The University of Manitoba Students' Union (UMSU) is the university-wide representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Manitoba, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba."GOVERNING DOCUMENTS | About." UMSU. Retrieved 2021 May 6. UMSU was established in 1919, replacing the former University of Manitoba Students' Association founded in 1914, and was incorporated by Act of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly effective June 19, 1975.

Its head office is located in UMSU University Centre, a large, Modernist architecture building designed by Canadian architect Isadore (Issie) Coop at UM's Fort Garry Campus that serves as the university's activity hub.

UMSU is funded by mandatory student organization fees, included in tuition fees; upon paying their fees, students become full members of the Students' Union. For the 2020-2021 school year, the mandatory UMSU fee was $136.90 per term, $69.61 of which goes to UMSU itself. The executive and community representatives of the Union are elected during the UMSU General Election.

Businesses and services The UMSU operates 7 student businesses on campus, all at the University Centre. These businesses include:

Degree's — a restaurant G.P.A.'s Campus Convenience — a convenience store VW's Social Club — the campus bar IQ’s Cafe & Billiards — a pool hall and coffee shop UMCycle — a full-service bike shop UMSU Service Centre — an information kiosk that provides information on university-related matters such as registrations, exams, and transit routes/maps, as well as UPass information, poster approvals for University Centre, and a lost-and-found service. It also sells bus passes, other Winnipeg Transit products, and event/social tickets. The Service Centre has replaced the much smaller Answers information booth.

UMSU also operates a number of non-business operations, such as the Gallery of Student Art, which displays art installations created by students and a Food Bank for students.

It also administers a number of scholarships and bursaries, travel grants, as well as providing funding for the student radio station, CJUM-FM (more popularly known as UMFM), and the student newspaper, The Manitoban.

In 2018, UMSU partnered with Nimbus Learning to provide students with a peer tutoring program.

Governance UMSU has a 5-person elected executive, which includes a president and four vice presidents. In 2016, the reported salary for an executive was $37,700 per executive, including benefits. The President is responsible for the overall operation of UMSU and serves as the official spokesperson. The President also serves on the University Senate and Board of Governors. The four Vice-Presidents are each responsible for a different portfolio:

Finance and Operations — the Vice President, Finance and Operations (VPFO) for students, including U-Pass, Health and Dental, and Legal services. They also manage UMSU businesses and finances alongside the general manager. External Affairs — the Vice President, External Affairs (VPEA) works to build relationships and negotiate with provincial and municipal governments to ensure post-secondary students are consulted on all academic decisions. University Affairs - the Vice President, University Affairs (VPUA) oversees internal university-related affairs and serves as a liaison between UM administration and departments. They advocate for the Union’s interests to the Board of Governors, the Senate, and other university committees. Student Life — the Vice President, Student Life (VPSL) oversees over 100 UMSU Clubs and 28 Faculty Associations on campus. As the primary liaison between UMSU and its community representatives, they ensure that UMSU consults with and supports marginalized communities on campus.

UMSU Board of Directors is the highest authority in the organization, and is made up of student representatives from each of the University's faculties, schools, student residences, the Inner-City Campus, and five positions for community representatives. Each faculty, school or residence has at least one representative, with some having up to four, depending on student population. The five community representatives represent the following marginalized communities of the student body: women-identifying students, international students, students living with disabilities, LGBTQ students, and Indigenous students.

The executive and community representatives are elected during the UMSU General Election. UMSU is also member of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and the Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students (MAPSS).

There are also various committees that deal with UMSU's governing policies and procedures, including specific areas, such as governance, finance, member services, UPass (a subsidized student bus pass), and the health & dental insurance plan. These committees are composed of a combination of UMSU executives, UMSU Board members, and students-at-large. The UMSU Board is the highest decision making authority and has the power to remove representatives who breach governing policies. Hannah Le was removed for breach of policy during a board vote in 2025 from the Student Life position.

UMSU Executives are invited to serve on the Board of Governors and the Senate of the University of Manitoba each year. In the event of openings on committees and task forces, student representation fulfilled or delegated by the UMSU Executive. In 2020, UMSU President Jelynn Dela Cruz served on the University of Manitoba COVID-19 Response Steering Committee. In the previous year, Dela Cruz served on the Presidents' Task Force for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

UMSU is funded by mandatory student organization fees, included in tuition fees; upon paying their fees, students become full members of the Students' Union. For the 2024-2025 school year, the mandatory UMSU fee was $136.90 per term, $69.61 of which goes to UMSU itself.

University of Manitoba Students' Union Act

The University of Manitoba Students' Union Act () is the Manitoba law that incorporated the University of Manitoba Students' Union, making UMSU the only student government in Canada with its own specific incorporating act. The Corporations Act (Manitoba) does not apply to the corporation. Previously since its founding, UMSU had been an unincorporated body established by a By-law of the University.

The Incorporating Act was proposed and drafted during the presidency of John Perrin (1973-74) with support from UMSU Council, university President Dr. Ernest Sirluck, Chancellor Dr. Peter D. Curry and the U of M Board of Governors. It was finally enacted by the Manitoba Legislative Assembly during the presidency of Robert Setters (1974-75) and then came into effect upon receiving Royal Assent on June 19, 1975 during the presidency of Victoria Lehman (1975-76). The Act was later amended in November 1990 and again in June 2018. List of UMSU Presidents YearPresident2026-2027Heaven Kaur2025-2026Prabhnoor Singh2024-2025Divya Sharma2023-2024Tracy Karuhogo2022-2023Jaron Rykiss2021-2022Brendan Scott2020-2021Jelynn Dela Cruz2018-2020Jakob Sanderson2016-2018Tanjit Nagra2015-2016Jeremiah Kopp2013-2015Al Turnbull2012-2013Bilan Arte2011-2012Camilla Tapp2010-2011Heather Laube2009-2010Sid Rashid2008-2009Jonny Sopotiuk2006-2008Garry Sran2004-2006Amanda Aziz2003-2004Shawn Alwis2001-2003Nicholas Louizos1999-2001Steven Fletcher1998-1999Christopher Kozier1997-1998Katherine Kowalchuk1996-1997Trevor Lines1995-1996David Gratzer1994-1995Blessing Rugara1993-1994Cory Pollack1991-1993Paul Kemp1990-1991Adam DiCarlo1989-1990Karen Taraska1988-1989Bob Cielen1987-1988Kevin Janzen1986-1987Mark Rogers1985-1986Jeff Kushner1984-1985Carol Manson1983-1984Michael Young1982-1983Erik Tatarchuk1981-1982Timothy Rigby1980-1981James Egan1979-1980Debra Slade1978-1979Steven Ashton1977-1978Roger Nelson1976-1977lJames Snidal1975-1976Victoria Lehman1974-1975Robert Setters1973-1974John Perrin1972-1973Bill Balan1971-1972Ray Hamm1970-1971Israel Lyon1969-1970Alan Bodie1968-1969Horace Paterson1967-1968Chris Westdal1966-1967David Sanders 1965-1966Winston Dookeran1964-1965Richard Good1963-1964Bryce Doern1962-1963Marshall Rothstein1961-1962William Neville1960-1961Lindley Abdulah1959-1960Jim Foran1958-1959Brian Knapheis1957-1958Charles Anderson1956-1957Julius Koteles1955-1956Miles Pepper1954-1955Scott Wright1953-1954Richard Bocking1952-1953Conrad Wyrzykowski1951-1952William Norrie1950-1951Arthur Mauro1949-1950Bill Appleby1948-1949Fred Bickell1947-1948Peyton Lyon1946-1947Lynn A. K. Watt1945-1946Dave Robertson1944-1945Monte Halparin1943-1944Alberta Hamilton1942-1943Fred Tallman1941-1942John Hamlin1940-1941Richard Hunter1939-1940Roderick Hunter1938-1939William Cave1937-1938Ronald Turner1936-1937John Robinson1935-1936W. Donald Ross1934-1935Hector Craig1933-1934William Bendickson1932-1933John Anderson 1931-1932 William Lewis Morton 1930-1931 Charles H. Walton 1929-1930 Larry A. Adamson1928-1929John A. Crawford1927-1928Edward Holland1926-1927Harry Moss1925-1926Fred Bamford1924-1925Edward Corrigan1923-1924Donald M. Black1922-1923Clifford Dick1921-1922Henry B. Chown1920-1921George H. Lee1918-1920A. A. McCoubrey1917-1918Ralph Maybank1916-1918Urban D. Clark1915-1916William T. Straith1914-1915Roderick K. Finlayson

References

External links

University of Manitoba