Supporting your student life, from relaxation to financial aid!
You often worry about your assignment deadlines and GPA during the school year. But, post-secondary life is much more than group projects and grades – your experience also matters! So, who takes care of your student life? Here at IGNITE, we like to say: “We got you!”
IGNITE is the official student union of Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber. Representing over 30,000 students, our main goal is to enhance your student life with fun events and advocate for important issues like paid work-integrated learning and financial relief for essential program items.
We know school can be overwhelming, so we strive to make your extracurricular life – including campus involvement and events – as enriching as possible.
With so many services available, it can be hard to keep up with all the resources IGNITE offers. So, buckle up, because IGNITE is in the driver’s seat, ready to give you a tour of the resources you can use as a Humber or UofGH student.
Events
If there’s one thing that can level up your post-secondary experience, it’s events. And, oh, let me tell you this, IGNITE hosts MANY of them throughout the year.
We start the year with a big show – literally. The IGNITE Concert in the fall semester brings your favourite singers to the stage. Previous years’ performers have included rapper Rich the Kid, Atlanta-born Mariah the Scientist, Lil Yachty, Metro Boomin and more. There isn’t a better way to kick off the school year!
Throughout the year, we keep the excitement going with various on-campus pop-up activations, including games and claw machines, where you can always snag some prizes. Stay tuned to our socials @shareignite, because we often do giveaways there too!
As the school year winds down and the fun seems to be over, we come in clutch again. IGNITE Hype Hall is the ultimate way to end the academic year on a high. A day of arcade games, a temporary tattoo booth, free haircuts, snacks – a lot of them – and more, just for you.
IGNITE is all about events and giveaways, and you’ll soon experience it firsthand.
Student representation
I’ve mentioned that IGNITE is also about student representation. No one understands students’ needs better than students themselves – like you. That’s why, our team is made up of students, for students.
The IGNITE student advocates are the spokespeople of the student union. They attend events, gather student feedback and act as the bridge between you and Humber and UofGH. If there’s something about your post-secondary life that concerns you, they are your go-to resource.
We also host annual elections. The IGNITE Election selects the board of directors for the next school year. They have one main goal: to work for you after being elected by you. They hold a higher-level decision-making authority than the student advocates, setting IGNITE’s strategic direction and approving major decisions that impact how we represent students. You can run for the IGNITE Election, typically held in February. If running for election isn’t your gem, you can still represent your program as an academic program representative.
IGNITE is also a member of the College Student Alliance, staying on top of provincial advocacy efforts in partnership with other Ontario student unions.
Sleep Lounge and Zen Zone
Looking for a place to relax, unwind or even hit a power nap? The IGNITE Sleep Lounge and the IGNITE Zen Zone are top destinations for relaxation.
Let’s start with the Sleep Lounge – and zzz, just writing about it is making me sleepy. Located at both Lakeshore and North campuses, you can find the Sleep Lounge in the basement of the K building at Lakeshore and in KX204 above the Student Centre at North. If you often pull all-nighters to finish assignments and need naps during the day to recharge, this is your spot. The Sleep Lounge features beds and a cozy environment for a mid-day nap between classes. Beds are available for one-hour time slots to serve as many students as possible. We also have cleaning protocols between time slots to ensure you have the best rest.
With a similar purpose, the IGNITE Zen Zone is your go-to spot for tranquillity. Campus is usually lively and noisy, with many events taking place simultaneously. Sometimes, we all need a quiet spot to unwind and take a break from the excitement. The Zen Zone is equipped with colouring books and a mini garden for landscaping, allowing you to truly take your mind off school for a moment. If you need a study spot, the Zen Zone is perfect for that too. The space is also located in the basement of the K building at the Lakeshore campus.
Both spaces are open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and no pre-registration is required!
Soupbar
If you find yourself not eating healthy throughout the day, the IGNITE Soupbar is the solution to this problem. Our soups will make your day soup-er – I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.
In partnership with LinX Lounge and the students in the food and nutrition management program, IGNITE provides FREE hot or frozen soups across all three campuses. For the 2024-25 academic year, hot soups will be available at the North campus, while frozen soups will be available at the Lakeshore and IGS campuses.
The 500ml hot soups are ready to eat on campus and the 500ml or 1L frozen soups can be heated up on campus or taken home to be spiced up as you like.
Keep an eye on our website for the list of soups available for the upcoming school year. To give you a taste of what’s to come, last academic year we offered minestrone, Italian tomato and pepper, butternut squash, lentil, potato and leek and curry vegetable soup with chicken – just to name a few!
Menstrual products
If you’ve been to the washrooms on campus you’ve probably noticed the free tampon and pad dispensers. That started way back in 2017, when Alissa Lim, then IGNITE’s vice president for the Lakeshore campus, championed an initiative to break down the stigma surrounding menstruation and menstrual products.
Initially, 33,000 free menstrual kits were provided. Now, IGNITE has collaborated with Humber and UofGH to install free tampon and pad dispensers in over 120 washrooms, including residence, across all three campuses.
Access to menstrual products should be equitable, uncomplicated and destigmatized. We reinforce our commitment to students’ mental and physical well-being and look forward to continuing our support for our community.
Scholarship and bursaries
IGNITE offers a wide variety of bursaries and scholarships to address inequalities and support your financial costs during post-secondary education.
We know that learning materials can be way too expensive. Our Learning Essentials Support program provides up to $500 per academic year for equipment, training and professional memberships and experiential learning opportunities in specific programs. The Financial Relief Program offers short-term assistance to students facing emergency situations such as childcare issues, imminent homelessness and abuse.
One of our major bursaries is the Glow Bursary. IGNITE believes that students must be compensated for their work – internships, co-ops, placements, etc. In partnership with Humber College, IGNITE receives funding from CEWIL Canada to financially support students with unpaid work-integrated learning opportunities.
With the equity scholarships – Black Excellence Scholarship, Indigenous Scholarship and Pride Scholarship – we award students every year from minority groups, who face unique challenges and barriers.
Check out each financial support option for application dates and requirements.
Tax Clinic
Are you one of those people who, every year around March and April, get overwhelmed by the thought of doing your taxes? Don’t worry, my fellow peer, the IGNITE Tax Clinic is here to make it a stress-free process.
The IGNITE Tax Clinic provide top-notch tax services to help you submit your numbers accurately. And the best? It’s completely FREE!
Dates for the Tax Clinic are usually released early in the year, so keep an eye out for updates. You can either book your appointment in advance – which we highly recommend – or try a walk-in appointment.
The IGNITE Tax Clinic is more than just submitting your taxes. Our volunteers will explain the process so you can confidently do it yourself in the following years!
This is your IGNITE 101 guide. These are some of the most notable resources that we offer to support your post-secondary journey from day one to convocation day. Explore our website to discover more about other services, including the Health and Dental Insurance Plan, clubs and our news section.
Representation and student advocacy aren’t just our goals, they are the pillars of our student union.
Feature image courtesy of IGNITE.
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