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University of Manitoba Students' Union

Coordinates: 49°48′34″N 97°08′04″W / 49.80944°N 97.13444°W / 49.80944; -97.13444
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University of Manitoba Students' Union
InstitutionUniversity of Manitoba
LocationWinnipeg, Manitoba
Established1919
PresidentDivya Sharma
Vice presidents
  • Carolyn Wang (Finance)
  • Prabhnoor Singh (External)
  • Rachhvir Dhaliwal (University)
  • Bolu Akindele (Student Life)
Members27,000+
AffiliationsCASA
ColoursBright Cerulean
Campus businesses
  • VW's Social Club
  • IQ's
  • Degree's
  • G.P.A.'s
  • UMSU Service Centre
  • UMCycle
Websitewww.umsu.ca

The University of Manitoba Students' Union (UMSU) is the university-wide representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Manitoba, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[1][2] UMSU was established in 1919, replacing the former University of Manitoba Students' Association founded in 1914.

Its head office is located in UMSU University Centre, a large, Modernist architecture building designed by Canadian architect Isadore (Issie) Coop at UM's Fort Garry Campus that serves as the university's activity hub.

UMSU is funded by mandatory student organization fees, included in tuition fees; upon paying their fees, students become full members of the Students' Union.[2] For the 2020-2021 school year, the mandatory UMSU fee was $136.90 per term, $69.61 of which goes to UMSU itself.[3] The executive and community representatives of the Union are elected during the UMSU General Election.[1]

Businesses and services

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The UMSU operates 7 student businesses on campus, all at the University Centre. These businesses include:[4]

  • Degree's — a restaurant
  • G.P.A.'s Campus Convenience — a convenience store
  • VW's Social Club — the campus bar
  • IQ’s Cafe & Billiards — a pool hall and coffee shop
  • UMCycle — a full-service bike shop
  • UMSU Service Centre — an information kiosk that provides information on university-related matters such as registrations, exams, and transit routes/maps, as well as UPass information, poster approvals for University Centre, and a lost-and-found service. It also sells bus passes, other Winnipeg Transit products, and event/social tickets. The Service Centre has replaced the much smaller Answers information booth.

UMSU also operates a number of non-business operations, such as the Gallery of Student Art, which displays art installations created by students; the Grocery Run, which supplies students living in residence with an opportunity to purchase groceries from the local grocery store; and a Food Bank for students.

It also administers a number of scholarships and bursaries, travel grants, as well as providing funding for the student radio station, CJUM-FM (more popularly known as UMFM), and the student newspaper, The Manitoban.[3]

In 2018, UMSU partnered with Nimbus Learning to provide students with a peer tutoring program.[5]

Governance

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UMSU has a 5-person elected executive, which includes a president and four vice presidents. In 2016, the reported salary for an executive was $37,700 per executive, including benefits.[6] The President is responsible for the overall operation of UMSU and serves as the official spokesperson. The President also serves on the University Senate and Board of Governors.[7] The four Vice-Presidents are each responsible for a different portfolio:[7]

  • Finance and Operations — the Vice President, Finance and Operations (VPFO) for students, including U-Pass, Health and Dental, and Legal services. They also manage UMSU businesses and finances alongside the general manager.
  • External Affairs — the Vice President, External Affairs (VPEA) works to build relationships and negotiate with provincial and municipal governments to ensure post-secondary students are consulted on all academic decisions.
  • University Affairs - the Vice President, University Affairs (VPUA) oversees internal university-related affairs and serves as a liaison between UM administration and departments. They advocate for the Union’s interests to the Board of Governors, the Senate, and other university committees.
  • Student Life — the Vice President, Student Life (VPSL) oversees over 100 UMSU Clubs and 28 Faculty Associations on campus. As the primary liaison between UMSU and its community representatives, they ensure that UMSU consults with and supports marginalized communities on campus.

UMSU Board of Directors is the highest authority in the organization, and is made up of student representatives from each of the University's faculties, schools, student residences, the Inner-City Campus, and five positions for community representatives.[1] Each faculty, school or residence has at least one representative, with some having up to four, depending on student population. The five community representatives represent the following marginalized communities of the student body: women-identifying students, international students, students living with disabilities, LGBTQ students, and Indigenous students.[8]

The executive and community representatives are elected during the UMSU General Election.[1] UMSU is also member of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations[9] and the Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students (MAPSS).[10]

There are also various committees that deal with UMSU's governing policies and procedures, including specific areas, such as governance, finance, member services, UPass (a subsidized student bus pass), and the health & dental insurance plan. These committees are composed of a combination of UMSU executives, UMSU Board members, and students-at-large.[1]

UMSU Executives are invited to serve on the Board of Governors and the Senate of the University of Manitoba each year. In the event of openings on committees and task forces, student representation fulfilled or delegated by the UMSU Executive. In 2020, UMSU President Jelynn Dela Cruz served on the University of Manitoba COVID-19 Response Steering Committee.[11] In the previous year, Dela Cruz served on the Presidents' Task Force for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.[12]

UMSU is funded by mandatory student organization fees, included in tuition fees; upon paying their fees, students become full members of the Students' Union.[2] For the 2024-2025 school year, the mandatory UMSU fee was $136.90 per term, $69.61 of which goes to UMSU itself.[3][6]

University of Manitoba Students' Union Act

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The University of Manitoba Students' Union Act
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
CitationR.S.M. 1990, c. 203
Enacted byParliament of Manitoba
Commenced14 November 1990
Amended by
S.M. 2018, c. 24
Status: Amended

The University of Manitoba Students' Union Act is the Manitoban law that defines the University of Manitoba Students' Union,[1] making UMSU the only student government in Canada with its own specific law.

The Act commenced in November 1990, and was amended in 2018.[13]

List of UMSU Presidents

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Divya Sharma, the 100th president of UMSU (2024-25)
Year President[14]
2024-2025 Divya Sharma
2023-2024 Tracy Karuhogo
2022-2023 Jaron Rykiss
2021-2022 Brendan Scott
2020-2021 Jelynn Dela Cruz
2018-2020 Jakob Sanderson
2016-2018 Tanjit Nagra
2015-2016 Jeremiah Kopp
2013-2015 Al Turnbull
2012-2013 Bilan Arte
2011-2012 Camilla Tapp
2010-2011 Heather Laube
2009-2010 Sid Rashid
2008-2009 Jonny Sopotiuk
2006-2008 Garry Sran
2004-2006 Amanda Aziz
2003-2004 Shawn Alwis
2001-2003 Nicholas Louizos
1999-2001 Steven Fletcher
1998-1999 Christopher Kozier
1997-1998 Katherine Kowalchuk
1996-1997 Trevor Lines
1995-1996 David Gratzer
1994-1995 Blessing Rugara
1993-1994 Cory Pollack
1991-1993 Paul Kemp
1990-1991 Adam DiCarlo
1989-1990 Karen Taraska
1988-1989 Bob Cielen
1987-1988 Kevin Janzen
1986-1987 Mark Rogers
1985-1986 Jeff Kushner
1984-1985 Carol Manson
1983-1984 Michael Young
1982-1983 Erik Tatarchuk
1981-1982 Timothy Rigby
1980-1981 James Egan
1979-1980 Debra Slade
1978-1979 Steven Ashton
1977-1978 Roger Nelson
1976-1977l James Snidal
1975-1976 Victoria Lehman
1974-1975 Robert Setters
1973-1974 John Perrin
1972-1973 Bil Balan
1971-1972 Roy Hamm
1970-1971 Israel Lyon
1969-1970 Alan Bodie
1968-1969 Horace Paterson
1967-1968 Chris Westdal
1966-1967 David Sanders
1965-1966 Winston Dookeran
1964-1965 Richard Good
1963-1964 Bryce Doern
1962-1963 Marshall Rothstein
1961-1962 William Neville
1960-1961 Lindley Abdulah
1959-1960 Jim Foran
1958-1959 Brian Knapheis
1957-1958 Charles Anderson
1956-1957 Julius Koteles
1955-1956 Miles Pepper
1954-1955 Scott Wright
1953-1954 Richard Bocking
1952-1953 Conrad Wyrzykowski
1951-1952 William Norrie
1950-1951 Arthur Mauro
1949-1950 Bill Appleby
1948-1949 Fred Bickell
1947-1948 Peyton Lyon
1946-1947 Lynn A. K. Watt
1945-1946 Dave Robertson
1944-1945 Monte Halparin
1943-1944 Alberta Hamilton
1942-1943 Fred Tallman
1941-1942 John Hamlin
1940-1941 Richard Hunter
1939-1940 Roderick Hunter
1938-1939 William Cave
1937-1938 Ronald Turner
1936-1937 John Robinson
1935-1936 W. Donald Ross
1934-1935 Hector Craig
1933-1934 William Bendickson
1932-1933 John Anderson
1931-1932 William Lewis Morton
1930-1931 Charles H. Walton
1929-1930 Larry A. Adamson
1928-1929 John A. Crawford
1927-1928 Edward Holland
1926-1927 Harry Moss
1925-1926 Fred Bamford
1924-1925 Edward Corrigan
1923-1924 Donald M. Black
1922-1923 Clifford Dick
1921-1922 Henry B. Chown
1920-1921 George H. Lee
1918-1920 A. A. McCoubrey
1917-1918 Ralph Maybank
1916-1918 Urban D. Clark
1915-1916 William T. Straith
1914-1915 Roderick K. Finlayson

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "GOVERNING DOCUMENTS | About." UMSU. Retrieved 2021 May 6.
  2. ^ a b c "University of Manitoba Students' Union : Archives & Special Collections : Libraries : University of Manitoba".
  3. ^ a b c "Finances". UMSU. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  4. ^ "UMSU Businesses - Degrees Restaurant, The Hub, IQs, GPAs, UMCycle, ." UMSU. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  5. ^ Jones, Emma (2020-04-28). "Partner with Nimbus: UMSU | Nimbus Learning". Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  6. ^ a b "Student union salaries across Canada". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  7. ^ a b "Executives". UMSU. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  8. ^ Fern, Spencer (2012-11-08). "An argument against a racialized representative for U. Manitoba". Macleans.ca. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  9. ^ "Members". Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  10. ^ "About – MAPSS". Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  11. ^ "COVID-19 Response Steering Committee" (PDF).
  12. ^ "EDI Task Force Membership List" (PDF).
  13. ^ "R.S.M. 1990, c. 203".
  14. ^ "Manitoba Organization: University of Manitoba Students' Union". www.mhs.mb.ca. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
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49°48′34″N 97°08′04″W / 49.80944°N 97.13444°W / 49.80944; -97.13444