Learn More About the Work-study Program from the Indigenous Leadership Programming

The Work-study Program offers part-time on campus positions for University of Manitoba students with financial need. It is a great experiential learning opportunity for students to gain and build on their skills, while also providing rewarding experiences for employers. The Work-study team interviewed the Director of Indigenous Leadership Programming alongside their hired Work-study student from the 2024-2025 term to gain some insight of the impact of the program.

Employer Interview: Justin Rasmussen

Please introduce yourself. Where do you work on campus and what is your role? Please feel free to share any other relevant information you would like.

Taanishi (hello)! My name is Justin Rasmussen, I am proud to be Red River Métis, my pronouns are he, him, his, and I serve students at the University of Manitoba as the Director of Indigenous Leadership Programming.

How long have you been an employer with the Work-study Program?
I’ve been an employer with the Work-Study Program since September 2023.

How did you hear about the Work-study Program?
I first learned about the Work-Study Program during my time at the Indigenous Student Centre, where work-study students were regularly hired and made meaningful contributions.

How would you describe your experience with the Work-study Program?
My experience has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s incredibly rewarding to provide students with valuable work experience while they actively contribute to our Indigenous Leadership Programming. The Work-Study staff have also been fantastic. They are supportive, responsive, and they’ve made the process smooth and efficient from start to finish.

Would you consider the Work Study funding to have been helpful for your office/department?
Absolutely. The funding was vital to our work in Indigenous Leadership Programming. With three funded positions, the students made a real impact creating such as creating engaging content for our social media, ensuring our events were well-coordinated, and serving as role models within our programs. They also brought fresh perspectives that helped shape our programming to better meet the needs of today’s students.

Were there any key takeaways related to the program that you would like to share?
Including work-study students in our team added tremendous value. The administrative work involved was minimal compared to the many benefits. It was a meaningful way to support students in their learning journeys while enhancing the work we do with their talents, energy, and insight.

Student Interview: Ashley Sinclair

Please introduce yourself. What do you study? Where did you work on campus, what was your role? Please feel free to share any other relevant information you would like.

Boozhoo, aaniin, Ashley Sinclair ndizhnikaaz, Mimiwiiziibing ndoonjii, Winnipeg ndizhidaa. I am entering my final year of my Bachelor of Arts degree with a Focus in Indigenous studies and minoring in recreation management. 

I worked as part of the Bison Spirit Leadership team, assisting with the social media aspect of the program. I also had the opportunity to attend all the Bison Spirit meetings and had the honour to watch each of the participants grow into confident leaders.

How long have you been a student with the Work-study Program?

This was my first year participating in the work/study program, and I am glad that I did.

How did you hear about the Work-study Program?

I first heard about this program through Justin when I was invited to be the Bison Spirit Leadership programs social media assistant.

How would you describe your experience with the Work-study Program?

If I were to describe this particular work-study program, I wouldn’t describe it as an obligation or as “work”. It felt like I was making a real difference in the lives of the participants, and being able to witness their growth was a gift in and of itself. Getting involved in the Indigenous community on campus has been so integral to my success, I can’t wait to see what other work/study positions may come my way.

How did the Work-study Program enhance your experiential learning at the University of Manitoba? (For example, did you develop specific skills or competencies that you feel will be beneficial for your future career goals?)

Further, the skills that I took from this experience are substantial, the networking, new friendships, deepening the relationship with my employer which is something that I value, very much. I can definitely utilize skills that I obtained in this position, in my current position in Federal government as a policy analyst. To be led by a great leader is a gift, and I can’t thank Justin enough for thinking of me for this opportunity.

Were there any key takeaways related to the program that you would like to share?

A key takeaway that I’d like to leave you with is to embrace opportunity, say yes, don’t allow your fear and anxiety to refrain you, allow it to inspire you. Join as many clubs and programs as you can, embrace being a student and don’t shy away from mentor opportunities, they have so much to offer and we also in turn, have much to teach our leaders.

How to Apply

If you are interested in being a Work-study employer for the 2025 – 2026 term, you can submit job positions to UMConnect through the Work-study module, the deadline to submit is Monday, July 21 at Noon! If you are new to the Work-study Program, please fill out the New Work-study Staff/Faculty Account Registration form by Friday, July 18 at Noon to start submitting jobs.

For students interested in applying for the Work-study Program, the application portal will open on UMConnect by Monday, August 4. To review the eligibility requirements for the program, visit the Work-study website. To avoid delays in your application, apply for government student loans as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about the program, reach out to Madison Bonnefoy, Work-Study Coordinator or Lindsey Hiebert, Career Consultant at wkstudy[at]umanitoba[dot]ca

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