Keeping schools secure is a crucial job. That’s why many campus safety professionals trust and choose the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) to elevate their credentials with a degree from the Justice and Public Safety program.
Two graduates of the program from the class of 2025, Baljit Bhamber, Campus Safety Coordinator at Niagara College, and Rob Kilfoyle, Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management at Humber Polytechnic (including at Guelph-Humber), said they enjoyed the program, which is geared toward working professionals. They both also appreciated that the program is part-time and 100 per cent online, allowing them to juggle their education with their careers.
“Lifelong learning is essential in this field,” Bhamber said. “The Guelph-Humber program is designed for working professionals who can work and take the part-time course load, which really helps. It's a good balance.”
Bhamber, whose role involves overseeing campus security operations and parking, and responding to emergencies and major incidents alongside the security team, is enthusiastic about serving the Niagara College community. Her passion stems from a frightening personal experience in high school, where she experienced a “turning point” – a real lockdown due to a shooting.
“It made me realize how critical preparedness and safety really are. Since then, I've made it a priority to stay informed about emerging threats and trends, both professionally and personally,” Bhamber said.
And while she has a diploma and several certifications, she had her eyes on earning a degree to advance her career. Bhamber wants to gain new experiences as she advances, and one day also strives to teach part-time in a college setting to develop the next generation of young professionals. The Justice and Public Safety degree is her launch pad to achieve this.
Meanwhile, Kilfoyle has served in his role for almost 12 years, where he oversees all security of all Humber Polytechnic locations (North, Lakeshore, Downtown) and the University of Guelph-Humber, keeping the institution’s assets – and most importantly, its community – safe for a welcoming learning environment. But while he’s now nearing retirement, obtaining a degree has been a goal of Kilfoyle’s for two decades.
“I’ve spent 37 years in public safety, and professional designations and certifications, but I didn't have a degree,” he explained of why he wanted to enrol at U of GH. “I know some former law enforcement chiefs and high-ranking officials have taken the program in the past,” he also said, adding that he’s supported members of his team through the same program.
Kilfoyle also said he really appreciated the depth of the courses and how everything was presented. As he approaches the end of his public safety career, he has set his eyes on earning a master’s degree to pursue teaching upon retirement, with “much to offer the next generation” of professionals. His degree will serve as a stepping stone to achieving this dream.
The program armed Bhamber and Kilfoyle with updated industry knowledge and important skills.
“This degree has sharpened my leadership skills and deepened my understanding of the field and the post-secondary sector. It has also helped me approach challenges more strategically from a different mindset, and with a little more confidence,” Bhamber said.
To anyone considering pursuing the Justice and Public Safety program, both Bhamber and Kilfoyle said they’d recommend it. “It'll be over in no time, and you'll be really thankful that you did it,” Kilfoyle said.
To learn more about the Justice and Public Safety program, click here.