Announcements

Unless performing key functions, employees must not return to campus

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus, employees who can perform their duties from home must continue to do so. Only employees doing key functions that cannot be done from home should remain on campus. If you are briefly returning to campus to recover personal property, this should be limited to only essential items.

Budget Town Hall

On April 15, Mount Royal's President and Vice-Chancellor Tim Rahilly, PhD, delivered a Budget Town Hall via Google Hangouts. If you were unable to join, a recording of the live stream is posted at mru.ca/TownHall and will be available for the week. Email your questions to budget@mtroyal.ca.

Update on Alumni Weekend

MRU's Alumni Relations team has made the difficult decision to postpone its inaugural Alumni Weekend — originally scheduled for from Sept. 24 to 26 — until further notice. The good news is that some of the weekend’s planned activities are going online. Learn more at mru.ca/AlumniWeekend.

COVID Pass/Fail processes

An update on the COVID Pass/Fail option is now available here, where students can be directed for more information. On Monday, April 20, the option will become available to them on the MyMRU/My Program page.

Access your on-campus telephone

To access your voicemail remotely, follow these instructions:

Call 403.440.8700, or 8700 if at another phone on campus
When the system answers, press the star key
Enter your ID which is your four-digit extension, then press #
Enter your password, then press #
You should now be in your voicemail box's main menu

Remember to update your outgoing greeting to include your mobile number or to ask people to email you instead. Those who require call forwarding for a business reason should submit their request to Frank Nadon at fnadon@mtroyal.ca.

SAMRU food and hygiene hampers

Ready-to-take, single-bag hampers of non-perishable food and hygiene supplies are replacing the students' association's Free Breakfast Program and the Food and Hygiene Cupboard program. Students may drop in to pick up these relief bags from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Students can order at psc@samru.ca or call 403.440.6077. More information.

Did you know?

The vast majority of Mount Royal students come from Calgary, with 75 per cent calling the city home, says Institutional Analysis and Planning's 2017/2018 Enrolment Report Card.

Bleed Blue – Celebrating MRU

Journalism program on a streak
Three journalism students are finalists for this year's Canadian Association of Journalists’ Student Award of Excellence. Since 2013, students from the program have been nominated six times and won five. This year Alannah Page, Huyana Cyprien and Curtis Larson are recognized for their work on Ukrainian internment camps, supported by faculty member Patti Edgar. Students working with faculty member Janice Paskey on the Institute for Investigative Journalism's national series "Tainted Water" are also among the nominees.

Prestigious fellowship awarded
Assistant Professor Jeff Pollack, PhD, from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, has been selected as a F ellow of the Geological Society of London. He joins an international community of geoscientists with the aim of improving knowledge and understanding of the Earth.

PR students publish peers
A team of student editors from Mount Royal’s public relations program have published the top double-blind reviewed voluntary submissions of their undergraduate peers in the second edition of the annual Western Communication Report (WCR). The soft launch was on April 2, and students will continue to promote the WCR throughout the summer. Topics include pieces on flu vaccination, bullying, the equalization formula and more.

SSHRC 2020 Insight Grant recipients
Two Mount Royal professors are recipients of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Insight Grant. Humanities Professor Ada Jaarmsa, PhD, received an Insight Grant for her project titled “Placebos Talk Back,” and Professors Kevin O'Connor, PhD, and Gladys Sterenberg, PhD, were recognized for their project titled “Hybrid Spaces Within a Professional Development School Context.” Please note that this information is for internal distribution only pending a formal announcement from SSHRC.

MRU awarded first New Frontiers in Research Fund award
Professor Michael Uzoka, PhD, and co-investigators Professor Joseph Osuji, PhD and Assistant Professor Yasaman Amannejad, PhD, recently received Mount Royal’s first-ever NFRF award for their cross-disciplinary project titled “A system for diagnosing and treating febrile diseases by lay health workers in resource-scarce settings.” Please note that this information is only for internal distribution pending a formal announcement from NFRF.

Events – More information at mru.ca/Events

Creating Virtual Reality Experiences with Google Tours VR

Mon., April 20 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Hangouts
Learn how to create your own interactive 360-degree tours that can be viewed in virtual reality using the Google VR Tours platform. Register.

Programming Literacy: Understanding the Theory Behind Programming

Mon, April 20, 12pm – 1pm — Google Hangouts
Learn the basics about how code gives you a starting point to discover what languages you want to learn and why these languages will be useful to you. Register.

Map the System MRU Final

Tues., April 21 from 10 a.m. to noon
Virtually attend the finals and watch the top four MRU teams present their research projects to a panel of community judges. Each team will have 10 minutes to present — followed by a judges’ Q&A.

3D Modelling in Tinkercad

Tues., April 21 from 11 a.m. to noon — Google Hangouts
Learn how to navigate and create in a 3D modelling environment with the Maker Studio staff. Register.

Image Tracing in Adobe Illustrator

Wed., April 22 from 1 to 2 p.m. — Google Hangouts
Use Adobe Illustrator to import and vectorize an image which can then be edited and modified. Register.

Maker Studio Meetup

Thurs., April 23 from 11 a.m. to noon — Google Hangouts
Join the virtual Maker Studio to discuss your projects, explore new possibilities, ask questions, or just visit with the community you are missing. Register.

Catalyst Community Showcase

Thurs., April 23 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Join the Catalyst Fellows and the Institute for Community Prosperity in a virtual showcase of this year's Catalyst Fellowship program. Register.

Storytelling in 360-Degrees With Photos and Videos

Mon., April 27 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Hangouts
Learn how to use 360-degree cameras to create highly immersive environments for education. Register.

Planning your Scholarship Program

Wed., April 29 from noon to 2 p.m. — Google Hangouts
Tools from a Grants and Research Facilitator to assist in mapping a plan for your future Register.

Overview of the Funding Landscape

Thurs., April 30 from noon to 2 p.m. — Google Hangouts
The Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement's grants and research facilitator will offer a high-level view of the Canadian funding landscape. Register.

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.

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.

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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