The CMU commuter community is made up of a diverse group of students who bring a unique flavour to the campus. CMU values the involvement of off-campus students in community life at CMU and has developed programming specific to the needs of those who commute.
Our goal in the commuter program is to:
1) Be hospitable and accessible to all students.
2) Advocate on behalf of commuters.
3) Ensure that commuters have access to information and study space.
4) Help integrate commuters, specifically first year commuters, into the CMU community and orient them to the intricacies of the CMU campus.
5) Recognize the diverse commuter population and its diverse needs.
CMU is dedicated to creating a place for commuters to have the best possible university experience; research has shown that students who are involved on campus achieve higher grade and are more satisfied with their educational experience as a whole. Get involved as a commuter at CMU!
Commuter Council
Getting Involved
Lounges
Food
Parking
Transit
Bike Co-op
Commuter Council is made up of student leaders called Commuter Assistants (CAs) who meet on a regular basis to discuss issues and concerns that relate to the commuter students of CMU. Its vision is to create opportunities through which commuters are able to gather together and interact with other students, staff and faculty within the CMU community. The CAs also work to serve the commuter student population through advocacy, orientation to the CMU campus, and general assistance. Commuter Council is chaired by the Coordinator of Commuter Programs.
CMU’s Commuter Council works to establish a strong sense of community for the commuter students and encourages students to make a conscious effort to be involved right from the start of the year. Here are some suggestions to help commuter students develop a sense of belonging in the CMU community:
• Attend as many Orientation events as possible – this is a great chance to connect with other new students who are also looking to find a sense of community.
• Get to know your Commuter Assistant – every new commuter student is assigned to a Commuter Assistant. The CA is meant to be a friendly face on campus who can answer questions and serve as a link to the larger CMU community.
• Attend the Fall Retreat – the Fall Retreat happens on the second weekend of school in September. Students board busses and spend the weekend getting to know one another at Camp Arnes. This proves to be a place to develop important relationships with residential students and commuter students alike.
• Attend Commuter events during the year – CMU Student Council and the Commuter Assistants put on various events throughout the year, such as monthly pizza lunches and other fun events. Make a point of participating in these community-building opportunities.
• Join a Fellowship Group – Students are invited to join Fellowship Groups at the beginning of the school year. These are small groups of students who gather together for fellowship around a common topic or theme (eg., married couples, Bible study, games, etc).
• Attend Community Gatherings – Going to chapels and forums will integrate you into the heart of CMU. By attending regularly, you will find a sense of community among fellow believers.
• Go to Student Council events – CMUSC plans lots of fun events throughout the year. Make the effort to attend them, even if they are sometimes planned for the evening. These events are a great place to meet people.
• Hang out between classes – Rather than going home between classes, stick around and get to know fellow commuters. Hang out in the Student Centre or the Blaurock to do homework or socialize. School will be a lot more fun if you have friends here to share the experience with!
CMU has a number of spaces designed for studying and fellowship and commuter students are encouraged to take advantage of these areas.
The Student Centre on South Campus is equipped with tables for group work, homework or eating meals together with fellow students. Located near the Student Centre is the Commuter Lounge, which has a fridge, two microwaves and a sink where students are welcome to store and prepare their food. A study hall is located downstairs beside the South Campus computer lab and is a more secluded place for homework.
On the North Campus there are a plethora of alcove lounges on each of the three floors that are ideal spaces for those looking for a quiet place to study. The Great Hall, which houses the Blaurock Café, has couches and tables and is a great place for fellowship. There is also a fridge and two microwaves available in this space for storing and preparing food.
Food
The CMU Dining Room welcomes commuter students to purchase meals and eat them with the residential community. Cash and debit card are accepted in the Dining Room or meal tickets can be purchased from the South Campus receptionist or the business office on North Campus.
Students who bring their own food may gather to eat together in the Dining Room, the Commuter Lounge (South Campus), or the Great Hall (North Campus). Fridges for commuter use are located in the alcove on the north wall of the Great Hall and in the South Campus Commuter Lounge. Each of these locations has a microwave. Students are free to bring bag lunches into the Dining Room where there are plates, cutlery, and a microwave available for use. Drinks are available for one dollar.
The Blaurock Café is a student-run business located in the Great Hall on North Campus that offers baked goods, bagels and specialty beverages such as lattes and cappuccinos. All food prepared for the Blaurock is organically grown and all drinks are made with fairly traded ingredients.
CMU provides lockers on both sides of campus for commuters to store their belongings. Students must sign up for a locker on the sign-up sheets provided beside each bank of lockers. Locks are provided by the individual student, but will be cut if not removed at the end of the academic year. For more information, please see the Coordinator of Commuter Programs.
Commuter students who bring a car onto campus are required to purchase a parking pass. The cost of a parking pass is based on the declared number of credit hours the student is taking and is calculated at $6 per credit hour, to a maximum of $159 per year. Scramble parking is available for commuters in Lots A, B, or C on North Campus and Lot P on South Campus.
There is no student parking in South Campus parking Lots M, N or O. Any person parking a vehicle on campus in contravention of the parking policy will be subject to a fine of $25 or have their vehicle towed, or both.
The City of Winnipeg has an extensive transit system known as Winnipeg Transit and CMU is located on bus route 65/66. A heated bus shack is located outside of Concord Hall (residence building) on the South Campus for bus departures heading east and a non-heated bus shelter is located on the north side of Grant Ave. for bus departures heading west. Bus tickets are available for purchase from the CMU Bookstore. To plan bus routes please visit winnipegtransit.com.
Sanctoral Cycle is a bike shop and resource hub for all your cycling needs at CMU. This is the place to look for information, announcements, and other bike-related propaganda. The Co-op is located in the North Campus basement (accessible from the north stairwell and outside the doors below the music wing). Membership gives access to tools, workspace, parts, accessories (lube, tubes, chains, etc.), education on bike maintenance, 15% discount at Olympia Cycle and Ski as well as bike rentals.
Lifetime Memberships
$10 for students; $20 for faculty/staff/alumni
Memberships are available in the Blaurock Café.
