Welcome to Winter Term 2026. I hope you enjoyed the holiday break and are ready to hit the books, return to your routines, and make good on some of your New Year resolutions! 
Whether you are new to the University of Manitoba or a returning student, I hope you find the highlights and reminders noted in this email helpful as you start the new academic term at UM: 

• New International students: Participate in Welcome Events hosted by the International Centre beginning today and throughout January. 

• New Graduate students: Register for Winter Graduate Student Orientation on January 13. 

• Honour the Indigenous Campus Community (HICC):  this year 10 individuals representing the diversity of the Indigenous campus community, whose actions support, inspire and strengthen our campuses will be honoured. Nominations for the 10th HICC are now open. 

• Student supports: Explore the wide range of personal and academic resources available to support your well-being and success. 

• Career Fair: Attend the annual UM Career Fair on January 27 and 28 at UMSU University Centre, to meet employers and explore future opportunities.

• Get involved: Explore the many ways to get involved on campus. Gain experience and develop employability skills through countless curricular and co-curricular experiential learning opportunities listed in the UMConnect catalogue.

• Fitness: Activate your gym membership through Aurora and UM’s state-of-the-art fitness facilities.

• Bison sports: Cheer on the Bisons! Claim your free tickets to Bison home games and check out gobisons.ca for the full schedule.

• Student award: Nominate a student for the new Anne Mahon Award for Community Leadership and Positive Change – the deadline is February 14.

• Stay informed: Check your UM student email for the Student Weekly and follow @umstudent on Instagram and TikTok.

Here’s to a successful and fulfilling term ahead, Bisons. I’m looking forward to seeing you on campus!

My best,

…Laurie

I hope you had a restful and productive break and are ready to tackle the remainder of the Winter term with your usual commitment and determination.  

We are receiving some questions from students about the bargaining process currently underway with UMFA, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty Association, that I would like to address. The university has met with UMFA twenty-nine times since the Summer term and continues to bargain in good faith, with the intention of concluding a collective agreement without a labour disruption. The university remains committed to a fair deal for UMFA and to ensuring an outstanding teaching and learning experience for students. Please be assured that the university remains open, and all classes and activities are continuing as usual.  

I encourage you to visit UM’s Labour Relations website, where the university’s new package proposal, including a strengthened monetary offer, is posted. We will continue to provide bargaining updates on that website until a new collective agreement is reached. If there are any developments that specifically affect students, we will connect with you directly.  

As you ease back into the term, I also wanted to highlight some activities taking place over the coming week. Be sure to check out the events calendar for more happenings throughout the term: 

• Pet Therapy!! – On Tuesday February 25 head to the Student Wellness Centre, 162 Extended Education Complex, between 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for some cuddles with canines! 

• On Wednesday, February 26 participate in the Spiritual Care – UM Drum Circles: Winter Wellness Series from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in 521 UMSU University Centre 

• Cheer on the Bisons Women’s Volleyball team during their playoffs! Best of three starts on Thursday February 27.  

• On Friday, February 28 support the UM Food Bank while enjoying local talent at the “Rocking with a Cause” concert. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 6 p.m. 

An International graduate student townhall is scheduled for Friday, February 28, 10 to 11:30 a.m. in 544/543 UMSU University Centre. Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, representatives from the International Centre, the UM Graduate Students Association, and I will be in attendance to discuss topics of relevance to International graduate students, including off campus working hours, the family open work permit, eligibility for the post-graduation work permit, and Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs). In-person registration is now full but participation via Zoom remains available to those interested in attending. Please register here.  

Looking ahead to the next month, March 3-7 is Student Success Week, which is designed to help you maintain momentum, stay on course, and finish the Winter term successfully. Drop by info tables in the Fireside Lounge in University Centre and participate in a variety of workshops and events facilitated by the Academic Learning Centre and campus partners. Learn more and see a list of programming online. 

An important feature of Student Success Week is Procrastination Awareness Week (PAW), a national campaign that the University of Manitoba co-hosts each year with academic institutions from across Canada. In addition to both live and pre-recorded workshops, PAW includes a virtual study hall, resource library, and opportunities to socialize with students from across all participating institutions. Check out the free online workshops, presentations, and events and register online. 

UMSU’s 106^th birthday celebrations are kicking off on Monday, March 10, followed by a fun week of events and activities, concluding with the UMSU Street Party on Friday, March 14. Keep an eye on instagram.com/myumsu for details. 

As you navigate the rest of the Winter term, remember that there are many resources and student supports available to you. Be sure to check them out. 

Take good care. 

…Laurie 

Fall Term 2024 is drawing to a close and Tuesday, December 10 marks the beginning of the final exam period for many faculties. Knowing that this can be a stressful time, I would like to share some information about resources and supports that you may find helpful over the next two weeks.

As you prepare for your exams, I encourage you to access the Content and Study Skills tutors at the Academic Learning Centre (ALC). They continue to hold one-to-one appointments throughout the exam period. Various other resources are offered through the ALC, such as Writing tutors and specialized supports for graduate students. Academic Advisors are also available to you until the last day of exams on December 20.

Often a key part of exam preparation is finding a study space that works for you. If you are in need of a space, UM Libraries are open and you can find their hours, study space options, and information about their satellite locations on their website.

We recognize that for some students, personal circumstances necessitate studying during non-traditional hours. A dedicated quiet space with on-site staff has been designated for studying throughout the period December 9 at 8:00 a.m. to December 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the St. John’s College Library, third floor, St. John’s College. The SJC Library accommodates 55 students, and will be available on a first come, first served basis. UM student ID must be presented to gain entry to the space outside regular hours (weekdays from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and all day on weekends). For further details and conditions for using this space, refer to this UM Today story.

Prioritizing your well-being during this intense period of academic study is vitally important. If you are in need of some support in this area, don’t hesitate to reach out and explore the resources available to you. The teams at the Student Wellness Centre, Healthy U and the Student Counselling Centre are available to offer space, resources and an opportunity to talk through challenges. Visit their websites for more information and hours during the exam period.

Exam deferrals are a privilege. Although rare, there may be extenuating circumstances that impact your ability to write your final exam as scheduled. Be sure to review valid and non-valid reasons for deferred exams and where to get support.

To fuel your study sessions or to grab a bite between exams, UM Campus Services will continue to operate. If you are craving something in particular, be sure to check the hours of operation for individual food outlets to avoid disappointment, especially on weekends. Members of the Student Affairs team are also offering free coffee and healthy treats throughout the exam period:

• During the evening on December 11 in the tunnel network between the University Centre and Asper, look for free coffee and treats handed out by Spiritual Care in partnership with UMSU Degrees Diner!
• On December 12 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. come to the Connection Desk 109 UMSU University Centre for a free doughnut and affirmation to help power you through the day: Donut Stress, You’ve Got This!
• On December 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Fletcher hallway and again 12 to 2 p.m. in the Armes hallway, swing by the Charge Ahead table for coffee, snacks and good vibes to keep you going!
• On December 16 from 12 to 2 p.m. stop by the Student Wellness Centre (SWC) in Room 162 Extended Education to grab some free snacks, play board games, study, or relax! Keep an eye out for SWC staff as they visit high traffic areas around campus to hand out some study fuel!

A great way to clear your head and support your mental well-being is to stay active. All UM students, through the Sport and Rec fee, have access to UM sport and recreation facilities, casual rec use spaces, and group fitness classes on both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses. Check out UM Recreation Services to learn more and find hours of operation.

Safety has been top of mind for our community over the past few months.  This UM Today story provides an overview of current safety and security measures, and recent enhancements, in keeping with our commitment to provide a safe and secure environment for all students, staff and visitors.  If you haven’t already, I encourage you to download the free UM Safe App for Android or iOS devices to have ready access to safety tools, services and resources.

Given the weather conditions we have been experiencing, please travel safely over the coming days. I’m wishing you all the best during the final exam period.

Take good care.

…Laurie

During our recent conversation, Raihanah (currently a fourth-year psychology student) spoke of finding a home in the residence community both as she’s worked towards her academic degree and during her three years as a Don. As she’s found her voice and become part of the community, she’s experienced the residence as a place where she could try new things and build life-long friendships. 

“The college residence has allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and build leadership and community skills. I was nervous yet excited about what it offered when I walked into the college. From the benefits students receive at the residence, like the delicious Daily Bread Café food, accessibility to events and academic help, it’s an accessible accommodation for all students.” 

Living at St John’s college residence offers students more than just a place to live. Students are welcomed into the community through events, connections with staff, and the following benefits that come with your stay:   

• Weekly meal plan from the Daily Bread Café, including snacks on Sunday night and during exam periods 
• Affordable laundry services   
• Student council opportunities to build professional development   
• Access to monthly events planned by the student residence council   
• Access to St John’s college services, including St John’s library, Daily Bread Café, lockers, college classrooms, and Chapel and Chaplaincy services.   
• Dedicated lounge 
• Housekeeping services include cleaning, vacuuming, dusting, and garbage removal.   

Whether you’re an international or domestic student, everyone is welcome to St John’s college residence. In hosting students from all over the world, we are a diverse community that looks to bring people together to build community.   

For residence rates and information, click here to visit our website.   

To submit your application and join our residence, click here to apply!   

For more information about our residence, contact Matthew Bowman, Dean of Residence.   

In coming to UM, Dharmil was excited to start this new adventure in business while doing his first semester online after travelling to Canada during the pandemic. After getting to Canada, Dharmil wasted no time getting involved at UM, where he found council work, extra-circular activities, and a co-op opportunity with the Asper School of Business.   

After his first year of classes at UM, Dharmil met the Communications Director of SJCSA, Sharaina Cottick, in an Asper marketing class. In working together for a semester, Dharmil learned about the community and benefits St John’s College offers, which he joined shortly after. A few months after joining the College, Dharmil joined SJCSA (St John’s College Student Association) as the treasurer to build his skills for his future career where he continued to meet new colleagues of the college and make an impact on student council.  

“Being a part of SJCSA has helped me learn new skills, apply what I’m learning in class, and meet new friends. From the events, scholarships, and friendships you build, the College has been a great place for me.”  

 

Aside from joining SJCSA, Dharmil has taken full advantage of the College community by applying for scholarships, joining in on monthly events, utilizing the study carrels as a quiet place to study, and meeting new people from other faculties within the University.     

Now going into his third year at the College, Dharmil has been a previous winning recipient of various scholarships over the years and a prime example of our community at St John’s College.   

If you are looking for scholarship opportunities, meet new people, and find a place to study on campus, become a St John’s College member on our website here.   

You can also learn more about our scholarships and bursaries here.

We started the week with our St John’s College Student Council at the Welcome Day event, where we met thousands of first-year students as they began their University of Manitoba journey.   

In talking with students, both new and returning college members, you can feel the excitement as they return to campus and into hands-on learning again with their friends.   

We spoke with our student council, SJCSA, about the week, here’s what they had to say:   

“Seeing the smiles on people’s faces and feeling the buzz around campus, it’s great to be on campus and connecting with new college members. We can’t wait for what’s ahead this year!” 

If you aren’t a member or looking for a small community within the broad UM campus, sign up here so you can enjoy our events like Jumpstart last week!   

Speaking of Jumpstart, SJCSA continued to kick off the school year with a record-breaking numbers of students attending since before the pandemic. You can read more about what Jumpstart is here.   

With various students attending from all faculties, including Nursing, Science, Asper School of Business, Agriculture, Engineering, and Arts, it was a blast seeing students of all programs connect in one space again over food, games, prizes, and conversation.  

We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the year!   

View our membership benefits on our website, found here.   

Remember to become a member today!   

As you heard from President Michael Benarroch last night, joint efforts of the University of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) to reach an agreement by November 1st on terms for a new collective bargaining agreement have been unsuccessful. As a result, UMFA has commenced strike action beginning today, Tuesday, November 2nd. 

We realize this causes disruption for you. We will take every reasonable measure to support you through this time, including maintaining instruction for courses not being taught by UMFA members, and providing access to core services and resources. 

We will share as much information with you as possible as it becomes available – via email, website and our social media accounts.

Answers to many of your questions, including those of you with specific circumstances, such as international or graduate students and students in your final year of study, can be found on this website.

 From the website, you can also access a list of continuing courses to see if your classes (in-person or remote delivery) are taking place. Remember that not all courses are taught by UMFA faculty members and not all UMFA members will necessarily strike. As a result, this page will change often as details are updated so please check back regularly. 

If a course is taught by an UMFA member who is on strike, your access to that course on UM Learn, and the associated learning materials, will be suspended.

UM respects our faculty. They are important members of the campus community and core to the student experience and our academic mission. I understand this strike action is concerning and we want to remind you that supports are available. Please use these resources if you need to – your safety and well-being are our top priorities.  

The university is committed to reaching an agreement promptly to ensure your studies continue with as little disruption as possible. I will keep you updated as more information becomes available. 

All my best,

Laurie Schnarr 

By now you will have heard that members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) have voted for a strike mandate and set a strike date of November 2. This has been featured in news coverage over the weekend and it is understandable that you are wondering what impact this might have on you and your studies.

Even with a date set, the vote does not mean a strike is certain. It means that union leaders have approval from their members to choose to strike if they are not satisfied with how negotiations are going. The university bargaining team, who are the people at the table negotiating with the association, is working to reach a new agreement and there is still an opportunity for that to happen.

If there is a strike, or any other sort of labour action, the university will remain open.

We will continue to keep you updated with emails and with posts on our social media accounts as negotiations continue. For current and past updates, and for general information, please visit our Bargaining Information web page under “Bargaining Updates.”

Again, I want to emphasize that your safety, health and well-being remain our top priorities. In this UM Today article you will find some detailed information about the supports and resources that are available to help you manage any pressures you may be experiencing, or if you just need a little help along the way.

All my best,

Laurie

You have likely heard that the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) has voted to give the union a strike mandate. Understandably, you will have questions about what this means for you.

Please note, a strike mandate does not mean a strike will happen. Rather, a strike mandate means that the union leaders have the approval from its membership to choose to strike if they are dissatisfied with the progression of negotiations. The university bargaining team remains committed to working hard to reach a new agreement.

In the meantime, please be assured that the university is continuing with normal operations – including all COVID-19 protocols – to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff and community. You can continue to join us on campus, as you have been this term, for your required classes, labs and other activities.

We will share as much information with you as possible, as soon as it becomes available. Any updates affecting students will be communicated to you directly from me in emails such as this one. For current and past updates, and general information, please visit our Bargaining Information web page under “Bargaining Updates.”

The university remains committed to your education and well-being. If you are experiencing difficulties, supports are available to you. If you need help with academics, your finances or have health and wellness concerns, there are staff committed to providing student advocacy, supporting your emotional wellness, offering spiritual care and more.

As our university president, Michael Benarroch, said in his message yesterday, your resilience and patience are truly appreciated as the university and UMFA work on a collective agreement to support stability in operations; an outstanding educational experience for you, our students, and in providing fairness to our faculty members.

I will write to you with further updates as soon as possible.

All my best,

Laurie 

Congratulations! We are almost at the close of an extraordinary school year, and you’ve shown incredible flexibility and tenacity. Well done, Bisons!

As we head into Winter exams, please take some time to review the exam resources that have been designed specifically for this remote learning period. Also consider the technology tips and resources that were developed to help you navigate virtual exams successfully. Lastly, I cannot stress enough how important it is to familiarize yourself with the University’s expectations regarding Academic Integrity and the five values that guide us in undertaking academic work: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage. Further information, resources and helpful tips are found at this site.

As you know, UM’s compassionate grading options are currently in effect, and you have until May 31^st to make your decision as to whether to exclude a Fall 2020 grade, a Winter 2021 grade, or the grade from one course that spans both of those terms. Until then, please focus on your final assignments and exams. If and when you would like to discuss this option, please contact an academic advisor.

If you have questions about exams, course registrations, resources, grading rules, or anything UM-related I encourage you to reach out to the new Virtual Advising Help Centre (VAHC). You can speak with someone by phone call, live chat or email seven days a week. Big questions or small, the VAHC can help you find an answer. Access this resource through the webpage, or UM Learn.

Spring Convocation 2021 will be held virtually June 15-17^th, on an exciting, new interactive platform. While we can’t offer the in-person ceremony our grads hope for, our virtual convocation provides an opportunity for friends and family from around the world to witness this important milestone. Learn more here.

As you are finishing up papers and projects and preparing for final exams, remember that you can access help through the Libraries and the Academic Learning Centre.  Student supports are always available to you too!

I know this has been a tough year. Please know that we are here to help you get across the finish line.

Bonne chance! Good luck!

My best,

Laurie