Committing to communities: Update 2020-2021
"This was an unprecedented year, filled with challenges and obstacles we could have never anticipated. Like the rest of the world, we had to quickly transition to an on-line learning environment for our students, and an at-home work environment for our employees. The pandemic forced us to make some good changes; some things will continue to operate in this 'new' way. Through it all, we never lost sight of our priorities and made significant progress in many areas of our strategic plan." - Dr. Jeff Keshen, vice-president, Grenfell Campus
- With the move to virtual learning, a learning technology specialist was hired to assist faculty in recording lectures, create virtual classrooms and engage students in an online environment. Information Technology Services created an on-campus studio for recording lectures.
- Senate approved a Ph.D., transdisciplinary sustainability , and a masters of management and a masters of applied geomatics. Proposals for the Ph.D., boreal ecosystem agricultural research, masters of arts in applied literary studies, master of fine arts in theatre, and master of arts in sustainable rural communities are in various stages of approval.
- The
Bonne Bay Marine Station and Public Aquarium became part of Grenfell Campus, providing new opportunities for research, teaching and engagement.
- Given the COVID environment, all courses were delivered online. This change made our courses available to more people, at different campuses and in different situations. Many of these courses will continue to be available online.
- All student-forward resources (library, learning centre, counselling and psychological services, academic advising, wellness, and student programming) moved online working to engage and support students.
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Kickstart, a series of university credit courses, was offered during the summer allowing graduating high school students the opportunity to learn about online learning while gaining university credit.
- Recruitment teams, deans, profs and our vice-president visited more than 25 high schools in this area to promote Grenfell Campus.
- The
Regional Aquatic Centre, to be located on campus, is set to begin construction Fall 2021, that will convert our existing pool wing, into a new state-of-the-art facility.
- A second counsellor was hired on three-year term. The counsellor's time is shared between Grenfell Campus’s
Counselling and Psychological Services and the Western Regional School of Nursing
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Your Grenfell Experience, an online tool, was created to provide students access to online support, academic resources and virtual health tools. Other programs like the
Student Relief Fund ensured students were cared for during the early days of the pandemic.
- Picnic tables and outdoor seating were established to encourage outdoor gatherings and places to relax and refresh on campus.
- Ten post-doctoral fellows were hired, most engaged in graduate student supervision, and 17 teaching assistants were awarded for grad students.
- The total value of external research funding applications has increased more than 50%.
- An application was submitted for Boreal Agriculture Research and Market Centre (B-FARM), a pan-provincial, multi-campus and institution initiative that will provide leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture, food self-sufficiency and food security.
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FLIRT, online research talks, were held weekly demonstrating the diversity of the research being conducted on campus.
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The Aging Research Centre- Newfoundland and Labrador provided close to $50,000 in grants and $84,000 in graduate fellowships.
- Funding from the Government of Canada, provincial government departments, the City of Corner Brook, as well as Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPPL), is making it possible for Grenfell Campus-Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic (CNA), to build the Centre for Research and Innovation.
- A
co-curricular record, an official record of student activities that complement their academic transcript, was launched. A CCR allows students to track their skills and learning experiences outside of the classroom.
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Learning hubs in rural locations were implemented to ensure reliable internet access to students in those areas.
- Work with external groups, like the Deer Lake Regional Airport, to help overcome industry challenges presented by the pandemic was conducted.
- A
newly formed collective spanning Corner Brook to the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula is aiming to make the area a healthier and more sustainable place to live.
- A series called Grenfell Matters, featuring different aspects of campus, was aired on Facebook Live during the spring and summer.
- The annual engagement report Empowered by Community was released.
- Funding for a new English language testing centre at Grenfell Campus was announced to support newcomers in the transition through immigration pathways.
- Flags representing the countries of origin of our students were hung in the Arts and Science atrium.
- Grenfell Campus was
named a self isolation unit for post-secondary students. Isolating College of the North Atlantic and Grenfell students were provided comprehensive support throughout their self-isolation period including meal delivery and daily check-ins.
- Applications from international students increased at unprecedented growth for Fall 2021.
- With the move to remote learning, several
online support programs were set up specifically for English as a Second language students to help them overcome any additional barriers they might face.
- Grenfell's waste management and sustainability committee work includes recycling, composting, social media promotion and lecture series.
- There is extended use of existing campus greenhouse planned, as well as proposals for shared rooftop bio dome cultivation space and pilot three-bay greenhouse using manufacturing waste heat.
- Further energy efficiencies through the Honeywell program save about $290,000 annually and 50,000 tonnes annually
- Single-use plastics have been eliminated from all official campus activities.
- Grenfell Campus is a reporting member of the STAR (Sustainability tracking, assessment and rating system) program.
- A senior development officer was hired, with half-time responsibilities dedicated to Grenfell Campus.
- Funding priorities for campus have been identified, including increased scholarship offerings and improvements to infrastructure.
- More than 20 alumni were interviewed for a Grenfell history project.
- Students were supported through an increase in scholarships available.