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Your Mount Royal News
March 28, 2024

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Community-based research improving bone and joint health for all 

Creaky knees and aching shoulders are unpleasant reminders of the inexorable march of time and the effect it has on the body. Dr. Breda Eubank, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education at Mount Royal, researches common ailments that are often accepted as simple facts of life. Learn more

Sports may be more than just fun and games 

Dr. Julie Booke, PhD, an associate professor at Mount Royal in the Department of Health and Physical Education, is researching the prevention of bullying and respect in sports.

Read more ...

Getting down to earth through soil science

Digging through the soil might not be the first place you’d expect to find community, but for soil scientist Dr. Mathew Swallow, PhD, that's where the strongest connections are found. 

Read more ...

 

Announcements

Upcoming Easter break

Friday, March 29 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 1 (Easter Monday) are holidays and campus will be closed. Check with the Riddell Library and Learning Centre, and Recreation for holiday hours. 

 

Board of Governors approves budget 

MRU’s 2024-25 budget was approved by the Board of Governors on March 21, 2024. Mount Royal University’s budget report to the community provides an overview of the University’s 2024-25 budget development process and the resulting approved budget. Visit the Financial Matters page on MyMRU to read the report.

 

Area closures Friday, March 29 

Areas in the main building will be closed to everyone on Friday, March 29, from approximately 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for an electrical shutdown in order to perform maintenance work. The areas impacted are S-wing; W-wing; Y-wing; and Daycare

 

Submit outstanding 2023 benefit claims 

Employees eligible for benefits coverage have until March 30, 2024 to submit any outstanding 2023 claims. Any credits left over in your Health Spending Account and/or Personal Spending Account will carry over into 2024, but any credits from 2022 will expire on March 31, 2024 and can only be used for claims dated in 2023. Learn more

 

Banner offline from March 31 to April 1

 

Mount Royal’s main Student, Finance & HR/Payroll system (Banner Admin, Banner Self-Service) will be offline from 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 31 to 7 a.m. on Monday, April 1 to complete fiscal year-end processes. Services such as course registration, fee payments, timesheets and FAST will be unavailable during this time period.

 

Conflict of interest disclosure 

All Mount Royal employees are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical manner. Declaring a conflict of interest — as required under the University’s Code of Conduct and Alberta’s conflict of interest legislation — is one of the ways in which employees contribute to this ethical environment. Learn more about what constitutes a conflict of interest and how to report one to your leader. Email humanresources@mtroyal.ca with specific questions 

 

Bargaining update

 

For updates on the weekly meetings between the Board and the MRFA negotiating committees, scheduled through May 7, visit mru.ca/Bargaining. The Board Negotiating Committee and the Mount Royal Staff Association Committee begin bargaining with an exchange of Statements of Interests on April 3.

 

Employee Wellness this April 

Join Employee Wellness in April as we Paws and Reflect. Drop-in for some Puppy Cuddles on April 3 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in U155. Don’t forget to register for our From Worry To Wellness Webinar presented by CAMH on April 17 from 10 to 11 a.m. Look for health-focused events for our campus community throughout the year. Learn more and register now.

 

Faculty media training 

Media look to MRU for experts in a wide range of topic areas, from sustainability and climate to business, justice, psychology and politics. In this session, learn about the Calgary media landscape, what the media looks for in experts and how MRU's media relations team can help you participate in this exciting area of public scholarship. These sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. OR Thursday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. To sign up, email mediarelations@mtroyal.ca.

 

Move more this spring

Get ready to spring into action with the Move More program! MRU Recreation has an incredible lineup of lunch-hour classes designed to help you achieve your fitness goals and boost your physical and mental well-being. The first of two, six-week-long spring sessions begins April 8, so get your Move More pass today. 

 

Secure your spot in spring and summer programs 

Mark your calendars! Spring and summer recreation programs including swim lessons, group fitness, climbing, small group training, and aquatic leadership are available for viewing on mrucougars.com. Pick your preferred programs, then log in to ePlay on Tuesday, April 2 at 8 a.m. to secure your spot. More information.

 

 

Campus facility evaluations 

Alberta Infrastructure (AI) will conduct facility evaluations on campus from April 8 to 11. This will not disrupt exams taking place during this time. Accompanied by a Building Operations employee, an AI engineer will enter and assess various rooms. For the schedule and more details, as well as updates on other work happening around campus, visit mru.ca/BuildingNotifications.

 

 

Calling all jazz fans 

The third installment of Jazz on Lincoln Park will take place on Friday, April 19 featuring local jazz pro Jon McCaslin and guests. Use code MRUCOMMUNITY to get 15% off tickets. Buy now!

 

 

Library Awards for Research Excellence

 

Do you know a student who has completed an outstanding project, paper or creative work while attending MRU? Encourage them to apply to this year's Library Awards for Research Excellence and have the opportunity to be recognized with a cash prize! More than $3,000 in awards are available to students. Deadline to apply is May 5. Learn more.

 

MRU in the Media — In case you missed it

Varcoe: Fine art of the name-change game as Crescent Point to become Veren

Calgary Herald/Edmonton Journal – AnneMarie Dorland, faculty

 

What is gender-affirming care? A social worker and therapist working with trans people explains 

Winnipeg Free Press via The Conversation - Gio Dolcecore, faculty 

 

Alberta tops list of people doing 'gig work' as main job: StatsCan 

CBC News – Eric Myers, faculty

 

David Finch on businesses view of Calgary

CBC Radio’s Calgary Eyeopener – David Finch, faculty

 

Mount Royal University, faculty, students and alumni are often featured in the media. To subscribe to the daily MRU Media report, email mediarelations@mtroyal.ca.

 

Bleed Blue

Model UN Club enjoys competition success 

Thanks to associate professor Dr. Kari Roberts, PhD, for her expertise and guidance in leading our MRU contenders 

MRU Policy Studies and Criminal Justice students launched a new Model UN club that recently competed in the Alberta Intercollegiate Model UN (AIMUN) conference March 2-3, at MacEwan University. The club competed against Model UN students from across a number of post-secondary institutions in Alberta and they won some of the top awards. 

Congratulations to: Ryan Montgomery, Josh Logan and Allison Carter, representing North Korea (Best Speech Award). Another congratulations to: Naheel Al Sourani and Ice Garcia, representing South Africa (Honourable Delegation Award).

 

 

Events

Featured event

JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition 

Join MRU’s budding entrepreneurs as they pitch their ventures to a panel of esteemed judges and a supportive audience. The most promising ventures will walk away with their share of cash prizes and in-kind services to take their venture to the next level! Learn more


Check out all the events happening in and around campus on our new events calendar.

 

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. Review 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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