Message from the president

This week, President and Vice-Chancellor Tim Rahilly, PhD, speaks of planning ahead, the importance of all campus colleagues and Mount Royal's ability to face and overcome challenges.

*A complete transcript of the video is available here.

Announcements

Q&As from the town hall

Answers to questions employees posed before and during the April 15 town hall can be found here. Depending on your question, please email budget@mtroyal.ca or covid19@mtroyal.ca.

Strategic Plan feedback welcome
Employees are invited to share their thoughts about the draft vision, mission and values for the new University Strategic Plan. Visit mru.ca/strategy to view and provide your input.

Use Google Meet for spring classes

With the coming Spring Semester, faculty are reminded to use Google Meet, not Zoom, for online teaching. Google Meet and Chat comply with all of MRU's security requirements and provincial privacy legislation, unlike Zoom. The ADC and ITS are available for support.

Boosting local alumni businesses

Alumni Relations is joining in the #BuyLocalYYC campaign to support local alumni entrepreneurs. Discover and boost alumni businesses through our new online directory here.

New leave provisions during slowdown of operations

Given reduced operations as a result of the pandemic, some MRSA members will receive notice to take an unpaid Furlough Leave of approximately four months. Additionally, employees in any employee group can request an unpaid leave of absence from their supervisor. A Q&A can be found here.

Preventing outdoor gatherings on campus

People are asked to not gather in parking lots or other outdoor areas. To reinforce this only Lot 2 at the West Gate entrance will be accessible during weekdays and weekends. The East Gate parkade will be accessible Monday to Friday only. All other lots will be closed until further notice. As well, the tennis courts and fields are closed and signage reminding people to physically distance will be placed around campus.

Reminder of limited access to campus buildings

Campus buildings are not open to the public, other than those going to the Wyckham Pharmacy or Health Services Clinic, as well as emergency appointments at the Optimal Therapy Clinic. ED, EC and the second to fourth floors of EL are closed. Only the first floor of the Library (EL) will reopen to students registered in spring semester beginning May 4; however students and employees are asked to not come to campus unless necessary. OneCards are needed to enter through limited entrances or by using intercoms at the East and West Gate entrances. Buildings are closed on weekends and open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Did you know?

Since March 15, the covid19@mtroyal.ca email has answered more than 800 questions from our community.

Bleed Blue – Celebrating MRU

Natalie Meisner named Calgary Poet Laureate
On April 27, poet and playwright Natalie Meisner, PhD, was named Calgary’s fifth Poet Laureate. A professor with Mount Royal’s Department of English, Languages, and Cultures, Meisner will act as an ambassador for the written word, saying in the Calgary Economic Development release that, “By no means can poetry take the place of food or safety or shelter or medicine … but sometimes it might just help hold body and soul together for that key moment until we find what we need.” Listen to Meisner accept her new title here (12:50). Read more.

Science graduate receives prestigious research recognition
Bachelor of Science alumna Ellie Campbell (2019) entered graduate studies at the University of Calgary with the support of a $20,000 Cummings School of Medicine Graduate Scholarship. She has since been awarded a Tri-Council CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship as well as UCalgary’s Faculty of Graduate Studies Master’s Research Scholarship. Campbell says she gained tremendous benefit from attending an international research conference as an undergraduate researcher with support from the MRU Undergraduate Research Travel Award.

Bissett team takes stock market competition
The team of Varune Tillekeratne, Jamal Hussaini and Bidzina Mosiashvili has won the 2019/2020 Bissett Stock Market Competition (also known as the Alberta Not-For-Profit Case Competition) with a stunning return of 78 per cent. The 14th edition of the annual competition ran from September through to the end of March, with 14 teams starting off with $1,000,000 in virtual money. Through the use of a simulator, they traded in Canadian and U.S. markets, navigating through an extremely difficult year. The student beat the market by the highest margin achieved by a team since the competition started in 2005.

Supporting sustainable teaching
Professors Ada Jaarsma, PhD, (philosophy) and Kit Dobson, PhD, (English) have co-edited Dissonant Methods: Undoing Discipline in the Humanities Classroom, which is set to be published by the University of Alberta Press in May. Supported by MRU's Institute for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, these essays “offer concrete and practical meditations on resistant and sustainable teaching.” Jaarsma and Dobson both contributed to the collection, as did English alumnus Kyle Kinaschuk, who is now a PhD student at the University of Toronto.

Bachelor of Education capstone projects online
On April 16, the Bachelor of Education's fourth-year students presented their capstone projects online, streaming their research. Watch here as students present about Indigenous Pedagogy (link will download a Power Point presentation), Flexible Seating and Quarantine Conversations.

Events – More information at mru.ca/Events

Elements of Success: Grant Writing Across Funding Agencies

Tues., May 5 from noon to 2 p.m. — Google Hangouts
Learn how previously successful grant awardees increased their chances of success. Register.

Supporting Yourself and Others Through COVID Webinar

Wed., May 6 from 10 to 11 a.m.

This webinar from Homewood Health will help participants understand typical reactions and learn how to regulate emotions and support others through the unique challenges of the pandemic. Space is limited. Register.

Behind the Curtain of Federal Grants Adjudication Committees

Thurs., May 7 from noon to 2 p.m. — Google Hangouts
Learn about the adjudication process and the inside scoop of what Ottawa reviewers really think from the mouths of MRU committee members. Register.

Protecting Yourself Against Cybercrime Workshop
Wed., May 20 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. — Virtual
This workshop gives you all the tools you need to keep you cyber safe and fulfills the annual mandatory cybersecurity training requirement. Register.

Have a story, announcement or info to share?

Summit and website stories

We would love to hear about your story! Go to the online story submission tool and guidelines.

MyMRU announcements

Please send announcements for MyMRU's homepage to mymru@mtroyal.ca. Here are the guidelines.

Start of semester emails, with option for distribution list sign-up

As each semester begins (August/September and December/January), areas with ongoing employee activities can send an email to all employees describing their semester activities. Employees can then choose to opt in to that area's distribution list (Google Group) for regular updates. If you would like to send an email and/or set up a Google Group for your area, please contact Marketing and Communications for guidelines.

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