Quality Money (QM) is a unique tuition rebate program that gives students a say over where their dollars should go. Every year, the student-run QM Committee reads through applications and selects innovative, impactful projects that enhance our campus. With just a fraction of annual tuition revenue, QM has launched over 100 initiatives since 2003. Projects you may be familiar with include:
The $3 Quality Meal at The Den
UCalgary's red arch (without QM, it would still be beige)
The Affordable Market at the Campus Food Hub
(Check out our vid on Instagram for more!)
This year, senior university leadership told the SU that they don't see the value of one of the biggest student-led programs on campus. Instead, they want to absorb QM funds into the university's regular budget, eliminating student choice entirely.
Leadership claims their plan is primarily based on the results of UCalgary's 2025 student survey... but the answers this survey received don't actually support their plan to reallocate QM's funds. The university wants to invest most of QM's budget (60%) into classrooms — even though students placed classrooms fifth out of eight on their list of priorities. The university also plans to address the 96% of students who opposed this year’s tuition increase by adding just 0.3% to its existing financial aid budget.
We heard a different message from you: you’re tired of annual tuition hikes, and you at least want to know where your money goes. We don't think UCalgary will adequately resolve your concerns by clawing back the tiny fraction of tuition that students get to manage for themselves every year. With QM, you know exactly where your money goes: every project ever funded is available on our website for your review.
If QM is taken away, students will lose this direct say over how their money should be spent. We believe students have the best understanding of what students need, but without QM, there'll be no mechanism available to pilot now-established services like the Annual Flu Clinic, or introduce spaces like Spyhill's Accessible Exam Centre (both of which were student ideas). We don’t think the university (or even the SU) should get to unilaterally decide what happens to your tuition rebate without you.
That’s why we want to hear from you before UCalgary takes the decision out of your hands. If you…
- See value to a program that lets students shape the campus they pay a premium for,
- Have ever used, enjoyed, or benefited from an initiative funded by QM,
- Have a great idea for enhancing our campus that won't be possible if QM goes away,
- Have ever worked on a QM project yourself, or
- Think QM could be improved, but don’t think the university should get to decide what that looks like for you
…then we want to hear from you. Email your thoughts to your SU President, or send the SU a signed copy of the template letter below. We’ll present your voice to executive leadership and make sure the university’s most senior officials know exactly how you feel.
Discussions with the university on QM's future are still underway. We’ll have more updates for you as they develop.
Click for: a template letter
Below is a template letter you could use to support preserving QM. You can write your own, or simply sign the below if it speaks to you. Send your letter in PDF, Microsoft Word, or email format to supres@ucalgary.ca or reception@su.ucalgary.ca.
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Subject: Protect Student Choice by Keeping Quality Money (QM) Alive
Dear University of Calgary leadership,
I write to express my support for the Quality Money (QM) program, which gives students a direct say in how our money should be spent on our campus. QM allows us to leverage a portion of our tuition dollars to advance projects that improve our experience. The ability to propose, evaluate and otherwise support these initiatives ourselves embodies genuine student choice. This cannot be replaced by a top-down allocation model that the university unilaterally decides to impose.
We therefore request that University of Calgary leadership:
- Preserve the Quality Money program as a student‑governed funding mechanism.
- Revoke any proposal that removes our authority to directly decide where our tuition rebate dollars should be spent.
Thank you for respecting the right of students to shape the resources that affect our daily lives.
Click to learn more about: QM's track record
From a review of projects initiated in five funding years (2015-16/2019-20).
- 80%+ of projects intended to achieve sustainability (e.g. a wellness service) or create specific deliverables (e.g. equipment) succeed
- ~10% of QM projects introduce a responsive intervention to a temporary issue (e.g. emergency student supports)
- Applicants most commonly apply for QM funding because there is no suitable university funding channel available
- Many applicants also seek QM funding because they need to establish proof of concept before applying for internal and external funding sources
Click to find out: why applicants applied to QM, in their own words
These are quotes taken from Quality Money applicants over the program's many years (edited for brevity).
“While we are pursuing sustainable funding sources, a QM grant will allow us to keep our program running over the coming year. If we can't continue the program for a full year while we work to secure funding, we risk compromising relationships with faculty and returning contributors.” — Staff member, on a program that runs to this day
“The initial phase of this project will act as a 'proof of concept' to quantifiably demonstrate the demand for this service, as well as its effectiveness. It is currently our intention to use the information we collect to strengthen our argument that the university should fund this in the future.” — Student, applying for a program UCalgary now runs annually
“My department is currently preparing a budget for this service going forward, but there are significant immediate needs that QM can address.” — Faculty member, describing the benefits of QM's flexibility