The UWSA

AN UPDATE ON ALTERNATIVE GPA CALCULATION SYSTEM AT UWINNIPEG

April 1st, 2020

On March 30, 2020, the UWSA Executive proposed an alternative semester grade system at the UWinnipeg Senate Meeting. If this system is implemented, students can choose to exclude a grade from their GPA calculation for any course taken in the 2020 Winter term. The amended motion will be voted on in the April Senate Meeting.

After listening to students and the University, we decided that this option offers students greater flexibility over the pass/fail system. It would accommodate students and allow them to graduate with honours, receive scholarships, and apply to grad school and assure them of the chance to continue their studies successfully once the current public health crisis is under control.

It will let students many students finish their term without letting the Coronavirus pandemic affecting their GPA. University of Winnipeg students are living with uncertainty every day. We hope that the implementation of this option will give students who studied and completed work at the University of Winnipeg in good faith over the past year, a little more control over their current situation.

As your executives, we want you to know that we’re here for you. We’re advocating for students’ needs at an institutional and federal level every day. We want to listen to the challenges you face so we can make education accessible to you. Let us know how the pandemic is affecting your education and your recommendations by filling up this form here.

Due to the changes, we’re removing the current call to action and replacing it with an updated one. One, that reflects what you need and is based on your feedback.

Please bookmark this page for updates and information on how the UWSA and UWinnipeg is addressing the pandemic.

Sincerely,
Your Executives
The UWSA

COVID-19 Calls to Action for Post-Secondary Institutions

March 27th, 2020

*Notice: We’re updating our calls to action. Please check back in a few hours.*

Over the last week, we’ve heard from many students concerned about the effect the current situation will have on their grades. We’re in constant conversation with University administration and are advocating for the best option for students. More updates will be available next week as the situation evolves.

Meanwhile, students may contact Academic and Career Services at 204.786.9257 or advising@uwinnipeg.ca if they need to submit an academic appeal for additional time to complete term work or request a deferred final exam.

Academic and career advisors can explain the process. Medical documentation will not be required at this time. Students with accessibility needs can also contact Accessibility Services at 204.786.9771 or accessibility@uwinnipeg.ca to submit appeals.

The voluntary withdrawal date for winter term courses, has also been moved to March 31, 2020.

Mind BEACON

March 27th, 2020

If you can’t shake feeling down, stressed, or overwhelmed, BEACON can help; it’s designed to empower individuals experiencing mild to moderate symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Below is information for Students and information about COVID-19 Support.

GSC Students: www.mindbeacon.com/gsc-students

• Learn more about BEACON and how to get started
• Information about access preferred GSC student pricing

COVID-19 support: www.mindbeacon.com/pandemic-response

• Access to educational content around mental health during COVID-19
• Learn more about the new health anxiety program

Steps on How to Access Food from Winnipeg Harvest

March 26th, 2020

With the temporary UWSA Foodbank closure, all UW and community food bank clients need to rebook their appointments at a different location with Winnipeg Harvest. To ensure all Manitobans have access to food, Winnipeg Harvest has created a step by step on how to use emergency, temporary food support.

Step 1: Contact the Food Assistance Call Centre to book an appointment at your local food bank:

• Hours: Monday to Friday 9:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Saturday 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
  • Please have your Manitoba Health Card ready
  • In Winnipeg: 
    • Phone: (204) 982 – 3660
    • Email: appointments@winnipegharvest.org
  • Outside Winnipeg: 
    • Phone: 1 (800) 970 – 5559
    • Email: kellym@winnipegharvest.org

Step 2: Attend Your Appointment

• Bring your Manitoba Health Card to your local food bank, and bags or boxes to carry your food hamper.
• Read what you will receive below.

Step 3: Following your appointment

• Call or Email the Food Assistance Call Centre in Step 1 to book your appointment

What you will receive: 

• One large, pre-packaged Food Hamper per registered address every 4 week.

Please read this document for more information: COVID-19-How to Access Food-20March20

March 26: Board Meeting

March 25th, 2020

The March 26 Board Meeting is being held via Zoom at 5 PM on March 26.

Please click here for the agenda: BOD AGENDA 200326

All students are welcome but we encourage you to pre-register.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uJUud-6vqjkt1gmd0Ve7qFXYx3zgg9HtGQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Divest Week of Action

March 24th, 2020

March 23-29 is Divest UWinnipeg: Digital Week of Action. Take one action a day from the safety of your homes to educate yourself, build awareness, support divestment and call on University of Winnipeg Foundation to withdraw it’s funds from fossil fuels.

Day two of the Divest Week of Action is to listen to a podcast. You can learn more about why divestment is necessary for a sustainable and Indigenized campus and world.

These are some of our podcast recommendations:

• Keep it in the Ground
• Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast: Episode 19 – Sustainable Investments and Divesting
• Fossil Fuel Divestment by Social Power
• Divestment and Climate Change by BBC
• Divestment at Concordia University

Remember to sign the open letter to call on University of Winnipeg’s decision makers to divest! To sign the letter click here.

For more information on each day’s action at our Divest Week of Action Page

Lifetouch Graduation Photos Cancelled

March 23rd, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 developments, Lifetouch will be cancelling all graduation photo. Lifetouch will be contacting all students that have booked an appointment. Please contact Lifetouch to reschedule appointments once the public health situation improves at 1-866-457-8212.

Please click here for more information about our precautionary measures for COVID-19.

An Update on U-Pass

March 19th, 2020

At the City of Winnipeg Executive Policy Committee Meeting today, Mayor Brian Bowman announced that they heard students’ voices and amended the draft budget to include U-Pass at a rate that is in line with the proposed low-income bus pass.

We’re encouraged by this recent development and hope to receive more information and discuss it with your representatives at next board meeting. We want to thank all of you that raised your voice against U-Pass cuts to make this possible. We wouldn’t be here without you.

Over the next few weeks, we will navigate the next steps while following COVID-19 precautionary measures of social distancing. Please stay safe, stay indoors, and watch this space for updates.

Sincerely,
The UWSA

UWSA'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

March 13th, 2020

In light of the current public health situation, UWSA is taking precautionary measures essential to the safety of all students, staff, and community. In order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we are making some changes to the way we work, in line with University of Winnipeg’s response and Public Health Agency of Canada’s guidelines.

Until in-person classes resume, all non-essential UWSA services, services centres, offices and events are closed until further notice. UWSA Executive and staff will be working remotely and available via e-mail.

Here is a list of all services that will be affected:

SERVICES AND SERVICE CENTRES

Advocacy services are being offered virtually through your VP Student Affairs. Please e-mail Melanie William at vpsa@theuwsa.ca for more information.

Info Booth will be closed until in-person classes resume. Students can e-mail or call Info Booth staff with their U-Pass and Health Plan concerns at infobooth@theuwsa.ca and 204-786-9787.

Campaigns continue via our website and social media. Please e-mail vpea@theuwsa.ca for more information.

All service centres, including Access Lounge, Bike Lab, BIPoC Lounge, Foodbank, Rainbow Lounge, WTSC, and Safewalk will be closed till further notice. Please visit the Foodbank page and follow the steps to access Foodbank at an external location.

UWSA Daycare is closed to public but operating as an childcare facility for emergency response workers.

EVENTS

In keeping with federal and provincial health guidelines and public health requests to reduce large-group interactions, all upcoming events – including our Annual General Meeting and Decolonizing Sexual Health w/Ericka Hart, will be postponed to later spring. This includes all event and meeting bookings in UWSA spaces. Concerned parties will be contacted directly regarding their bookings and all payments will be refunded.

The March 26 Board Meeting will still happen in an online capacity in order to address some essential operational issues.

For a list of University closures and interruptions of service, please visit Campus Updates on COVID-19. News will be posted there as soon as it is available.

While we understand that these changes will affect the lives of our members and staff, we are doing everything we can to reduce risk and for your well-being. We’d like to thank you for your patience as we figure out the next steps.

Please check our website for current and accurate updates on the situation and follow all government-recommended health, safety and travel guidelines outlined on UWinnipeg’s website.

A statement on the proposed elimination of the U-Pass program

March 10th, 2020

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE U-PASS PROGRAM IGNORES STUDENT VOICES AND DECREASES TRANSIT AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ACCESSIBILITY.

Winnipeg, March 9, 2020 – On March 6, 2020. The City of Winnipeg’s Executive Policy Committee’s proposed to end the U-Pass program in their draft budget. This cut will severely affect accessibility and affordability of post-secondary education and transit for students.

90 per cent of University of Winnipeg students activated their U-Pass, with over 53 per cent using it on a daily basis. From March 2 to 4, UWinnipeg students demonstrated their commitment by voting to accept the $24.50 per term fee increase that was proposed by the City of Winnipeg Standing Policy Committee.

UWSA Vice-President Student Affairs, Noelle Sagher says, “Eliminating the U-Pass is an attack on all students, especially the most marginalized. Students need the U-Pass to access an institution that is already inaccessible. We will do everything in our power to make sure the city listens to thousands of students who just voted to keep U-Pass.”

The U-Pass program offers a financially and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation for students. The committee is planning to launch a low-income bus pass, which offers a 30 per cent subsidy compared to U-Pass’s 50 per cent. The low-income bus pass will not be available to a majority of students, especially those who do not meet the household income cut off and international students. All post-secondary students will have access to the post-secondary pass, which will be double the price of the U-Pass.

“We need to be figuring out ways to reduce barriers for students, not increase them. Instead of making students work for transit by having to fill multiple forms, we need to make transit work for students,” UWSA Vice-President External Affairs, Mahlet Cuff says.

UWSA is organizing a campaign to ensure that the City of Winnipeg acknowledges student demand for the U-Pass and continues a program that invested in our transit system, increased financial and environmentally sustainability, and makes post-secondary education more accessible. We are asking all students to contact the offices of the Mayor and your city councillor to demand the continuation of the U-Pass program. More information will be available at theuwsa.ca and on social media @theuwsa.

About UWSA

Established in 1972, the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association democratically unites the students of the University of Winnipeg in order to advance student interests. As well as promoting communication within the University, the UWSA advocates on behalf of students to administrative bodies.

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For further information, contact:

Shreya Jhunjhunwala
Communications Manager
The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association
0R30 – 515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3B 2E9
(204) 786-9867
s.jhunjhunwala@theuwsa.ca