[4] Seneca opened in 1966 as part of a provincial initiative to establish an Ontario-wide network of colleges of applied arts and technology providing career-oriented diploma and certificate courses as well as continuing education programs to Ontario communities.

The province was responding to the increasing need for sophisticated applied learning as technology continued to change the nature of work and the provincial economy.

Seneca is one of five Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning that can offer up to 15 per cent of its program activity at the degree level.

It has more than 15,000 full-time students in business, engineering, aviation, early childhood education, fashion, opticianry, information and communications technology, and liberal arts.

[8] In fall 2011, a 19,000 m2 (200,000 sq ft) expansion, designed for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, was officially opened at the campus.

The new building, designed by Craig Applegath of Dialog, features three 80-seat classrooms; twenty-three 40-seat classrooms; fourteen 40-seat computer labs; a multi-purpose auditorium for 240 students that can be turned into a conference room or two 120-seat lecture halls; increased computing commons and library space; several new areas of collaborative student study and work space; a new "front door" for the campus; and improved campus access for people with disabilities.

CITE is infused with Indigenous design, the highlight of which is a 9.1 m (30 ft) diameter medallion in terrazzo rendered from an original work by Joseph Sagaj.

Eaton Hall is the former home of Seneca's Management Development Centre, and has also been the setting of several films, including David Cronenberg's A History of Violence, Richard Benjamin's Mrs. Winterbourne, and William Fruet's Death Weekend (The House by the Lake).

A 10 ha (25 acres) part of the campus at the northwest corner of Dufferin Street and 15th Sideroad will house a community centre for King City.

The campus houses full and part-time programs in the areas of business, marketing, and tourism, as well as the college's departments of Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology Services.

The facility is located on the second floor of the Yorkgate Mall at Finch Avenue West and Jane Street in Toronto.

Seneca Polytechnic programs are developed and kept current with the assistance of advisory committees made up of industry members.

Community and Health Applied Science & Engineering Technology Business Communication, Art & Design Arts Nursing Continuing Education Seneca libraries offer print, audiovisual and electronic resources including books, magazines, journals, videos, DVDs, slides, recordings and a variety of topical databases.

The library facilities are located at the Newnham, York University, Markham and King campuses and offer facilities for group and individual study and electronic training centres, the Sandbox, and workstations equipped with instructional software and information resources tailored to course requirements.

The college has several partnerships with overseas institutions and is expanding its activities in joint applied research and work / study abroad options.

Each bedroom contains a double bed, desk, chair, closet and dresser space, as well as cable TV, internet access and phone.

[citation needed] Seneca has eighteen varsity sports teams for men and women, including badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country running, dance, rugby, soccer (indoor and outdoor), softball, and volleyball.

Other famous artists who performed in the late seventies and eighties at Seneca include Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen (in one of his first Canadian appearances), David Bowie, Thin Lizzy (1977), Graham Parker, Sparks, Teenage Head, Max Webster (1977), Blondie, and Iggy Pop.