Mount Royal delays start of classes next semester to boost student mental health
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Mount Royal University is pushing back the start of its upcoming winter semester to bolster student mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Calgary post-secondary school will now begin classes after the holiday break on Jan. 11 instead of Jan. 6.
“Mount Royal University recognizes that the pandemic has increased the levels of stress and uncertainty among members of the entire campus community,” said interim provost Elizabeth Evans in an email to students earlier this week.
“This decision was made to support the well-being of the campus community, but it also recognizes the impact government restrictions have on family obligations and personal responsibilities.”
The decision to push back classes was made after consultation with staff and students’ associations at MRU, Evans said.
Though MRU said in October that most classes will be delivered online for the winter semester, Evans said an added factor in the decision was limiting spread of COVID-19, as well as the delay to a return to the classroom for all Alberta students.
Students in grades 7 to 12 began virtual learning Nov. 30, part of the provincial government’s most recent restrictions meant to stem the tide of rising COVID-19 case counts. All students won’t return to the classroom until Jan. 11, a return designed to mitigate post-holiday virus transmission.
The University of Lethbridge took a similar approach to MRU, moving its start date to Jan. 9.
“We really felt this was a necessary adjustment we could make to help our students,” said Mike Mahon, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Lethbridge.
“We are very aware that as students go home, they may be in contact with others throughout the holiday season, including New Year’s Eve. With more in-person classes being offered in the spring, this proposal allows for more time to elapse between New Year’s and the start of in-person classes to reduce the risk of transmission among faculty and students on campus.”
The University of Calgary also considered altering its start date but ultimately decided against it, as a vast majority of students are already set to begin classes Jan. 11. Some students at the university will begin optional “block week” classes the previous week.
Twitter: @jasonfherring
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