The UMSU board of directors met on Sept. 24 to discuss executive vacancies, student funding, advocacy initiatives and operational updates. Key decisions included moving forward with by-elections to fill the two vacant executive positions and approving an investment in long-term student financial support.
The board considered motions related to the vacant vice-president external affairs and vice-president finance and operations (VPFO) positions.
While motions were presented that would have redistributed responsibilities among the remaining executive team and staff for the remainder of the term, those proposals were not adopted. Instead, the board determined that by-elections will be held to fill both vacant executive positions.
The discussion and decision regarding the vacancies took place during a closed session.
The board approved a one-time transfer of $750,000 from UMSU’s unrestricted operating fund to the Scholarship and Bursary Trust Fund.
According to the motion, UMSU’s operating fund maintains a substantial surplus and is projected to end the fiscal year with an operational surplus of approximately $300,000. The transfer is expected to leave the union’s operating reserves above the minimum recommendation provided by UMSU’s finance manager.
The investment is intended to strengthen long-term support for students by increasing the resources available through scholarships and bursaries.
In his final report as VPFO, Cameron Provost described the transfer as an investment that would expand scholarship opportunities for students well into the future.
Heaven Kaur reported ongoing advocacy efforts aimed at restoring public healthcare coverage for international students in Manitoba.
UMSU has partnered with the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association and the Red River College Students’ Association to host a rally at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Sept. 29. The rally will call on the provincial government to fulfill its commitment to reinstate healthcare coverage for international students.
The campaign highlights continuing barriers international students face when accessing healthcare and medication programs in Manitoba.
UMSU’s executive team continues to advocate for a centralized course syllabus database and clearer guidelines regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in coursework.
Kaur and Grace Elendu reported meetings are ongoing with university administrators, deans and faculty leaders to advance both initiatives. The proposed syllabus database would allow students to review course outlines and expectations before course registration, while AI guidelines would provide greater consistency and transparency across faculties.
The executive team expects to continue discussions with university leadership throughout the fall term.
Manasa Rajesh, vice-president student life highlighted several successful student engagement initiatives, including orientation programming, Bison Bash, Taste of UMSU and the inaugural Summer Games event.
The assembly of club executives and board of association executives also resumed for the academic year, with strong attendance from student leaders across campus.
Thomas Blumer, UMSU’s managing director, reported a busy start to the fall semester across UMSU services and business operations.
The Service Centre has already processed approximately 20,000 U-Pass registrations, assigned around 7,000 new U-Passes and welcomed more than 18,000 student visits since the beginning of the academic year.
UMSU businesses, including Degrees Diner, IQ’s Café & Billiards, VW Social Club, G.P.A.’s Campus Convenience and UMCycle, also reported positive activity levels and ongoing efforts to enhance services and student experiences.
As UMSU enters the fall semester, major priorities include filling executive vacancies through by-elections, advancing advocacy campaigns at the university, municipal, provincial and federal levels, improving student engagement and expanding financial supports for students.
