Quality Money Allocations 2005-2006
Quality Money Allocations
2005-06
Quality Money is an initiative of the Students' Union (SU) to provide funding to projects at the University of Calgary that enhance the overall student experience. Quality Money was originally attached to the tuition consultation decisions announced at the University Board of Governors meeting in December 2003 and subsequently the Quality Money initiative was first introduced in 2004
For 2005-06 approximately $1,449,953.00 was allocated, funding ten projects.
- Student Commons - $350,000
- Social Science Student Lounge (“Take Your Space”) - $100,000
- Information Commons Computers - $250,000
- International Experiences - $175,000
- Innovative Teaching Grants - $50,000
- Class Size Reduction - $200,000
- Library Resources: Ebrary and Ref Works - $78,000
- Peggy Patterson Scholarship - $21,000
- Campus Involvement Awards - $154,000
- MSC South Courtyard Renovation - $71,953
2005-06 Project Descriptions
1. Student Commons ($350,000)
The Students’ Union Quality Money Committee requested that $350,000 from the 2005-2006 Quality Money be allocated towards (and held in reserve for) the future construction of the Student Commons project, subject to the same terms and conditions outlined in the 2004-2005 proposal that was subsequently approved by the Board of Governors.
Estimates of the costs to construct a Student Commons are approximately $1.5 Million. The Students’ Union hoped to secure a total of $1,050,000 in Quality Money funding (via 3 years of funding of $350,000 per year) and to contribute $450,000 (e.g. 30% of the total cost of construction) from SU generated funding.
2. Social Science Student Lounge (“Take Your Space”) ($100,000)
In the spring of 2006 the University of Calgary embarked on an exciting 40th Anniversary celebration – The
Take Your Space project. The objective of the Take Your Space initiative was to refurbish 40 student
spaces providing inviting, visually interesting and comfortable places for students to study or meet with friends.
As part of this initiative the Students’ Union allocated $100,000 in Quality Money Funding for the creation of the Social Science Lounge and redesign of the corridor in the Social Sciences building
3. Information Commons Computers ($250,000)
The Information Commons in the University of Calgary Library is designed and furnished to support
students’ learning needs in an integrated service setting, supported by both information resources and
information technologies.
Quality Money funding allowed the university to replace 350 computers in Information Commons’ spaces located in the Elbow Room, MacKimmie, Law and Medicine libraries. Wind-power certificates were also subsequently purchased to power the Information Commons computers in support of the Student Union’s sustainability initiatives.
4. International Experiences ($175,000)
The Students’ Union transferred $19,000 to the International Centre in April 2007 for distribution to students
who applied for travel grants related to credit courses. Six $1,500 grants were awarded to students taking
full year exchange programs during the 2007/2008 academic year. Ten $1,000 grants were awarded to
students involved in group study programs during the summer of 2007.
Due to the lateness of taking over the administration of this portion of the International Experiences awards,
the Students’ Union did not receive as many applications as it had expected. The SU Awards Committee
met in April 2007 and decided to award two research travel grants and one conference travel grant to
deserving student applicants.
A balance of $153,500 was then held in reserve for future disbursement. Minimum annual disbursements
of $25,000 for International Experiences grants will be made for every academic year up to and including
the 2012-2013 academic year (a total of 7 years).
5. Innovative Teaching Grants ($50,000)
The Students’ Union Grant for Innovative Teaching is designed to support graduates of the Faculty Teaching
Certificate program who wish to create innovative teaching initiatives at the University of Calgary.
Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to Faculty Teaching Certificate (FTC) graduates as they apply the
knowledge, skills and attitudes they acquired during the FTC program to developing and implementing a teaching idea that is new and innovative.
6. Class Size Reduction - $200,000
Class size reduction has been recognized as an important priority in improving the quality of education at the University of Calgary.
In allocating 2006-07 Quality Money funds the Students’ Union wished to focus on the creation of more sessions of upper lever classes where demand is greatest and the benefits are more readily felt by students and professors. Additionally, the Students’ Union wished to increase course sections for those that impact the largest number of students for the 2006/2007 academic year.
The 2006/07 Quality Money committee approved distribution of the $200,000 to various faculties as follows:
Communication & Culture, $55,000,
SchulichSchoolof Engineering, $19,000,
HaskayneSchoolof Business, $10,000,
Social Science, $28,000,
Humanities, $40,000,
Fine Arts, $35,000,
Kinesiology, $6,500, and
Additional course sections, $6,500.
7. Library Resources – Ebrary and RefWorks
$78,000
The MacKimmie Library plays an active and important role as a campus resource utilized by all members of the campus community, especially the undergraduate population.
In recognition of the importance of this resource, the Students’ Union provided quality money funding to the Library for the purchase of annual research database subscriptions for the 2007 calendar year. A cheque in the amount of $78,000 was presented to the University of Calgary Library on March 8, 2007. $50,000 was used to renew the annual ebrary subscription, and a further $20,000 allocated to an annual RefWorks subscription. The remaining funds were used to create and distribute media items to promote the library resource tools to students.
RefWorks assists to improve the quality of students’ writing and bibliographies by importing and storing references from online databases and automatically formatting them into recognized scholarly styles.
Ebrary is a collection of more than 30,000 online academic books in many subject areas. Users can obtain definitions and translations through an interactive toolbar, and can bookmark, highlight, take notes and print passages of text from a personal “bookshelf” of titles.
8. Peggy Patterson Scholarship ($21,000)
The Students’ Union created the Dr. Peggy Patterson Endowed Fund in 2005 and gifted $110,208.08 to the university for two $2,500 bursaries to be awarded to deserving students with financial need. The first awards were distributed in 2006.
This Quality Money funding allowed for an increase in the two annual bursaries amounts to a total of $3,000 each.
9. Campus Involvement Awards ($154,000)
Administered and awarded by the Students’ Union, the Campus Involvement Award consists of seven annual awards of $1,000 each to be offered to continuing undergraduate students of the University.
Awards are based on contribution to the University of Calgary campus through involvement in activities such as, but not limited to, clubs, sports or volunteering and academic merit. Preference is given to students who have not received another award based on similar criteria. To be eligible students must be registered full time, but need not be carrying a full course load.
To fund the awards, the Students’ Union established an Endowment Fund and gifted $140,000 to the University. The Endowed Fund created an annual distribution of $7,000 which began in 2008.
10. MSC South Courtyard Renovation ($71,953)
The MSC South Courtyard Renovation was completed in 2007. The renovated space now boasts a low rise, wheelchair accessible stage to provide a permanent location for Students’ Union functions. A portable PA system was purchased for speaking engagements and forums. Non-function seating was increased to 132 seats, and function seating (depending on arrangement) can now reach 214 seats.
Students can take advantage of wireless internet by plugging into the numerous power outlets that have been provided at the old fountain, on the stage, and in the study circle. The study circle (created at the south end of the courtyard) now hosts a bar height counter with 15 permanently mounted swivel chairs. This has provided students with a comfortable and visually attractive studying and social space that has proven to be immensely popular.
The Students’ Union has staged a wide variety of events in the space, including a DJ dance party, showcasing student musical talent, and hosting debates including the 2008 federal election all candidate’s forum and the 2009-2010 general council election.
