Winter, Waivers, Work/Life & Wellness: Eduvation Insider for July 31, 2020
Here in Canada, we’re heading into what will probably be the most relaxing long weekend of the summer. (Let’s not talk about Labour Day.) So what more appropriate theme than a focus on work-life balance and wellness?
But first (sorry), some news that we can’t ignore for the next 4 days…
Breaking News
Some thought-provoking announcements at StFX and Queen’s, federal PHO guidance to parallel the May guidance from the CDC, and a bold and useful example of COVID19 transparency at uCalgary…
StFX Won’t Waive the Waiver
The St Francis Xavier U Board of Governors announced yesterday that “the new Student Community Protocols and the legal waiver remain the best way forward and a necessity in order for the University to welcome students to campus in the fall.” As currently worded, the waiver absolves StFX of responsibility for any “loss, damage, illness, sickness, expense or injury including death” of students or their kin, including due to negligence. 2 weeks ago, the NS Minister of Advanced Ed seemed to suggest that the waiver would be reworded, in response to a student backlash. Global
Blended Winter 2021 at Queen’s
Back in mid-May, Cambridge was perhaps the world’s first higher ed institution to announce it would deliver lectures online throughout the winter 2021 term. Most CdnPSEs have been silent on the issue, although several colleges have expressed the hope that things will return to normal in January (including Olds, George Brown and Holland College). Several have promised to make a decision in September or October. 2 have already announced a blended approach (Ontario Tech and NSCC), while Carleton has signalled as much. (You can see my realtime list here.) Yesterday, Queen’s U provost Mark Green announced that several faculties and schools have finalized plans for the Winter 2021 term, to deliver most first-year lectures remotely, with some academic activities (such as labs) on campus. Queen’s
Health Canada Reopening Guidance
Health Canada has published Guidance for Post-Secondary Institutions during the COVID19 Pandemic, including risk assessment, travel restrictions, outbreak response, and mitigation strategies for the classroom, residences, student services, food services, and student life. Canada
Live Dashboard of Campus Cases
uCalgary has launched a “live dashboard” mapping any known cases of COVID19 on its campus. (Currently there is a single case of exposure 8-14 days ago in Zone 4.) President Ed McCauley says, “This will allow community members to choose their on-campus activity based on the level of risk with which they personally feel comfortable.” (It looks like a streamlined approach to issue updates in real time, without issuing media releases for each one.) uCalgary
Work-Life Balance
So far I have noted 3 Ontario universities publicly urging their campuses to follow some email and meeting rules to support work-life balance for staff and faculty: Ryerson’s “Recharge” initiative (Jun 30), uGuelph’s “Meeting-Free Fridays” (Jul 8), and now York…
York Urges Work-Life Balance
York U president Rhonda Lenton wrote the campus community this week to announce that the senior leadership team has implemented new measures, effective immediately, to limit all meetings to 50 minutes or less, and schedule them within core business hours (8:30am-4:30pm and concluding no later than 6pm). Emails should not be sent after 7pm or on weekends unless urgent, and there should be no expectation that recipients will read them until the next business day. Lunch hours (12:30-1:30pm) shall be “meeting-free” for the remainder of the summer. And employees are encouraged to schedule “focused time” in their calendars for paperwork and major projects. “I am asking all senior administrators and managers to practice the measures outlined above while demonstrating flexibility and understanding.” York
Perhaps you remember this research piece from mid-May…
Give Yourself a (Micro)Break!
When you still worked in an office, you didn’t just take your scheduled lunch hour and coffee breaks: you took unconscious breaks to walk between meetings, grab coffee or a printout, or for a serendipitous conversation with co-workers. These “microbreaks” are important when you WFH too, says a uCalgary postdoc, to enhance productivity, accuracy, and mental health. Take more time for exercise, a breath of fresh air, and to practice mindfulness. uCalgary
The Power of Contemplation
This summer, most academics are overwhelmed with logistics as they redesign courses for an uncertain Fall term. James Lang observes, “We are facing wicked problems, mostly alone, and we need solutions in a hurry. Yet in the push to find them this summer, it’s easy to lose sight of something else we need: the passion that animates our teaching in normal circumstances and lights the fires of inspiration in our students.” As an English professor, Lang naturally recommends reading literature to help you shape and understand your life. “Try to make at least a little space this summer for the contemplative learning that drew us into the life of the mind. We will most certainly need that passion to sustain us in the coming months.” Chronicle
You Are What You Eat
Aside from financial anxiety and sleep deprivation, proper nutrition (oh yeah – and exercise) are essential to mental health. Pandemics wreak havoc on all of them…
Consumer Food Trends in Canada
During the pandemic lockdown, Canadians have turned to comfort foods (especially meat and snacks), pantry goods with a long shelf-life (including canned soups), home baking (causing a flour shortage at one point), and yes – alcohol. Beer and cider sales are up substantially, and studies have found alcohol use particularly high among parents with young children at home. But as things settle into a new normal, food marketing agency Nourish predicts a return to healthier eating, alcohol reduction, and a focus on immune boosters. Nestlé is opening a “plant-based meat factory” in China, and Nourish suspects that meat processing supply chain disruptions due to COVID19 might just accelerate adoption of substitutes like Beyond Meat. Strategy
The Dreaded “COVID 19”…
A new uAlberta consumer psychology study finds that “people under financial stress want to eat more of everything,” suggesting that high unemployment rates may drive a post-pandemic increase in the obesity rate. Like bears going into hibernation, “under stress, bodies send a signal to eat more and fuel up.” (Of course, it doesn’t help that we’re getting less exercise than ever.) On the other hand, those most concerned for their physical safety and most socially isolated will experience a decrease in appetite. uAlberta
(And no, you’re not imagining it – that item was a rerun from last week. Cut me some slack – it’s Friday and I need some life balance too!)
TGIF!
I haven’t spotted any really notable videos since Texas Tech’s “Masks” PSA and Swinburne’s “Swintopia.” But at the risk of some shameless self-promotion…
I Chat with GBC’s Work Shift
In this week’s episode of George Brown College’s Work Shift podcast, I talk to co-hosts Shawne McKeown and Ray Harripaul about the impact of COVID19 on higher education, how institutions are responding, labour market shifts and some positive long-term effects on pedagogy. GBC | Soundcloud | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
I have another half-dozen campus updates I could share with you, but half of you are taking the day off, and in the interests of lightening your workday and mine, I’ll leave it at that!
If you’re in Canada, I hope you get to enjoy your long weekend, whether it’s “British Columbia Day,” “Saskatchewan Day,” “Terry Fox Day,” “Natal Day,” or just plain ole’ “Civic Holiday.” I’ll see you again on Tuesday morning!
Until then, stay safe and stay well!
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Ken Steele is Canada's leading higher ed futurist and strategic consultant, through his company Eduvation. He delivers virtual presentations and facilitates virtual retreats or workshops centred on emerging trends, enrolment management, pedagogical innovation, and strategic planning.
Ken has developed 9 new topics specifically to help institutions cope with the post-COVID19 “new normal.”
For more information, please reach out to [email protected]