Student FAQ

Agreeing to binding interest arbitration would mean that both an employer and a union (in this case UM and UMFA) who are negotiating a collective bargaining agreement agree to adhere to a resolution put forth by a neutral, third-party arbitrator. That arbitrator would look at the outstanding issues on the table and come up with a contract that they deem to be the best path forward. The Arbitrator's decision is informed by legal principles and made independent of government. Both sides would be bound by the agreement to accept the arbitrator’s decisions.

Binding interest arbitration is sometimes recommended by a mediator when there is little likelihood that the parties will reach a settlement. 

No. If an instructor for one of your courses was on strike, you were not responsible for any coursework including exams, mid-terms, tests and assignments until,

a) the course restarted once the strike was over, or
b) your instructor returned to work before the end of the strike.

If your instructor was on strike, you could have chosen read or study for that course, but it was not a requirement.

The university will provide students with a reasonable opportunity to complete all courses. Students will continue to receive their government student aid, as long as they do not reduce their credit hours below what was reported to their provincial loan agency. Students will also continue to receive their institutional awards if they do not fall below 24 credit hours for scholarships and 18 credit hours for bursaries (over the fall/winter terms).

Financial aid is typically based on a minimum credit hour requirement. It is anticipated that the strike will not impact the number of credit hours taken, as courses will resume, and credits will be achieved as per normal, following any strike action.

Mid-term exams and final exams may be rescheduled at the completion of the strike. It is anticipated that assignments presently handed in will be graded and returned following the end of the strike. 

The December exam period for continuing courses remains unchanged: December 11 to 23. The alternate exam period for interrupted courses will be January 20-23, 2022.

The impacts on students that choose to voluntarily withdraw (VW) from courses that may be paused during a strike will be no different that the consequences of a VW during a regular term. Students should speak to an academic advisor in their home Faculty/College/School to be certain they understand any impact of a VW on their specific program, financial aid, or other concern.

Yes, applications for other programs will be posted on the website with deadline dates to apply.  The strike will not impact that process and you should apply by the deadline date for your intended program.

For the most recent UMFA Bargaining updates, please return to this site and visit our social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

The university has stipulated a buffer of 72 hours after the first session before any assignments are due or tests or exams held.

The university’s goal is that students are not disadvantaged with respect to any missed classes, materials, assignments/tests when there is a scheduling conflict between a class and an exam. If such a conflict exists, please bring it to the attention of your instructor and a student advisor as soon as possible.

Reviewing and setting tuition fees is an annual process that typically takes place after the winter term.  As such, variable tuition fee changes may be proposed and laid out in budget discussions at that time as part of the University’s typical annual budget planning process. How the strike or a new collective agreement will impact that process will not be known until after the labour action has concluded and the university has had time to evaluate and fully consider the financial impacts of the new collective bargaining agreement and the strike action. It is important to note that UM tuition rates are very low relative to other post-secondary institutions. A sustainable future and the ability to invest in appropriate student programming and supports continues to rely critically on tuition and course-related fees as well as the provincial grant.

You apply for an exam deferral through the academic advising office in your faculty/college/school. 

The December exam period for continuing courses remains unchanged: December 11 to 23. The alternate exam period for interrupted courses will be January 20-23, 2022.

Each program in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to working collaboratively with its team of leaders, faculty, staff and clinical partners to develop a plan that will assist students toward completion of their required clinical courses/placements in a timely manner and complete their programs requirements in Spring 2022.

Manitoba Student Aid is committed to ensuring that students at the University of Manitoba are not adversely affected by situations outside their control. During the labour disruption at the university, Manitoba Student Aid will continue to disburse funds as long as the student continues to be enrolled in the same credit hours as their aid package was assessed for, as confirmed by the university. If the situation is prolonged, Manitoba Student Aid will review available options and will communicate any changes to students. In the meantime, students can visit the Manitoba Student Aid website for additional information or to contact the office.

The academic schedule has been revised as a result of the strike. Please visit the important dates and deadlines webpage for all final dates.

To maintain the integrity of the university’s courses and programs, and to ensure requirements for accreditation, the number of instructional days should remain at sixty-one where at all possible. Courses have minimum instructional hours determined by units and approved by the university Senate. Instructors carefully craft their courses to meet these requirements. It is important that instructors are provided with sufficient time to teach students and facilitate learning. All students have sufficient time to successfully learn the content in courses and compete the required assessments of their learning. Students must be insured that the original learning goals or outcomes for the courses and programs are met. If this does not occur, students may not be prepared for follow-on courses that have prerequisite requirements or have the necessary knowledge to progress effectively and safely to placements or other academic activities including laboratories. Also, some programs have strict minimum contact hours that are stipulated within national accreditation standards. If these standards are not met, programs can lose accreditation and students may be ineligible to meet professional standards for practice in the profession. Lastly, there is generally agreed to understanding of what constitutes a 3 credit hour course across institutions in Canada and more broadly. If the number of teaching hours is altered, there is a potential that other institutions may not accept the course or program from UM. This could have significant consequences for student course credits or even degree(s), when applying to enter other programs or seeking some types of employment.

No. In all scenarios, there will be no classes or exams held during the University closure that is scheduled for December 24, 2021, through January 4, 2022. 

A new exam schedule for courses that were interrupted by the strike will be made available after December 9. At that point, if you have any major conflicts please contact your instructor or the advising office of your faculty/college/school.

The voluntary withdrawal date has been moved for continuing and interrupted courses. As per normal and depending on the situation, students may also request an Authorized Withdrawal (AW) if they have the required documentation – please contact your academic advisor.

Yes. If your committee members are external to the UofM or are not part of UMFA, they can still submit their reports following the usual process. If you have UMFA members on your committee, they will be given time after the strike is over to submit their report.

Yes. You can still apply for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. During a strike, recommendations for admission from departments may take longer than usual and contacting an advisor may be difficult.

We understand that the delays due to the strike will impact graduate students and these will vary across students depending on their courses, program or the nature of the research. We will work with students who are delayed in their programs on a case-by-case basis to accommodate to the best of our ability.

If international students are due to apply for a study permit extension during labour unrest (strike), they should include with their application an explanation (from the registrar of the educational institution) of why they have been unable to continue with their studies or attend school. International students must, however, maintain valid temporary residence at all times and should maintain their status as a student during this period by renewing their study permit before it expires or becomes invalid. Once the labour action (strike) has been resolved, they will be able to resume their studies, provided that they continue to have valid temporary residence and a valid study permit. Please contact an International Student Advisor at the International Centre to discuss your individual situation. You can get connected with an ISA through e-mail or a pre-scheduled Zoom meeting by sending a message to international@umanitoba.ca.

No, you will not miss your deadline. We understand that recommendations as well as supervisor support letters from UM Faculty may be delayed due to the strike, and you will not be penalized. Once the strike ends, your recommender will still be able to submit their letter with the link provided by our system. IMPORTANT: Please ensure that all other items are uploaded by the application deadline.

Band funding is typically based on a minimum credit hour requirement. It is anticipated strike will not impact the number of credit hours taken, as courses will resume, and credits achieved as per normal, following any strike action. Courses taught by non-UMFA staff or by UMFA members that choose not to strike will continue.

The Indigenous Student Centre Elders-in-Residence and Student Counsellors continue to be available for appointments. Student advisors are also available to assist with impacts from the strike or meet with you to discuss your academic program, goals or any questions you may have during this time. Indigenous student advisors provide holistic and culturally-grounded advising services for Indigenous students, where they consider your mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural well-being. Please go to the following link to contact the Indigenous Student Centre.

No. There are provisions in the IRCC regulations for situations beyond a student’s control, such as a strike. Please contact an International Student Advisor at the International Centre if you have further questions. To contact an advisor email international@umanitoba.ca with your name and student number.

This situation is beyond your control and your status as a study permit holder should not be affected. As a result of the strike, you will: 

• Not face any penalty or enforcement action because you can’t pursue your studies during this time, 
• Be able to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week if your study permit allows you to work (and also work full-time during regular breaks such as Christmas and reading week), and 
• Still be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. 
• You must continue to have valid status as a student in Canada to be able to return to class after the labour dispute is resolved. If you need to apply to extend your study permit during the strike, include a letter from the registrar to the IRCC that confirms that the strike has stopped you from attending school and pursuing your studies. 

Yes. A strike is not considered to be a scheduled break so you would still be considered enrolled as a UM student. 

The Registrar’s Office will respond to requests from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to confirm a student’s academic/enrolment status based on course or program registration information on the day the request is received. If one or more of your classes is interrupted due to a strike, you will still be considered to be registered in the course during a strike period. Graduate Students will maintain registration status during the strike period. 

Yes. The Registrar’s Office will remain open virtually during regular business hours. If you require any additional documents from your Faculty, College or School, please contact their advising office directly. 

If international students are due to apply for a study permit extension during a strike, they should include with their application an explanation (from the registrar of the educational institution) of why they have been unable to continue with their studies or attend school. International students must, however, maintain valid temporary residence at all times and should maintain their status as a student during this period by renewing their study permit before it expires or becomes invalid. Once the strike has been resolved, they will be able to resume their studies, provided that they continue to have valid temporary residence and a valid study permit. Please contact an International Student Advisor at the International Centre to discuss your individual situation. You can get connected with an ISA through e-mail or a pre-scheduled Zoom meeting by sending a message to international@umanitoba.ca.

Your eligibility to work doesn’t change during a strike. You must always maintain your legal status with IRCC and continue to comply with the terms and conditions of your permits and visas. A strike is not considered to be a scheduled break and you will be considered enrolled as a UM student. 

No, your coverage through the MISHP is not impacted by the strike, as your registration status is not changed, even though you can't attend classes. If one or more of your classes is interrupted due to a strike, you will still be considered to be registered in the course during a strike period. Graduate Students will maintain registration status during the strike period.

No. There are provisions in the IRCC regulations for situations beyond a student’s control, such as a strike. Please refer to the IRCC website and/or the Visa Office processing your application. Also, refer to the IRCC’s site on COVID for the latest travel restrictions and exemptions for international students.