Libraries

A students’ first instinct for finding a study space is probably to go to the library, and that is a good thought! Students pay into the libraries and their services with their tuition, and they provide a lot of resources for students in addition to their stacks, from search aids, to support staff, to rooms to book.

The Elizabeth Dafoe Library offers a variety of options for study spaces beyond the common spaces on the first, second, and third floors. If the traffic of these areas is too much, or if arriving as soon as the library opens to get a good seat is not an easy task, fear not! The library provides some wonderful options.

The second floor of the library is designated as a “quiet zone” and the third floor is home to the Icelandic Reading room. Both locations are quite spaces where students are encouraged to work silently. Being on higher floors, these rooms are away from the bustling entrance on the main floor.

In 2024, the library introduced Quiet Pods to support students who need an individualized quiet space for calls, doing an online exam, or any other task that requires silence. Quiet Pods are located on the main floor of Dafoe and can be booked for a maximum of three hours at a time. They can be booked in advance through an online sign-up form.

For other bookings, the library also offers room bookings across the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses for group study sessions located, and study carrels for graduate students and President’s Scholars.

Other libraries offer study spaces and other services, and students are encouraged to visit different libraries to find the one that suits their needs and study requirements, as different libraries will offer different technological support and study space availability. Below is a list of libraries on both UM campuses with links to information on their study spaces:

• Architecture/Fine Arts Library (206 John A. Russel Building, 84 Curry Place)
• E. K. Williams Law Library (Room 401 Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Road)
• Eckhardt Gramatté Music Library (T257 Taché Arts Complex, 136 Dafoe Road)
• Father Harold Drake Library (Room 119, St. Paul’s College)
• Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library (2^nd Floor, Brodie Centre Atrium, 727 McDermot Avenue)
• St. John’s College Library (3^rd Floor, St. John’s College, 92 Dysart Road)
• Agriculture Building (66 Dafoe Road)
• Engineering Building (EITC E3 75B Chancellors Circle)

Other study spaces

Studying is not just limited to libraries. Although libraries offer an important space for studying, writing, and research all in the same space, sometimes all students need are a desk, a chair, and somewhere quiet.

Various faculties and departments have their own study spaces and lounges which students can use. The International Centre recently opened the Tony K. Lau Global Lounge. Located in room 541 in UMSU University Centre, this is a space for students and faculty to connect and study.

Different faculties will have different options for students. For example, the Faculty of Arts has a study space in Fletcher Argue near the Arts Students Lounge, and the School of Art allows for room bookings to support students in their studies.  Students are encouraged to reach out to their faculty or student associations to see if there are any spaces they can reserve for studying or for any other supports.

Other study spaces will pop up. Students should keep an eye out for renovations in the buildings they frequent. As the UM tunnel system was renovated, more tables and chairs were added to accommodate more options for students to study. As the UM grows, so to will its ability to help support students in their studies and their access to spaces that suit their needs.

Studying and preparing for exams can take its toll. The Student Wellness Centre is a space that students can turn to during their studies to help connect with peers and professionals for wellness support during the academic term. At the SWC, students can tend to their mental health and well-being during their studies. This space offers a break from the hectic pace of studying. After all, a key aspect of student success is a solid support system and confidence to pursue one’s studies. Student Wellness Centre hours of operation may vary during the exam period. Be sure to check their website or instagram (@healthyuofm) for hours of operation.

The SISF provides support for initiatives from faculty and staff that align with UM’s strategic goals – creating knowledge that matters, empowering learners, and reimagining engagement – while also advancing UM’s core commitments to fostering a vibrant community, advancing Reconciliation, and building a sustainable future. For the 2025-2026 year, projects focused on advancing unit-level priorities that moved forward our shared institutional goals.

A MomentUM Implementation Plan will be shared this summer to guide faculties and units in aligning their planning efforts with university-wide goals. In the meantime, recent SISF projects illustrate the kind of transformative work already underway.

A new hub for digital and media literacies in the Faculty of Education

With SISF support, the Faculty of Education has transformed its traditional computer lab into the new Digital Literacies Lab – a digital media production space designed to advance novel and inclusive teaching, learning, and research, and foster creative, transformative knowledge mobilization and community engagement through digital media. The new lab includes audio and video production and editing equipment and software, GenAI tools, and a podcast production room.

Officially opened in January of this year, the Digital Literacies Lab is already enabling faculty innovation and enriching student learning experiences, involving forms of media such as video and audio podcasts, video essays, sound postcards, digital stories, and documentaries. The lab has facilitated digital and media literacies education, media-integrated research, computer-assisted qualitative data analysis and Generative AI workshops, and knowledge mobilization initiatives.

The Digital Literacies Lab is also fostering cross-faculty collaborations and engaging the wider community. Several classes of newcomers from the River East Transcona School Division have already visited the lab, and upcoming visits are anticipated by Grade 7-9 students in the Faculty of Education’s CanU afterschool program. The lab has supported several UM student podcast initiatives, and through additional funding from the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Seed Fund, Amir Michalovich, SISF Project Lead and Faculty of Education Assistant Professor, will use the technologies to explore live podcasting in class for student engagement, dialogic learning, and communicative skills development.

Michalovich notes, “Digital and multimodal literacies are essential in today’s world, particularly for critically and equitably thinking, meaning, relating, doing, and becoming through digital media. We are very excited about the ways the new Digital Literacies Lab will strengthen innovative and inclusive teaching and research, while also providing a valuable service to K-12, post-secondary, and adult learners across Manitoba.”

Students and staff recording a podcast in the Digital Literacies Lab.

Engineering students witness the realities of hydro development in Northern Manitoba

A collaboration between Jillian Seniuk Cicek (Department of Engineering Education, Price Faculty of Engineering) and Peter Kulchyski (Department of Indigenous Studies, Faculty of Arts) resulted in a week-long immersive learning experience that brought classroom teachings on decolonizing and Indigenizing engineering into the field.

Last summer, eleven undergraduate and graduate students, along with an engineer, an architect, four faculty members, and one community guide, visited six Cree Nations in northern Manitoba – Misipawistik (Grand Rapids), Nisichawayasihk (Nelson House), Pimicikamak (Cross Lake), Makso Sakahigan (Fox Lake), Tataskweyak (Split Lake), O-Pipon-Na-Piwin (South Indian Lake), and Kinoa Sipi (Norway House) – to learn directly from community members about the social, environmental, and cultural effects of hydroelectric development. Indigenous community members spoke of environmental destruction, experiences of racism, broken promises, and internal community division over proposed and implemented projects. Participants also heard powerful accounts of strength and resilience shown by local leaders in the face of these challenges. Their stories left a lasting and profound impact on the participants.

“The trip changed the way we understand the experiences of these Cree communities, and the devastating impact of engineering projects on community members’ lives and ways of being, knowing, doing, and relating,” says project co-lead and tour participant, Seniuk Cicek. “This understanding is crucial for engineering students and faculty as we work to learn the Truth and walk the path of Reconciliation in both engineering education and the profession.”

Grand Rapids Generating Station, visited by a group of engineering students and faculty members to learn about the impact of hydroelectric development on Northern Indigenous communities.

Ernest Turner (left) from Misipawistik Cree Nation (Grand Rapids) speaks with Peter Kulchyski and the group. They stand on the dry riverbed where the Grand Rapids once flowed, a place of deep cultural, spiritual, and economic significance to the community.

Enhancing student wellness through improved private spaces

The Student Wellness Centre (SWC) is an important resource hub for student health and mental well-being, offering drop-in and appointment services with health and wellness professionals and trained peer educators. It also hosts a variety of preventive and promotional health initiatives.

Since opening in 2023, the SWC has seen steady growth in both programming and student engagement. As awareness of these resources grows, students are increasingly seeking one-on-one health-focused support from Healthy U peer volunteers, highlighting the need for a private space for these important and confidential conversations. To meet this need, the SWC received funding from the Strategic Initiatives Support Fund and the Bell Let’s Talk Implementation Grant to install a four-person privacy pod. Since its installation, the pod has significantly enhanced the Centre’s ability to offer confidential, student-centered care, helping students feel supported and empowered to thrive.

Arlana Vadnais, Associate Director, Wellness and Prevention, Student Support, says, “The pod allows us to offer students seeking peer support a comfortable, welcoming, and much more private space than before. It also greatly enhances the multi-purpose use of the Student Wellness Centre, as it is used for team meetings, planning sessions and trainings.”

The newly installed privacy pod room in the Student Wellness Centre.

Learn more about projects funded

These projects are just three examples of how the Strategic Initiatives Support Fund is helping the University of Manitoba move from strategic planning to meaningful action. As the new funding cycle begins, the university community looks forward to seeing how this year’s recipients will continue to advance shared priorities through creative and impactful initiatives.

Visit the Strategic Initiatives Support Fund intranet page for a list of 2025-2026 fund recipients.

If students are ever in search of spiritual or introspective advice, the SCMFC can direct them to one-to-one counsel with the appropriate spiritual care provider. UM has spiritual care providers for Muslim students, Jewish students, and students of students various Christian denominations such as Lutheran, Mennonite, Ukrainian Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican (the latter two being provided by St. Paul’s College and St. John’s College, respectively) The university also hosts Elders-in-Residence who lead Indigenous centred cultural teaching sessions, ceremonies, and consultation with students.

For irreligious students, the SCMFC still has a role in connecting students to spiritual guidance. Trevor Lehmann has recently been appointed as humanist chaplain for UM’s SCMFC and offers support for students grappling with large, complex, or difficult questions. Commenting on the role of a chaplain, Lehmann summarizes the chaplaincy at UM as follows: “A common misconception is that we [spiritual care providers] have proselytizing role but that is not the case. We draw from our spiritual world view but support students in finding a spiritual world view that meets their needs.”

The focus on spiritual guidance is one often neglected by students. As more Canadians identify as irreligious, especially amongst the younger generation, questions of spirituality, faith, and questions of meaning—typically the domain of religious institutions—are underrepresented for some. Lehmann stresses that “individuals without religious affiliation still grapple with questions of meaning, relationships, ethics, isolation, and other existential concerns.” For him, his role is “providing support and community for staff and students interested in exploring these issues and supporting them in coming to conclusions that can support them in their life going forward.” Taking a spiritual, but non-religious approach, students and staff can better understand themselves and the world around them.

Each individual comes in with their own concerns or questions, and Lehmann explains that there is no one size fits all for helping guide those with questions. As a Humanist chaplain, however, Lehmann facilitates a mutual exploration of those seeking guidance and “Humanist ideas that relate to the 4 E’s”:

• Existential: Questions pertaining to meaning or purpose
• Ethical: Decision-making when there is conflict between values or one’s morals
• Emotional: Creating space to explore beliefs within the full range of emotions.
• Equity: A safe space to inform and support all identities.

Lehmann has been involved with UM for a number of years and brings what he learned from both his education and professional experiences to his support role. During his MEd in Counselling Psychology, he provided interfaith support to patients at the Health Sciences Centre. Upon his return to UM, he participated in interfaith dialogues with the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre to support staff and students. Recently appointed to Humanist chaplain, his “experience continues to be one of continuous learning as we explore how to best connect students and community, build relations and support people on the journey of life.”

In addition to the work of chaplains and support staff, the SCMFC can connect students to sacred places on campus. These spaces are welcoming environments to support students of various faith backgrounds in their day-to-day life and in addressing spiritual questions. The SCMFC also engages in regular programming, so keep an eye on the website to keep up to date with any wellness events, interfaith dialogues, or supports for students.

To connect with the SCFMC, students can contact the centre via e-mail spiritual care[at]umanitoba.ca or by calling the centre at 204-474-9721. The SCFMC can direct students to the appropriate spiritual advisor for the questions they are grappling with. The centre is open to all, and welcomes people of all backgrounds.

“Our role is to provide support to students in whatever capacity they desire, whether it be a listening ear, an educated recommendation, or guiding you to the right resources!” – Theo Hart

Healthy U peer educators can provide a space to talk through many of the challenges that students face.  One of the peer educators, Jayanti Monga, identified that “Some main concerns that students can discuss with [us] are academic stress (e.g., overwhelmed by coursework, work/life balance), resource management (i.e., where to go and what to do for certain concerns), overall wellbeing needs (e.g., academic guilt, burnout, balance, physical/mental health). For the most part, our HU program offers listening ears to those who need to speak with someone – sometimes, all someone needs to resolve something is to talk it out with an impartial person.” Further, peer educator Nicole Alcasid explained that “Healthy U volunteers provide peer support to students about a wide range of health topics—this can look like a lot of things! I’ve talked to students about how to cope with exam stress, how to navigate relationships (familial and romantic), and ultimately, how to balance your “student” identity with all the other roles and responsibilities you may have.”

Alcasid also shared that, “In our one-one meetings, I’d love to emphasize that, while Healthy U volunteers do our best to offer students informational strategies and resources to help them with their current situation, we are also here to listen—simple as that! If you need a listening ear or need some help reflecting upon a wellness-related topic, Healthy U volunteers are here for you.”

Among the many topics that Healthy U peer educators are available to discuss, they are trained to provide support relating to sexual health including answering any questions students might have about STI’s and safer sex supplies. Don’t hesitate to reach out regarding these or other questions you have.

Whether you would like to learn more about wellness, would like to know more about the resources available or are perhaps currently struggling and need support, Healthy U is here to help. Peer educator, Theo Hart, wants all students to know: “Our role is to provide support to students in whatever capacity they desire, whether it be a listening ear, an educated recommendation, or guiding you to the right resources! Our extensive training allows us to assist students through problems and provide them with the tools to better support themselves.  An appointment with a Healthy U volunteer is a convenient balance between speaking to a friend and seeing a mental health professional. We provide care for less severe issues than a mental health professional, with far more education and resources than your friend! If we’re unable to provide care for an issue, we’ll help you find someone who can; you’ll never be expected to simply figure it out on your own!”

Though the Healthy U peer educators are highly trained and ready to help, it is important to note that they do not handle cases of crisis, post-traumatic stress, attention deficit disorder, depression, trauma, suicide, or self harm. If any student is in need of support in these areas, they can consult directly with the Student Counselling Centre. Staff and volunteers at the Student Wellness Centre and Healthy U can also provide further information about the Student Counselling Centre and other similar resources. 

For any students looking to get in touch or learn more, Healthy U peer educators can be found at the Student Wellness Centre in 162 Extended Education Complex on the Fort Garry Campus or through the Healthy U website or email healthandwellness[at]umanitoba[dot]ca.

The SWC at its core is designed to be an inclusive, no expectations space for students to learn about and foster wellness. Its creation was in response to requests from students for a space for learning, connection and growth around mental health and wellbeing. There is a quiet lounge space, a wellness resource library, in-person support and opportunities to connect with other students both through formal programming and informally in the space. Through a generous donation by Shoppers Drug Mart on 2211 Pembina HWY, there are also free menstrual products available at the centre for anyone who might need them. Peer volunteer, Nicole Alcasid, stated, “I’d love for students to know that us volunteers and staff at the Student Wellness Centre try our best to make it a safe, relaxing space! … It’s a lounge space—you can eat lunch, chat with your friends, or study. Or you can pop by, just for a couple minutes, to check out our informational pamphlets or pick up some safer sex supplies!”

For students wondering what the SWC is or whether they should plan to visit, several of the centre’s volunteers shared how the centre can help. As summed up by one of the peer volunteers at the SWC, Theo Hart, “The student wellness centre will meet you wherever you’re most comfortable, whether you’d like to talk it through with a Healthy U volunteer or if you’d simply like to take a resource silently and go! There is no expectation for you to explain why you’ve come!” Keep and eye out for upcoming articles or visit the Healthy U website to learn more about the program.

To provide a bit more detail, Ashley Anderson, the Student Wellness Program Assistant, explained that “At the Student Wellness Centre, we take a holistic approach to student well-being, supporting academic, personal, and professional goals. Students often come to us with concerns like academic stress, time management, or relationship challenges—whether with friends, family, or romantic partners. We also provide a safe space to discuss sexual health topics like STI prevention and condom use. It’s not just about seeking support; you can also drop by our shared space to relax, meet other students, and build connections. You don’t need to be at your lowest to reach out. Whether you’re looking for advice, a sense of community, or just someone to talk to, we’re here to help you thrive.”

Along with being available for drop-in, the SWC also hosts numerous events throughout the term aimed at helping students recharge. Some of these include monthly Pet Therapy, Exam De-stress events – where they give out free snacks and resources to students related to managing stress going into exams, aromatherapy slime making, and movie nights. Follow @healthyuofm on Instagram to find out when these events are happening.

If you are feeling in need of support or just a place to take a breath, keep these words from peer educator, Jayanti Monga, in mind: “the Centre is a really great space to be in. It is comforting and relaxing – totally worth the walk to the extended education building. In addition, our peer educators are really knowledgeable and care so deeply for their work that the centre is always filled with ideas and good energy.”

The volunteers at the SWC can also help connect students with other campus resources such as the Student Counselling Centre. The SWC is here to support your wellness in whatever form that takes – so, in answer to the question of where to start with wellness, start at the SWC.

Location: 162 Extended Education Complex Fort Garry Campus (with the expectation to open up pop up locations at our Bannatyne and William Norrie campuses)

Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Stay up to date @healthyuofm or Student Wellness

Questions: email healthandwellness[at]umanitoba[dot]ca

The Experiential Learning Institute: Assessment in Experiential Learning

Date and time: Tuesdays, October 1, October 8 and October 15, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

The Experiential Learning Institute offers faculty and instructors an opportunity to engage deeply with a topic over the course of three weekly sessions. The focus of the Fall 2024 institute is assessment in experiential learning.

Participants must attend all three sessions to receive a certificate of completion. If you are not able to attend all the sessions you may register for individual sessions, but you will not receive a certificate of completion for The Experiential Learning Institute.

Sessions:

• Oct 1, 2024: Assessing Experiential Learning (led by Gera Villagran Becerra)
  What are effective ways of assessing experiential learning? How does assessment fit in the experiential learning cycle? In this workshop, we’ll explore best practices for assessing experiential learning. Participants will be challenged to take an experiential approach to assessment and reflect on the challenges it involves.
• Oct. 8, 2024: Beyond Reflection Papers: Innovative Strategies for Assessing Experiential Learning (led by Meaghan Ewharekuko)
  Have you heard about multi-stage assignments, two-stage exams and gamification as strategies to assess experiential learning? In this workshop we will explore novel methods and effective strategies for assessing different types of experiential learning within the classroom and beyond.
• Oct. 15, 2024: Assessing 21st Century Competencies (led by Janine Carmichael)
  How do you assess 21st century competencies like empathy, active listening, conflict resolution and innovation in experiential learning? In this workshop, we’ll explore strategies to assess these competencies and mitigate potential challenges. We’ll also learn how to use tools like the newly created UM Competencies Framework.

Register

Small Shifts, Significant Gains: Transformative Teaching Strategies Series (Session Two, Three, and Four)

Date and time: Thursday, October 3, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, Thursday, October 10, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, and Monday, October 21, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Looking for ways to revitalize your teaching but don’t have time for a big redesign? In Small Teaching James Lang argues that small changes in classroom techniques and activities can have big impacts on student learning. Drop in to any or all of these brown bag lunchtime chats to hear creative strategies from your faculty colleagues across the university.  Bring your questions and your lunch.  Leave with ideas you can implement right away in your courses!

Session Two, Lightning Presentations:

• Xiaopeng Gao (Department of Soil Science) presents: Enhancing Education Through Hands-on Learning and Real-world Connections
• Brandon Trask (Faculty of Law) presents: Building in Relevance: Integrating Aspects of Clinical and Applied Learning in Different Course Types 

Register for session two

Session Three, Lightning Presentations:

• Jillian Seniuk Cicek and Jeff W. Paul (both from the Price Faculty of Engineering) present: Your Students’ Brains on PowerPoint: How to Leverage Cognitive Science to Use PowerPoint to Teach Instead of Present
• David Watt (Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media) presents: Developing Relationships through Assignments and Feedback

Register for session three

Session Four, Lightning Presentations:

• Julie Pfeffer (Department of Restorative Dentistry) presents: Self-Directed Student Assessment – How to Maximize the Output/Input Ratio for Your Learners (and for Yourself!)
• More to come

Register for session four

Decolonizing Classrooms: Barriers to Decolonizing, Part 2

Date and time: Thursday, October 10, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

The Decolonizing Classroom series aims to give participants the context and tools necessary to meaningfully engage with decolonizing processes as they relate to education. “Unpacking and Overcoming Barriers to Engagement and Decolonizing Processes” explores the barriers that exist for teachers and students, which prevent them from enacting decolonizing processes in educational contexts. Part two of this workshop series discusses the barriers that prevent teachers from engaging fully in decolonizing classrooms and creates a space for the discussion of strategies for overcoming these barriers.

Register

Open Educational Resources – What, How, Why (Part 2) 

Date and time: Thursday, October 17, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM

The term open educational resources (OER) describes a wide range of materials in teaching and learning that are available for public use with an open license or in the public domain. Examples of OER include full courses, course modules, syllabi, textbooks, lectures, assessments, and datasets. In this workshop, participants will learn why OER are valuable, how to locate them, how to evaluate them using a rubric, and how to adapt and create them. The workshop does not assume prior experience with these topics.

Register

Cultivating Minds, Nurturing Hearts: Fostering Well-Being, Integrity, and Inclusion in Teaching and Learning

Date and time: Tuesday, October 29, 10:00 AM to 11:30 PM

The University of Manitoba (UM) identified well-being as one of five core values in its 2024 -2029 strategic plan to “advance the personal and professional growth and academic success of our community members. Grounded in respect and compassion for each other and our community, we cultivate a supportive environment that embraces the values of mino-pimatisiwin (good life) and mino-ayawin (good health) (University of Manitoba, 2024, p. 4).

This raises important questions for educators: How do we approach teaching with care, compassion, and kindness? How do these pedagogies of care, compassion, and kindness align with other priorities in higher education (e.g., academic integrity, accessibility)?

In this interactive workshop, we will take a holistic approach to understanding pedagogies of well-being and how these pedagogies can be implemented to better support our students’ mental well-being without compromising academic standards. 

Register

Experiential Learning Community of Practice Monthly Meeting – Partnerships 101

Date and time: Wednesday, October 30, 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM

The Experiential Learning Community of Practice brings together faculty and instructors involved in the development and facilitation of experiential learning (EL) across UM.

The EL Community of Practice meets once a month to build relationships and explore topics related to teaching in experiential learning. Each monthly meeting includes opportunities to meet other faculty and instructors, explore best practices and innovations in EL, and participate in group discussions.  

At this session, we’ll chat about challenges and best practices for finding industry and community partners for EL. Join us to share your own experience in this area, hear perspectives from colleagues in other faculties and programs, and learn about successful strategies for engaging community and industry partners in your courses. 

Register

1. Prioritize your mental and physical health, however that looks for you.

University Health Service (UHS) has clinics on both campuses that provide access to medical care, while the Student Counselling Centre (SCC) provides free individual and couples counselling and workshops and groups on a variety of helpful topics. Health and Wellness empowers you to take control of your own health by encouraging you to build healthy habits, connect with a Healthy U peer health educator or attend regular events like pet therapy. They are also UM’s distribution site for the Take Home Naloxone program.

Move your body and have some fun by activating your membership to UM’s sport and recreation facilities. If meditation or joining a drum circle are more your style, join one of the sessions offered though the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre.

If you are a student or resident in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Student Services at Bannatyne campus is your one-stop shop to connect to get the support and referrals you need.

2. Take steps to feel more financially secure

UM’s Financial Aid and Awards office is the place to go for information about scholarships and bursaries. If you’re in financial need, don’t forget to apply for the UM General Bursary by October 1!  

The office provides information on government student loans and coordinates the university’s emergency loan program for those who find themselves in immediate need of financial support. You can also apply for the Work-study program to find part-time, on-campus employment, or stop by the Student Food Bank, which can help offset the cost of groceries during tough times.

3. Get set up with the accommodations you need

UM is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive community for all students. If you require academic accommodations or accessibility supports, make sure you connect with Student Accessibility Services. Find out more about accessibility on our campuses, including information on service disruptions, transportation services, and accessible and gender-inclusive washrooms.

4. Seek support if you’re navigating challenging situations

If you need urgent support, UM offers brief, same-day crisis counselling and emergency services to students in very high distress during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) If it’s outside of office hours, consider contacting a 24/7 off-campus crisis resource.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would benefit from support, the Sexual Violence Resource Centre can help you assess your needs, explore your options and figure out next steps. They also provide education and training on healthy relationships, consent, responding to disclosures of sexual violence and more.

If anything in your personal or academic life is affecting your studies, Student Advocacy and Case Management can be of assistance. They help you navigate university processes and advocate for your rights as a student at UM.

5. Connect with your community on campus and access supports designed specifically for you

There are many ways to make connections at UM. Whether you are looking for other students who share your interests, or places to go for community events and resources, there is a student centre, group, or information hub for you.

Examples include the Indigenous Student Centre, International Centre, UM Commons for new students and UM Black Alliance. UM’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community page lists services, resources and ways to connect with like-minded people and allies. The Interfaith Student Coalition brings students who represent diverse world-views and spiritual traditions together to engage and find common ground.

6. Explore UM’s wellness spaces

UM has a variety of spaces you can access to rest, recharge and connect in quieter ways. The Student Wellness Centre on the Fort Garry campus is a calm and cozy place that includes a lounge, a private self-regulation station and a wellness library. Healthy U peer health educators and Health and Wellness staff are available to provide a listening ear or referrals to other support services, should you need to connect.

The Bannatyne and Fort Garry campuses both feature sacred spaces where people of various spiritual beliefs can go to find a quiet spot. This includes a Muslim Prayer Room on each campus, a Circle Room at Migizii Agamik on the Fort Garry campus and the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre in UMSU University Centre.

Outdoors, Mashkiki Gitigaan, the Medicine Garden of Indigenous Learning at the Bannatyne Campus, is a welcoming place for people to meet, share and learn about the importance of traditional knowledge and medicines. On the Fort Garry campus, a Garden for Well-being is in-development along the Red River. When it opens, it will provide opportunities for self-reflection, contemplation and connecting with the land, in a safe, accessible and sustainable space.

7. Set yourself up for academic success

Health, well-being and academic success are closely linked. If you need an academic advisor to help point you in the right direction, want to meet with a tutor or take a workshop to enhance your skills, or want some advice for figuring out your career journey, UM offers a variety of academic supports to help you along the way.  

8. Be in the know about what’s happening on campus and beyond

UM regularly shares information, opportunities and stories related to health, wellness and student supports through various communications channels. UM Today has a network page specifically for students. The Student Weekly e-Newsletter is delivered every Tuesday for undergrads and Thursday for grads, straight to your UM email. You can also follow our UM Student Instagram and UM Student TikTok accounts for fun and informative content.

Still curious about student supports? Find all the details on the Student Supports webpage and the Student Health and Wellness webpage.