Post-secondary institutions are being challenged to rethink long-standing approaches to assessments now that AI tools are readily available and can be easily used to complete tasks without revealing genuine student learning. At RRC Polytech, this reality sparked an important question: How can we ensure assessments continue to provide meaningful evidence of student learning in an AI-abundant context? 

This became a key focus of the Teaching and Learning AI Working Group, one of the cross-functional groups established through RRC Polytech’s AI Strategy. The result was the AI Assessment (Re)Design Lab, which helps instructors redesign assessments so students can demonstrate their learning authentically, and with integrity, in an AI-enabled world. 

Why Assessment Redesign Matters 

Authentic assessment, rather than AI detection, should be the primary focus of institutional responses to generative AI to provide evidence of student learning. At the University of Sydney, when describing their two-lane approach to assessment in the age of AI and later expanding this in the Sydney Assessment Framework, Liu and Bridgeman state that human-AI collaboration is becoming a regular part of learning. They emphasize that institutions must both support productive AI use and ensure students demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes while instructors evaluate both learning processes and final products. 

Similarly, Sarah Elaine Eaton’s work on assessment in the “post-plagiarism” era argues that institutions should move beyond approaches focused primarily on detecting academic integrity breaches. Instead, the focus should be on designing assessments that require students to evaluate AI outputs critically, identify limitations and bias, preserve their own voice, and demonstrate higher-order thinking, judgment, and synthesis to ensure students can use AI effectively while upholding academic integrity standards. 

Research also highlights the limitations of relying on AI detection tools. Lee and Palmer found that AI-generated writing could be modified in ways that significantly reduced detection results, raising concerns about the dependability of detection software. Meanwhile, Bridgeman, Liu, Brockley, and Bassett warn that AI detection tools can undermine trust between students and institutions caused by both false positives and false negatives. These findings suggest that surveillance-based approaches are unlikely to provide a sustainable solution to authentic assessment in an environment where students increasingly work with AI rather than without it. 

From Research to Practice: The AI Assessment (Re)Design Lab 

Taken together, this research highlights that as students increasingly use AI to generate text, solve problems, summarize information, and create content, assessment products may no longer provide sufficient evidence of what learners know and can do. Assessments may need to be redesigned to generate clear evidence of learning, support transparent AI use, strengthen assessment validity, and avoid detection-based approaches. The AI Assessment (Re)Design Lab was developed to help instructors respond to these challenges in practical and discipline-specific ways. The Lab encourages instructors to ask: 

• What evidence of learning am I collecting? 

• Are expectations of AI use clear and transparent? 

• Can students demonstrate evidence of understanding, critical thinking, reflection, process, and growth? 

• Do students understand how to act responsibly with sacred or protected knowledge in AI systems? 

• Does this assessment remain valid when AI is available? 

In practice, this often means redesigning assessments, so students demonstrate evidence of learning through multiple forms, such as oral explanations, debates, practical demonstrations, reflections, mini thesis defenses, or multiple revisions of written work.  

Drawing on their disciplinary expertise, instructors can select and adapt assessment approaches that best fit their learning outcomes and program context, while enhancing opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in authentic and meaningful ways. Using a variety of assessment methods helps support accessibility, reduce barriers, and provide richer evidence of student learning than any single assessment format alone. 

Lab Structure and Principles 

The AI Assessment (Re)Design Lab is a five-hour blended learning experience combining concise learning modules, facilitator-led discussions, small-group activities, and peer feedback. To deepen understanding of assessment best practices, participants review principles of constructive alignment and assessment design. Drawing on their expertise and the diverse needs of Polytech programs, instructors explore how to redesign assessments so students can demonstrate their learning when AI is readily available to strengthen evidence of learning and reduce academic integrity concerns. 

Early Momentum Across the Polytechnic 

Interest in the Lab has exceeded expectations. During Spring and Summer 2026, approximately 133 instructors participated in the first eight deliveries of the AI Assessment (Re)Design Lab. The impact, however, extends far beyond the number of participants. As instructors redesign assessments, students encounter clearer expectations of AI use, well-designed learning activities, and more meaningful opportunities to demonstrate what they know. These improvements influence courses and programs, helping build long-term institutional capacity to respond to the changing educational landscape. 

Expanding lab opportunities in Fall 2026 

The success of the initial offerings has generated significant interest across academic areas. Many Chairs and Associate Deans have requested cohort-based deliveries that allow groups of instructors to work through the redesign process in a shared context to identify common assessment challenges and develop more consistent approaches with expectations around AI use and evidence of learning. Additionally, in many cases, Chairs are also participating in the Labs alongside instructors, reinforcing the importance of this work. To meet this growing demand, eight additional Lab deliveries are planned for Fall 2026, expanding opportunities for participation across the Polytech. 

Ultimately, this Lab is not about responding to AI as a single technology. It is about strengthening all assessments for the future and ensuring that, as learning environments continue to evolve, students remain at the centre of the educational experience. 

RRC Polytech’s AI Strategy is led by Rebecca Molly Hiebert. For more information visit rrc.ca/artificial-intelligence.

Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty No. 1 Territory – the lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota Oyate, and Denésuline, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis  – 

RRC Polytech has been recognized as a leading institution for sustainability, earning the top spot in its category in the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI), published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). 

The annual SCI highlights top-performing post-secondary institutions based on results from AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), the world’s leading framework for measuring sustainability performance in higher education. 

RRC Polytech was ranked #1 Overall Top Performer among Associate and Short-Cycle Institutions reporting under STARS 3.0, achieving the highest score in its category featured in the 2026 SCI.

“This recognition demonstrates that sustainability is embedded throughout RRC Polytech – it’s an institution-wide achievement,” says Giselle Martel, Vice-President, Finance and Administration, RRC Polytech. “Ranking first in our category under STARS 3.0 is a tremendous accomplishment and reflects the dedication of people across our community who are advancing sustainability through teaching, learning, research, operations and community engagement every day.” 

The recognition builds on RRC Polytech’s strong sustainability performance, following its achievement of STARS Gold status in 2025. 

Submitted every three years, STARS helps post-secondary institutions evaluate and advance their performance across the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. Achieving Gold status reflects a collaborative, campus-wide commitment to embedding sustainability into academics, operations, engagement, planning and innovation. 

In addition to its top overall ranking, RRC Polytech received two notable recognitions in the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index: 

• STARS of Data Accuracy: RRC Polytech’s high data accuracy rate placed it among the institutions with the fewest reporting issues between March 2024 and March 2026. The recognition highlights the contributions of STARS liaisons, data providers and employees across the Polytechnic who helped ensure the report’s accuracy and quality. 
• Institutional Highlight – Engagement: AASHE featured Mittohnee Pogo’ohtah and RRC Polytech’s partnership with Pow Wow Pitch as a leading example of sustainability-driven engagement. Originally submitted under the Innovation and Leadership category, the initiative was selected by AASHE for inclusion in the SCI’s Engagement highlights. 

RRC Polytech continues to advance sustainability through applied learning, research and innovation, responsible operations and community leadership. Sustainability-focused or sustainability-inclusive learning opportunities are available in every academic school, while initiatives across campuses promote environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and inclusive excellence. 

Learn more about the 2026 AASHE Sustainable Campus Index here. 

The following message includes content that may trigger strong emotions, especially for those with lived experience. It is recommended that we all check in on ourselves and access the resources available to us to ensure we are taking good care of our mental health. Access mental health and self-care resources here.

This Sunday, October 4, is the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S+).

This day comes just four days after the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, when we remember and honour the Survivors of Residential Schools and those that never returned home.

The movement for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+) highlights the ongoing consequences of colonialism, systemic racism, and discrimination in our communities. It brings attention to the circumstances that place Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit people at disproportionate risks of violence, disappearance, and loss.

The Day of Action for MMIWG2S+ is a call to advocate for justice, accountability, and lasting change. It affirms that Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit people deserve the same safety, dignity, and opportunities to thrive as all people.

In 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls published the final report, Reclaiming Power and Place, which asserts 231 Calls to Justice that address issues which accumulate into dangerous situations. The Final Report draws on the testimonies of over 2,380 family members, survivors of violence, experts, and Knowledge Keepers collected through two years of nationwide hearings and evidence gathering.

Call to Justice 11.1 calls on educational institutions to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S+), including the systemic and historical factors that contribute to violence against Indigenous Peoples. It stresses the importance of Indigenous-led education that reflects Indigenous histories, perspectives, laws, and ways of knowing. Because of the violence Indigenous women, girls and Two Spirit people face and the subsequent lack of response from the justice system, it is our responsibility as a post-secondary institution to raise awareness of the historical precedents and patterns that have persisted through our nation’s history.

This past year, RRC Polytech and the Campus Store partnered with Ininew artist Heather Endall to create the 2026 Red Shirt design for MMIWG2S, the proceeds of which go to the Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award for Indigenous students. The bursary, valued at $1,000, aims to alleviate some financial stress for Indigenous students. The shirts are produced and ordered through Red Rebel Armour, owned and operated by RRC Polytech alum Sean Rayland-Boubar.

This October 4, we encourage you to view resources available through the Library, like Felicia Solomon’s Story, and Tina Fontaine: A Murdered Girl’s Legacy from CBC Curio; and films through the National Film Board like Finding Dawn, The Red Dress, and this river.

The Government of Canada’s National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls always has free resources available, including direct access to the Final Report itself.

Many Indigenous organizations have additional programs that support the National Inquiry and education on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People like the Southern Chiefs’ Organization Inc. MMIWG2S and Violence Prevention and The Highway of Tears Initiative.

This observance may be emotionally taxing, especially for Indigenous students and employees. Please remember that outside of formal events in which they agree to participate, Indigenous community members may decline discussing this observance because of its emotional and cultural impact.

The flags on campus have been lowered in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and will remain lowered through the weekend to observe the National Day of Action for MMIWG2S+.

Join RRC Polytech’s Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics as we host the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Advanced Manufacturing Summit on Wednesday, October 7. 

October 7, 2026 | 8:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 
RRC Polytech – North Gym, 2055 Nore Dame Ave., Winnipeg, MB   

Click here for more summit details and to register.  

This full-day summit will explore technologies reshaping manufacturing, connect manufacturing leaders from across the prairies and offer breakout sessions and plant tours that meet your priorities.  

Hear keynote presentations from Joel Semeniuk, President and CEO of Primal where he will address What We Build Next: Canada’s Manufacturing Moment, and from Gerhard Roehr, President of AMT Robotics as he presents on Why a Learning Organization is the Key to Successful Adoption of Technology.  

The day will also feature a panel discussion on how to build the next workforce for manufacturing and feature a vendor exhibition hall.  

The following message includes content that may trigger strong emotions, especially for those with lived experience. It is recommended that we all check in on ourselves and access the resources available to us to ensure we are taking good care of our mental health. Access mental health and self-care resources here. 

Tomorrow, September 30th, is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which grew from the Indigenous-led grassroots movement, Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters. The flags on RRC Polytech Campuses are lowered today and tomorrow as the Polytech observes Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

Despite its status, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not just another holiday. It’s an opportunity to pause our typical routines to reflect and learn. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation brings to light everything that was taken from Indigenous Peoples through the horrific history of the Canadian Residential School System: culture and traditions, family, language, and sovereignty. 

Visibility of support is essential. It affirms the truths of Survivors, their families and communities. Wearing an Orange Shirt sends a message, and healing happens when the whole community says: ‘I see you.’ Affirming the truth is essential to walk the path of reconciliation. 

Orange shirts designed by Indigenous artists are available to purchase at the Campus Store year-round at RRC Polytech. Every design holds a story from the perspective of each artist that reflects on the meaning of Truth and Reconciliation, the legacy of Residential and Day School Survivors, and healing from the intergenerational effects of trauma through community. 

All proceeds from Orange Shirt Sales will support the Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award when applications open in January 2027. Mínwastánikéwin is an Ininimowin word meaning to set it right – the award, valued at $1,000, aims to alleviate some of the financial burden Indigenous students experience each year. 

Peatr Thomas, who designed the first Orange Shirt in 2022, said that the first design encourages us to “remember and pay tribute to the young ones lost. Remember to honour the survivors.” Each design since then has paid homage to the sentiment in their own ways. 

Since 2023, the shirts have been produced in partnership with Red Rebel Armour, owned and operated by Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship grad Sean Rayland-Boubar of Peguis First Nation. 

Staff and students are encouraged to wear Orange Shirt on campus today to demonstrate your commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. Take the opportunity this week to participate in community events tomorrow or join us at any one of the events hosted on campus today, Thursday, and Friday. 

The flags on campus will be lowered today in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and will remain lowered in observance of the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People on October 4. 

Take good care of yourself and those around you and remember to reach out for support if you need it. 

Jamie Wilson on behalf of RRC Polytech Executive

Taylor McArthur (Niná wašte šiyo poǧa hą́ska wíya/hummingbird woman) is a Nakoda digital artist from Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation. Her Digital Mural, “Where we meet, again,” is on display at RRC Polytech’s Exchange District Campus for the duration of Culture Days.

“This permanent installation combines elements of the unseen, felt and 3D to define a dream-like space where time is not bound by one construct,” says McArthur.

The use of the Elgin Plaza space was intentional, meant as a meeting point and gathering area where viewers are invited to pause, reflect, and slow down.

“I am often inspired by my dreams and elements within them and my engagement with the natural world around me,” continues McArthur.

“Dreams are not fantasy but rather a living realm. I wanted to highlight this as a form of resistance and survival to challenge the colonial ideas of linear time to allow for the expression of fluidity. The warm hazy glow and the absence of a defined setting moves us away from these colonial constructs of hierarchy and ownership over land. By placing these elements in a floating and undefined space this acknowledges that relations with the human world are not bound to a physical geography but rather can exist in memory, stories and dreams.

wâhkôhtowin in Cree relationality highlights the delicate and cyclical balance between life.

These spirals represent life force and energy. The light is scattered and flows between and within. This choice was not metaphorical; it represents the connectedness.”

To learn more, please click here.

This is not the Polytech’s only involvement in Culture Days – RRC Polytech students recently learned video mapping for a Nuit Blanche projection. Click here to learn more.

Funding Through Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well Strategy Will Increase Accessibility and Inclusion on First Nations

The Manitoba government is investing $146,000 in new American Sign Language (ASL) training opportunities for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Manitobans through a partnership with RRC Polytech, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for accessibility, women and gender equity, announced today.

“Members of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community should be able to access the services and supports they need to participate fully in their communities no matter where they live,” said Fontaine. “We’ve received feedback directly from Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Manitobans about the longstanding lack of ASL education and ASL interpretation in First Nations and rural communities. This investment is a step toward helping to close that gap while empowering Indigenous women to build valuable, in-demand skills to provide much-needed services in their own communities.”

The Manitoba government is providing a total of $146,000 through the Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well strategy to support the initiative. The funding includes $18,000 for the development and delivery of three ASL micro credentials providing ASL education directly on reserve, and $128,000 over three years to fund four seats specifically for Indigenous women in RRC Polytech’s existing ASL-English Interpretation program.

The ASL micro credentials will introduce ASL and Deaf culture for all participants and will be equivalent to ASL 1, one of the prerequisites for entry into RRC Polytech’s ASL-English Interpretation program, the minister noted. Training will be delivered in community to help reduce barriers to participation and will accommodate up to 15 learners per cohort. In addition to increasing access to ASL education on reserve and in rural Manitoba, the curriculum will incorporate Indigenous perspectives and approaches and be developed in partnership with Indigenous communities to ensure the training reflects local needs and experiences, a longstanding request directly from Indigenous Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Manitobans.

“RRC Polytech welcomes this important partnership with the Manitoba government, which reflects our shared commitment to creating more inclusive communities and expanding educational opportunities for Indigenous learners,” said Fred Meier, president and CEO, RRC Polytech. “By increasing access to ASL education through new micro credentials and fully funded seats in our ASL-English Interpretation program, we are helping remove barriers, strengthen representation in the ASL interpretation profession and build capacity to support Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in Indigenous communities across Manitoba.”

Graduates of the ASL-English Interpretation program will be equipped to provide more culturally responsive ASL-English interpretation in Indigenous communities, including at community gatherings, ceremonies and other events.

To learn more about Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag: All Women Doing Well strategy, Manitoba’s $20-million provincial strategy to support the safety, protection and empowerment of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people, visit www.gov.mb.ca/wage/minoayaawag-ikwewag.html.

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Joan Ledoux, Manitoba Métis Federation Minister of Education and Associate Minister of Métis Employment and Training. Joan served the Red River Métis for over thirty years and was a member of the University College of the North Council of Elders.  

As a valued partner and friend of RRC Polytech, Joan generously shared her knowledge, guidance, and passion for advancing Indigenous education and student success. Her leadership strengthened relationships between our institutions and contributed to a shared vision of creating welcoming and culturally-grounded opportunities for Red River Métis learners.  

She was an active advocate at the Polytech and was involved with initiatives like the raising of the Red River Métis flag on campus, a keynote speech to commemorate Louis Riel Day and uplift Métis students, and the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2014 between RRC Polytech, the Manitoba Métis Federation, and the Louis Riel Institute. 

We extend our deepest condolences to the Ledoux family, the Manitoba Métis Federation, and all those mourning her loss. 

In honour of Joan’s memory and her lasting contributions to education and the Red River Métis Nation, RRC Polytech’s flags will be lowered in observance. 

Partnership with French Embassy and the Institut français du Canada highlights Schroeder Institute’s purpose 

RRC Polytech Chair Chris Brower doesn’t normally receive emails from the French Embassy.  

“It’s not every day that the French Embassy reaches out asking to collaborate on a project with your students,” said Brower, Chair of the Digital Media Design, Game Development and Acting Director of the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts.  

This email turned into a week-long spring workshop with 15 RRC Polytech students from the Animation, Digital Media Design (Video and Motion Graphics) and Communications Design programs.  

RRC Polytech entered the conversation while the Embassy, through its cultural service, the Institut français du Canada (IFC), was involved in a similar project with Sheridan College, a fellow Polytechnic Canada member, for the 2025 Nuit Blanche in Toronto.  

When the IFC saw an opportunity to develop a similar video project in Manitoba, Sheridan connected it with RRC Polytech. 

“RRC Polytech is the most important post-secondary institute for audiovisual studies in Manitoba. It was natural for us to work together,” Benjamin Orliange, IFC Audiovisual Attaché. 

For Brower, this type of project is what the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts is all about.  

“This video mapping project is the largest Winnipeg-based projection artwork to date and is a great example of international collaboration and partnership, of experiential and industry‑aligned learning. This is how RRC Polytech can contribute to Winnipeg’s cultural landscape,” said Brower. 

“The Nuit Blanche Winnipeg projection project offers incredible public visibility for student work while reinforcing the Schroeder Institute’s leadership in immersive media, creative technology and interdisciplinary education,” added Brower. 

Workshop inspires students   

With a focus on video mapping, the IFC brought French video mapping artist Jules-Camille Huvig onboard along with local Winnipeg artist Julie Gendron to lead the workshop for RRC Polytech students.  

Under the guidance of Huvig and Gendron, students collaborated across programs to develop animated content was that specific to a 3D object like a building exterior or wall.  

For many students, video mapping was a new concept. It involves specialized software to project animations onto 3D objects using techniques that make those surfaces come alive. 

“This workshop showed a whole new world of art through projection mapping,” said Gabriel Gregorio, a first-year animation student. “I mainly worked on animations throughout the process. I learned how to create awesome sequences to project onto the buildings and the inner workings of camera work as well. It was fun to see everyone’s creations in the end!” 

For others, the workshop was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that expanded their skills.  

“The workshop inspired me to think about incorporating my animations into art in ways I hadn’t thought of before,” said Milani Miller, a second-year animation student. “It was a really cool opportunity and I’m glad I was a part of it.” 

Students are looking forward to seeing their project on the “big screen” later this month.  

Their three short digital storytelling projects will be presented at Nuit Blanche Winnipeg, September 26 at the St. Boniface Cathedral (180 De le Cathedrale Ave.), 9:00 p.m.  

The project was made possible with the support of the Institut français du Canada, the Programme International de Diffusion Artistique  programme of the Institut français, rencontres audiovisuelles and Manitoba Culture Days.  

In the creative arts industry, navigating the unknown is par for the course. But even the most creative among us may need an extra boost in exploring one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change.

Enter RRC Polytech’s Schroeder Institute for Entertainment and Media Arts. The Schroeder Institute, in partnership with BizForClimate, is making sure the next generation of creatives is well-equipped to work sustainably, with the “Made to Work Here: Sustainability in Manitoba’s Creative Industries” session – an engaging exploration of how sustainability is shaping the future of the creative industry.

“Creativity has the power to shape the way people think, feel, and act, which is why it’s so important for those working in creative industries to understand sustainability,” says Kirk Johnson, Dean of the School of Business, Information Technology and Creative Arts, RRC Polytech. “By learning how to make thoughtful, responsible choices in their work, creative artists can work to inspire audiences while also contributing to a more sustainable future.”

The session features a presentation on the key concepts of sustainability in the creative sector and why they matter for the industry’s future growth. Following the presentation is a panel featuring industry professionals sharing their experiences in rolling out sustainability in storytelling, practice, and in ways that solve local problems.

RRC Polytech will also reinforce its commitment to sustainability at the event, by signing the BizforClimate pledge.

Panel speakers:

• Kyle Schmitz, Founder of Teenage Astronauts
• Dee King, Co-Founder of ZenFri Inc.
• Samantha Leigh, Production Team Lead of Green Spark Group

“A growing industry trying to compete on the world stage doesn’t often care how they grow, and that’s been Canada’s creative sector over the decades,” says Dee King, Co-Founder of ZenFri Inc. “But as we get closer to Canada’s Net Zero Targets across all sectors, it is a growing concern for Producers, Funders and Creatives. Thankfully, sustainability requires out-of-the-box thinking which creative professionals excel at, so there is no shortage of solutions, big or small.”

The event is free and open to everyone. To learn more and register, please click here.