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Your Mount Royal News
Feb. 29, 2024

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Amy Nixon inducted into Canadian Curling Hall of Fame

MRU General Counsel and University Secretary Amy Nixon was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame (Executive Honour Roll) during an on-ice ceremony Feb. 19 at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary. Learn more.

QriTical hub latest in MRU efforts to create inclusive spaces

An opening celebration on Friday, March 1, officially launches a new inclusive gathering space to help foster connection and belonging for MRU’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

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MRU launches Bachelor of Aviation Management

The new four-year program blends technical and managerial competencies, equipping students with the skills needed for successful careers in the aviation sector ranging from the runway to the boardroom. 

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How Canada might improve the immigrant experience

MRU sociologist Dr. Amos Nkrumah, PhD, is in the midst of a seven-year project to examine the challenges faced by Sub-Saharan African immigrants and refugees.

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Collective activism in action

MRU is sponsoring a free event on March 7, Remembering Alberta's Sleeping Car Porters, which celebrates an important part of the history of Calgary and Edmonton's Black communities. 

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Provincial Black Advisory Council formed

MRU mathematics and computing professor Dr. Faith-Michael Uzoka, PhD, has been appointed to the newly inaugurated 11-member Alberta Black Advisory Council.

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Announcements

2023 employee tax slips

Employees can access their 2023 tax slips by visiting Tax Information in the My HR Profile section of the Employee page on myMRU. Please note: Due to Mount Royal moving to a bi-weekly pay cycle in 2023, your T4 will reflect one less pay period than in previous years. As the last pay period of 2023 was paid in 2024, it was not included in 2023 T4s. Your 2024 T4 will have a full year reported (26 pay periods). Contact payroll@mtroyal.ca with any questions. 

 

Mount Royal's pay frequency changes and your pensionable service in LAPP

As the Dec. 17 - 30, 2023 pay period was paid on Jan. 9, 2024, it must be reported in the 2024 pension year, per Canada Revenue Agency rules. Because of this, the 2023 pension year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 16, 2023) in service is 0.9615 of a year for full-time employees. Part-time employees will also see an adjusted figure. When an employee leaves Mount Royal, they will receive credit for the adjusted service from the transition year. LAPP assures us this will have no adverse effects to employees on service or earnings from a pension standpoint. Learn more.

 

RSVP to share your feedback on the EDIA Strategic Plan

Share your thoughts on Mount Royal’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Strategic Plan at focus groups in March. These in-person and virtual sessions from March 5 to 15 are open to all employees, in addition to a session for those in EDIA-serving roles. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and a small honorarium is involved. Or, provide your anonymous feedback online before noon on March 27. Learn more and register at mru.ca/EDIAStrategicPlan.

 

Bargaining update

The Mount Royal University Board of Governors (the Board) received a notice to commence collective bargaining from the Mount Royal Faculty Association (MRFA) on Jan. 31, 2024, and the Mount Royal Staff Association on Feb. 12, 2024, initiating negotiations for new collective agreements. Visit mru.ca/Bargaining for updates.

 

Avoid repetitive strain injuries at work

Today, Thursday, Feb. 29, is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day. As the only "non-repetitive day of the year,” it’s an opportunity to remind our campus community on the importance of recognizing and addressing the risks associated with RSIs, which are a risk in any role. Whether you’re keyboarding at a desk or performing repetitive motions moving furniture, there are strategies and resources to help reduce your risk of RSIs. Learn more at mru.ca/Ergonomics.

 

Employee Wellness: Women's health in the spotlight

Join Employee Wellness in March as we focus on women’s health. On March 13, join the Inkblot webinar Hormonal Health in Your 40s and Beyond. On March 20 from noon - 1 p.m., join an in-person session with dietitian Morgan Meneghetti to learn more about The Power of Your Gut Microbiome. On March 27, see you in EA1031 for the session Anxiety in Women. Look for health-focused events for our campus community throughout the year. Learn more and register now.

 

T-wing window replacement

The large windows in the T-wing hallway across from T141 and T143 in T-wing are being replaced. Work will be done during the day and there will be a low level of noise associated with the replacements. Access to the immediate area will be restricted through the end of March.

 

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.

 

Jazz on Lincoln Park: An evening with Andre Wickenheiser

Jazz on Lincoln Park continues on March 15 with Andre Wickenheiser and guests at the Nickle Theatre. The new series features some of Calgary’s most talented jazz musicians. MRU community members can use code MRUCOMMUNITY to get 15% off tickets. Learn more.

 

MRU Hospitality Services hosts Tastes of the Table

Experience Tastes of The Table from March 4 to 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Visit West Gate near Security to enjoy delicious food samples and receive free meal vouchers, all the while experiencing what our second-level food hall on Main Street has to offer. Open to students and employees. Learn more by following @mrueats on Instagram.

 

Conservatory scholarship recipients to perform with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Two students from the Mount Royal Conservatory will perform with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra on March 6 at the Rosza Centre in the Concerto Concert. This showcase, supported by the RBC Foundation, provides a platform for emerging artists. Learn more and buy tickets.

 

Join Inclusion Week: March 18-23

This inaugural event centres around the theme 'co-creating belonging on campus', inviting the MRU community to engage in meaningful dialogue and action towards building a more inclusive future. Diverse speakers from our community will lead sessions to enrich understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives/topics, foster powerful learning and learn tools for change. Details will be live March 1 at mru.ca/inclusionweek.

 

Join in the celebration of research and scholarship at Mount Royal

Celebrate research and scholarship at MRU during Research and Scholarship Days, March 25 - April 5. Attend an event and or volunteer to be an adjudicator to review some of the outstanding student work  Learn more and get involved in the celebration at mru.ca/ResearchDays.

 

Attend the Community-Engaged Research Recognition Lunch

The Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement invites you to a plated lunch on March 25. Learn about the amazing community-engaged research happening at Mount Royal University! A limited number of seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here.

 

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 for a chance to win cash for their hard work. More than $3,000 in awards are available to students. The application deadline is May 5. Learn more.

 

Celebrate! 2024: March 1 proposal deadline

You have until tomorrow (March 1) to submit your proposal for sharing your teaching insights, experiences, triumphs, hacks and more through lightning talks, presentations, and roundtables at Celebrate! 2024 on May 9. Learn more.

 

Remind students to use health benefits

With the Winter Semester coming to a close and many students either leaving campus until they return in September or graduating, please remind your students that they have health benefits coverage they can use, as well as convenient services right on campus. Learn more.

 

MRU in the Media — In case you missed it

Calgary's MRU launches four-year degree program in aviation management

CTV News  – Chad London, provost; Deanna Wiebe, faculty; Maya Hand, alum

 

Sporting change: How an elite swim club in Western Canada is addressing bullying

The Conversation – Julie Booke, faculty

 

Campus Roundup: Dinos, Cougars force women's hockey semifinal deciders

Calgary Sun – MRU Cougars

 

New program helps MRU students in Calgary with food insecurity

Global News - Jody Arndt, director; Aliya Abdallah, student

 

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.

 

Events

Featured event

QriTical Launch Party

Celebrate the opening of the QriTical research hub on Friday, March 1! The launch party features a DJ and drag, refreshments, cash bar, swag and button making. Free and open to everyone! 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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