I had the pleasure of attending along with 77 other students and meeting nine Faculty of Arts alumni working in a variety of professions ranging from arts and culture to social services and finance.

The event kicked off with a pizza dinner, allowing us to get acquainted with the people at our table. After supper, Ashlin Daly, ASBC Director of Academic Programming and the emcee for the evening, officially started the event. Greetings were provided by Hannah Belec, President of ASBC, Heidi Marx, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Tracy Bowman, Director of Alumni Relations and Rebecca Brooks, Director of the Career, Community and Experiential Learning Center. Then, each alum went up and offered a short overview of their academic and career journey. These introductions were lighthearted and filled with jokes and anecdotes that had everyone laughing. During this time, I learned it’s completely normal for a career to follow a non-linear path, as many alumni had diverse experiences in various roles before reaching their current positions.

In the “Speed Networking” portion, Arts alumni rotated tables every five minutes (signaled by the ringing of a large bell), allowing students to ask them questions and engage in conversation. I’d like to share the advice from three alumni that really resonated with me.

Niall Harney [BA(Adv)/2017] serves as a Senior Researcher and holds the Errol Black Chair in Labor Issues at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. He emphasized the importance of getting involved—whether on campus or in your local community—to build valuable skills such as teamwork, time management, problem-solving and more.

Vanessa Lillie [BA(Hons)/2016] is the Director of Cultural Integration at the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba. She gave our table five career tips: (1) Build a resume to showcase your skills, (2) get a mentor to ask career questions and gain valuable insights, (3) dress for your next job not the one you currently have, (4) if you get a training opportunity take it, and (5) go see an academic advisor to ensure you are on track.

Glen Gosling [BA(Adv)/1997], an Investment Advisor and Financial Planner at BMO Nesbitt Burns, one of North America’s leading investment firms, encouraged students to contact professionals in roles they are interested in and ask to meet with them. This provides students an opportunity to ask questions and gain deeper insight into a job’s roles and responsibilities.

Before attending this event, I felt uncertain about not having a clear career path after graduation. However, hearing from the Arts alumni about their diverse career journeys helped me realize that it’s okay not to have a linear plan.

Meeting with the Arts alumni really helped me appreciate the value of a Bachelor of Arts degree from UM. Throughout our studies, we develop essential skills such as critical thinking, effective writing, and strong interpersonal abilities, all of which are key to our success in both our careers and personal lives. Graduates with an Arts degree have the flexibility to work in a wide range of industries, and there’s nothing standing in the way of us achieving success.

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Take charge of your future today! Schedule an appointment with a Career Consultant at Career Services and connect with an Arts Academic Advisor to stay on track and plan your studies and career with confidence.

Career Services assists University of Manitoba undergraduate and graduate students with their career planning and job search. They provide a range of valuable services, including workshops, one-on-one consultations and career mentorship, all designed to make a meaningful impact as you prepare to enter the job market.

Faculty of Arts Academic Advisors are your go-to resource for degree planning. They are dedicated to assisting students with degree planning and providing essential resources to support academic success.

Riipen, a project-based learning platform in North America, has been connecting students, academics and industry professionals since 2014. Riipen launched Level UP in 2021, a program providing opportunities for Canadian students to work directly with employers on short-term projects. In addition, students can use and expand their skillsets while getting paid for their hard work

The program funded by the Government of Canada’s Work-Integrated Learning Initiatives with the objective to create quality work opportunities for students across the country.

Each project is completed in 60 hours over 2-8 weeks, with flexible timelines to accommodate the participant’s schedule. Projects available to student are in person, hybrid, and fully remote.  After completing a project, students receive a stipend of $1400 from Riipen.  Applicants can choose projects from a variety of fields including business strategy, computer science and IT, Data, design and creative work, engineering and manufacturing, finance, human resources, marketing, medicine and health, social impact, writing, and more. With 3,000 projects already available on the platform, employers are adding new ones daily.

The program uses a cycle model where students can complete three Level UP projects in that cycle. If all opportunities are filled, you can apply for the waitlist and will be notified when the next cycle begins.

Riipen takes pride in preparing students for the workforce with career-ready skills before their graduation. Level UP aims to make this process even easier.

“It’s a great way for students to gain valuable experience relevant to their interests or degree program while building their network with employers,” says Connie Korchak, Team lead for Experiential Learning Partnerships. You can read testimonials from students here.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must be:

• Eligibility for the program is simple: Be a current student registered in a Canadian post-secondary education institution.
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Are legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Take advantage of this opportunity to elevate your resumé, explore your career options, and get paid doing it.

Do you have any questions about Level UP? Some common questions have been answered here.  

Throughout University, you may find yourself in a job that seems completely ‘unrelated’ to the field you want to be in… This may feel frustrating and hopeless as you want to gain experience that will make you more employable to future employers regarding your career path.

The key is you are already gaining related employability skills throughout your current part-time job! According to the Conference Board of Canada, there are four categories of employability skills that are typically listed in job postings as “qualifications” or “requirements”.

The employability skills categories include:

• Fundamental skills: the basis and foundation of your skills. This includes how to:
  • communicate, manage information, think and solve problems, use digital tools.

• Social and emotional skills: your ability to manage emotions and build relationships.
  • This can be further broken down into, active listening, resilience, flexibility.

• Personal management skills: your personal behaviors and attitudes, including how you can:
  • demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviors, and be responsible, adaptable, and learning constantly.

• Teamwork skills: your work with others and collaboration, including.
  • participation in projects and tasks

Now that you know these global or foundational competencies employers are looking for, you can reflect on the applicable skills you have built throughout your current job – whether it is retail, the restaurant industry or physical labor.

Here are some specific examples of employability skills used in a customer service retail job. 

Now, it’s your turn: take time to reflect on how you have applied these and other skills in your current job.

If you are struggling to reflect on how you have developed or applied these skills in your work (or volunteer roles), write a detailed breakdown of your workday.  This way, you can work backwards and use the tasks you performed to assess what skills were utilized.  The Conference Board of Canada has an employability skills toolkit you can use to reflect on the skills mentioned above.

For support with skills reflection for your job search, resumé development or interview preparation, utilize the services offered through your UM Career Services office!

1. Reflect on your experiences

Although you may not have paid work experience, you have gained valuable skills overtime – perhaps in school, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Identifying these experiences and the transferable skills you have gained is important. This can include time management, communication, organizing skills. Highlighting theses skills within resumé, perhaps a combination style resumé, will strengthen your employability to prospective employers. If you are having trouble identifying your skills use the skills matching worksheet in the resumé workbook.

2. Write your resume

Now you have identified skills gained overtime, it’s time to write an effective resume! We recommend creating a combination style resumé when you may not have as much work or volunteer experience or if your most relevant skills for the position were developed from school. A combination style resumé can also be the style or format that most easily integrates competencies gained from school, volunteer, work and extracurricular activities.

Receive feedback on your resume and cover letter through the Resume Learning Centre. Consider attending a Resume and Cover Letter Workshop; register for workshops on  UMConnect. 

3. Apply for lower level or entry-level jobs

Apply for jobs that are attainable for people with limited work experience. Entry-level positions typically have on the job training opportunities; these could look like customer service jobs, STEP positions, FSWEP positions, or other student work programs. Check out the Get Hired aticle each week and learn about current job opportunities UMConnect.

4. Network within your field of interest

Networking can expand your connections and enhance your professional connections. This will help you learn about the industry, reach collective goals, learn about the opportunities and grow professionally. Some areas to meet people and network include student clubs and councils, professional associations, conferences and career fairs.

Register on UMConnect to attend a Networking workshop.   

5. Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to develop new skills and network. There can be volunteer opportunities within associations or for industry events, which can support you in developing relationships within your field.  Volunteering can allow you to apply skills gained through school and/or build new skills and references. Utilize our online resources to explore opportunities and meet with a Career Consultant for support with determining which opportunities…. [link to occ library and/or employment resources pages?]  If you are struggling to identify past relevant skills to the jobs you are applying to, consider volunteering! Check out Finding volunteer opportunities.

That’s why Career Services, in collaboration with UM professors in various fields, is hosting  Undergrad Research Opportunities at Bannatyne Campus, a virtual information session for undergrads on November 14. You’ll be able to get essential information and can ask questions to professors in various fields such as neuroscience, cell biology, environmental epigenetics, physiology, immunology/virology, epidemiology, and nanotechnology. In addition to answering questions and networking, you’ll also learn how to find research opportunities and apply.

To understand why undergraduate research can open a lot of doors for careers both in and outside academia, UM Today spoke to two previous undergraduate student researchers, Noor Imran and Camila Oda Jallime.

UM Today: What research project/s have you been involved in?

Noor: This past summer, I worked on a joint project co-supervised by Dr. Paul Marcogliese and Dr. Robert Beattie in the department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics. My project involved examining the genes that are involved in neurological disorder called 22q11 Deletion Syndrome (DS) of DiGeorge Syndrome. The objective of the project was to delete 22q11DS associated genes in fruit fly models and assess impact that those deletions have on the brain activity of flies.

Camila: My summer research project focused on investigating the therapeutic potential of interferon lambda during vaginal mucosal inflammation. I was very lucky to work under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Murooka in the Immunology Department. The Murooka lab is an incredibly supportive environment, allowing me to learn and grow beyond my expectations. I learnt many lab techniques like qPCR, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, and many more that allowed me to develop my research project. I learned how to communicate my findings through presentations and meetings. Everyone in the Immunology department was extremely kind and happy to answer any questions that I had. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to have my first summer research experience.

UM Today: How have these experiences supported your learning?

Noor: I think this research experience provided me with an opportunity to apply the skills that I have learned in lecture to an experiment. It allowed me to make connections through various fields like genetics, biochemistry, and neuroscience. I presented my research in our weekly Journal Club meetings and during the Child Health Research Days (CHRD) conference, improving my presentation skills.

Camila: The mentorship and feedback I received from everyone in my Lab tremendously impacted my academic journey. I found that doing research has broadened my perspective and understanding of science, allowing me to do better in challenging courses. 

What transferrable skills have you gained through this experience?

Noor: I gained many transferrable skills through this experience, skills to communicate, collaborate and design an experiment. For my project, I worked with two other undergraduate students and really enjoyed the experience of collaborating with like-minded people. Presenting my research to audiences, who may not be experts in neuroscience also enabled me to modify my presentation style to for a wide audience which is, in my opinion, a critical skill to have if one wants to be a scientist and an educator.

Camila: There are so many important skills I was able to develop during the summer, but the one that stands out the most is perseverance. In research, experiments don’t always work as you expected, but it is crucial to keep trying and identifying what can you improve. And that is the fun thing about research, you are trying to understand something that does not have a clear answer yet.

UM Today: What would your advice to future undergraduates applying for research positions?

Noor: The advice that I would give to future undergrads would be to not hesitate in reaching out to researchers. At the end of my first year, I did not apply for any research positions because I thought that I did not have enough prior research experience. I would encourage undergrads to learn from my experience and not be afraid to contact researchers. Additionally, if students don’t have a stellar GPA then that does not mean there aren’t opportunities for them. There are programs and other ways available through which students can get external funding for their project. It is worth applying for positions even if your GPA is not the best. Summer research is a very good place to start if you are unsure what research entails, and if you end up liking research, then it will open more academic and professional avenues for you in the future!

Camila: Don’t be scared to reach out to professors. University of Manitoba has many incredible researchers who would be very happy to talk to students. I would suggest finding a professor who can be a good mentor to you. This will enhance your learning experience tremendously. Don’t be discouraged if you receive “no” responses. I faced many rejections before finally being able to join the Murooka lab this summer. But in the end, it was all worth it and I am beyond grateful to have found such an amazing opportunity with some of the best people.

Undergrad Research Opportunities at Bannatyne Campus will take place on November 14 at 2:00 p.m. Register for the event on UMCONNECT today.

This event is an excellent opportunity to learn about the many health related undergraduate research opportunities on campus. See you there!

Every year Canadians across the country take part in Career Month. The University of Manitoba is hosting 30+ events and workshops this year so there is something for everyone! Whether you have your career path all mapped out, are unsure of what steps to take along your career journey, or are somewhere in between, there is an event for you!

Career Month can connect you with experts and opportunities to engage in your career planning. From the kick-off event to the volunteer fair, Career Month is your opportunity to explore career pathways, and help connect you with experiences that will build your marketable skills and extend your network. Visit the Career Month webpage to see what is happening each week in November.

 Career Month Kick-off

Join Career Services and UMSU on November first on the 1^st floor of UMSU University Centre for coffee and to learn about the 30+ Career Month events.

 Volunteer Fair

Check-out the Volunteer Fair supported by Career Services, Volunteer Manitoba and UMSU on Nov. 2 to find opportunities to develop skills and explore interests.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities at Bannatyne Campus

Are you a curious undergraduate student interested in paid research opportunities on the Bannatyne campus, especially during the summer? Join our Zoom info session on November 14th, Undergraduate Research Opportunities at Bannatyne Campus, to learn more. Connect with professors from various fields like neuroscience, cell biology, and more. Discover application tips, timing, and the career benefits of undergraduate research.

Career Services Open House for Students & Staff

On November 16^th Career Services will l host an open house at 474 UMSU University Centre for both staff, faculty and students. UM staff, Learn about our services to support strong student and industry referrals. Ask us about classroom visits and in-class workshops on the topics of career planning, resume and cover letter development, job search and more. Um students, learn how we can support you throughout your studies.  Check out our in-house resources. Learn more about some of the services you may not be familiar with.

 Career Workshops

Attend one or more of the career workshops offered to boost your skills. They include:

• (Re)Storying Your Career
• Resumé and Cover Letter
• Marketing Your Foreign Credentials
• Understanding Your Career Preferences

Remember your career starts before your graduation. Start to engage with your career by planning ahead, keeping your eyes open for opportunities and creating opportunities for yourself during your degree. Career Services is here to assist!  When you have a direction and enlist the support of others, you will feel more confident and will have increased success meeting your goals.

To learn more about all the Career Month events check out the Career Month calendar and register on UM Connect your one stop to access information on all Career Services’ events.

Having a career direction is a bit like having a road map to help you reach your destination. Knowing in which direction you’re headed helps you to feel more engaged and motivated in your studies and will help you to be more intentional about the experiences you choose along the way.

Life offers many different experiences that will shape you and they will help you figure out who you are and what you want from your life and career. These experiences might mean you take a detour. Don’t worry, being flexible and open to new opportunities are part of the career planning process.

Ask yourself:

1. What are my favorite experiences? Pay attention to what you enjoy doing – this might be as simple as whether you enjoy talking with the barista or planning a social event. What are you passionate about? When you lose track of time, what are you doing? Reflect on the positive experiences you’ve had over the years and try to understand why you valued the experience. This might be a clue about what you should look for in your future occupation.
2. What do I avoid? Tasks you regularly say no to (or, that you would like to say no to) are indications of things that you dislike. You can learn a lot about yourself and your work preferences by understand what you don’t like to do. This will help you understand roles that might be a better fit for you.
   If you’re not sure, maybe it’s time to try something new – join a student club, get a part-time job or volunteer experience or try out a course from a completely different area of study. If you need help, meet with a Career Consultant in Career Services for advice.    
3. What am I good at? What could I get better at?  What skills do you get complimented on all the time? Using your strengths in your future career will be key to finding fulfilment in your job.  When we feel engaged and are using our natural strengths and talents, we’ll be most successful in the role.
   It’s important to understand areas for improvement – is there a skill or certification that might be helpful for you to have in order to reach your goals?  Consider taking training or learning new skills.  BioTalent is offering free courses to UM students around essential and technical skill building. To learn more, check out this Skills for Success: Invest in Yourself article.
4. Do I understand what the role looks like day-to-day? Doing effective occupational research is key. Use the Career Services Occupational Library to learn about the role – including the labour market, relevant professional or industry information and job search info. Sign up for a  Career Mentor Program for an informational interview with a professional in the roles to get advice.  Get out there and see for yourself – volunteer or work experience gives you a first-hand view of the job and whether you might like to do it. Getting experience will help you learn valuable information about the role and organization and whether they’re a good fit for you.  By being in the action, you get your foot in the door with an employer and make valuable professional connections.

You might not figure out your career direction overnight. Every experience you have, every question you ask and every bit of information will give you a clue about your future career direction. Check out our Career Planner Workbook or book an appointment with a Career Consultant at Career Services for help!

This article is a part of the November 2022 Career Month series. View all of the Career Month initiatives including events, articles, and tips, at the Career month website.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

The Faculty has a Career Development Office (CDO) in which the Career Development Coordinator, Lisa Griffin, organizes events including information sessions and workshops throughout the year on a regular cycle, to keep students informed about job opportunities and training and on their toes from first year to graduation. She maintains the Job Board and engages members of the practicing bar and judiciary to give presentations on what it’s like to clerk at the court or work in public or private practice areas, and meets with students one-on-one to review their resumés, cover letters, discuss networking, job search and interview techniques.

“It’s been an incredibly busy fall with out-of-province and Winnipeg summer placement recruits, many networking receptions, information sessions and a very busy appointment schedule,” said Griffin of the 2022 Fall Term. “Hard to believe December exams are around the corner. We then kick it into high gear again beginning in January with further recruits, both summer and articling, more networking events, workshops and round table events. Our students certainly have a lot to juggle but I could not be more proud of how they manage everything with such integrity, dedication and grace.”

Griffin recently organized an information session on Clerkship at the Federal Court at which The Honourable Justice Roger LaFreniere spoke to students, and has a Resumé and Cover Letter Information Session scheduled for November 16, followed by an Out of Province Information Session for first year law students scheduled for November 22. Ongoing are wine and cheese receptions that Winnipeg Law Firms regularly host to meet and welcome law students to Manitoba’s legal community.

“I love what I do and my role at the Faculty of Law. Working with our students is incredibly rewarding,” said Griffin.

DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Director of Professional Development, Trina McFadyen, is an alumnus of the Faculty of Law and practiced law in Winnipeg for over a decade. Trina engages with both alumni and colleagues in the legal profession and works to maintain and strengthen the relationship between the Faculty and the practicing bar to benefit students entering practice. Trina develops resources for law students to assist them with navigating interviews, networking events, finding articling jobs and understanding the in-and-outs of working in the legal profession. As a lawyer who is still connected to the practicing bar, Trina brings a wealth of knowledge to the students of UM Law.

“We are fortunate at Robson Hall to have an engaged and supportive practicing bar, many of whom went to law school here and that includes me,” said McFadyen. “The Manitoba Bar and Bench are incredibly giving of their time and knowledge to help law students succeed. I feel my job is not only to assist the students as they navigate their time in law school and their professional goals but to also be their biggest cheerleader along the way.”

MANITOBA LAW STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (PDC)

Throughout the year, The PDC works closely with the Career Development Office to provide Robson Hall students with opportunities and resources to develop their professionalism by encouraging them to attend networking events with firms and practitioners, assisting students in the initial stages of preparing their resumés and cover letters, and collaborating with the CDO to facilitate workshops and panels throughout the school year. Most recently, the PDC organized the Law Banquet, held in-person at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on October 19. This much-anticipated annual event provides law students with the opportunity to sit down with practicing members of the Manitoba legal community to create genuine connections while gaining valuable insight into working in the legal industry.

Associate Dean, Dr. Jennifer L. Schulz noted that law students are understandably focussed on their future careers. “We are very pleased with the developing professionalism of our students, their proactivity, and genuine desire to learn and excel as future lawyers. Therefore, we will continue to support them with networking opportunities such as the Law Banquet, and more importantly, with an excellent legal education.”

Upcoming career development events law students can look forward to, include a roundtable with smaller law firms organized by the PDC, a mentorship mixer for first-year law students organized by the Manitoba Bar Association, and ongoing info-sessions and job opportunity postings, circulated by the Career Development Office.

That’s why Career Services, in collaboration with UM professors in various fields, is hosting  Undergrad Research Opportunities at Bannatyne Campus, a virtual information session for all UM on Nov 23.  This is a great opportunity especially for undergrad students at Fort Garry campus to learn about research and opportunities at Bannatyne!

You’ll be able to get essential information and can ask questions to professors in various fields such as neuroscience, cell biology, environmental epigenetics, physiology, immunology/virology, epidemiology, and nanotechnology. In addition to gathering career information and networking, you’ll also learn how to find research opportunities and apply.

To understand why undergraduate research can open a lot of doors for careers both in and outside academia, UM Today spoke to two previous undergraduate student researchers, (Faculty of Science, Microbiology major).

UM Today: What research project/s have you been involved in?

Hailey: During the summer, I was involved in establishing mouse colonies with correct genotyping for my Principal Investigator (PI), to conduct further experiments. The future goal of this project is to establish mice with certain genotypes to study the effects that certain genetic mutations have on the molecular mechanisms of Rett syndrome. We would like to determine how fan1 (a DNA repair gene) works within cells and on neighbouring cells during development to understand disease progression in Rett using Mosiac Analysis with Double Markers (MADM) technology. Summer students including me, performed dissections, genotyping, cryosectioning, antibody staining and microscopy. Each of us had our own projects, but we worked together to learn these new techniques. 

Lucas: During my time at the university, I have been involved with 2 main research projects in total. One was at the chemistry department where I was involved with the creation of Borosilicate glasses via Sol-gel, as well as common melting. Through that project, we wanted to improve phosphorus percentages in the glass so they can be used for nuclear waste immobilization. Most recently, I have been involved with my current project at Bannatyne campus. In my project, I am trying to develop a co-culture system for in vitro studies. In an overall manner, my project involves growing endothelial cells and epithelial cells that are found in the lung at the same time, closely replicating the human alveolus. We then plan on applying stimuli to one side system and see if the overall reaction is different if another cell line is present. 

UM Today: How have these experiences supported your learning?

Hailey: Throughout summer, I was able to connect some of the theories that I have learnt in my courses to the experiments we were doing. I think these experiences helped me to solidify a lot of the concepts that I have learnt in past lectures. A lot of times, I’ve had to draw on past knowledge to solve problems in the lab. I’ve also developed a greater appreciation for when my professors teach us about lab techniques and technologies. For example, now when I’m learning about certain lab techniques, I make sure to pay careful attention, because I could potentially use this technique in the future. It is rewarding to be able to apply techniques you have learnt in classes to real life situations.

Lucas: Overall, this research was able to give me a practical approach to topics that I learned during my classes. Those range from the most basic aspects such as the types of antibiotics that are present in the media that we use to grow the cells, to more practical applications; this would include cleaning practices, aseptic technique, and how to clear out bacterial and fungal contamination, in case it occurs. It gave me the chance to work with equipment and techniques that I had theoretic knowledge about, from antibody staining to confocal microscopy.  In addition, research in immunology gave me a chance to look into possible next career related steps, since it allowed me to learn what my co-workers and colleagues are researching. It gave me a chance to look into other ways that I could apply what I learned during my classes. 

What transferrable skills have you gained through this experience?

Haiey: I’ve learnt patience through trial and error of experiments. Sometimes certain things won’t work, and you’ll get frustrated. But it’s all a learning process and you can always try again the next day. It helped me develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. You need to be very detail oriented when doing experiments. I’ve learnt to ask for help when I need it. I’ve had such a great P.I. and lab partners that I could always rely on to answer my questions. This experience forced me to get out of my comfort zone and taught me how to put myself out there. I’ve learned that it’s okay to not know what you’re doing sometimes. Sometimes it’s scary to try new things, but everyone starts somewhere. I’ve also learned how to be organized to do research.

Lucas: In my position I was able to do presentations, which improved my communication skills allowing me to share information in a simpler and easier-to-understand way. I improved my technique of showing information focusing on what needs to be presented in a slide and how to present it to make the story you want to tell, more cohesive and easier to be followed by the audience. This position also helped me improve reporting skills. This was achieved mainly by keeping a laboratory notebook. I learnt to write down to understand past experiments, and, have others read and replicate your experiment. Most importantly, this position also improved my time management skills since I collected data to track experiment progress properly.

UM Today: What would your advice be to future undergraduates applying for research positions?

Hailey: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there when talking to professors. Attend information sessions and don’t be afraid to reach out to professors. Most professors are happy when a student is interested in learning about their research. Make sure to prepare for interviews and send follow up emails to thank them for their time because professors are busy people.

Lucas: Most importantly, be sure to read about the professor, be sure you understand what the professor works with, and only apply if you enjoy their research topic and would like to contribute. In the immunology department, many great professors are conducting very interesting experiments. A lot of them look for interested students. Lastly, there will be times when research may be frustrating, from failed experiments to results that completely deviated from your initial hypothesis. Make sure to be patient and enjoy the learning process rather than the results of the research only.

The Undergrad Research Opportunities at Bannatyne Campus virtual event will take place on November 23 at 2:30 pm. Register for the event on UMCONNECT today.

Attend to learn about the many health science undergraduate research opportunities on campus. See you there!

The Student Counselling Centre (SCC) offers free, confidential counselling and mental health support for students and will work with you to determine the best approach for your needs, including group programming and workshops targeting many of the most common difficulties students experience. Examples include:

• Stress and Distress workshop
• Mid-day Mindfulness Meditation
• Communication and Conflict Resolution
• Depression and Anxiety Management

For further information, and to register, visit the Counselling Workshops and Groups page.

If you are experiencing a high degree of distress and need help immediately, please visit the Urgent Help section of the SCC web page for a list of crisis services offered 24/7.

Learners and residents of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences can access a wide array of supports and resources through the Student Services at Bannatyne Campus (SSBC) office. Confidential intake and triage specialists are available to meet with you to explore your needs and will get you connected with resources to help you meet your personal and academic goals. Contact SSBC at 204-272-3190 or by email at bcss@umanitoba.ca.

The Sexual Violence Resource Centre (SVRC) uses a trauma-informed approach to provide information, resources, and support to anyone in the UM community who has been affected by sexual violence. The SVRC is a place where survivors, or people supporting survivors, can find a safe space. Their doors are open to all faculty, staff, and students who need their help. Find out how to connect here: https://umanitoba.ca/sexual-violence

The Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) Elders, student advisors and staff are here for you. Weekly Sharing Circles are held for students on Thursdays and Student Counselling is also available by appointment on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and Friday all day. ISC has weekly workshops or events as well. If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with an Elder, student advisor or counsellor, please contact isc@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-8850.

International students, if you missed the pop up winter clothing display the International Centre hosted this week, please refer to this article that has some good things to consider when dressing for winter. If you are a new international student, please check out the Culture and Connection Series on Nov. 17. The topic is Making the Most of Winter in Winnipeg, including how to access healthcare services, preparing for winter, and adapting to life in Canada.Academic and career supports

Reach out to the Academic Learning Centre to strengthen your study skills, get tips on time management, procrastination, or academic writing.  Check out Career Month to discover career pathways, learn about an academic program, meet with industry professionals and make professional connections. Talk to an Academic Advisor for help with your degree progression. Not sure which support you need? Contact the Virtual Advising Help Centre and our student navigators will point you in the right direction.

Check out the full range of student support offerings, all of which are available until the December break.

I trust that these resources and supports will be helpful to you. Enjoy the break – I hope you are able to take time for yourself.

All my best,

Laurie

Laurie M. Schnarr, MA (she/her)
Vice-Provost (Students)
Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic)