Dear Students,
Welcome back – I hope you had a restful and productive break.
I want to acknowledge that today is
Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience, a day when we remember and pay our respect to those Trans people who have lost their lives as a result of transphobic violence.
The past month has been very challenging, and I know that many in our UM community have been impacted by the Israel-Hamas war. If you are seeking
support, I encourage you to take advantage of the campus
supports available to you and to note that the
Student Counselling Centre has prioritized intake services for affected students. If you are in crisis and require urgent attention, please
refer to these services
for immediate help.
The University of Manitoba is committed to providing an inclusive and safe environment for all members of our community. This continues to be a
top priority for the university and for the
security and risk team which, upon hearing news of the attack by Hamas on October 7, immediately implemented a comprehensive security plan with the intent of keeping people safe.
Anyone who is experiencing discrimination, prejudice, or disrespectful behaviours in breach of the university's
Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy should not hesitate to reach out to the
Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management. We are here to support you and to ensure that the University of Manitoba remains a place of respect, inclusivity and understanding.
Here is a summary of some of the most important personal and academic resources that are available to you as you navigate the final weeks of the Fall Term:
If you’re
feeling stress or anxiety, there are many student
supports in place to help you, including self-care
tips to add to your toolkit. You can also visit the new
Student Wellness Centre for peer and professional consultation and referrals.
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Spiritual Care and Multi-faith Centre’s
spiritual care providers, chaplains and Elders offer many services and are ready to connect with students. Through
the centre, we recognize, affirm and work within your existing values and beliefs. If you are looking for a quiet place
for prayer, reflection or gathering with community, please find a list of
sacred spaces on campus that are available to you.
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If your upcoming academic course work or exams are affected because you are directly impacted by world events
or experiencing significant distress related to personal matters,
please reach out to your instructor right away to discuss available options. If you encounter any issues with regard to your courses, you can also seek advice from Student
Advocacy.
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If you are directly impacted by world events or experiencing significant distress related to personal matters and would like to discuss
exam deferrals or assignment extensions, please contact your instructor or an advisor
in your faculty as soon as possible.
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Students experiencing financial distress should connect with Financial
Aid and Awards for information regarding supports. If you need help putting food on the table, please visit the
UM Food Bank at 518 University Centre, between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
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The International Student Advisors (ISA) at the International
Centre (IC) are available for support. To be connected with an ISA, please contact international@umanitoba.ca
or 204-474-8501.
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Staying active
promotes a variety of health benefits, mental well-being and can help relieve stress and anxiety. Through the Sport and Rec fee, UM students have
access to sport and recreation facilities, casual
rec use and group
fitness classes at the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses. Students also have the option to participate in UM
REC Clubs, Intramural
Sports and Adult
programs at an additional cost. Visit UM Recreation
Services to learn more and book
a tour of the sport and recreation facilities.
Learn about hours
of operation through winter break and come in for a visit.
I wish you all a successful end to the term!
Be well,
…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@umanitoba.ca: 204.474.6917
Student Affairs:
Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences
I acknowledge, with humility and gratitude, that the University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the
National Homeland of the Red River Métis. As a white settler of English and German descent I am committed to walking alongside Indigenous students, colleagues, friends, and neighbours and doing the work
that is necessary to honour the truth and contribute to lasting positive change.
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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.
