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Your Mount Royal News
April 3, 2020

Top stories

Message from the president

Hello everyone,

As we keep moving forward, I would like to reinforce with you all my commitment to transparency around our budget. We are in discussions with the government around our Investment Management Agreement, about which I will keep you advised. Plus, I have many thanks and recognitions for you all.

Please continue to check mru.ca/COVID19 for updates and send any new questions you have to covid19@mtroyal.ca.


The campus waits patiently for our return.

Already, you are missed.

We'll get through this together.

Thank you.
Nursing and midwifery students fast-tracked into the workforce

Although undergraduate clinical placements were suspended, based on feedback from clinical preceptors and instructors the majority of fourth-year students have already achieved readiness for practice.

Read more ...
Supporting adaptive and resilient social workers in our communities

People are reaching out more than ever for help, and Mount Royal University Social Work Diploma students and alumni have been taught self care in order to be able to provide the best they can for the tasks at hand.

Read more ...
Sharing stories of working from home

Five Mount Royal experts reveal how they are personally handling the additional responsibilities associated with working and teaching remotely.

Read more ...
Collecting accounts of phantasmal sightings

Associate professor of sociology David Aveline, PhD, doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he does believe those who do can be affected in profound ways.

Read more ...


Announcements


Campus hours and access to buildings, bring your OneCard

Please see the table below and remember to bring your OneCard. There is no access to any buildings overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays, and all buildings except for Residence are closed on the weekends.

Building

Hours Open

Access Point

OneCard Access

Intercom Access

Lincoln Park Main Building (public access to Health Services and Optimal Therapy Clinics)

Mon. to Fri. from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed weekends

West Gate and East Gate

Yes

Yes

Arts Building (EA)

Mon. to Fri. from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed weekends

Doors closest to RLLC

Yes

No

Bissett Building (EB)

Mon. to Fri. from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed weekends

Doors closest to parkade

Yes

No

Riddell Library and Learning Centre (EL) (Main floor only)

Mon. to Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m and closed weekends

Doors closest to EA

Yes

No

Recreation wing (Recreation facilities and entrance closed)

Mon. to Fri. from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed weekends

Access via West Gate or East Gate only

Yes

Yes

Wyckham House (public access to Wyckham Pharmacy)

Mon. to Fri. from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed weekends

Access via West Gate

Yes

Yes

Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts (ED)

Closed

Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning (EC)

Closed

Residences

Only open to residents


Limited computer labs and reduced hours at Library

Commencing immediately, only three computer labs will be open to students on weekdays: EB1011, EB1015 and EL1470. All other study spaces in EL are now closed. There will be health screening upon entering and leaving computer labs, as well as computer station cleaning. Starting Monday, April 6, EL hours are changing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday.


Technology tutorials to help you work from home
There are many helpful instructions on technical support for working from home and a range of other software and hardware questions in these ITS training tutorials on Google Drive
. Guides for secure remote access and virtual private network (VPN) access were uploaded this week into the Work From Home folder. To access VPN your desktop computer on campus must be turned on.

Health Services Clinic remains open
A reminder that Health Services remains open. If you have COVID-19 symptoms do not visit a physician's office without consulting Health Link at 811 first. You can schedule Health Services appointments at 403.440.6326 . Please note that telephone appointments are available.

Parking permits
Payroll deductions for permits have stopped until normal operations resume. If you paid for the full year, there will be a prorated credit you can use in the future. If you are not returning in the fall, contact parking@mtroyal.ca to request a refund. If you want to redirect your refund or payroll deduction to bursaries for students, email giving@mtroyal.ca. If you must come to campus, all surface lots and the East Gate Parkade are open and free-of-charge.

Addressing ergonomic issues while working from home
Experiencing ergonomic issues while working from home? Remember to take frequent breaks and move around. Refer to this self-assessment form. Raise up your monitor or keyboard using household items. Contact EHS@mtroyal.ca or 403.440.6038 for help.

Only use Google applications, including Chat and Meet
These tools meet provincial and federal privacy requirements. Video and audio streams in Google Meet are encrypted, and users can join securely even when off-site. As well, these applications are immediately available at no added cost. Other platforms should not be used. The applications are accessible when you log into your MRU gmail account.

Dependent care and other personal responsibilities
If you are unable to work while you address family and other personal responsibilities, advise the HR Business Partner for your area. If you can consistently complete your work duties while providing care to others, please continue.

Illness leaves
If you are unable to work due to illness, follow the leave reporting requirements in your Collective Agreement or Terms and Conditions of Employment. If you can’t work due to illness for more than five consecutive days, advise your manager and complete this brief Short-Term Disability form. You will not need a doctor’s note if you can’t obtain one.


Picking up belongings on campus
Please arrange with your manager so this can be done safely with physical distancing protocols. Do not take desktop equipment or other office fixtures home — only laptops assigned to you.

Internal mail deliveries
Effective Monday, April 6, internal mail will be delivered two days per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For any departments or buildings that are not accessible, mail will be stored in the mailroom. All outgoing mail will be picked up by Canada Post on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Take extra care while online
There has been a rise in malicious and phishing emails since the transition to online delivery of courses and working remotely. MRU IT Services will never send you an email asking you for your password or asking you to update or verify your email account. Please be very cautious. Go here to learn how to prevent becoming a victim.

Connecting with HR remotely
Effective April 6, the HR Department, including the Payroll Team, will work remotely with no access to physical documents including internal/external mail. If you have documentation that needs attention from the Payroll or HR Team, please scan it or take a photo, and then email it to the appropriate contact.

Suspending HR Learning and Development training
Spring Learning and Development opportunities for employees that were supported by HR, including courses that were scheduled through Continuing Education are suspended until further notice.

Celebrate! Teaching and Learning cancelled for 2020
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Celebrate! Teaching and Learning at MRU has been cancelled for May 6. We hope that you can join us next year.

There are resources to support you
Visit the Employee Well-being page on our website for other helpful information and supports including the Employee and Family Assistance Program.  


Did you know?
In March the mru.ca/COVID19 page had 74,659 pageviews, 56,902 unique pageviews and people spent an average time on the page of four minutes and 59 seconds.


Events – More information at mru.ca/Events

Psych20 Virtual Conference
Fri., April 3 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Virtually tour fourth-year psychology students' research projects that they have been working hard on over the winter semester. Join us.

Beginner's Guide to Augmented Reality
Mon., April 6 from noon to 1 p.m. Google Hangouts
Explore augmented reality, 3D modelling, development tools and available content and learn how to integrate them into your classes and research. Register.


Beginner's Guide to Augmented Reality
Thurs., April 6 from noon to 1 p.m. Google Hangouts
Learn how to integrate augmented reality, 3D modelling, development tools and available content into classes and research. Register.


Storytelling in 360-Degrees With Photos and Videos
Wed., April 15 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Hangouts
Learn how to use 360-degree cameras to create highly immersive environments for education. 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. 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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