News brief

ROMER BAUTISTA AND TESSA VANDERHART STAFF

Board of Governors says ‘yes’ to engineering hikes, ‘no’ to grad fee restructuring

The University of Manitoba Board of Governors met April 24.

One of the first items on the agenda was approving the increase of tuition in the faculty of engineering by $40 per credit hour. Rachel Gotthilf, serving at her last meeting as an UMSU-appointed governor, debated the motion on behalf of Engineers Against Tuition Hikes (EATHikes). She said that the student-referendum process was undemocratic, as one engineering professor was actively involved in the campaign; engineering dean Dean Ruth put forward the motion and was also the University of Manitoba Engineering Society (UMES) bylaws-appointed scrutineer, which Gotthilf said was a conflict of interest.

University president Emöke Szathmáry said that the UMES bylaws regarding referenda were put in place “a long time ago.”

“There was nothing illegal in the way the referendum was run. It was legal to the letter,” Szathmáry said.

The motion passed with two opposed, Steven Hennessey and Rachel Gotthilf.

The Board of Governors also voted to eliminate the three assessors on the Board — one from UMSU, one from the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA), and one from the university support staff. The position of UMSU assessor was created in 1974, before students were represented on the Board; six students were added to the Board in 1997.

President Szathmáry reported that she asked the Board of Governors finance committee return the proposed restructuring of graduate student fees to the faculty for further consideration. The fees would have replaced the $674 annual continuing fee returning graduate students pay with a $1,000 fee, payable in each of three terms.

The vote on the university’s budget, customarily held in the April meeting of the Board of Governors, was delayed until the June 19 meeting because of the precise amount of the government grant was still undetermined.

U of M budget in works

The university’s operating budget for 2007-08 was put to the University of Manitoba Board of Governors on June 19, 2007.

As of press time, the university was unable to comment on the budget. At the April 24 Board of Governors meeting, university president Emöke Szathmáry said that this year’s provincial budget provided “the largest amount of support ever allocated.”

On April 4, the provincial government announced that it would further increase funding to universities; operating grants for provincial universities are to increase by seven percent instead of five per cent.

The University of Winnipeg passed its budget June 4. The provincial government grant was raised by 7.6 per cent.

But, with a total operating budget of $95.74 million, the $860,000 increase wasn’t a significant change, vice-president (finance) Bill Balan told the Winnipeg Free Press.

This fall, science students at the U of W will pay a total of $135,000 in additional lab fees. Education students will for the first time pay fees to help cover the cost of their work experience in schools, $625 for the program.

At Brandon University, a proposed lab fee of $50 has been tabled.

For up-to-date information on the U of M budget, please visit the Manitoban online at www.themanitoban.com.

UMSU council meets, greets, buys $18,000 air conditioners

UMSU council held its second meeting of the 2007-08 year on June 7. The meetings are held once a month in the summer, and every second Thursday during the school term, at 6 p.m. in 105 Helen Glass.

UMSU president Garry Sran reported that there were break-ins to the UMSU offices; computer monitors and a staff member’s IPod were stolen, but no computers. Sran said it appeared that someone had come through the window.

The UMSU executive committee brought forward two motions. The first requested $18,000 for the purchase of two air conditioners to be used in UMSU’s Digital Copy Centre.

UMSU vice-president (advocacy) Rachel Heinrichs noted that the air conditioners are required by the Manitoba Workplace Health and Safety Act.

The second motion asked UMSU to follow the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) in supporting the First Nations Day of Action, June 29.

Both motions passed unanimously.

U of M to be home to new indoor soccer complex

The City of Winnipeg has confirmed that a new $12.5-million state-of-the-art indoor soccer complex will be built at the U of M’s Fort Garry campus. The Fort Garry proposal beat proposals from two other sites – one near the Assiniboia Downs, and one near the University of Winnipeg.

The decision to construct at the Fort Garry site comes less than a year after a previous deal to build an indoor complex at the U of M fell through. The previous plans dissolved in July 2006 when one of the deal’s major backers dropped out.

The U of M is expected to contribute $5-million to the project, which will give the university ownership of the new facility. The remaining $7.5 million will be funded by all three levels of government and the Winnipeg Soccer Foundation.

The complex will be located next to University Stadium. Construction is expected to begin soon, with a targeted completion date set for September 2008.

Construction set to begin for new lecture theatre

The construction of a new, 250-seat lecture theatre at St. John’s College is set to begin with a sod-turning ceremony on June 20.

In addition to the 250-seats, the new building is expected to feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment, along with a kitchen and serving area to accommodate special events and lectures.

The new lecture theatre was made possible by a $500,000 donation by Robert. B. Schultz in May 2006. Schultz graduated from the U of M in 1965 with Bachelor of Commerce, before going on to complete his Chartered Accountancy designation in 1969.

Because of the generous gift, it was announced by the St. John’s College Warden, Janet Hoskins, that the new lecture theatre will be named the Robert B. Schultz Lecture Theatre.

Completion of the new facility is expected in the spring of 2008.





Volume 95 Issue 1	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	June 20, 2007

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly News brief ROMER BAUTISTA AND TESSA VANDERHART STAFF Board of Governors says ‘yes’ to engineering hikes, ‘no’ to grad fee restructuring The University of Manitoba Board of Governors met April 24. One of the first items on the agenda was approving the increase of tuition in the faculty of engineering by $40 per credit hour. Rachel Gotthilf, serving at her last meeting as an UMSU-appointed governor, debated the motion on behalf of Engineers Against Tuition Hikes (EATHikes). She said that the student-referendum process was undemocratic, as one engineering professor was actively involved in the campaign; engineering dean Dean Ruth put forward the motion and was also the University of Manitoba Engineering Society (UMES) bylaws-appointed scrutineer, which Gotthilf said was a conflict of interest. University president Emöke Szathmáry said that the UMES bylaws regarding referenda were put in place “a long time ago.” “There was nothing illegal in the way the referendum was run. It was legal to the letter,” Szathmáry said. The motion passed with two opposed, Steven Hennessey and Rachel Gotthilf. The Board of Governors also voted to eliminate the three assessors on the Board — one from UMSU, one from the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA), and one from the university support staff. The position of UMSU assessor was created in 1974, before students were represented on the Board; six students were added to the Board in 1997. President Szathmáry reported that she asked the Board of Governors finance committee return the proposed restructuring of graduate student fees to the faculty for further consideration. The fees would have replaced the $674 annual continuing fee returning graduate students pay with a $1,000 fee, payable in each of three terms. The vote on the university’s budget, customarily held in the April meeting of the Board of Governors, was delayed until the June 19 meeting because of the precise amount of the government grant was still undetermined. U of M budget in works The university’s operating budget for 2007-08 was put to the University of Manitoba Board of Governors on June 19, 2007. As of press time, the university was unable to comment on the budget. At the April 24 Board of Governors meeting, university president Emöke Szathmáry said that this year’s provincial budget provided “the largest amount of support ever allocated.” On April 4, the provincial government announced that it would further increase funding to universities; operating grants for provincial universities are to increase by seven percent instead of five per cent. The University of Winnipeg passed its budget June 4. The provincial government grant was raised by 7.6 per cent. But, with a total operating budget of $95.74 million, the $860,000 increase wasn’t a significant change, vice-president (finance) Bill Balan told the Winnipeg Free Press. This fall, science students at the U of W will pay a total of $135,000 in additional lab fees. Education students will for the first time pay fees to help cover the cost of their work experience in schools, $625 for the program. At Brandon University, a proposed lab fee of $50 has been tabled. For up-to-date information on the U of M budget, please visit the Manitoban online at www.themanitoban.com. UMSU council meets, greets, buys $18,000 air conditioners UMSU council held its second meeting of the 2007-08 year on June 7. The meetings are held once a month in the summer, and every second Thursday during the school term, at 6 p.m. in 105 Helen Glass. UMSU president Garry Sran reported that there were break-ins to the UMSU offices; computer monitors and a staff member’s IPod were stolen, but no computers. Sran said it appeared that someone had come through the window. The UMSU executive committee brought forward two motions. The first requested $18,000 for the purchase of two air conditioners to be used in UMSU’s Digital Copy Centre. UMSU vice-president (advocacy) Rachel Heinrichs noted that the air conditioners are required by the Manitoba Workplace Health and Safety Act. The second motion asked UMSU to follow the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) in supporting the First Nations Day of Action, June 29. Both motions passed unanimously. U of M to be home to new indoor soccer complex The City of Winnipeg has confirmed that a new $12.5-million state-of-the-art indoor soccer complex will be built at the U of M’s Fort Garry campus. The Fort Garry proposal beat proposals from two other sites – one near the Assiniboia Downs, and one near the University of Winnipeg. The decision to construct at the Fort Garry site comes less than a year after a previous deal to build an indoor complex at the U of M fell through. The previous plans dissolved in July 2006 when one of the deal’s major backers dropped out. The U of M is expected to contribute $5-million to the project, which will give the university ownership of the new facility. The remaining $7.5 million will be funded by all three levels of government and the Winnipeg Soccer Foundation. The complex will be located next to University Stadium. Construction is expected to begin soon, with a targeted completion date set for September 2008. Construction set to begin for new lecture theatre The construction of a new, 250-seat lecture theatre at St. John’s College is set to begin with a sod-turning ceremony on June 20. In addition to the 250-seats, the new building is expected to feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment, along with a kitchen and serving area to accommodate special events and lectures. The new lecture theatre was made possible by a $500,000 donation by Robert. B. Schultz in May 2006. Schultz graduated from the U of M in 1965 with Bachelor of Commerce, before going on to complete his Chartered Accountancy designation in 1969. Because of the generous gift, it was announced by the St. John’s College Warden, Janet Hoskins, that the new lecture theatre will be named the Robert B. Schultz Lecture Theatre. Completion of the new facility is expected in the spring of 2008.


Terms of Use RSS Feeds © Copyright 2008 The Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation