First Year Student Information

We The Faculty of Business and Economics at The University of Winnipeg would like to welcome you to the FBE family. Starting your first year of university is exciting and scary at the same time. We hope to provide you with all the information that you would need to have a wonderful time and thrive at UW.

We have divided the information that you would need into following topics:

Expectations of a university student
Grades
Classroom
Examinations
Seeking help
Staying organized
Resources available to you
Accessibility
Get involved on Campus
Staying connected

1. Expectations of a university student

One of the primary goals of university is to teach you how to analyze information, question assumptions and solve problems independently. You are here to learn, gain knowledge and learn critical thinking skills.

As a student at UWFBE here are a following set of expectations that you must strive to meet:

Attend and participate in class. The classes are designed to provide information that is key for your learning and assessments.
Take notes in class. Not all information discussed in class will be available to you in the nexus course materials. Exam questions can come from information that is shared and discussed during class.
Complete your course work according to the due dates provided in your course syllabus (course outline). Working on coursework will allow you the opportunity to assess your learning and ask questions to seek help.
Be aware of and follow UW policies and regulations. These can be found in the academic calendar and in your course outline. Here is the link to the academic calendar - https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/academics/calendar/.
Ask questions in class and ask for help. While both topics are covered in greater detail below, these are essential things that you must do as a university student.

2. Grades

Your grades are vital for your progression through university. Your grades will often be considered when you apply for different courses and programs across UW. A higher grade will put you at a greater chance of success.

The most important thing about grades is that they are earned and not given. You as the student are responsible for putting in the work needed to get the grade you want.

Here are some tips that can be helpful in getting satisfactory grades:

Get organized and stay on top of the coursework. Creating a calendar of all the important dates for your courses is an excellent way to be on track.
The due date is not the do-date. Managing your time well will allow you to work on your assignments with enough time to spare for making revisions and updates to your work before submission.
Know what is needed for your assessments. Your professors and instructors will often share with you what they are looking for in your submissions. As the graders, they will decide what meets the mark and what doesn’t. If you have questions about what they are looking to test you on, feel free to ask them during class. If you have concerns on how to do well in a course, we highly encourage you to book office hours with your professors.
Be mindful of deadlines. The deadline for an assessment is made available to you well in advance and it is supposed to act as a mark for when your submission is due. Delayed submissions will impact your grades, and, in some circumstances, your delayed submission may not be considered at all.

Calculating your grades in a course

Learning how to calculate your grades is fundamental. At UWFBE, a weighted grade system is used to calculate your grades. A weighted grade system is a scoring method where different parts of a class that count towards your grade (such as homework, attendance, tests, final exams, etc.) are given different levels of importance. This means that some parts of your assessments carry more weight or percentage towards your final score than others. Here are some examples of how you can calculate your grades:

Calculating your GPA

You can find the information on how to calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA) here.

3. Classroom

At university, the classroom is going to be the room you get the most out of. Be it virtual or in-person, the classroom is where you will gather knowledge, meet your professors, and make connections that will last you a lifetime. Here are somethings to be mindful of when coming to class:

Be on time. The gravity of being on time cannot be overstated. Showing up on time (with enough time to settle in) is the only appropriate way of showing up in a professional and academic environment.
Engage in class discussion. Class discussions initiated via prompts or questions go a long way in making a concept easy to understand. They can help spark an interest in a field or even inform your worldview.
Show up to class. While attendance may not be a mandatory requirement for your course, it is highly recommended that you attend all classes. Your instructors have meticulously crafted a program to deliver the best possible course to you and the only way to make the most of it is to attend classes.
Ask questions. We totally understand that asking a question or taking part in class discussions can be daunting. It is but natural to feel a fear of being judged on
The classroom is safe space for you to ask questions, learn and grow. There are no bad questions. It is important to remember that the reason that you are here is to learn, therefore it is but natural that there are gaps in your knowledge that we will help shore up in time.
Classroom etiquette. A classroom is a safe space for learning for you, your fellow classmates, and instructors. Please follow the behavior that is expected of you to maintain the decorum.

4. Examinations

Examinations are a standard procedure for evaluation used as part of many courses at FBE. We understand that many of you may not be familiar with what happens during an exam and how to prepare for it. Do not worry, the University and the department will provide you the information and support to make your experience of exams as easy as possible for you.

5. Seeking Help

A university can appear as a big scary place. We are here to help provide you with all the information that you may need and bridge the gaps so that you can enjoy your time here and learn at ease. The best way to get help is to ask for help. Everyone at FBE will be happy to help you with any questions and concerns you may have.

Office hours

As a student at the university, you can book office hours with your instructors. Office hours are an excellent way to discuss any concerns you may have about the course material and submissions. Your instructors are an excellent resource that you can seek help from.

Advising

We the Faculty of Business and Economics (UWFBE) are lucky to have a dedicated Advisor for the faculty, allowing for a deeper understanding of the programs and nuances of the degrees. The Advisor is located in the Buhler Centre building (3^rd Floor, 3BC11).

The FBE Advisor, Christy Campbell, is there to help you with course planning, registration, degree audits, and understanding university policies including the appeal process. She is here to support students and help with questions. You can book directly with her (https://calendly.com/fbeadvisor/academic-advising) or stop by for quick questions during her drop-in hours; Mondays 10-11 am and Thursdays 2-3 pm.

When to See an Advisor:

Before registration
Making changes (dropping a course, switching focus of degree)
Facing Difficulties (personal or academic challenges impacting your coursework)
Have questions

It is recommended that you meet with the Advisor at least once a year to make sure you are on the right track with your degree.

Degree Planning 101

Here is a sample BBA degree plan to help you plan out your degree. The document can be accessed here.

Student Wellness Centre

Help at UW is not limited to academics and course-planning. The Student Wellness Centre is where you can get access to counselling and health services. They offer options for in-person and virtual care depending on availability and provide community resources if you need help urgently or outside of their regular operating hours. You can check out the Student Wellness Centre by following this link.

6. Staying organized

Being a university student and managing everything can be hard. Trying to stay organized will allow you to stay on top of things that you need to do, make time for yourself, and reduce stress.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can seek help and support. The Student Wellness Centre can provide you support when needed.

If you are interested in learning organizational, time-management, and other important skills that will help with your journey through university life and adulting, you can check out the following resources:

Study Skills Workshop: Study Skills Workshops are designed to improve your learning skills and help you achieve your academic goals. Organized by Academic and Career Services, this series of workshops is FREE to all students. The next offering for the Study Skills Workshop runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1, 2026. Pre-registration is required. You can find all about the Study Skills Workshop here. You can pre-register for the sessions by following this link.
Student Success Advising: Student Success Advisors are available to support you and your goals at The University of Winnipeg, and can assist you in creating a plan to enhance your academic success. You can find out more about Student Success Advising through their website here and reach out to them through their email: studentsuccess@uwinnipeg.ca
Library Tutorials & Workshops: The UW Library offers many self-guided tools and workshops. These resources can be found here.

7. Resources available to you

The campus is your playground, literally. Here is a list of resources that you can access as a UW student:

Library: The UW Library is an excellent resource for students and faculty alike. You are welcome to check out their collections and engage in their events. The Library is home to more than just books as. You can book study spaces, rooms, and explore their catalogue of self-guided tools and workshops to help with assignments and research. You can find more information about the Library here.
Gym and Recreation Services: The UW is home to multiple options to stay active and pursue your interests. Right from a fully kitted Fitness Centre to Multi-functional courts and more, you can find out more about the facilities here.
TSC: The UW Technology Solutions Centre is the resource on campus for your tech help. You can seek all the information and help you may need with getting network access, printing, resetting password, etc. You can get access to TSC through this link.
UWSA: The University of Winnipeg Student Association represents you, the student body of UW. You can find out more about the U-Pass and your health plan from the UWSA website which can reached by following this link.

8. Accessibility

In collaboration with students, faculty, and staff at The University of Winnipeg, Accessibility Services (AS) and Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) facilitate and promote the ongoing development of an accessible learning environment which provides students with disabilities, mental health concerns, medical conditions and temporary injuries the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of campus life. (Accessibility Services website, 2026)

Accessibility Services can be reached via email accessibility@uwinnipeg.ca or phone at 204.786.9771. AS & DHHS office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

You can also visit their website here.

9. Get involved on Campus

The University of Winnipeg Campus is a wonderful place for you to find your people. Be it sports, arts, activism, culture, or media, the UW has a club or student group for it. And if there is none that matches your interest, there is space for you to set one up!

For more information about the active student groups click here.

For more information about student groups and how to form your own, visit the this link on the UWSA website.

Links for the Instagram acoounts of UWSA and UWFBE student groups are below:

FESA: https://www.instagram.com/fesa_uwinnipeg
JDC West: https://www.instagram.com/uwinnipegjdcw
UWASA: https://www.instagram.com/theuwsa

10. Staying connected

Staying connected with FBE will allow you to know about all the events happening within the faculty and stay up to date with the information that you need. You can find us on social media and we send out a biweekly newsletter straight to your inbox. You can follow us by clicking these links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uwinnipegfbe/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uwinnipegfbe/