Manitoba Post-Secondary News Roundup

With final exams scheduled in the very near future, first semester is coming to a close and winter break is approaching. This marks the final Post-Secondary News Roundup of 2020. It has been a tough year that has challenged us to be strong. We wish you and yours all the best during the upcoming break. Stay safe, be well.

Want to do some extra reading? See last month’s Roundup here.

BU Increases Access to Post-Sec for Military Personnel

Brandon University and the Department of National Defence have formalized an agreement that makes it more convenient for members of the Canadian Forces to take university courses.

Along with recognizing specific military training for transfer credit to BU, the new agreement also builds flexibility into course and exam procedures. Consequently, students on deployment will now be able to more fully engage with their BU studies.

“[Military] knowledge is worthy of serious consideration, their skills are real and vital, and appropriate to recognize,” said Dr. Gary McNeely, BU’s Coordinator of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

UCN Offers Health Care Aide Assistant Program to Support Northern Pandemic Response

University College of the North, in partnership with the Northern Health Region (NRHA) and the Northern Manitoba Sector Council, will offer a short Health Care Aide Assistant program in several Northern communities, starting in January 2021. Moreover, UCN is collaborating with Assiniboine Community College and Red River College on the initiative.

The program will certify students as Health Care Aide Assistants. Thus, students have an immediate impact on the response to COVID-19 in Northern Manitoba.

“The new graduates will provide essential care in our long‐term care homes, in a time when COVID is ravaging our most vulnerable.” ” said UCN’s President and Vice‐Chancellor, Doug Lauvstad.

Additional details will become available in the coming weeks.

Assiniboine Community College to Offer Social Service Worker Program at Parkland Campus

Assiniboine Community College will offer its Social Service Worker program at its Parkland (Dauphin) campus, starting in 2021.

Social Service Worker students will gain experience in developing strategies and programs to proactively address social challenges. The program will accommodate 25 students per session.

“We are happy to give those in the parkland region the opportunity to receive training in this area,” said Karen Hargreaves, Dean, School of Health and Human Services at ACC.

Student Technology Fund at University of Manitoba Provides Much-Needed Tech

The University of Manitoba Technology Fund is supporting students by subsidizing access to learning tools.

Established by UM and supported generously by the university community, the fund provides students in need with $500 to cover the cost of a refurbished laptop. Alternatively, it subsidizes the purchase of a new computer. Regardless, the objective is to provide students with the tools to optimize their online learning endeavours.

Over 200 students have received the support so far. Further, plans are ongoing to provide additional funds to a waitlist of over 100 more.

Contributions to the fund can be made here.

Student Group Building Online Community at University of Winnipeg

A University of Winnipeg student group is building an online presence and community.

UW Impact provides free websites to all approved student groups, as an initiative to engage with more students.

“Online presence really helps students see what’s available. It gives them that feeling of being a student while studying online,” said Impact President, Reza Hossain.

New Training Program at Red River College to Address Workforce Shortage in Personal Care Homes

The Manitoba government and Red River College have launched a COVID-19 health-care support worker micro-credential.

The program is a week-long, high-intensity training opportunity, that will prepare students to work as uncertified health-care aides. It creates immediate employment opportunities and addresses the significant staffing shortages in Manitoba’s care homes.

The course is offered to students in Winnipeg, Selkirk, Steinbach, Winkler and Portage la Prairie. Opportunities are being explored for offerings in rural and remote communities.

“I am proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. I commend our staff, faculty and instructors for continuing to step up and support our communities,” said RRC President, Fred Meier.

USB Student President Part of Coalition Calling for More Accessible Health Care

The Healthcare for All Manitoba coalition held a Zoom call this month, to call on the provincial government to make basic health care free and accessible for newcomers, migrant workers, refugees, and international students.

“The majority of Manitobans don’t have to ask questions about accessing free basic health care,” says Marie-Paule Ehoussou, coalition member and president of the Student Association of the University of St. Boniface. “This is not the case for international students. They have not had access to the Manitoba Health Insurance Card since 2018.”

Ehoussou hopes that access will be increased, particularly in a pandemic, where the risks associated with illness are more challenging.

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Campus Manitoba is a consortium of Manitoba’s public universities and colleges. Through collaborative projects and shared services, we facilitate student mobility and expand access to post-secondary programs for students in Manitoba. In addition to campusmanitoba.ca, our websites include ecoursesmb.ca, setyourcourse.ca, and openedmb.ca.