Here’s a look at some of the updates to Brock University’s COVID-19 response for Sunday, March 22:

Welcome back (online) students

After a one-week suspension of all classes, the Winter Term at Brock University is resuming on Monday, March 23 in a virtual and online-only format.

Also, on Friday, Brock President Gervan Fearon wrote a letter thanking everyone across the University community who continue to help students and the institution manage through a unique time. Read the full letter on The Brock News here.

What you need to know about the continuation of classes

While the Winter Term resumes on Monday, March 23, there will be no face-to-face classes, seminars, labs, tests or exams. The academic term is not at risk and the term itself ends on April 3, with an online-only exam period running from April 8 to 23.

Students should have been contacted by their course instructors via Sakai or email with further instructions about the structure of the remaining term classes and exams. Students are not to be penalized for missed assessments that were due between March 13 and March 23.

Spring/Summer Term begins on May 4 and will also be run in an online-only format with no face-to-face classes, seminars or exams.

Library moves services online

The James A. Gibson Library is now closed, but online services will continue to be provided with the vast majority of Library resources available electronically.

To access the Library’s electronic resources (journals, ebooks, data sets, etc.) sign in with your Campus ID and password. Find out what is available by searching the new academic search tool Omni, or by browsing the list of specialized databases. Print collections are currently unavailable. For all inquiries related to collections, contact libhelp@brocku.ca

Additional Services:

• Course Reserves — while the physical course reserve materials are not currently available, many courses have electronic course reserves for use
• Books currently on loan — Due dates on all borrowed materials will be extended. Any fines that would normally accrue will be waived.
• If you have questions or need research help, you have many options to choose from including email, virtual chat, online consultations, or self-serve guides and tutorials.

For instructors:

We are available to assist with electronic reserve material (book chapters, articles, media, and other materials). While the print reserve collection is not available, we can help you get as much course material in digital format. If you need assistance identifying appropriate electronic content to support your course (including alternatives to print textbooks) please contact your Liaison Librarian.

For more details on these and other services, please check the Library website.

Computer lab / IT Help Desk access

Starting Monday, March 23, the Computer Commons (Fish Bowl) and IT Help Desk located in it will be open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on weekends. Remote support will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday for faculty, staff and students.

Questions can be directed to ithelp@brocku.ca

Campus store ramping up online sales

Campus Store customers can shop online at campusstore.brocku.ca for essentials including textbooks.

Textbooks for the Spring/Summer Term will be available through the online store.

Access being restricted to MIWSFPA 

The Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in downtown St. Catharines is now restricted to swipe-card access only. Please do not go to the building unless there are exceptional circumstances.

All performances, rehearsals, events and activities at the MIWSFPA are also cancelled through at least June 1.

Students who are returning University equipment or other loaned materials can dial the Campus Security desk from the phone near the entrance and they will retrieve the items from you. There is 24-hour security in the building, and the desk can be reached at 905-688-5550 x6300. 

New on-site service hours

Brock has updated its on-site/off-site operations for the main campus, while also reducing the duration of on-site services being open. It will allow more Brock staff members to work off-site from home, following the priority set by Public Health officials as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The University is reminding any employees who need to be working on-site to practise the Public Health social distancing recommendation of two metres. More information is available in a Brock News story here.

Brock’s Hamilton campus is fully closed until further notice.

Dining update

Lowenberger dining hall will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. as the only food option open on campus.

Public Health guidelines for self-monitoring and self-isolation

The Government of Canada has created a guideline to know the difference between self-monitoring, self-isolation and isolation for COVID-19. Their website includes details on symptoms and an easy-to-use graphic helping Canadians understand at what point they should self-monitor, self-isolate or go into full isolation.

Public health also released a new, easy-to-use symptom self-assessment tool which is available here on the Government of Canada website.

Mental health supports available for students and employees

As Brock University transitions to online learning for students and many employees work from home, mental health support resources for members of the University community remain available.

Students can access mental health support over the telephone by calling Student Health Services at 905-688-5550 x3243, Community Addictions Services of Niagara at 905-684-1183, Good 2 Talk at 866-925-5454 or Morneau Shepell at 833-276-2533.

All employees can also access immediate support for mental health and other challenges through the Employee and Family Assistance Program, which has been made available to all current Brock employees as part of the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participate in Provost selection process

The community is invited to participate in the process to select the University’s next Provost and Vice-President, Academic. For information on how to participate in online video presentations being held this week, see The Brock News story here.