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Announcements

Self isolation and quarantine requirements during COVID-19
It goes without saying that employees who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 themselves, been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or travelled outside of Canada are not to come to campus. Failure to follow the guidelines poses a risk to the health and safety of the campus community and will be treated with seriousness by Human Resources (HR). This may include disciplinary measures. Information on self isolation and quarantine requirements can be found here and include a strong recommendation that people experiencing other symptoms stay home too.

Reminder of steps to take if you or an employee you supervise tests positive for COVID-19
If you test positive for COVID-19, complete this form as soon as possible. If you are a supervisor of an employee who has informed you that they have tested positive, you can submit the form on the employee’s behalf if they are unable to. This form is confidential and should include the full name of the individual. Upon filling out the form, HR and Environment, Health & Safety are notified and in concert with health authorities immediately begin the process of contacting appropriate individuals. This happens on weekends, evenings and holidays also. Due to privacy laws, supervisors and other employees should not notify others.

Remembering our fallen through the Military Memorial Bursaries
In 2011, Mount Royal’s centennial year, a memorial bursary was created in the name of each of our fallen soldiers. Since the First World War, 30 have given their lives. Honour their memory while also assisting a student in need by donating to the Military Memorial Bursaries.

Online Remembrance Day exhibit features MRU military history
The MRU community is encouraged to view an online exhibit, created by the Archives and Special Collections in the Library, examining the military history of Mount Royal University. The display includes primary sources from the world wars held by the Archives.

Water shutdown in A-wing Nov. 18
The washrooms and the kitchenettes in the A-wing will be without water on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from approximately 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Signs will be posted. This closure is necessary to replace the water backflow preventer as required by City utility regulations.

Washrooms on Main Street and in the E, I and W wings on all floors closed Nov. 28
If you will be on campus on Saturday, Nov. 28, please be aware that plumbing repairs will force the closure of all washrooms in these three wings plus Main Street, all floors. Signs will be posted. This work is timed to occur when few or no employees or students are expected to be on campus.

Working from home: email Facilities Management requests
If you are working from home and are unable to access Frontline, please email your Facilities Management requests to mrufrontline@mtroyal.ca or call 403.440.6417 (24/7). Employees who are on campus can continue to submit requests using Frontline. More information about Frontline.

New public members welcomed to MRU’s Board of Governors
In September, three new public members ― Brenden Hunter, Denise Man and Salimah Walji-Shivji ― joined the University’s Board of Governors. At the same time, the terms for public members Paul Kundan, Jen Magnus and Michele Stanner came to an end. We welcome these new members and thank those leaving for their contributions. Read more about MRU's Board members.

U-Pass program deferred until fall 2021
Students will not be charged any fees for the U-Pass in the Winter 2021 semester. Alternatively, the Students' Association of Mount Royal University is offering 40 per cent off the regular price of transit passes. All U-Pass inquiries can be sent to parking@mtroyal.ca. 

Save the date: virtual MRU holiday celebration on Dec. 11
Each December we gather as a community to celebrate our accomplishments throughout the year and ring in the holiday season. While this year has been unlike any other, we still need to find ways to celebrate! Join President and Vice-Chancellor Tim Rahilly and your colleagues on Friday, Dec. 11 for a virtual, afternoon holiday celebration presented by MRU and the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Applications for Map the System 2021 are now open
Encourage students who are passionate about social and environmental change to apply to the global 2021 Map the System competition, which requires students to use a systems-thinking approach to demonstrate a deep understanding of a pressing social or environmental challenge. Students should confirm their eligibility before registering. Go to mru.ca/MaptheSystem for more information.

Join Mount Royal’s virtual book club community
MRU Reads is a virtual book club open to all members of the MRU community — alumni, students and employees. Noted local author and MRU honorary alumnus Will Ferguson will be joining the first meeting on Nov. 26. Complete MRU Reads details.

Trico Changemakers Studio launches new initiative
As more organizations, businesses and communities grapple with complex systems change, the Trico Changemakers Studio has launched the Changemaker Conversations project to provide space for connections and transformative learning experiences among students, alumni, faculty, staff and community changemakers in meaningful dialogue towards action around pressing social issues.

The Library introduces podcast ― Makers & Mavericks
The MRU Library now has a podcast that highlights innovative initiatives and expertise available in the Library. Each episode of the Makers & Mavericks podcast features faculty and staff who discuss their work and how it intersects with technology in creative ways. Two episodes are already available.

Did you know?
Mount Royal graduated more than 2,000 students in the spring and fall of 2020.

Bleed Blue – Celebrating MRU

Pan-Canadian parks and protected areas research network announced
Building on their partnership with the Canadian Parks Council, the Institute for Environmental Sustainability launched a Pan-Canadian Parks and Protected Areas Research Network on Nov. 10. This network will provide opportunities for MRU faculty and students, advance parks and protected areas research and evidence-based decision making, and support park leaders across Canada.

Call for book chapter
Ranjan Datta, PhD, Canada Research Chair for Community Disaster Research, is seeking submissions for Imagining the possibilities and potentials for pedagogies of truth and reconciliation in Canada. More information about the project and the submission process can be found here.

Calgary Journal garners coveted Pacemaker Award

The Associated Collegiate Press announced last week that the Calgary Journal has won a 2020 Newspaper Pacemaker Award for May/June Calgary under quarantine. Mount Royal journalism students also won in multimedia news and feature categories and received honorable mentions in story of the year and COVID-19 design categories. These awards see the The Calgary Journal compete against much larger universities.
 

Wellness Services creates provincial mental health promising practices toolkit

MRU has demonstrated a commitment to improving student mental health. Through grant funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education, MRU’s Wellness Services team created a provincial mental health promising practices toolkit. Tools for Success: Models of Exemplary Student Mental Health Initiatives at Alberta Post-Secondary Institutions highlights 11 case studies of exemplary mental health initiatives from various post-secondary institutions in Alberta. Read more.

Affect and emotion for positive change

English professor Kit Dobson, PhD, published a new, co-edited and collaborative book of essays on the importance of affect and emotion in creating positive change. Titled All the Feels / Tous les sens, the book builds on Dobson’s work on resilience. It is a bilingual undertaking supported by MRU, the University of Alberta, the University of Innsbruck and the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Events – More information at mru.ca/Events

MRU Alumni Webinar: Media in Times of Crisis

Fri., Nov. 13 from 9 to 9:45 a.m.
A panel of journalists will discuss the critical role that media plays and how the public can be responsible in their media consumption in this time of "fake news." Register.

Image Tracing in Adobe Illustrator

Fri., Nov. 13 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Adobe Illustrator can be used to import and vectorize an image, which can then be edited and modified. Register.

Programming Literacy: Understanding the Theory Behind Programming

Fri., Nov. 13 from 2 to 3 p.m. — Google Meet
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.

International Education Week

Mon., Nov. 16 to Fri., Nov. 20
The Office of International Education will host a celebration of our international campus community and showcase the diverse backgrounds of our staff, faculty and students. Visit the International Education event page for more info.

Beginner's Guide To Augmented Reality

Tues., Nov. 17 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Learn about augmented reality applications in the class and for research, as well as the available Library supports. Register.

Intro to Audacity: Managing Your Audio Project, Editing And Recording

Tues., Nov. 17 from 1 to 2 p.m. — Google Meet
Use Audacity software to create simple audio projects such as podcasts, voice recordings and more. Register.

Learn a Programming Language: Python

Tues., Nov. 17 from 1 to 2 p.m. — Google Meet
Program your own dice roll generator in Python, the most beginner-friendly, high-level language in use by developers today. Register.

Virtual Leadership

Wed., Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Google Meet
This brief and impactful course is intended to enable and empower people to demonstrate effective leadership of others in today’s virtual workplace. Register.

Emerging Technologies Consortium (ETC)

Wed., Nov. 18 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Join the ETC each month as speakers highlight the emerging technology in teaching, research and co-curricular activities at MRU. Register.

XR Toolkit Series: Creating Augmented Reality Experiences with Adobe Aero

Thurs., Nov. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Build, view and share interactive augmented reality experiences using your Apple device and the Adobe Aero platform. Register.

Introduction to 3D Printing and Setting Up a 3D Printer

Fri., Nov. 20 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Find out about the common settings of 3D printer software and how to adjust them for the desired result. Register.

Building Resilience: Understanding Challenges, Learning Strategies and Accepting Change

Mon., Nov. 23 from 10 to 11 a.m. — Zoom
Homewood Health will provide a variety of effective, practical tools to improve physical and mental health and cultivate a strong social support network. Do not download Zoom onto your work computer. Email abilitymanagement@mtroyal.ca to register.

Beginner's Guide to 360-Degree Cameras

Tues., Nov. 24 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Discover how to create highly immersive environments for education using 360-degree cameras. Register.

Finishing 3D Prints With Sanding and Paint

Wed., Nov. 25 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Join the Maker Studio staff and learn how to sand, prime and paint your 3D prints. Register.

Harm Reduction and Naloxone Training

Wed., Nov. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. — Google Meet
Be informed about the current state of opioid use in Canada, the harm reduction responses available and how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses. Register.

Circuitry Prototyping in Tinkercad

Wed., Nov. 25 from 1 to 2 p.m. — Google Meet
Start prototyping without the cost associated with buying basic electronic component kits by learning Tinkercad Circuits. Register.

Ethics 101 Workshop

Wed., Nov. 25 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Google Meet
This session assists researchers who are planning to apply for ethics clearance from Mount Royal’s Human Research Ethics Board. Register.

XR Toolkit Series: Editing 360-Degree Photos And Videos With Adobe Premiere And Photoshop

Thurs., Nov. 26 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Process, edit and view your 360-degree videos and photos using Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop. Register.

Changemaker Conversations: From Insight to Action

Thurs., Nov. 26 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — Zoom
Hosted by the Trico Changemakers Studio, engage in generative dialogue towards action on pressing social issues. Do not download Zoom onto work computers. Register.

CyberCafe

Thurs., Nov. 26 from 3 to 3:30 p.m. — Google Meet
Join MRU's cybersecurity expert, who will be combing the latest cybersecurity news to find engaging and timely topics for discussion. Register.

Faculty Media Training

Fri., Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Google Meet
Learn more about speaking with reporters as a Mount Royal University subject matter expert. Email mediarelations@mtroyal.ca to register.

Make A Cell Phone Holder — 3D Modelling in Fusion 360

Fri., Nov. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Join the Maker Studio staff and learn how to use Fusion 360, a professional 3D-modelling software to create a cell phone holder. Register.

Program Arduino in Tinkercad

Fri., Nov. 27 from 2 to 3 p.m. — Google Meet
Learning Arduino enables you to build systems that perform in interactive artwork, biofeedback, home automation and robotics projects. Register.

Mental Health at Home

Mon., Nov. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Google Meet
Discuss the importance of mental health when working remotely, identify stress levels, explore ways to manage stress and learn how to prioritiza self-care and restore balance. Register.

Beginner's Guide To Transforming Social Connections With Virtual Reality

Tues., Dec. 1 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Learn how social virtual reality platforms are changing the way we connect with one another during this new era of physical distancing. Register.

XR Toolkit Series: Creating Virtual Reality Experiences With Google Tours VR

Thurs., Dec. 3 from noon to 1 p.m. — Google Meet
Create your own interactive 360-degree tours that can be viewed using virtual reality (Google Cardboard) or traditional computer monitors. Register.