International Students Health Plan Opt-Out Form

August 25th, 2020

Opt-Out Deadline: September 20, 2020

The form is for International students who are unable to land in Canada in Fall 2020 term and are attending classes virtually from their home country only. 

Coverage is mandatory for International students studying over six months and living in Canada for the Fall 2020 term. Please submit a digital copy of this form to optchange@theuwsa.ca before the Opt-Out Deadline listed below. Please note: you cannot opt-out if you plan to land in Canada between September 8 – December 23, 2020.

Fill out the Opt-Out form here: https://theuwsa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fillable-Opt-Out-International-Form.pdf

For more information: Health Plan Page

Board Meeting: August 26

August 24th, 2020

The next UWSA Board of Director Meeting will be conducted over Zoom on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 5.30 PM.

Please review the following documents before the meeting:
August 26 Board Meeting Agenda
COB By-law Amendments 

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend Open Session. Please email k.vargscarr@theuwsa.ca for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

Executive resignation update for UWSA membership

August 18th, 2020

On August 5, 2020, former UWSA President, Jibril Hussein and former UWSA VPEA, Breanna Belisle tendered their resignations. On the same day, the UWSA Board of Directors accepted their resignations effective immediately.  

On June 16, 2020, the UWSA Board of Directors voted in favour of placing its Executive Director team on administrative leave, pending an investigation into their conduct, and engaged with an external consultant regarding mediation services and a restorative justice process. UWSA VPSA Melanie William still holds her position and is currently under administrative leave while the investigation is pending. 

The former UWSA Executives cited that the decision was made out of “caution for their mental and physical health and to recover from the trauma” and not as a way to escape accountability for their actions. Hussein also stressed “concern for the safety of his family and friends due to direct violent threats by many students on and off campus.” A full transcript of their resignation letters can be found in the August 5 Board Meeting Open Session Minutes here. 

The UWSA Board of Directors is meeting almost weekly to oversee the suspended business matters that sub-committees chaired by Executive Directors manage, in accordance with UWSA bylaws. In the absence of Executive Directors and regular sub-committees, full-time staff members of the UWSA have picked-up pieces of each portfolio, along with their regular duties. Contact information for UWSA staff and directors are available on the website.  

Over the next few months, the board will take several steps to restructure the organization in order to ensure the integrity of UWSA democratic processes, to create anti-oppressive leadership models, and to minimize the harm caused to students from marginalized communities.  We are currently engaged in a process to review and restructure UWSA elections process, issues management process, and safer space policies; as well as organizational connecting points with UWinnipeg offices regarding Human Rights and Diversity and the Respectful Work and Learning Policy. 

While UWSA governance and election by-laws will continue to evolve over the rest of the year, the position of President and VPEA will be open for election in the 2020 UWSA By-Elections. Additional details will be available when nominations open on September 28, 2020.  

For more information regarding the elections and governance, please contact our General Manager, Jennifer Black at j.black@theuwsa.ca. For other enquiries, please reach out to our Chief Operating Officer, Karolya Vargscarr at k.vargscarr@theuwsa.ca. 

Sincerely,  
The UWSA 

Next UWSA Board Meeting: August 19

August 18th, 2020

A UWSA Board of Director Meeting will be conducted over Zoom on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 5.30 PM.

View the agenda and package below:
August 19 Board Meeting Agenda

IAC By-laws Motion – To be submitted at the August 19 Board of Directors Meeting.

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend open session. Please email j.black@theuwsa.ca for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

We're Hiring a Chair of the Board!

August 11th, 2020

Do you want experience working on a non-profit board? We’re hiring a Chair of the Board at the UWSA!

The Chair of the Board of Directors acts as an essential component of the UWSA, setting the meeting agenda and ensuring that all directors are able to participate fully in the operations of the Board. A successful applicant should have a strong belief in the mission and mandate of the UWSA, and a willingness to invest in the success of the membership in a variety of different capacities.

Read more and apply here: UWSA Job Opportunities

Food Secure Student Manitoba (FSSMB)

August 7th, 2020

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 10, 2020

FSSMB is a call to action in response to a substantial number of students of many age groups identifying as marginally to severely food insecure in Manitoba – especially during times of societal crises and states of emergency. 

A lack of access to proper nutrition disempowers and marginalizes communities, impacting their ability to prepare youth for successes in their personal, academic and professional lives. This perpetuates systemic inequities, leaving certain communities at a disadvantage. FSSMB strongly condemn this reality and have dedicated our mission to remedy this issue. They have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg in identifying this vulnerable population and as such, they have decided to establish a non-profit organization to address this issue directly, bringing together siloed organizations in an effort to eliminate severe student food insecurity in Manitoba to the best of their ability. 

FSSMB have reached the point where they are ready to establish an Executive Committee of students to further their goals. They are looking for individuals at all levels of education with experience in the following areas (but not limited to):

1.    Governance

2.    Food systems and food security issues

3.    Being on a Committee and/or Board

4.    Project Management

5.    Research

Roles and positions will be appointed together, facilitated by this coordinating team, after assessing individual strengths and skill-sets. FSSMB look to you, their future candidates, to assist them in nurturing the organization from the roots upwards to help the initiative reach its full potential. 

In an effort to ensure representation from a diverse and appropriate range of voices, FSSMB strongly encourages and welcomes the BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ community to apply and know that this is an inclusive space with room for all voices.

Positions are:

1.    Executive Committee Co-Chair (2 positions)

2.    Treasurer (1 position)

3.    Secretary (1 position) 

4.    Events Coordinators (1-2 positions)

5.    Community Outreach Liaisons (1-2 positions)

6.    Media & Communications Coordinators (1-2 positions)

7.    Research and Development Chair (1-2 positions)

Please submit your applications and/or feedback to FoodInsecureStudentMB@gmail.com at your earliest convenience. 

Special Meeting of the Board of Directors: August 10

August 5th, 2020

A special meeting of the board of directors has been duly called by directors to take place on August 10 at 5 p.m. via Zoom in place of a By-law & Policy Committee.

Agenda and details to follow soon.

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend Open Session. Please email j.black@theuwsa.ca for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

Next UWSA Board Meeting: August 5

August 4th, 2020

A UWSA Board of Director Meeting will be conducted over Zoom on Wednesday,August 5, 2020 at 5.30 PM.

View the agenda and package below:
August 5 Board Meeting Agenda
August 5 Board Meeting Open Session Package

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend open session. Please email j.black@theuwsa.ca for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

U-Pass Program Suspended for Fall 2020

July 27th, 2020

On July 8, 2020, the UWSA Board of Directors voted to suspend the U-Pass program for the Fall 2020 Term as the majority of classes will be offered virtually and campus access will be limited this term. The U-Pass fee will not be assessed for new and returning full-time UWinnipeg students when they pay their fees. 

The UWSA recognizes that some students need to access transit even when classes are online. In the absence of the U-Pass, students will be able to buy Post-Secondary Semester Passes at operational Winnipeg Transit retail locations at the rate of $278/semester. To minimize the financial impact on students during the pandemic, the UWSA and UWinnipeg are working to provide a subsidy program to reimburse the cost difference equivalent ($78) to a U-Pass for full-time UWinnipeg students-in-need. 

Application and eligibility details for the subsidy program will be available on the UWSA website in August. Please check the website regularly for updates.  

Depending on the public health situation and campus closure, the U-Pass may or may not be provided in January 2020. The UWSA Board will meet in the fall to determine if it is possible to provide the U-Pass program for the Winter 2020/21 Term. 

If you have questions about the U-Pass program, the proposed post-secondary semester pass subsidy, or Winnipeg Transit products, please reach out us at infobooth@theuwsa.ca 

Next UWSA Board Meeting: July 24

July 20th, 2020

A UWSA Board of Director Meeting will be conducted over Zoom on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 5.30 PM.

Please review the agenda and materials here:
July 24 Board Meeting Agenda
July 24 Board Meeting Open Session Package

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend open session. Please email j.black@theuwsa.ca for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.