University of Manitoba Students' Union

{{Infobox Students Union

| name = University of Manitoba Students' Union

| image = University of Manitoba Students' Union logo, 2017.png

| motto =

| established = 1919

| institution = University of Manitoba

| president = Divya Sharma

| vice presidents = {{Plainlist|

  • {{hanging indent|Carolyn Wang (Finance)}}
  • {{hanging indent|Prabhnoor Singh (External)}}
  • {{hanging indent|Rachhvir Dhaliwal (University)}}
  • {{hanging indent|Bolu Akindele (Student Life)}}

}}

| location = Winnipeg, Manitoba

| members = 27,000+

| affiliated = CASA

| colours = Bright Cerulean

| free_label = Campus businesses

| free = {{Flatlist|

  • VW's Social Club
  • IQ's
  • Degree's
  • G.P.A.'s
  • UMSU Service Centre
  • UMCycle

}}

| homepage = {{URL|www.umsu.ca}}

|image_caption=}}

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."[https://umsu.ca/about/governing-documents/ GOVERNING DOCUMENTS | About]." UMSU. Retrieved 2021 May 6.{{Cite web|url=https://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/collections/complete_holdings/ead/html/UMSU96.shtml|title = University of Manitoba Students' Union : Archives & Special Collections : Libraries : University of Manitoba}} UMSU was established in 1919, replacing the former University of Manitoba Students' Association founded in 1914, and was incorporated by Act of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly effective June 19, 1975.

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. For the 2020-2021 school year, the mandatory UMSU fee was $136.90 per term, $69.61 of which goes to UMSU itself.{{Cite web |title=Finances |url=https://umsu.ca/about/finances/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=UMSU |language=en-CA}} The executive and community representatives of the Union are elected during the UMSU General Election.

Businesses and services

The UMSU operates 7 student businesses on campus, all at the University Centre. These businesses include:{{Cite web|title=UMSU Businesses - Degrees Restaurant, The Hub, IQs, GPAs, UMCycle, ..|url=https://umsu.ca/businesses/|access-date=2021-05-06|website=UMSU|language=en-CA}}

  • 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.

In 2018, UMSU partnered with Nimbus Learning to provide students with a peer tutoring program.{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Emma|date=2020-04-28|title=Partner with Nimbus: UMSU {{!}} Nimbus Learning|url=https://nimbuslearning.com/blog-partner-experience-university-of-manitoba-students-union/|access-date=2021-05-06|language=en-CA}}

Governance

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.{{Cite web |title=Student union salaries across Canada |url=https://www.ubyssey.ca/features/student-union-executive-salaries-canada/ |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=The Ubyssey |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Executives|url=https://umsu.ca/about/executives/|access-date=2021-05-06|website=UMSU|language=en-CA}} The four Vice-Presidents are each responsible for a different portfolio:

  • 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. 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.{{Cite web|last1=Fern|first1=Spencer|date=2012-11-08|title=An argument against a racialized representative for U. Manitoba|url=https://www.macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/an-argument-against-manitobas-racialized-rep-idea/|access-date=2021-05-06|website=Macleans.ca|language=en}}

The executive and community representatives are elected during the UMSU General Election. UMSU is also member of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations{{Cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.casa-acae.com/members |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Canadian Alliance of Student Associations |language=en-US}} and the Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students (MAPSS).{{Cite web |title=About – MAPSS |url=https://mapsstudents.ca/?page_id=15 |access-date=2022-06-17 |language=en-US}}

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.

UMSU Executives are invited to serve on the [https://umanitoba.ca/governance/board-of-governors Board of Governors] and the [https://umanitoba.ca/governance/senate 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.{{Cite web |title=COVID-19 Response Steering Committee |url=https://news.umanitoba.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/COVID19-Response-SC_Teams_membership-FINAL_2020_09_23.pdf}} In the previous year, Dela Cruz served on the Presidents' Task Force for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.{{Cite web |title=EDI Task Force Membership List |url=https://www.umanitoba.ca/admin/vp_academic/media/EDI_Task_Force_Membership_List(6).pdf}}

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

University of Manitoba Students' Union Act

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = The University of Manitoba Students' Union Act

| legislature = Legislative Assembly of Manitoba

| image =

| imagesize =

| imagealt =

| caption =

| long_title =

| citation = [https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c20390e.php R.S.M. 1990, c. 203]

| enacted_by = Parliament of Manitoba

| date_enacted =

| date_assented =

| date_signed =

| date_commenced = 14 November 1990

| amended_by = [https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/2018/c02418e.php S.M. 2018, c. 24]

| related =

| summary =

| keywords =

| status = amended

| imagelink =

}}

{{italictitle}}The University of Manitoba Students' Union Act ({{Langx|fr|Loi sur l'Association des étudiants de l'Université du Manitoba}}) is the Manitoba law that incorporated the University of Manitoba Students' Union, making UMSU the only student government in Canada with its own specific incorporating act. The Corporations Act (Manitoba) does not apply to the corporation. Previously since its founding, UMSU had been an unincorporated body established by a By-law of the University.

The Incorporating Act was proposed and drafted during the presidency of John Perrin (1973-74) with support from UMSU Council, university President Dr. Ernest Sirluck, Chancellor Dr. Peter D. Curry and the U of M Board of Governors. It was finally enacted by the Manitoba Legislative Assembly during the presidency of Robert Setters (1974-75) and then came into effect upon receiving Royal Assent on June 19, 1975 during the presidency of Victoria Lehman (1975-76). The Act was later amended in November 1990 and again in June 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c20390e.php|title = R.S.M. 1990, c. 203}}

List of UMSU Presidents

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

!Year

!President{{Cite web|title=Manitoba Organization: University of Manitoba Students' Union|url=http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/organization/umsu.shtml|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.mhs.mb.ca}}

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

|Bill Balan

1971-1972

|Ray 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