Enrolment up at Mount Royal University as classes resume
Students returned to a mix of in-person and online classes at Mount Royal University on Thursday and officials say enrolment is up slightly over last year.
"Across all programs, 75 to 80 per cent of courses are being delivered in person," read a release.
"Along with classes, most campus services, from student advising and wellness to food services and recreation are also open for in-person interactions again."
Some 15,000 students were enrolled last year, which was a 5.3 per cent jump from the year before, and officials say enrollment this year is expected to go up slightly again.
"Faculty and staff went above and beyond to make sure students' education and experiences, while different, remained exemplary during the pandemic. We’re thrilled to welcome them back to campus with new measures and an expectation we will adapt to an ever changing situation," said MRU president and vice-chancellor Tim Rahilly.
"We continue to weather this unprecedented time together but the demand for our programs stayed strong and our enrollment is proof of that.”
Masks are required in all indoor public settings and students who are unvaccinated will have to take part in a rapid testing program. The details of that are still being worked out, "but students, faculty and staff will need to indicate their vaccination status," read a release.
"Fully vaccinated individuals can opt out of mandatory testing while unvaccinated individuals will be required to participate in frequent rapid testing and do a daily self-check for symptoms before coming to campus," it read.
A walk-in clinic was set up Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and it will be open again Thursday on the Cougars Concourse. A vaccination bus will also be parked on campus at the East Gate on Wednesday, Sept. 22 and Thursday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for students to get their shot if they still need to do that,” said Rahilly.
"The best way to protect yourself and your community, and not have to do rapid testing, is to get vaccinated. We strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.