus. The minister met with students and employees and toured the Animal Health building and nursing labs at Magna Hall. The visit also included conversations about the current challenges and opportunities in Ontario’s postsecondary sector with President David Agnew.

Trevor Jones, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, visited King Campus to tour the Animal Health Centre. The minister, joined by Confederation College President Michelle Salo and Ontario SPCA interim CEO Donna Healey, learned about Seneca’s strategic partnership with Confederation and the OSPCA to support a collaborative Veterinary Technician program for northwestern Ontario

Seneca and the Canadian Armed Forces’ Military Personnel Generation Training Group have announced a new training-focused collaboration. The agreement will offer Seneca’s AI tools for integration into various training environments, supporting instructors and helping the military adapt for evolving operational demands.

Building on the strategic relationship first announced in 2024, Seneca has signed a new multi-year agreement with Microsoft that will introduce early access to the latest Microsoft AI innovations, enriching learning and helping students reach their career goals. 

Seneca Polytechnic is partnering with Confederation College to enhance opportunities for students across Ontario and address critical skill gaps in key industries, such as aviation and veterinary studies. This partnership will allow both institutions to share faculty expertise, facilities and resources to maximize program delivery efficiencies. 

Seneca and Northern College have announced a partnership to provide international students with a pathway to complete online English training through Seneca’s renowned English Language Institute. The partnership will enable international students to improve their English skills online from their home countries, helping them meet the language requirements for admission to select Northern programs.

Through a new memorandum of understanding, Seneca has become an official global training partner with İGA Academy in Istanbul, the leading centre of aviation education in Turkey. This agreement builds on AI workplace training Seneca has delivered to İGA teams and introduces a service excellence program designed for İGA’s upcoming VIP terminal.

Thanks to a new partnership between Seneca Polytechnic and GLS University, students in India will now have the opportunity to study for one year at GLS’s campus in Ahmedabad and then come to Canada to join year two of either Seneca’s Business Administration or Computer Science three-year degree programs.

Seneca and the MAAUN Group of Universities are working toward a partnership to support student exchange opportunities, curriculum development and global engagement. A memorandum of understanding between the two institutions was signed by President David Agnew and Dr. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, Founder and President, MAAUN Group of Universities, during Dr. Gwarzo’s visit to Newnham Campus. MAAUN has universities in Nigeria and Niger.

Seneca, in partnership with İGA Istanbul Airport’s İGA Academy, launched the AI for Airport Excellence microcredential. The collaborative training initiative provided the airport’s management and frontline employees to explore how AI can enhance operational efficiency, safety and passenger experience.