December 2025 - Advisor-exchange - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Wendy McLean Advising Excellence Award Extended to Advising Teams
by Ali Wood-Warren 18 Dec '25

18 Dec '25

Hi Advisors, I'm happy to share that the Wendy McLean Advising Excellence Award is now open to advising teams as well as individuals. Because of this, we've extended the deadline for nominations (individuals and teams) until February 2, 2026. You'll see a UM Today story and the information on the intranet will be updated soon, but in the meantime details can be found here: Wendy McLean Advising Excellence Award Nomination Form - Fill out form<https://forms.office.com/r/0pC59xMNp4> Please consider nominating an advisor or team of advisors who demonstrate a positive impact on students. Thanks! Ali Ali Wood-Warren (she) Director Student Transitions and Success Centre 205 Tier Building 431 275-0984 umanitoba.ca/firstyear<https://umanitoba.ca/firstyear> [University of Manitoba logo] Student Affairs - Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences! I am grateful to the Anishinaabeg, Ininewuk, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene, and the Red River Metis peoples, on whose home lands I live. I am also grateful to the people of Shoal Lake 40 in Treaty 3 territory, whose water I drink.

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FW: SAS Exams on Saturday
by Ali Wood-Warren 18 Dec '25

18 Dec '25

From Shanda at SAS..... From: Shanda Vitt <Shanda.Vitt(a)umanitoba.ca> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2025 12:30 PM To: Advisor Exchange <UMAE(a)umanitoba.ca> Cc: Ali Wood-Warren <Ali.Wood-Warren(a)umanitoba.ca> Subject: SAS Exams on Saturday Hi Advisors, In case you are getting any questions, we wanted to let you know that the SAS Exam Centre will be open on Saturday to invigilate SAS students who have had their exams cancelled today due to the bad weather. We have informed our students of this already, and have let them know that they will be told tomorrow by email (the same process as they always follow) of where to report to for their scheduled exam. Let me know if you have any questions. I hope you are all staying safe and warm! Thank you, Shanda Vitt Accessibility Coordinator Student Accessibility Services University of Manitoba 520 University Centre Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Tel: 204-474-7441 Fax: 204-474-7567 http://umanitoba.ca/student/accessibility/ The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Red River Métis. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration. Confidentiality notice: This message and any attachments to it are intended for the addressee only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender if you have received this email by mistake, and please delete it and the attachments (and all copies) in a secure manner. [UMLogoSignature]

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First Year Advising and Communication Lead - STSC
by Ali Wood-Warren 10 Dec '25

10 Dec '25

Good Morning Everyone, I'm very pleased to share that Jennifer Mitchell has been hired as the new First Year Advising and Communications Lead, within the Student Transitions and Success Centre! Jen has been working as an FYC academic advisor since summer of 2024, when she joined our team after holding positions in a number of UM units doing great work in support of students. Jen brings to the position her keen eye for detail and excellent organizational skills. She is highly collaborative and has shared her excitement around connecting with the larger UM community around first year initiatives and communications. Most importantly, her solid foundational knowledge around the timing, tone, and methods for communicating critical messages to first year UM students, makes her a natural fit for this position. Please be sure to include @Jennifer Mitchell<mailto:Jennifer.Mitchell@umanitoba.ca> in groups, Teams, meetings, and discussions around communicating with all UM students, but in particular first and second year students, and our Bison student-athletes. Work on next year's First Year Planning Guide and other signature FYC resources for our next intake of students will begin soon, so many of you will hear from Jen in the coming weeks as she dives into her new responsibilities. I am excited to welcome Jen to the Student Transitions and Success Centre's leadership team, and I hope you'll join me in congratulating Jen on her new role. Please share this message with those who would benefit from this exciting news. Best, Ali Ali Wood-Warren (she) Director Student Transitions and Success Centre 205 Tier Building 431 275-0984 umanitoba.ca/firstyear<https://umanitoba.ca/firstyear> [University of Manitoba logo] Student Affairs - Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences! I am grateful to the Anishinaabeg, Ininewuk, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene, and the Red River Metis peoples, on whose home lands I live. I am also grateful to the people of Shoal Lake 40 in Treaty 3 territory, whose water I drink.

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Student Advocacy update for December
by Ali Wood-Warren 05 Dec '25

05 Dec '25

Happy Friday Advisors, Please see the important update from Heather Morris - Director, Student Advocacy and Case Management Subject: Student Advocacy update for December Hello Faculty partners, I wanted to connect with you all and share some updates from Student Advocacy: December schedule Our Student Advocates are fully booked for one-one appointments for the month of December. Barring any cancellations, we do not foresee being able to offer any more appointments to students until 2026. Please continue to refer students to us, however with the understanding that, if a one-on-one appointment is needed, the earliest that this could take place is in January. We appreciate your help in managing students' expectations, so as to minimize frustration and challenging interactions with our intake staff. Advocacy assistance As a reminder, Student Advocacy assists students in a number of ways. Our confidential intake staff triage inquiries on the basis of urgency and complexity, to determine how we can most effectively assist a student (and not every situation will necessitate a one-one appointment with a Student Advocate). For example: in some situations, students are invited to attend a Zoom webinar (developed and presented by Student Advocates) and afterwards may have the option to receive additional information/feedback via email, or an appointment. When you are referring students to our office, it can be helpful to use more general language, such as "connect with Student Advocacy for assistance" (as opposed to saying "meet with a Student Advocate"). While we would love to be able to offer a one-on-one appointment to every student, unfortunately we do not have the resources to do so. In developing our different service offerings (appointments, webinars, email feedback), our goal is to assist higher volumes of students in the most timely manner possible. Student Well-being December can be a challenging month, with the stress of final exams and the colder weather impacting students' mental health. The university winter closure creates a period of time when most supports and services are unavailable to students. We recommend that faculties and departments consider the timing for sending out correspondence that may be distressing to students. Examples include allegations of academic misconduct, decision letters outlining penalties, and denials of requests and appeals. Receiving this type of news can interfere with students' ability to study and write their final exams. If the correspondence is sent in the final weeks before the closure, there is a concern that students will not be able to receive assistance from offices on campus and may be in distress over the break (with only limited supports available off-campus), which can put some students at risk. Another situation that has been identified, is when instructors indicate in UMLearn that coursework is "under investigation" if it is being referred for a misconduct allegation. Sometimes grade comments are added in UMLearn during the break. It is important to keep in mind that during the break, students do not have access to UM services to gather information, ask questions, or seek support. If anyone has questions or feel there is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed before the break, please reach out to me directly and we can discuss options. Thank you for your support! Heather Heather Morris Director, Student Advocacy and Case Management 520 University Centre University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Tel (Office): 204.474.7423 Tel (Direct): 204.474.6813 Pronouns: She/Her The University of Manitoba campuses and research spaces are located on original lands of the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene and Inuit, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Metis. As a white European settler on this land, I am grateful for the water provided by Shoal Lake 40. I recognize the harms of the past and present and strive to listen to, learn from, and work collaboratively with Indigenous people toward reconciliation. This email, and any documents contained within, are available in alternate format upon request. Student Affairs- Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences. [UMLogoSignature]

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Save the Date: UM Food Bank Concert Night: Rocking for a Cause Returns Feb 13, 2026! 🎸
by Jane Lastra 03 Dec '25

03 Dec '25

Dear colleagues - on behalf of the UM Food Bank team and FAA: The UM Food Bank is excited to announce that Concert Night: Rocking for a Cause is making its comeback in 2026 - and this time, we’re turning up the romance and the volume. Get ready for sweeter tunes, bigger vibes, and a Valentine’s-themed night that will have your heart (and the community!) feeling full. Our last concert was a sold-out success, and your incredible support helped us put on an unforgettable show with all proceeds going directly toward supporting the UM Food Bank and the students we serve. We can’t wait to do it again! Please save the date: Friday, February 13th, 2026 (evening) Location: John J. Conklin Theatre (Fort Garry Campus) Mark your calendars - you won’t want to miss this! 🎟️ Tickets go live January 2026. We’ll share all the details in the new year, but for the quickest updates, be sure to follow us on Instagram: @uofm_foodbank We can’t wait to rock out with everyone in the New Year! Wishing you a warm and restful Winter Break, [cid:image001.jpg@01DC6458.D19736C0] -- Jane Lastra (she/her) Associate Registrar and Director, Financial Aid & Awards University of Manitoba Room 422 UMSU University Centre Building Office: (204) 474-9532 jane.lastra(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:jane.lastra@umanitoba.ca> Student Affairs: Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences. I acknowledge that The University of Manitoba campuses and research spaces are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene and Inuit, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. I respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, I acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and I dedicate myself to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration. [UMLogoSignature]

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FW: SAS exam centre admin temporary move
by Ali Wood-Warren 02 Dec '25

02 Dec '25

Hi Advisors! Please see the message below from Carolyn Christie. Hi everyone, The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) exam centre front office is not useable currently. Our staff have relocated to 111 UMSU University Centre (the former Pharmacy and postal office) where we will remain until the end of the final exam period. What you need to know: * We encourage you to upload your exams and instructions to the SAS portal<https://sasclockwork.cc.umanitoba.ca/ClockWork/custom/misc/home.aspx>. * To pick up completed exams, visit us at 111 UMSU University Centre. * Important: We will be closed for exam pick-up on December 22 and 23. Please arrange delivery or pick-up by December 19. For any exam-related questions, you can reach us at: 111 UMSU University Centre sasexams(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:sasexams@umanitoba.ca> 204-474-6213 Thank you for your patience as we navigate this temporary move. Please let me know if there are other channels to let your faculty and instructors know about this change. Carolyn Carolyn Christie Director Student Accessibility Services University of Manitoba 520 University Centre Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 tel: 204 474 9736 umanitoba.ca/student-supports/accessibility Student Affairs - Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Red River Métis. Confidentiality notice: This message and any attachments to it are intended for the addressee only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender if you have received this email by mistake, and please delete it and the attachments (and all copies) in a secure manner. [University of Manitoba logo]

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