March 2021 - all-students - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

FW: Dear students, we need your feedback...
by Lisa O'Hara 29 Mar '21

29 Mar '21

Help us improve our services and spaces! If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to complete this short survey on your experience with UM Libraries. We want to hear from everyone who’s part of the UM community, whether you are a frequent or infrequent user of our libraries. Simply click the link below to get started: Begin the survey<https://eu.questionpro.com/t/AB3urxlZB3vAaj>. >From providing study space and materials for students to supporting our researchers with data, UM Libraries is vital to building student, faculty and community success. Thank you for your time - your opinion is important to us and will help us to better understand how the Libraries can meet your needs. The survey is administered by an independent research agency called Alterline<https://alterline.co.uk/>. Lisa O’Hara Vice Provost (Libraries) & University Librarian Room 157A Elizabeth Dafoe Library Winnipeg, MB Tel: 204-474-8749 She/Her/Hers [Logo, company name Description automatically generated]

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Update to UM Students: March 22, 2021
by Marcia Davies 22 Mar '21

22 Mar '21

[cid:image002.jpg@01D531AE.174C13F0] Dear Students, The signs of Spring are all around us here in Manitoba. The vaccine is being administered to an increasing number of people, socially distanced patios are opening, and a strong sense of optimism is in the air! No matter where you are living during this remote learning period, I hope you are finding opportunities between your academic and other commitments to take time for yourselves. In this update, I am highlighting a few important upcoming events, reminding you of UM's Fall 2021 plans, and sharing news of supports available to you as you complete your last month of classes. UM Together: Reflecting on a year of Covid-19. Join us virtually on Tuesday, March 23<https://umanitoba.ca/campus-community-gatherings>rd as we gather together as a university community to pause and contemplate the last year of learning and working remotely. You'll hear reflections from members of our community including President Benarroch, our Chancellor, students, faculty and staff. Together, we'll reflect on what challenged us, what we learned, and what we are hopeful for in the weeks and months ahead. We will light candles to honour the lives lost to Covid-19 in Manitoba and around the world, and consider the promise that the future holds. I hope to see you there. Winnipeg's Anti-Racism Week March 21-27. Last week, we witnessed an abhorrent attack on Atlanta's Asian community. I want to send my deepest condolences to colleagues, friends and family members in Atlanta. At the University of Manitoba, we are committed to fostering and upholding a campus environment where all students, staff and faculty feel a sense of safety, support, and belonging. We stand with our Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) communities and reject all forms of racism. I encourage you to show your solidarity with our BIPOC communities by participating in the City of Winnipeg's Anti-Racism Week<https://winnipeg.ca/interhom/anti-racism-week/default.stm>. This virtual event will feature a range of discussions about how we move from talking about racism to actively learning, unlearning and standing against it. Stay tuned to @umstudent on Instagram for more details. I hope to "see" you there. Academic and mental health and wellness supports are available. UM has many mental health and wellness supports<https://umanitoba.ca/coronavirus/resources-students#personal-supports-for-s…> to help you through the final weeks of the Winter term. The Academic Learning Centre<https://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/academic-supports/academic-learning> is continuing to offer Virtual Study Halls, tutoring and a range of academic resources. Use the self-check up tool<https://umanitoba.ca/current-students/first-year/um-commons/student-self-ch…> to find the support and resources you need. I am really pleased to announce the launch of the new Virtual Advising Help Centre<https://umanitoba.ca/virtual-advising-help-centre> (VAHC). The VAHC is staffed by trained students who are available to meet with you via phone, email and instant online chat. Student Service Navigators can point you in the right direction if you need support and aren't sure where to turn. They can help you with all things university such as declaring a major or minor, applying to specific programs, registration and more. They are your virtual connection to the campus community. The VAHC is open from 8:30am-9:00pm Monday through Friday and 10:00am-5:00pm on weekends. Check it out! Fall Term 2021. As announced last week, in-person instruction will increase in the Fall Term 2021 and in spanned courses, in alignment with public health guidelines. When registration opens in the next few months, in-person requirements for courses will be outlined in Aurora. We are hopeful to be in a position to declare a full return to face-to-face operations in Winter Term 2022. Share your UM Pride in Maclean's student survey. Every year, Maclean's magazine releases its annual university rankings. One of the ways the magazine determines the order of their lists is by surveying students at each university. Share your UM pride, and let Maclean's know how great UM is by participating in the survey. Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a draw for a $500 Visa Gift Card courtesy of Maclean's. English survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MacleansStudents202102 French survey: https://fr.surveymonkey.com/r/MacleansEtudiants202102 As I mentioned at the outset - in addition to focusing on your academics, please take time to connect with others, do something that brings you joy, and soak in the sunshine! Know that we are here for you and cheering you on during these final weeks of the term. Take care and stay safe. My best, Laurie Laurie M. Schnarr, MA (she/her) Vice-Provost (Students) Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) University of Manitoba 208 Administration Building Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Tel: 204.474.6919 Confidential Assistant - Marci Davies Marci.Davies(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:Marcia.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. 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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Fall Term 2021 Will Include More In-Person Instruction
by President's Office 17 Mar '21

17 Mar '21

To our UM students, faculty and staff, We are a community that thrives on personal connections, and as I noted in my recent messages to the community, this past year has been hard on all of us and we are eager to see the end of it. Today, I am writing with cautious optimism to provide an update on plans for Fall Term 2021. Going forward, we will continue to pursue public health advice on additional opportunities to safely resume in-person activity. In light of current public health advice and expectations on the vaccine rollout, we are planning to resume more in-person instruction this fall. The health and safety of our community remains our first priority, and we believe that a phased transition is prudent. As such, we have set the following limits on in person instruction: * Classes with a maximum registration of 20 students can proceed with in-person instruction, as our spaces permit. * Lab classes will be limited to no more than 25, or to the COVID room-capacity limit, whichever is smaller. * Large classes will continue with remote delivery. Effective immediately, units may plan to allow for an increase in the percentage of employees accessing our campuses up to a maximum of 40 per cent (includes teaching, research and work in support of academic mission). All work that can continue remotely should continue remotely. As the vaccination rollout proceeds and public health orders permit, the UM COVID Recovery Steering Committee will look at reopening other course related and non-instructional activities. We are hopeful to be in a position to declare a full return to face-to-face operations in Winter Term 2022. Our past experience has taught us that we need to remain cautious. The situation can change quickly, but this is what we believe is safe based on what we know right now. We appreciate that there will be questions as we move forward, and we will continue to provide more details and answers in the days and weeks to come. Please continue to use the resources on our COVID-19 page<https://umanitoba.ca/coronavirus>, which is updated regularly as information becomes available. Thank you to faculty, instructors, students, staff and everyone for your continued resilience and commitment to UM's mission and vision. Sincerely, Michael Michael Benarroch, Ph.D. President and Vice-Chancellor 202 Administration Building, University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2 Canada Telephone: 204-474-9345 Email: president(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:president@umanitoba.ca> [cid:image001.png@01D71B2E.FE5C8200]

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How can UM Libraries meet your needs? Complete the survey!
by Lisa O'Hara 16 Mar '21

16 Mar '21

>From supporting UM researchers with data to providing study space and materials for students, our libraries are vital to building student, faculty and community success. We need your help to ensure that UM Libraries is meeting your needs. Please complete our short survey and tell us about your experience, and how we can improve. Click the link below to get started: Survey Link<https://eu.questionpro.com/t/AB3urxlZB3vAaj> The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. The questionnaire is being run by an independent research agency called Alterline<https://alterline.co.uk/>. Thanks for your help! University of Manitoba Libraries [cidimage001.png(a)01D71A4A.B6458370]

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What a year we've had.
by President's Office 11 Mar '21

11 Mar '21

Today marks one year since the WHO declared a global pandemic that changed life for our UM community. To our UM student community, A year ago, I was preparing to return to my home province and begin my new role as the University of Manitoba's 12th president and vice-chancellor. I was looking forward to being on our lively campuses again-to meeting with students and seeing you in action. Like all of you, my plans were entirely upended when COVID-19 required us to make drastic and immediate changes to the way we work and socialize. Our University of Manitoba community has lost colleagues, students, friends and family. We have had to grieve, and grieve differently. Our most sacred and meaningful traditions have had to be postponed, abandoned, or entirely reimagined. The flag over Administration Building is at half-mast today in recognition of the National Day of Observance for COVID-19, and to commemorate the people who lost their lives and the significant impacts we have all felt. You have had to study, learn, research, work and make friends differently. You have had to let go of much of what you imagined this year of university would be. I hear you when you say it hasn't been easy. I see your struggles, efforts and contributions. This includes those who joined the fight against COVID-19 during early days<https://news.umanitoba.ca/hundreds-of-um-students-volunteering-to-help-figh…>, and to vaccinate people as we move forward. And those who have volunteered as mentors and supported mental wellness to remind each other that you're not alone. Thousands of students took part in virtual Welcome Day, Career Fairs, and UM's Virtual Community Centre<https://news.umanitoba.ca/3-reasons-you-should-join-the-covid-19-virtual-co…> to support each other and connect. Students continue to push themselves in competitions like Three Minute Thesis<https://news.umanitoba.ca/grad-students-ready-to-shine-in-3mt-heats> and JDC West<https://news.umanitoba.ca/asper-hosts-successful-2021-jdc-west-competition/>. And many of you have participated in academic workshops and counselling groups. In a year like no other, you have shown up and found new ways to thrive. Well done, I know it hasn't been easy. And we must remember that the community has rallied together to support you! Thanks to $3.1M from the Manitoba government's Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI) and the generosity of UM alumni and donors, an additional $4 million in bursary support is now available to provide immediate financial assistance to over 5,000 UM students. Our donors are also helping eligible students to acquire needed technology through the COVID-19 UM Student Technology Fund<https://news.umanitoba.ca/technology-now-a-vital-tool-for-pandemic-learning/>. I look forward to welcoming more of our community back to our campuses as it becomes safer to do so. I look forward to joining a crowd of fans to cheer on our Bison athletes, and to enjoying a show from the University of Manitoba Theatre program in the John J. Conklin Theatre. I can hardly wait to stand in front of thousands of proud parents, friends and future alumni at an in-person convocation. And what a gift it will be to hear a live Desautels chamber ensemble sing. As we reflect on how far we've come, and on how much this year has cost us, I am encouraged by the opportunities ahead. You are not alone<https://umanitoba.ca/student-supports/counselling-resources-students>, and though none of us know the future, we have hope that we are through the worst of this. As we all do our part to follow public health advice, UM's COVID Recovery Steering Committee<https://news.umanitoba.ca/get-familiar-with-the-covid-19-recovery-steering-…> continues to plan to safely resume more in-person activity and more will be shared in the coming days. I am deeply proud of you and I hope you are proud of yourself. Thank you for showing up this year in remarkable ways and inspiring us all with your courage and strength. Sincerely, Michael Michael Benarroch, Ph.D. President and Vice-Chancellor 202 Administration Building, University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2 Canada Telephone: 204-474-9345 Email: president(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:president@umanitoba.ca> [cid:image001.png@01D7166A.931EE960]

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