Student Experience Advisory Group
The UM Student Experience Advisory Group is a dedicated forum for students to share their perspectives and ideas about the student experience at the University of Manitoba. Through open dialogue with UM leadership, members provide input on programs, services, policies, initiatives, and emerging issues that matter to students throughout their educational journey.
Terms of Reference
Purpose
The UM Student Experience Advisory Group (The Group) provides a formal mechanism for students to share perspectives, experiences, and ideas that help shape and enhance the student experience at the University of Manitoba. Members provide advice and feedback on initiatives, programs, services, policies, and emerging issues that affect students throughout their educational journey.
Specifically, the UM Student Experience Advisory Group:
- Facilitates active engagement and discussion with diverse student perspectives to support continuous improvement of the student experience.
- Serves as a discussion forum through which Student Affairs and other University of Manitoba departments/units may receive feedback and input on student needs, services, programs, and initiatives.
- Creates space for discussion between UM leadership and students, particularly students who are not in official student leadership roles.
- Serves as a link between University of Manitoba students, their campus communities, student governance bodies, and University administration.
- Provides students with opportunities to ask questions of administration regarding issues affecting the student experience.
- Provides students with opportunities to have their voices heard on important issues and to gain leadership, consultation, and decision-making experience.
Composition
The Group operates in an advisory capacity to the Vice-Provost (Students) and does not replace existing student governance bodies, formal consultation processes, or decision-making authorities within the University.
The Vice-Provost (Students) will serve as Chair of the Group. The Vice-Provost (Students) may designate one or more members of Student Affairs leadership to support or fulfill Chair responsibilities, including facilitating meetings, establishing agendas, supporting meaningful student participation, and coordinating the selection of group members.
The Group will consist of the Chair, any designated representatives supporting the Chair, and up to 15 currently registered University of Manitoba student members. Recognizing that the membership cannot reflect the full diversity of the student population, the Group will seek input, as appropriate, from student populations and communities whose perspectives are not represented within the Group.
Early in the Fall term each year the opportunity to serve on the Group will be promoted widely across the University. Consideration will be given to the diversity of the Group to allow for broad representation of students at the University of Manitoba.
Recognition
Experience Record recognition is available to members who complete all expectations of the role.
Meetings
Frequency
In-person meetings will be held twice in the Fall Term and twice in the Winter Term.
Additional consultation opportunities may be established throughout the year as appropriate.
Record
Written notes will be prepared for each meeting and shared with Group members.
Staff and Faculty Attendance
Upon invitation, administrators, staff, faculty members, and student leaders may attend meetings to provide updates or expert advice, or to receive feedback from the Group.
Duties and responsibilities
The Group is responsible for providing advice, feedback, and ideas regarding those services, programs, policies, facilities, and spaces that affect students and the student experience.
Accountability
Students serving on this committee are expected to:
- Commit to a minimum membership term of one academic year
- Attend meetings scheduled twice per Fall and Winter terms.
- Review any materials that may be distributed in advance of meetings.
- Liaise with their student communities or networks as required to gather and share relevant information.
- Engage respectfully with all group members by listening to, considering, and responding constructively to feedback, suggestions, and ideas.
- Participate in collaborative problem-solving, recognizing that consensus may not always be reached and that final decisions remain the responsibility of the University.
