Dear Students, 

As we enter the month of April, it has been almost two weeks since all buildings closed on campus and you began to self-isolate. As a Manitoban and a proud member of the UM community, I want to thank you for your efforts, and those of your family and friends, to ensure the safety and well-being of others during this really challenging time. None of us thought that we would be ending the academic year in this way. I commend you for your patience, your flexibility and your resilience.

Although buildings on campus are closed, please remember that we are still offering services virtually, by telephone, and online to support you in ending the semester successfully. 

Today, I am sharing several important updates and information regarding resources available to you.

The university and its donors are pleased to offer the COVID-19 UM Student Emergency Fund, which will provide emergency financial support to students. These one-time, non-repayable, direct-deposit funds are available to full or part-time students registered in the 2019/20 academic year who meet the criteria. For more information about eligibility and how to apply, click here. 

The University will be refunding all student parking permit holders for the April portion of their parking permit. You do not need to take any action to receive this refund. If you paid by credit card, the refund will be returned to the card used to purchase the permit. If you paid by cash or debit, the University will issue cheques. Due to the large volume, please be aware that it may take some time to process all the refunds. 

If you receive a failing grade in Winter term 2020, it will be automatically excluded from all UM GPA calculations. Failing grades will appear on your transcript but will be identified as having been excluded from UM GPA calculations due to the COVID-19 situation. Failing grades will be considered for admission purposes.

Students, except for those in the Faculty of Law, can choose whether or not to receive a “pass” grade instead of a letter grade. This option will apply to all Winter term or spanned courses that you complete by April 2020.  Students must have achieved a letter grade of D or higher to exercise this option. If you choose this option, the “pass” designation will appear on your transcript, but will be flagged with a notation that you made this decision due to the COVID-19 situation. The “pass” option ensures your grade is excluded from ALL GPA calculations. However, it is important to note that course grades of “pass” will not normally be used to satisfy prerequisites. You should not choose this option if your program specifies a grade of C or higher is required for courses counted towards the degree. Consult your faculty advising office for further information.

You will have until May 10, 2020 to choose the “pass” option for final grades of D or higher, or to exercise the previously approved option to exclude a course grade from UM GPA calculations. The process to do so is still being determined, but will be communicated as soon as possible. Once final grades are available on Aurora you will be able to make this choice.

For help in understanding these options and how your choice will impact you, contact an academic advisor in your home faculty/college/school.  For questions about how excluding a grade(s) or choosing a Pass (P) will affect your eligibility for admission into your target program, please contact an academic advisor from that faculty/college/school or contact the Admissions office.

To recap, you can choose either the standard approach to letter grades or two alternative grading approaches for each individual course completed in Winter term 2020, except for students in the Faculty of Law. These are your options:

Standard Approach: You can accept the letter grade you received. This is the default grading approach and your letter grade will be used in GPA calculations.

Option 1: You can accept the letter grade received, but have it excluded from your UM GPA calculations. Your letter grade will appear on the transcript, with a note that you chose to exclude it from UM GPA calculations.

Option 2: You can choose to receive a “pass” grade if you receive a grade of D or higher. No letter grade will be recorded on your transcript and a note will indicate that you chose this approach. The “pass” grade will be excluded from UM GPA calculations, which is the normal way “pass” grades are treated at UM.  These pass grades will have no letter grade equivalent.

Regardless of the choice that you make with respect to course grading, you must meet all existing admission, prerequisite, progression, degree, and graduation policies and requirements that may apply to you:

• within your existing program of study and current Faculty, and
• to be eligible for admission to, progression within, and graduation from, any other programs in any faculty in the future.

For students using Student Accessibility Services, please note that although in-person visits are no longer happening, staff are still available to offer support.

• Accommodation support staff will continue to ensure class content is ready for you.
• If you have booked a mid-term test or final exam for the winter term through the SAS scheduler, the SAS Exam Centre staff are contacting your instructors.  They will work with you and your instructor to figure out any online test or exam accommodations.

If you have any questions, please contact your Accessibility Coordinator directly, or contact the general office at 204-474-7423 or staccess@umanitoba.ca.

The Academic Learning Centre continues to provide academic supports. All Academic Learning Centre supports are available online including individual tutoring (in writing, content study skills), supplemental instruction sessions, and workshops. Click here to make an appointment and for more information.

Indigenous student supports. All staff are available to help with student inquiries. Please check the website of the office you want to contact for details on how to access their services or contact their staff. Indigenous student advisors are available for phone appointments and/or to answer questions via email. Elders at UM are also available for support via email or phone. To book an appointment with an Elder or advisor, call 204-474-8850 or email isc@umanitoba.ca.

International student support. We understand that the current situation is particularly difficult for you. Do not hesitate to ask for information and support through a private and confidential conversation with an International Student Advisor by e-mailing the International Centre Reception Desk at international@umanitoba.ca with your name and student number. You will then have the option to have your questions answered by e-mail or a Zoom meeting.   International students can also contact these offices for additional support: Student Counselling Centre, Student Advocacy and Case Management, and Spiritual Care by calling or emailing these units directly to determine the best way to access their services.

You can find more UM news about COVID-19, including FAQs for students, on this page, which is updated as new information becomes available. 

Please continue to keep yourself and others safe by following Manitoba Health directives about avoiding non-essential trips, maintaining physical distance of two metres even while outdoors, hand washing and coughing/sneezing etiquette. We may not be with you in person but we are with you in spirit every step of the way. You’ve got this, Bisons!

I will continue to communicate regularly about new information as this situation evolves.

All my best, 

Laurie Schnarr 

Laurie M. Schnarr, MA

Vice-Provost (Students)

Student Affairs 

Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

208 Administration Building

Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Tel: 204.474.6919

Confidential Assistant - Marci Davies Marci.Davies@umanitoba.ca: 204.474.6917

Student Affairs: Creating opportunities for student success!

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

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