The U of M senate has adopted motions put forward by the Academic and Research Team committee in response to a potential strike by the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA).

The motions, which were approved at the March 5 senate meeting, were submitted as an “urgent addendum” to the senate agenda “in response to a potential UMFA labour action.”

The approved motions allow students to request deferred examinations and incomplete or continuing grade/course status that will not be denied “up to the point of undue hardship.”

Section 2.6 of the Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) Policy, which sets the deadline for students to withdraw from a course without academic penalty, has been suspended. The provost has been authorized to amend the VW date for the term “if required” — which is currently March 19 as of publication — and report the change to senate.

Verification of enrolment level for senate-approved scholarships and bursaries for the academic year has also been suspended, “in response to a possible increase in the number of voluntary withdrawals.”

“This means that we would not revoke any awards should a student drop below the minimum enrolment levels for awards resulting from a decision to voluntarily withdraw from courses due to a potential labour action,” stated Jeff Adams, university registrar and executive director of enrolment services in a memo to senate.

All senate-approved scholarships and bursaries normally require that students are enrolled in a minimum number of credit hours, according to Adams.

Another motion was approved which “[ensures] that students who choose not to cross the picket line, real or virtual, are accommodated up to the point of undue hardship with respect to any missed materials, assignments or tests.”

The motion also states that “all students, whether they choose to attend classes or to not cross the picket line, be treated fairly” by academic staff.