Lots of programs, events, and activities have been planned outside of formal classes. One of the highlights that I am really excited to share with you, is the return of the rink on the Quad at the Fort Garry campus! Beginning January 13^th, grab your friends and your skates, and head over to the Quad for some wintertime skating fun between classes!

UMSU is also hosting Frost Fest between January 9^th-20^th. From the 9^th-13^th there’s free breakfast at 9:30am on the 1^st floor UC and a snow sculpting competition taking place on the Buller Lawn every day. They have lots more planned – visit @studentsofumsu on Instagram for more details.

As always, there are many personal and academic supports available for all undergraduate and graduate students throughout the term.

• If you are a new student, check out UM Commons, a site filled with resources and helpful tips to support you in making a successful transition to the University of Manitoba.
• If you are a new international student, the International Centre is holding a number of welcome sessions for new international students from January 9^th – 19^th, including a late orientation session for those who were not able to attend on January 5^th.

UM Libraries is now offering many non-textbook course materials via Reading Lists in UM Learn at no cost to students. If you have a perceptual disability, screen-reader friendly and alternate format are also available through Student Accessibility Services.

Need to print? UM Libraries provides access to printing from a library computer or from your personal device.

UM’s Annual Career Fair co-hosted by Career Services and the Asper School of Business returns to an in-person format January 17^th-18^th. Connect with employers, explore potential career opportunities, network with the business community, and learn how your formal education and out-of-class experiences help you to prepare for future employment.

Are you interested in an intercultural experience on campus? Applications for the Intercultural Leaders program close on January 11^th and the Language Exchange program closes on January 18^th.

Did you know that UM has international exchange partnerships with 50 institutions in over 20 destinations? International exchanges are outstanding opportunities for you to fulfill your course requirements while gaining important intercultural competencies, deepening your understanding of issues that transcend borders, and gaining new insights and perspectives in your field of study. Consider applying to participate in an international exchange – the application deadline is January 31^st!

Calling all grad students! Three Minute Thesis/Ma these en 180 secondes applications are now open ! These competitions are unique opportunities for graduate students to showcase your research to a wider audience across disciplines within the University, and to the broader public, with the possibility of winning some great cash prizes.

Let’s protect the herd. As our healthcare system continues to be strained, UM has extended its mask mandate for the Winter Term. Protect yourself and those around you and always wear a mask when indoors on all UM campuses. Free masks will be available to all students during the first week of classes. Stop by one of the tables set up in the Frank Kennedy tunnel, UMSU University Centre, Fletcher Argue hallway, and Engineering atrium. You can also find free masks at the Libraries.

Make sure to focus on your wellness. Whether you want to add some tools to your self-care toolkit or need immediate help, there is support for you throughout your studies, regardless of your level of need.

Boost your physical and mental health with Recreation Services. As a student, you have access to state-of-the-art fitness facilities in a welcoming and inclusive environment, conveniently located on campus. To activate your student gym access, simply log in to your Aurora account, fill out the gym waiver, and you’ll be notified when your pass is active. It’s that easy!

Affordable dental care is available at the Bannatyne campus! The Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry’s general clinic offers exceptional dental and oral health care at a lower cost. Under the supervision of practicing dentists and dental hygienists, UM dental and dental hygiene students provide services that cost up to 50 percent less than private practices. The clinic is just one bus away from the Fort Garry campus (Winnipeg Transit’s 36 Northwest Super Express). For more information, visit: https://www.umanitoba.ca/dentistry/general-clinic. 

Get involved this Term!

Cheer on the Bisons every weekend! Get a group of friends together and be a part of the action. It’s a great way to socialize and support the UM Bisons. Claim your free tickets online. For full schedule details, visit gobisons.ca.

Indigenous student programming gives you the opportunity to get involved, with holistic programs, services and supports for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. Follow the Indigenous events calendar for cultural learning and other activities.

Stay connected to what’s happening across our campuses:

• Check your inbox every Tuesday for UM’s student e-newsletter Student Weekly.

• Follow @umstudent on Instagram and TikTok.

 Mini U Programs is hiring! Applications are now being accepted for summer positions, including supervisors, leaders, and coaches. Develop transferrable skills, get official UM recognition, and make important connections on campus – consider joining the Mini U team today!

I want to hear from you! Over the coming months I will be hosting drop-ins at various locations on our campuses. I want to connect with you, learn more about your experiences at UM, and hear your ideas. Stay tuned for more details in the coming days.

Wishing you a productive, inspiring term. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!

My best.

…Laurie

That’s why October is Student Success Month. Both new and returning students can take advantage of UM’s services and opportunities to help you get through the term with ease. The month features a broad range of online events and workshops on helpful topics that will direct you to the many resources available to support your success. 

The primary goal of Student Success Month is to remind you that your success depends on academic, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Many topics will be of interest to first-year and returning undergrad students, as well as graduate students, residents and those in professional programs. 

Some of the event topics include:  

• Writing and study strategies
• Research skills and services
• Career preparation
• Coping with stress
• Emotional awareness and mindfulness
• Cultural identity and transitions

To see a full list of events taking place in October, visit the Student Success Month calendar of events.  

Although COVID-19 has transformed the university experience, students starting their first year at UM this fall are confident and prepared thanks to UM’s First Year Experience: a series of new online initiatives aimed at readying them for university life.

“We recognized that this year’s incoming students were in a unique situation having had their high school graduating year cut short by the pandemic and then waiting months before returning to their studies,” says Brandy Usick, Executive Director, Student Engagement & Success. “It wasn’t a normal transition into university. This was our way of helping them feel a little bit more confident by preparing them for the year ahead.”

Connecting to UM whenever, wherever

Launched in July, UM Commons is the go-to information hub for new students to discover events, connect with staff and services, or join peer tutor programs and student communities. From the start, students were eager to connect. Within its first month UM Commons received 29,667 views – nearly eight times the amount normally received on the university’s orientation pages.

Learning the ropes

What does it mean to join the UM community? Through UM Essentials – an eight-module online course – students learned about our university’s expectations for their academic and personal behaviour as well as how to navigate coursework through UM Learn.

Over 450 students also signed up for Math Bootcamp, an innovative online self-guided study created by the Faculty of Science. The three-week-long summer camp was designed to boost students’ math skills before they entered a university classroom.

“Practice is the key to developing a deeper understanding of mathematics,” says Avleen Kaur, a TA in the program. “Math Bootcamp provided a large variety of study material such as modules, worksheets, quizzes and live tutorials. By solving all of it, the students felt confident about having a strong start.”

Meeting our community

At a time when students would normally be exploring campus and meeting new friends, Prep Week (Aug. 31-Sept. 4) and Welcome Day (Sept. 8) brought the energy of our campus community online.

Nearly 2,000 first-year students logged in to Welcome Day to virtually kick-off the new academic year, while over 1,500 students registered for Prep Week to familiarize themselves with all aspects of university life.

Each day featured a full-schedule of online workshops, lectures and social gatherings, with some sessions seeing upwards of 500 students in attendance. By far the most popular were skill-based workshops, including those on time management (presented by First Year Centre); group work strategies (offered by Student Engagement and Success); and academic writing (led by the Academic Learning Centre together with Libraries, the Academic Integrity Coordinator and writing tutors).

Some professors also prepared special lectures on engaging topics that also doubled as a guide for navigating coursework and the responsibilities of being a student. These included:

• “How friends and family protect us from the biological wear-and-tear of stress” (Dr. Ryan Giuliano);
  
• “Handling conflict effectively” (Dr. Lukas Neville);
  
• “The science of sedentary behaviour: How sitting less and moving more can improve health and academic achievement” (Dr. Navjot Pachu);
  
• “Welcome to Treaty One” (Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair); and,
  
• “Computing Creatively for the good of humanity” (Dr. Celine Latulipe).

Beyond coursework, an integral part of the university experience is interacting with others on campus – a challenging feat in these times of social distancing.

“Part of the appeal of coming to university is expanding yourself and growing and meeting new people,” says Usick. “That’s what makes the first month so exciting, so electric. We had to find a way to help students feel there’s a community of people here for them.”

Some sessions, like “homeroom meetups”, gave new students the opportunity to virtually connect with fellow classmates and upper-level students every day, while others provided space for groups like UMSU and The Womyn’s Centre to explain their purpose and activities.

The online student hub, UM Commons, categorizes the over 200 student communities based on interest, making it even easier for students to connect outside of class.

At a time when social distancing can hinder meaningful connection, UM students, staff and faculty have found ways to overcome the challenge together.

“Every aspect of UM’s First Year Experience initiative has been thoughtfully developed in keeping with our institutional commitment to deliver an outstanding student experience,” says Laurie Schnarr, Vice-Provost (Students). “I am immensely grateful to colleagues from across the University who enthusiastically contributed engaging content to help new students feel welcomed and prepared for the year ahead. This was truly a team effort.”

As the Fall Term progresses, so too will the First Year Experience. Further programming has been planned for the remainder of the academic year to ensure UM’s newest students have the resources they need to thrive and excel.

Prep Week (August 31-September 4)

Start your day by meeting up with your classmates and upper level students for a morning check in before you start your day.

Check out the Prep Week schedule, and identify the sessions you want to register for. Here are just some of the topics that will be offered in the sessions:

• Tips for skills-based learning including strategies to master online learning, time management, planning study sessions, working well in a group, academic writing, tutoring, and much more.
• Learn how you can have the best student experience, including a session with Bison Sports, tips on staying active while studying remotely, and be introduced to various student communities where you can make connections and meet new friends.
• Find out more about all of the student supports and services available to you, including student counselling, spiritual health, sexual violence awareness, accessibility, and many more.
• There will be faculty-led sessions, which will help you get familiar with your faculty community.
• Learn about Treaty One, and what it means to work with Indigenous Peoples effectively and competently.

This is your first year at UM! Make the most of it by taking part in opportunities that have been created just for you. Meet new people with common interests, and get an advantage by becoming familiar with the expectations and resources available at your new school.  

Registration for Prep Week is now open! Visit our event webpage to check out all the session options and complete your registration.

Welcome Day (September 8)

Welcome Day, is traditionally the Tuesday after Labour Day, right before classes start, and this year is no different. Join us on September 8 to get together to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. You’ll start the day by being officially welcomed to UM by the President, Chancellor and more at the Welcome Ceremony. Then you’ll meet with your Welcome Day group to hear what to expect as you begin your first year of university studies and in the afternoon participate in fun activities.

Register for Welcome Day now!