Why Employees Choose Centennial

Transcription

1 Why Employees Choose Centennial See where experience takes you. centennialcollege.ca centennialcollege.ca

2 Why Centennial Centennial College is Ontario s first public college and was built in At Centennial, we offer relevant programs to our students that are based on robust curriculum and on the use of tools and technologies that reflect the needs of business and industry in disciplines ranging from arts, business and communications, to health, hospitality, engineering technology and transportation. Our learner-focused approach differentiates us in the Canadian post-secondary sector. We recognize that as the world becomes more connected and smaller, our role in it and the role of our students must become bigger. As an institution we strive to be an internationally recognized leader in education, placing a strong emphasis on global citizenship, social justice and equity. As an employee, we know that you are dedicated and focused on achieving this goal. Your passion and energy make the difference in our students lives and have helped make our institution a place like no other. This booklet provides you with a summary of the key employment programs and policies, as well as the work that shapes Centennial s environment, making it a great place to work and a great place for our students to learn. Mission, Vision and Values: Our mission is: To educate students for career success. Our Vision: Transforming lives and communities through learning. Our Values: We make every decision to support the career and personal development of learners; Our curriculum, teaching and services demonstrate that we value the diverse profiles of our learners; The most effective learning takes place within a positive environment characterized by knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers, teaching strategies that suit learners needs and an atmosphere of dignity and mutual respect; We are accountable to our learners, our community and to the general public for the quality of the learning experiences we provide, for the resources we use and for the manner in which we treat all people. We evaluate all of our work as part of the work itself; To make the best decisions, we consult with, and consider carefully, the views of all parties, internal and external, who have an important perspective on an issue. We engage in academic debate with open minds in an atmosphere of mutual respect; and, We value and support one another in whatever role we have within Centennial, in a process of continuous learning and improvement. We achieve our vision through an employee value proposition that emphasizes and maximizes the contributions of our employees to the success of our students and our community. Strategic Directions 1. Meet the needs of internal and external communities by: Providing lifelong education and training that produces graduates with the skills necessary to sustain individual career success within a global economy; Providing employers and communities with the human resources they will require for economic success and contribution to the community; and, Taking a leadership position in influencing education and other related public policies; and conducting applied research that will create the new products and services necessary for sustaining the economic health of our external communities. 2. Make Centennial College the college of choice in our target market by: Providing high quality, innovative and responsive education and training programs, including comprehensive education, that lead toward certificates, diplomas and applied degrees; Advancing new approaches to education, including academic centres of excellence; Entering into alliances with industry and academic partners to enhance Centennial s education and applied research thrust; Promoting the unique character of Centennial s campuses; and, Providing an effective, supportive, safe, accessible and affordable learning environment, using state-of-the-art information technologies, where appropriate, to support these directions. 1

3 3. Make Centennial College the employer of choice for management, faculty and support staff by: Promoting a proactive approach to professional development; Ensuring that our people have the necessary support and tools to fulfill their responsibilities; Providing an effective, supportive, safe, secure and accessible working environment; and Nurturing continuous improvement of working relationships at all levels in the college. 4. Value and respect our multicultural diversity by: Sustaining an operating environment that capitalizes on the unique contributions of our multicultural communities; and Equipping our students with the skills necessary to respond to the opportunities and challenges associated with ever changing societal demographics. 5. Ensure that sufficient financial resources are obtained in order to achieve the organization s strategic objectives. Our work has meaning President Ann Buller has stated: We want to create a distinctive and inclusive learning environment that will enable students to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to value diversity, promote social justice and become socially responsible in both local and global communities. Being part of the Signature Learning Experience (SLE) allows our students and staff to enhance their skills as global citizens at an institution that prepares students to work in the world and the world to work in Canada. Our Signature Learning Experience reflects the College s promise to provide students a distinctive inclusive educational experience that builds on a foundation of global citizenship, social justice and diversity. Centennial College students have an opportunity to learn about these concepts, develop their critical thinking and analysis skills and participate in meaningful projects. The four components of the SLE contribute to our mission to educate students for career success, preparing them so that they can effectively enter the world of work and life: GNED-500: Students enrolled in diploma programs take this general education course entitled Global Citizenship: from Social Analysis to Social Action. Portfolio Learning: Students develop an SLE portfolio project throughout their program of study to demonstrate their understanding of global citizenship, social justice and diversity. Professional Development and Learning for all College Staff: This supports faculty and staff who teach GNED-500, support portfolio learning or support the SLE through integration of equitable and inclusive practices in curriculum and co-curricular activities. Embedding of Equity and Global Citizenship Competencies Across the College: This develops in each student and staff member the competencies for learning, teaching and working that value diversity and difference and embrace and promote equity and inclusion amongst all students and staff. 2

4 Our commitment to you, our employees, is to create an environment that challenges you to be your best and to make a difference. Working together, we strive to create an inclusive, engaging work environment built on valuing diversity and respect. A culture of respect and collaboration; A safe, secure, inclusive and accessible environment for learning, teaching and working; Curriculum and instruction that reflect diversity and promote equity and inclusion; Equitable and accessible opportunities for student success; Building knowledge and evaluating effectiveness; Human resource management systems, policies and practices that reflect diversity and promote equity and inclusion; Training and staff development in equity and diversity; Accessible and inclusive college communication; Strategic engagement with diverse communities; Relationships and partnerships that align with our mission, vision and values; and, Committing financial and human resources to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Our Guiding Principles We believe social justice requires that we value diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that the principles and practices of diversity, equity and inclusion strengthen the social and economic development, growth and well-being of our student population, our employees and our local and international communities. We uphold our social responsibility to contribute to a society that is equitable, fair and just. In accordance with our mission, vision and values, we strive to demonstrate leadership in eliminating barriers and implementing and promoting diversity through our academic framework, policies, special initiatives and proactive measures. We are committed to eliminating all forms of harassment and discrimination. We work hard to prevent, remedy and redress these inequities. We create an environment of inclusion in our teaching, learning, employment and support services so that we can fully serve our communities and prepare our students to excel in the workplace and in society. We hold ourselves accountable for the changes we need to make. We will continue to comply with existing federal and provincial legislative requirements. We work to continuously improve by developing and implementing goals, policies, competencies and special initiatives founded upon principles of social justice to promote equity and inclusion. We will collect data to track our progress and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the initiatives we undertake, and we will communicate the outcomes to our community. Our Statement of Diversity provides the guiding framework that sets how we strive to create a culture of respect, collaboration and inclusivity across the institution. Centennial College and its Board of Governors value and embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission to educate students for career success within a context of global citizenship and social justice. 3

5 Our Total Rewards Compensation Two collective agreements negotiated across the Ontario College system, along with the Administrative group terms and conditions of employment, provide the basis for our competitive public sector compensation system. These documents are at the heart of the employment environment of the College and form the basis of the employment relationship between the College and you, our employees. Our Benefit Plan As a Centennial College full-time employee you are covered by one of the most comprehensive benefits packages available. These benefits include: Extended health coverage: You can claim up to $1,500 per year for yourself and for each of your dependents for paramedical services, such as the services of chiropractors, osteopaths, podiatrists, naturopaths, massage therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, optometrists and acupuncturists. Other coverage includes orthopedic shoes, medical supplies and equipment, breathing or prosthetic equipment. The plan also provides for prescription drug coverage, semi-private hospital rooms and private-duty nursing. Vision care: The plan covers 100% of expenses up to $400 every two years for adults and each year for dependent children under 18 years of age. Expenses covered include glasses, contact lenses and laser eye treatments. Dental benefits: As a College employee, you enjoy comprehensive coverage for dental procedures, endodontic, periodontal, dentures, crowns and bridges as well as orthodontic procedures with no deductible. Insurance: For the duration of your employment and upon retirement, you have access to a flexible array of insurance coverage options to protect your family in the event of accident, death or disability. Premiums for basic life and accidental death insurance are provided by the College. As an employee you can elect to supplement this coverage at a reasonable rate and also purchase insurance for your dependents. Our Pension Plan The value of long-term savings when it comes to retirement cannot be underestimated. Every employee of the College be they full time, part-time or partial-load can participate in the College s pension plan (Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology CAAT) based on certain qualification requirements. As an employer we match, dollar for dollar, your contributions resulting in a defined benefit upon retirement from the College at age 65 or earlier depending on your service. This pension plan is one of the best administered in the province and allows you to retire with a pension that is indexed to the cost of living. For the past few years, the College has also provided up to six months of paid severance for employees with 10 or more years of service who are retirement eligible and are willing to exit voluntarily from the College. Vacation and Leaves of Absence Vacation: The College s permanent employee groups enjoy from 15 to 30 days of vacation annually based on their length of service, with the exception of its faculty members who enjoy two months of annual vacation funded by deferred salary. You also enjoy paid leave for the six statutory holidays celebrated by the province and the holiday period of December 25 to January 1. Professional Development Leave: After six years of employment with the College all full-time employees are eligible to apply for up to one year of paid leave to further your development through additional schooling or other developmental activities. You can receive 60% to 80% of your salary during this period depending on the length of your employment with the College. Prepaid Leave Plan: All full-time employees can defer a portion of your salaries to self-fund a leave of up to one year. The salary deferral can be spread over a period of five years. Pregnancy and Parental Leave: Full-time employees who have a child or adopt a child receive up to 52 weeks of supplementation to your unemployment benefit. This supplement allows you to receive up to 93% of your regular salary throughout the duration of your leave. Your benefit coverage continues during this period. 4

6 A Safe and Healthy Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Prevention It is the policy of Centennial College that all members of the College community have a right to a work and study environment that is free from discrimination and harassment on any of the prohibited grounds in the Ontario Human Rights Code including race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, age, marital status, family status, disability, sexual orientation (and same sex partnership status) and record of offences, as these terms are defined and interpreted in and by the Ontario Human Rights Code. The College is committed to fostering a climate where human rights are respected and we will not tolerate discrimination or harassment in educational, employment or business dealings. Accommodation Policies Centennial College is committed to supporting employees and applicants experiencing occupational and non-occupational illness and injury to be productive in the workplace. The College makes every attempt to work with all stakeholders to proactively accommodate persons with disabilities and/or medical conditions in a timely, confidential and sensitive manner. Our goal is to promote a supportive and positive work environment that provides equal treatment and opportunities to all employees, including those with special needs associated with disability, as cited in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Employee Assistance Program In Sickness and in Health In an effort to provide a one-stop shop that handles health and safety, wellness, disability management and risk assessment, the College has integrated safety, health and wellness into one department. In just four years, the College s programs have made it a leader and innovator in workplace health and safety. Centennial College is serious in its commitment to the health and safety of our College community. We have embedded health and safety initiatives into our budget and our five-year strategic plan specifically documents our commitment to the safety and security of everyone on our properties, including our employees and students. Employee Wellness Centennial College strongly supports the wellness of our employees. The College has a robust wellness strategy and program which is open to the entire community and includes: Flu clinics on each of our campuses every year; Biannual health screening clinics that help employees to develop a risk profile for better health management; and, Health-focused events and challenges that support our employees health and wellness. As an employee at the College you have access to a $150 subsidy for a gym membership either with the Centennial Student Association s Athletic and Wellness Centre or at any gym facility to accommodate staff from all campuses. All full-time employees of Centennial College have 24/7 access to counseling services, which provide immediate confidential assistance for any concern you may have. This voluntary support service can help you and your family solve challenging life problems through telephone, online or in person support. There is no cost to you for this service. Resources available through this program include support of: Personal well being related to issues of personal stress, depression, grief and loss, anxiety and mental health; Relationship issues including: communication, separation, divorce, parenting and domestic abuse; Addiction (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling and other); Research of child and elder care resources; Legal and financial issues; and, Nutritional issues related to weight management, energy boosting, management of health factors such as cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease. Short Term Disability Short Term Disability (STD) provides income replacement to all full-time employees if you experience illness or injury for up to 130 days, subject to LTD provisions. Full-time faculty may exceed 130 days based on cumulative sick days banked. Income replacement can be up to 100% depending on the employee group, length of service and sick plan usage. Long Term Disability Mandatory enrolment for all full-time employees in the Long Term Disability Income Plan ensures financial support for severe and prolonged absences. The plan provides payments to the last day in the month when you retire or reach age 65. Payments are per pre-disability base salary at two-thirds for Support and Administrative employees and 60% for Faculty. 5

7 Return to Work Programs The College is committed to providing support, services and resources to you to help achieve optimal health in a safe and healthy workplace. Every effort will be made to accommodate you if you require assistance in returning to work due to illness or injury. Success is dependent on working together as a team to ensure a caring and consistent approach for all ill or injured employees. The College s Return to Work Policy (RTW Policy) applies to all employees and has been developed in collaboration with our bargaining-unit partners (OPSEU Locals 558 and 559). It assists in a timely and safe return to work for employees absent from the workplace due to an illness, accident, injury and/or disability. Our People, Our Culture Our Bargaining Units Centennial College enjoys a collaborative work environment with its various employee groups. The majority of the College s full-time employees are represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) through two locals: OPSEU Local 558 represents faculty, counselors and librarians; and OPSEU Local 559 represents the support staff that deliver myriad services to students and the College. Talent Acquisition We recognize that you, our employees, are among our greatest assets. We strive to achieve and maintain a diverse and excellent workforce that effectively serves the changing needs of the institution, its students and its communities. This is achieved through: Working with our partners to assess their current and future human capital needs and establishing strategies to fulfill these requirements; Recruiting employees with the knowledge, skills, experience and flexibility required to perform the job; Fostering a learning organization which enables our employees to grow and advance in their careers; Applying rigorous and consistent procedures for the barrier-free selection of candidates based on clearly identified job-related selection criteria; and, Retaining a workforce that reflects the demographics of the Greater Toronto Area. Recognition of excellence across the College As employees, your contributions to the success of Centennial College are recognized in a number of ways. At five year intervals, employees are recognized for their service to the institution. The long-term service awards include a certificate and a choice of recognition items that can be selected through an online catalogue. The Centennial Board of Governors also annually recognizes the contributions of one employee from each of the faculty, support and administrative groups with an award and monetary gift. Over the past two years, the President s Spirit Awards recognized more than 300 employees for their enthusiasm displayed while working for the College. Team recognition such as the H1N1 pandemic team, the renovation and construction teams and the information technology teams all illustrate the level of dedication and effort that goes into making Centennial such a great place to work. Learning across the institution Centennial College is committed to learning for all and to the development of you, our valued employees. As a post-secondary institution Centennial fosters development of its students but we also encourage employees to participate in the development of learning goals for personal and professional growth. The College makes available opportunities for you to participate in a range of professional development activities. Tuition subsidy for ministry-funded courses offered at Centennial: As a full-time employee of Centennial College you are entitled to enroll in courses offered by the college at a cost of $20 provided that you meet the admission requirements of the program. You must be prepared to take the course on your own time and cover the costs of your materials. Tuition reimbursement for non-centennial courses. You are eligible for up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement when you pursue a certificate, diploma or degree at an accredited post-secondary institution. Family tuition reimbursement: If you qualify you may obtain a rebate of tuition fees paid by an eligible family member registered at the College. This financial benefit varies based on the number of hours attributed to the program but the rebate can amount to up to $1,150 per semester for a full-time student. Employee Computer Purchase Plan: This program has been developed to encourage you to enhance your computer skills through the purchase and use of home computers. The College offers interest-free loans of up to $3,500 to all permanent full-time employees with 6 months or more of service. Global Citizenship and Equity Learning Experiences (GCELE): An increasing number of staff and faculty have had the opportunity to travel internationally with our students through the Global Citizenship and Equity Learning Experiences (GCELE). These international learning opportunities are fully funded by the College and are designed to allow you to increase your awareness of specific issues. By all accounts these opportunities have changed the lives of all who participate, staff and students alike. 6

8 Facilities Our four campuses, all conveniently located in the eastern half of the Greater Toronto Area, are lively, energetic reflections of the communities in which we work and learn. Rich cultural diversity is a hallmark of each campus, and something of which we are extremely proud. Each campus provides all the necessary amenities of a positive workplace, including numerous on-site dining facilities, athletics facilities, lounge areas and so much more. Each campus also features wireless access, computer and lab facilities, and physical accessibility for all. Over the past year we have grown, adding a new state of the art Library and Academic Facility and a new Athletics and Wellness Facility at our Progress Campus. And our growth will continue at our Ashtonbee Campus with plans to add a new library and athletic facility there as well. The opening of the Library and Academic Facility at Progress marked a new era for Centennial. This new facility is an architectural statement that reflects our commitment to lifelong learning and teaching excellence. The new building, which totals about 103,500 square feet, houses a full service library, 22 larger classrooms, lab space, a lecture theatre and a bio wall. An enclosed bridge provides a seamless link between the new and existing buildings. This gleaming new facility now forms the main entrance to the campus. All our renovated campus spaces are designed to allow in natural light reducing the need for artificial lighting and providing an inviting and eye catching environment. The open environments encourage interaction among you and our students, creating a welcoming atmosphere conducive to creating a fresh, inviting working and learning environment. centennialcollege.ca See where experience takes you. This document provides a summary of various Centennial College programs. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this document. If there is a discrepancy between this document and the official plan document(s), the plan document(s) will prevail. 11/12