Message from Laurie Schnarr, Vice-Provost (Students)

Dear students,

Last Friday, the University announced plans for a partial return of in-person classes effective February 28. I’m writing today to provide a brief update and to share information regarding the resources available to students to support your academic and personal success.

Decisions regarding course delivery for the remainder of Winter Term have been made and all courses that are designated as Remote Learning (RL) and those that are In-Person (TBA) effective February 28^th are now appearing in Aurora. Rooms/locations for in-person courses will be assigned next week. As always, please check Aurora before you return to classes on the 28^th in the event that changes have been made.

As a reminder, Aurora is your definitive source of information regarding course delivery for the remainder of Winter Term:

• Courses marked RL are courses that are being delivered entirely remotely
• Courses marked DE are distance education courses that are being delivered entirely online
• Courses marked TBA are courses that will be delivered in-person with the physical location to be announced before February 28.

Your health, well-being and academic success remain our priority. Deans, department heads, faculty and staff across UM have been working together to plan Winter Term course delivery – balancing academic requirements for in-person learning with the safety of our community. I would like to thank all those involved for responding so quickly to facilitate this planning.

For those returning to in-person learning, we are continuing to take precautions to keep you safe. Health and safety protocols are being reviewed and updated regularly. Programs and resources have also been designed specifically for students transitioning back to in-person learning:

• Ease your academic and physical transition. On Monday, February 14 from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. learn from your peers at A Phased Return to Campus: What Students Need to Know. During this virtual session you’ll find out how to determine course locations (in-person and online), navigating COVID-19 rules and regulations, and connecting with other students in the UM community.

• Get oriented to campus. Physical tours of the Fort Garry campus will be available over Winter Term break and for two weeks following the break to support you in locating key academic buildings, study spaces, and more. We are also working with campus partners to develop some fun ways to help you navigate the physical campus that will include the opportunity to win some prizes.

In next Friday’s all-student email I will provide more details about plans to support your transition to in-person learning.

Stay active. Be sure to take care of your physical and mental health during this time. Recreation Services offers in-person and virtual options to help you stay active and relieve stress. If you'd prefer something outdoors, the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management has arranged freshly groomed crosscountry ski trails at Southwood Lands that you can access with your own equipment at any time. If you don't have equipment or would like to try crosscountry skiing, Winterpeg.org will have their Mobile Ski Library available with free ski rentals on Friday, February 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Southwood Lands.

All change, even positive change, can bring forward feelings of stress or apprehension. Student supports will continue to be available to ease the transition back to on-campus learning. Please remember – whether you are an undergraduate student, a graduate student, or a student in one of our professional programs – an array of services and resources is always available to support you.

I’ve promised to connect regularly and will continue to update you with developments as we navigate this ever-evolving situation. Please continue to monitor your official UM inbox, follow @umstudent on Instagram, and check UM’s COVID-19 website for updates.

Let’s continue to support each other as we have been throughout the last two years. As I think about the weeks ahead, I am feeling tremendous optimism and am really looking forward to seeing our UM community return fully to our campuses in the coming months!

All 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

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

Student Affairs: Creating opportunities for student success!

I acknowledge, with humility and gratitude, that 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. As a white settler of English and German descent I am committed to walking alongside my Indigenous colleagues, friends and neighbours and doing the work that is necessary to honour the truth, right the wrongs, and contribute to lasting positive change.

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