Supports available for anyone impacted by invasion of Ukraine

As events continue to unfold in Ukraine, the University of Manitoba is committed to supporting students and employees who are impacted by the current conflict in Ukraine. As I said in my message last week, watching this situation unfold from afar while fearing for family and friends is deeply painful, and we are here for you.

If you find yourself needing help or assistance, if your studies are being impacted, or you would like to speak to someone outside of your regular friend and family networks, I encourage you to use the resources below.

• If you are a student and are feeling stress or anxiety, there are many student supports in place to help you, including self-care tips to add to your toolkit. Regardless of your level of need, you are encouraged to access the wide range of supports available to you.
• Faculty and staff are reminded that UM work, wellness and crisis supports are available, such as the Employee Family Assistance Program, which includes support networks and resources. Managers who need support can contact their HR consultant. See employee wellness on UM Intranet for details.
• Spiritual Care offers several services including spiritual care providers, chaplains and Elders who are ready to meet with any student who would like to connect one-on-one. Visit the Spiritual Care website to learn more about the resources they provide.
• If your upcoming academic course work is affected because you are directly impacted by the situation in Ukraine, please reach out to your instructor right away to discuss options that are available. If you encounter any issues with regard to your courses, you can also seek advice from Student Advocacy.
• If you are directly impacted by the situation in Ukraine and would like to discuss academic accommodations, such as deferrals or extensions, please contact your instructor or an advisor in your faculty as soon as possible.
• Students experiencing financial distress due to the conflict should connect with Financial Aid and Awards for information regarding supports.
• The International Student Advisors (ISA) at the International Centre (IC) are also available for support. To be connected with an ISA, please contact international [at] umanitoba [dot] ca or 204-474-8501.

UM is grateful to have many international students and employees from Ukraine who make rich contributions to our province and university community. Our thoughts are with you, and with all your family and friends who deserve peace, liberty and good governance.

Sincerely,
Michael Benarroch