Here’s a look at some of the updates to Brock University’s COVID-19 response for Wednesday, May 20:
The Government of Ontario announced Wednesday that it was taking important steps to reducing the financial barriers to post-secondary education.
Starting immediately, students can apply to the Ontario Student Assistant Program (OSAP) for the 2020-21 school year. The government has also announced a six-month deferral of loan payments and interest through Sept. 30.
Brock to hold Virtual Spring Convocation
With in-person ceremonies on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brock University’s 107th Convocation, originally scheduled for the second week of June, will move online.
A future in-person celebration is also planned when it’s safe to do so.
Rather than just a one-day celebration, Virtual Convocation, which will launch Friday, June 19, will be a web-based portal where each of the University’s more than 3,000 graduands will get a tailored experience based on their Faculty, and whether they’re an undergraduate or graduate student.
Read the full story in The Brock News.
Access to campus for non-research activities
With the COVID-19 restrictions still in effect, access to Brock’s campus is limited. For faculty and staff who need access to the University for non-research purposes, which include teaching, learning and the move to primarily online delivery of undergraduate and graduate courses for the Fall 2020 semester, this access request form must be completed. A separate request must be filled out for each individual course/project requiring access.
EXEMPTION: Faculty and staff who require one-time, short duration (less than one hour) access to their office to retrieve personal items that are necessary to continue working remotely are not required to complete this form. Access will remain as currently in place whereby the faculty or staff member can proceed through the main doors of the Rankin Family Pavilion, present staff ID and sign in and out at the desk staffed by Campus Security.
President Gervan Fearon looks forward to welcoming students to Brock this fall
In a video message released Friday, Brock President Gervan Fearon says the University is gearing up for the upcoming Fall Term with a commitment to providing the outstanding student experience for which the University is known.
He says Brock’s award-winning faculty members and dedicated staff are working diligently to contribute to having a successful academic year while following public health guidelines and ensuring that safety is a top priority.
See the President’s message on YouTube here.
Update from Brock Central
On-campus operations may be temporarily suspended, but Brock Central remains committed to supporting the student community. In addition to email service, Brock Central is offering service appointments through Microsoft Bookings. Students can book a virtual appointment directly with a Brock Central team member for quick and easy service. Appointments are not available on-campus at this time.
Click here for easy access to Bookings. Once an appointment has been made, Bookings will automatically send a confirmation via email, containing instructions to join the appointment virtually with Brock Central. This confirmation may route to a folder other than your in-box, so please check all other folders if it doesn’t arrive.
Printing Services working on-site to support the Brock community
Printing Services continues to work to support the University community: printing offer letters for the Office of the Registrar, materials for Recruitment, along with postcards, thank you cards, brochures and booklets.
The team has also been busy contributing to cutting and drilling the plastic face shields used for personal protective equipment head bands and they have now begun preparing the diplomas for the 2020 graduates.
Read the full story in The Brock News.
Morneau Shepell releases new resources for Brock employees
Brock’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider, Morneau Shepell, has released new resources focused on adjusting to life post-pandemic.
Articles on returning to work and school, self-care, talking to your children post-pandemic and ways to help the local community can all be found on Brock’s Employee Wellness website.
Further resources and information can be found in Morneau Shepell’s COVID-19 toolkit or within their complimentary webinars.
Supporting high-quality online teaching and learning at Brock
The Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CPI) has been working closely with faculty, sessional instructors, teaching assistants (TAs) and lab demonstrators during this time of transition to prepare for blended and fully online teaching and learning.
Virtual Teaching Interest Groups have been developed that will allow for participation in sessions related to online teaching in large classes, graduate classes, lab-based courses, fourth-year seminar courses and language learning — with more to be developed.
As instructors prepare new online courses or revise existing courses, please consult the CPI’s Flexible Teaching and Learning webpage, which contains continually-updated resources. The CPI is also focused on training for TAs through an Online TA Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education.
Mental health resources — update for students
Brock is dedicated to supporting students with mental health resources.
Face-to-face counselling is currently not available, however same-day drop-in counselling is still accessible. Email counselling@brocku.ca to be contacted via Microsoft Teams with an appointment time and a counsellor’s name.
For 24/7 personal counselling phone 833-276-2533 (833-BROCK33).
From Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., students can access Student Health Services (SHS) by phoning 905-688-5550 x3243 to leave a message and contact number, or by emailing referralstaff@brocku.ca
Student Accessibility Services remains available for students and contact information can be found on the SAS website.
If you have questions about COVID-19 symptoms and need to speak to a Student Health Services nurse, please email COVID19@brocku.ca
For medical emergencies, students should phone 911.
