Advocacy

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Excellent teachers and SU election candidates
Excellent teachers and SU election candidates 150 150 admin

Hello, UCalgary – I hope you enjoyed your well-deserved time off. I’ve got a few quick reminders for you as we near the end of the month.

Teaching Excellence Awards: nominations are due this Friday

If your professor or TA actually let you relax over reading week, it might be time to nominate them for an SU Teaching Excellence Award! I know that there are so many deserving instructors this semester, and you can help us recognize them by filling out a quick online form. The deadline for nominations is this Friday, Feb. 26, so please make some time this week to let us know who they are, and what makes them so excellent.

SU General Election: get to know your candidates

This is the time of year that you get to select who represents you at the SU. Check out all the candidate platforms to learn about who is running, and attend one or more of the public forums this week to see them in action. The forums for the presidential candidates and the new vice presidents will be streamed on Facebook Live, Feb. 23 – Mar. 1. See our social media for details.

Voting days are March 2 – 4 in your student centre (my.ucalgary.ca).

Tax Season

Finally, while the Volunteer Tax Program clinic remains closed, we’ve got lots of suggestions for other free and low-cost services to get your taxes done this semester. Visit our Volunteer Tax Program page – the deadline to file your 2020 taxes is Apr. 30.

Good luck on your second round of midterms – I’ll be in touch soon!

All the best,

Frank Finley, Students’ Union President

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Advocacy Blog – January 2021
Advocacy Blog – January 2021 1400 450 admin

As classes started for the winter semester in January, the SU was busy continuing its advocacy efforts to all three orders of government and university administration. 2020 presented new and unique challenges for student and academic life. 2021 appears as though it will be no different.

The SU always wants to hear from students about your ideas on advocacy and what you need to navigate your studies during the pandemic. Please reach out to the SU if you have ideas or need support.

At the university level, the SU continues to advocate on tuition, fees, and student costs. The SU successfully advocated for a ‘Credit Received’ or CR option for students who may have a course where they would prefer not to have a letter grade in the fall semester, and were able to secure the same option for early in the winter semester. Students who receive a C- or better may convert that grade to a CR which wouldn’t count towards their GPA. We are currently working on having the university offer this option permanently – we expect this change to be announced by the end of this semester. In addition, the SU has successfully made sure that online exam proctoring will not be used by the university. However, individual professors may still be using this software; if that’s the case please contact the SU.

The SU continued its government advocacy by meeting with several elected officials individually to bring student concerns forward. This included an introductory meeting with Calgary MP Jasraj Hallan who met with the SU to discuss student mental health and student jobs and internships.

The SU met with Minister Copping who is the provincial Minister of Labour and Immigration. Minister Copping also represents the University of Calgary and surrounding area in the Legislature. The SU advocated for a student summer job program to help UCalgary students find work over the summer months. Last summer near one-third of UCalgary students surveyed said they couldn’t find a job at all or had a position cancelled due to the pandemic. The SU is working hard to ensure more opportunities for student work this summer.

The SU also supported awareness efforts on the cuts to post-secondary education from the provincial government and subsequent increases to tuition. Through the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS), our colleagues in Edmonton created a snow penguin army of 800 penguins carrying signs asking the government to freeze the cuts.

SU VP External Marley Gillies also participated in a drive by protest outside the Advanced Education Minister’s Calgary office. The event raised awareness of and called for an end to the severe funding cuts by the province.

Early in January, the SU also held its annual Calgary Leaders Dinner. This year’s event was reimagined as the Calgary Leaders Dialogue since it couldn’t be held in-person as usual. SU Executives and SLC members spent time talking to Calgary elected officials from the three orders of government. In total, 18 elected officials attended and Councillor Druh Farrell acted as keynote speaker. The elected officials discussed student issues such as tuition, mental health, and transit while also providing tips to student leaders on how best to advocate and build solid relationships with governments.

If you have questions or concerns about these initiatives or have ideas on what the SU should pursue on behalf of students, again, please contact us.

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Our Statement on Anti-Asian Racism
Our Statement on Anti-Asian Racism 150 150 admin

We at the University of Calgary Students’ Union are concerned of many of the recent acts of hate in our city and country. Anti-Asian hate crimes, in particular, have seen a sharp rise in both Calgary and Canada. Further, this past weekend in Calgary, a Muslim woman was physically assaulted, a man using a wheelchair was attacked as he confronted anti-mask protestors, and anti-mask protestors wore antisemitic imagery as they marched through Prince’s Island Park. We categorically denounce these acts of hatred and stand in solidarity with all those experiencing acts of prejudice and racism.

While anti-Asian hate crimes have risen massively with the pandemic, the pandemic did not signal their start – these issues are deep-rooted in our society. Further, we fear it can be easy for some to compare Calgary or Canada to other places in the world and believe that these issues do not exist here. To do so would be dangerous and wrong.

These acts of hatred serve to divide us, at a time when solidarity is most needed. We must stand together to fight against these nefarious issues and to ensure everyone feels safe in our university and city.

It is not radical to believe that one should not fear for their safety because of their religion, skin colour, ethnicity, sexual identity, or ability.

Beyond statements, it is important to take action and stand up for others when we see acts of hatred being committed. We encourage any student who believes they have been mistreated or discriminated against at the University of Calgary to contact us and the university’s Ombudsperson. A full list of our anti-racism work and resources can be found here.

We stand with those fighting against prejudice and racism at UCalgary and in the rest of our society. Students have been at the forefront of many social movements, so let us fight for a future we can proud of.

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News on CR/F for Winter 2021
News on CR/F for Winter 2021 150 150 admin

Hi all, SU President Frank here.

I wanted to update everyone on the status of Credit Received/Fail for the winter semester. As you know, we had the option for CR for one course in fall, but I wanted to ensure that something was in place this semester as well. While there is work being on done on a permanent policy that will allow students to take CR for a certain proportion of courses during the course of their degree, this policy will not be ready for approval until late March.

Since I believed it was important for students to know their options as early as possible in the semester, I recommended that we either push the policy forward, or put in place another temporary policy. An hour ago, I got out got out of the committee meeting in which the status of CR/F for winter was decided, and I wanted to share the news with everyone.

This semester, students will have the choice of a CR grade option for one course as follows:

  • Undergraduate students may request a CR grade for a single course where the final grade is a C- and above. A single course can be one of a 3 unit, 1.5 unit, 1 unit or .75 unit course.
  • Graduate students may request a CR grade for a single unit course where the final grade is a B- and above. A single course can be one of a 3 unit, 1.5 unit, 1 unit or .75 unit course.
  • May 14, 2021 is the deadline for students to request the CR grade for a Winter 2021 term course.
  • A course where the CR is applied will not count towards a student’s GPA.
  • This may be applied to courses scheduled during the Winter 2021 term (regular, block week, non-standard)

I hope that this CR grade will relieve some stress for everyone. Even if you don’t have any intention of requesting a CR grade, I think it’s nice to have in your back-pocket just in case.

ALSO, your hundreds of letters to university admin last semester in favour of CR/F were amazing, and certainly helped this discussion to continue. These CR/F policies are not insignificant wins and could not have been delivered if students did not make themselves collectively heard!

Frank Finley,
SU President

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Big News on CR/F for Winter, Elections, and Events
Big News on CR/F for Winter, Elections, and Events 150 150 admin

Happy February, UCalgary, 

If you felt like January dragged on forever, you’re not alone! I’ve got a few updates on what the SU has been working on this semester. 

Big News on CR/F for Winter Semester 

I am pleased to announce that the U of C will extend CR/F to include the current semester. 

While there is work being on done on a permanent policy that will allow students to take CR for a certain percentage of courses during the course of their degree, this policy will not be ready for approval until late March. Since I believed it was important for students to know their options as early as possible in the semester, I recommended that we either push the policy forward, or instate another temporary policy. Yesterday, this temporary policy was implemented. 

These CR/F policies are not insignificant wins and could not have been delivered if students did not make themselves collectively heard. Your hundreds of letters to university admin last semester in favour of CR/F were a major factor in this decision. 

Read the full details here. 

Other Advocacy Updates  

Advocacy continues on a number of fronts, including work on flexible exam windows, quality of academic instruction, and the continued ban on proctoring. On governmental issues, we have been pushing for affordable student monthly transit passes, increased financial support for students, and support for student employment over the summer months.  

SU General Election 

Are you a leader in the campus community? Would you like to be? Think about running in the upcoming SU Elections. The SU is a great place to gain professional experience, connect with your faculty, and influence university policy. Curious about running but not sure if it’s for you? Everything else you need to know, including the positions available, can be found on our website. Nomination days are next week, Feb. 8 – 10.If you have more specific questions about running, you can also book an appointment with one of our Chief Returning Officers.  

Sex Week 

Not interested in student politics? How about sex? UCalgary’s annual Sex Week is coming up next week, Feb. 8 – 12. It’s a great opportunity to have all your questions about sex, love, relationships and so much more answered. Check out the schedule of events and other resources on our website. 

Teaching Excellence Awards 

We know that profs and TAs have had a challenging year, just like all of us. They have had to work extra hard and get extra creative to help students learn from a distance. But we also know that students have noticed – last semester, we received a record number of Teaching Excellence nominations from UCalgary students. So do you have a prof that has been going the extra mile this semester? Or a TA that makes it worth getting up for an 8 a.m. lab? If you do, make sure you nominate them for a Teaching Excellence Award. Complete a short online form and we’ll make sure they know their extra effort is appreciated. 

SU Survey – last call 

Have you taken the SU Survey yet? There are two good reasons to do it: (1) We use your feedback to improve our programs, services, and advocacy every year. (2) You could win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. The survey closes this Friday, Feb.5, so take it now and tell a friend. 

Not that anyone’s counting, but as of today you’re only 9 days away from Reading Week! Hang in there – you’ve got this! 

All the best, 

Frank, President
The Students’ Union

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Welcome Back: Take the SU Survey, Join a Club, Check out our Advocacy! 
Welcome Back: Take the SU Survey, Join a Club, Check out our Advocacy!  150 150 admin

Hello, UCalgary, and welcome back to the winter semester.  

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Frank Finley – your Students’ Union President. I’ve got some information that you might find useful as you ease back into these next few weeks.  

Take the SU Survey 

First up – Take the annual SU Survey now and enter to win one of ten $100 Amazon.ca gift cards. I want to hear your thoughts on the SU’s programs, services, and businesses – we want to make them even better, but we can’t do it without your help. Past survey data has influenced everything from payment options at Stor to funding for new study spaces. It only takes 10 minutes – take the survey now.  

Clubs Week Virtual Fair 

Speaking of new friends, there are more than 300 clubs that are part of our SU family! This semester, we are hosting over 100 clubs each day at our virtual January Clubs Week on ClubHub from Jan. 19 – 21. The event will be live from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. each day. Drop in and say hi – there’s bound to be one (or more!) clubs that’ll be a perfect fit for you.  

Advocacy Notes 

Moving into this new semester, we have a number of ongoing advocacy initiatives. We have been fighting for various academic regulations, including the continued prevention of proctoring, flexible exam windows, and the ability for students see all questions of each exam in D2L during their exam times. Further advocacy at the municipal and provincial levels includes continued efforts to increase student financial support, demands for increased investment in student mental health, and work to hold our government and university to account. 

Run in the SU General Election 

Have you ever thought about taking on a leadership role at the SU? The SU General Election is coming soon. Official nomination packages will be available at the end of the month – but in the meantime, we’re regularly updating our election webpages with important information and deadlines. Want the details about what it’s like to campaign? Need insight into the life of an SLC member? You are welcome to check out our tip sheets, make an appointment with one of our CROs, or attend one of our Pre-Election Workshops from Jan. 19 – 29!  

Bound and Copied Used Textbooks 

Finally, are you still working out which books you are going to pick up, and hoping to save some cash? Bound and Copied is open for consignment and in-person shopping. Drop by from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, lower level of Mac Hall. 

Stay safe, UCalgary. See you in a couple weeks!  

Frank,

President, The Students’ Union
The University of Calgary

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Advocacy updates and URS Research Week
Advocacy updates and URS Research Week 150 150 admin

Hello UCalgary students,

I’m Frank Finley, your SU President. I’ve got a few quick updates for you on our advocacy efforts and some upcoming events that are happening around campus.

Advocacy Updates

Earlier this week, UCalgary held a tuition town hall to announce proposed increases to tuition and fees. We have heard your voices on social media and saw the remarkable student attendance at this town hall, and we will represent you at the Board of Governors meeting on Dec. 11 when these increases are put to a vote. It is our belief that there is no worse time to raise tuition than during the largest crisis of our lifetimes, and we continue to fight against increased costs to students.

In other news, the UPass program will continue to be on hold for the Winter 2021 term. Discounted Calgary Transit ticket books are available to current UCalgary students at the Campus Service Centre, Main Campus Bookstore, and Foothills Medical Bookstore with your UCID. You can direct questions about this program to campusservicecentre@ucalgary.ca.

Other ongoing advocacy is focused on CR/F for fall and winter 2021, an extension of the add/drop/swap deadline, an extension of time off in the winter 2021 semester, and quality of online academic instruction.

URS Research Week: Nov. 23 – 27

The 15th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium is happening this week. This year’s event is a virtual showcase of undergraduate student research from all faculties, hosted here on YouTube. Forty-eight undergraduate researchers have submitted short video presentations, and are competing for $23,000 in prizes and scholarships. Judges have been busy adjudicating these presentations, and the awards will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Stress Less in December

We know this year has been stressful, to say the least, so we have collected a series of quick, easy de-stressing activities that you can do at home. Watch the SU’s Instagram for no-bake holiday recipes, crafts, and even some special guests (hint: if you’ve been missing Fitness in the Space, your instructors have been missing you, too!) Stress Less runs from Dec. 1 – 11 on Instagram stories.

Textbook Consignment

Are you ready to say goodbye to some old textbooks? Bound and Copied can help you turn them into cash. Bring your used textbooks to the consignment window at Bound and Copied, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Are you already thinking about 2021? So are we.

Clubs Week We are excited to announce that January Clubs Week will be held virtually through our ClubHub platform from Jan. 19 – 21. Each club will have their own virtual “table”, and event participants will have a chance to chat with participating club executives over Zoom. Watch our social media channels for more information over the next few weeks.

SU General Election

Have you ever thought about taking on a leadership role at the SU? Official nomination packages will be available Jan. 25 – but in the meantime, we’re regularly updating our election webpages with important information and deadlines. Want the details about what it’s like to campaign? Need insight into the life of an SLC member? Stay tuned to social media and our website for dates of pre-election workshops in January.

Holiday Closure

The SU offices and Bound and Copied will be closed after Friday, Dec. 11, and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

Good luck on your exams! You’re only a few weeks away from a well-deserved break.

Frank

President, The Students’ Union
The University of Calgary

 

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Tenth Anniversary of Students’ Union Q Centre Celebrated
Tenth Anniversary of Students’ Union Q Centre Celebrated 150 150 admin

Intentional community identity building, the importance of LGBTQ+ spaces, and the legacy of students’ investment highlighted 

November 2, 2020

CALGARY, AB – On November 3rd, the Students’ Union (SU) will be proudly celebrating the tenth anniversary of the only space at the University of Calgary devoted to serving our lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) community and their allies.

The SU Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, known as the Q Centre, first opened its doors on November 3, 2010. The space, administered by the SU and operated by a team of dedicated volunteers, offers a safe and supportive environment for students to hang out in, as well as educational programs and resources.

In 2014, the SU expanded the capacity of the Q Centre to provide diverse programming and services by opening a newly renovated space using an SU Quality Money grant. With over 1,000 ft2 of space, the Q Centre expanded their library, offered a new reconfigurable multipurpose space for events, studying, and networking, and added private office spaces and a reception area.

“We are so proud of the work that the Q Centre has done to build a strong and thriving LGBTQ+ community on our campus,” said Frank Finley, Students’ Union President. “Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the investments students have made through SU Quality Money, the Q Centre serves to promote awareness and acceptance while offering community to students and other members of our university.”

In honor of the anniversary the SU Q Centre is hosting speaker and activist James Demers for a discussion on building community identity and queer space and how the evolution of these spaces is vital for connecting the future of the Pride movement to current social movements.

“Students have always been a key part of creating social change,” Finley added. “We are grateful for the opportunity to discuss the importance of this work with James, as we know that there is still more work to do and barriers to break down both on our campus and within our society.”

The SU is looking forward to continuing the work that the Q Centre has started throughout its ten-year history, including working to promote awareness and acceptance of different sexual identities through educational programs, partnerships with the university, and advocacy. Q Centre coordinators and volunteers pushed for the university’s first multi-stall gender-inclusive washroom, hosted awareness events during Sex Week, and led the SU’s involvement with Calgary Pride, and new events and initiatives, including remote peer support, are always being developed.

-30-

Media Contact:

Marcus Plottel, External Communications Specialist
403-829-9208 / marcus.plottel@ucalgary.ca

Images (credit for all to Gene Baines/SU Staff):

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Excellent teachers, city councillors, and Halloween pets
Excellent teachers, city councillors, and Halloween pets 150 150 admin

PrintHello UCalgary,

I’m Frank Finley, your SU President. I’ve got a few quick updates for you on some important things that are happening around campus.

Teaching Excellence Nominations: Deadline this Friday

Do you have an instructor or TA who has gone the extra mile adapting to remote delivery to keep the quality of their courses high? You should nominate them for a Teaching Excellence Award! It’s really easy: just complete the short online form. All nominations for your Fall 2020 profs/TAs must be received by October 23.

Meet Your City Councillors: Join Marley on Facebook Live

Join VP External Marley Gillies next week on Facebook Live as she discusses issues that affect students with a panel of city councillors. Marley will be chatting with Councillors George Chahal (Ward 5), Jyoti Gondek (Ward 3), and Jeff Davidson (Ward 6) at 3 p.m. on Oct. 28, and Councillors Evan Woolley (Ward 8), Druh Farrell (Ward 7), and Jeromy Farkas (Ward 11) at 2 p.m. on Oct. 29. Send us your questions ahead of time through the SU’s social media channels, or submit them live during the event.

Alberta 2030 Survey Closes Oct. 25

We believe in affordable, accessible, high-quality education. Do you agree? The Government of Alberta is conducting a review of Alberta post-secondary education, and it’s important that student voices are heard. Surveys are open until Oct. 25, and you can find them here.

Halloween Pet Therapy

Check out our Instagram stories on Friday, Oct. 30, and get ready to share photos of your pets working their best Halloween looks.

Fall Harvest Food Drive Final Days

We are into the final days of our Fall Harvest Food Drive, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has already donated this month. You can participate on your own or as part of a team; if you make a donation, let us know by sharing a photo on social media and tagging us at @suuofc, and you or your team will be entered to win prizes. See our website for all of the details.

Q Centre Pride Scholarship

Did you know that the Q Centre is open again with virtual drop-in hours three days a week? We have also opened nominations for the Q Centre Pride Scholarship. This SU Quality Money initiative recognizes individuals that are passionate advocates in the queer community. Check out our website for more information. Scholarship applications are due on Nov. 20.

Quality Money Proposals

If you’ve got a big idea that will enhance the quality of student life on campus, apply for an SU Quality Money grant and make it a reality. The deadline is November 27 – start your application today!

Find a Tutor

Do you need some help with your course work or preparing for an exam? Want to help someone else? Your SU has a searchable database of independent tutors that can help you in a wide range of subjects.

Locker Clean-Outs

If you are still missing items from last year, the last day to retrieve them is Friday, October 30th., you can fill out the content retrieval form and we will contact you when your items are ready to go.
You’re over the halfway mark in the semester – keep going!

Frank Finley, President
The Students’ Union

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Fall Food Drive, SU By-Election, and an Alberta 2030 survey is underway
Fall Food Drive, SU By-Election, and an Alberta 2030 survey is underway 150 150 admin

PrintIt’s already October – I hope you’ve managed to get outside and enjoyed the first few days of fall. I’m Frank Finley, your SU President, and I have another set of updates for you to keep you up to speed on what’s happening around the SU.

Fall Harvest Food Drive

October 1 marks the beginning of our Fall Harvest Food Drive, and we’re asking for your help to secure the SU Campus Food Bank for the fall and winter months. Participation is easy – we’ll post new ideas each day to our social media channels. You can choose one, or many, and participate on your own or as part of a team. If you make a donation, let us know by sharing a photo on social media and tagging us at @suuofc, and you or your team will be entered to win prizes. Or make an anonymous donation – it’s up to you! See our website for all of the details.

Alberta 2030 Survey

We believe in affordable, accessible, high-quality education. Do you agree? The Government of Alberta is conducting a review of Alberta post-secondary education, and it’s important that student voices are heard. Surveys are open until Oct. 25, and you can find them here.

Fall By-Election

Our SLC By-Election Nomination Days are over, and we’ve got some updates for you. Our faculty representative vacancy in Social Work has been filled by acclamation – your rep is Jovanna Rodney. We are running a By-Election to fill a seat on the Board of Governors. Voting days for the By-Election are October 14, 15, and 16, and you can vote online in your student centre. Info on all the candidates and their platforms will be available on our website on Friday.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Applications

Have you spent some time in the lab and made a unique discovery? Will your critical analysis lead to positive social change? Share your accomplishments at the 2020 SU Undergraduate Research Symposium for the chance to win a scholarship and get presentation experience. Abstracts are due October 5 at 4:00 p.m. This year’s URS will be held online in late November, and the presentations will be in video format. For more information or to submit an abstract, visit our website.

Teaching Excellence Nominations

Do you have a professor that makes your class extraordinary – whether in person or online? Has an instructor or TA gone the extra mile adapting to remote delivery to keep the quality of their courses high? You should nominate them for a Teaching Excellence Award! It’s really easy: just complete the short online form. All nominations for your Fall 2020 profs/TAs must be received by October 23.

Quality Money Proposals

The SU knows that the best ideas for projects or services that enhance the quality of student life on campus come directly from students. In the past, we’ve funded brilliant ideas like club scholarships, sexual violence prevention programming, Indigenous programming, and peer-assisted study sessions. If you’ve got a big idea, apply for an SU Quality Money grant and make it a reality. The deadline is November 27 – start your application today!

Locker Clean-Outs

Did you leave anything behind in your locker last spring? The last day to retrieve any items that you are missing is Friday, October 30th. Please fill out the content retrieval form and we will contact you when your items are ready to go.

Textbook Consignment

Do you have some old textbooks lying around that you would rather turn into some extra cash? Bound and Copied is open Monday through Friday to consign your old books. Our vendors in the Mac Hall food court are open, too, so make sure to drop by one of your old favourites (or try out the new Freshco Poke) while you are on campus.

Best of luck as you head into midterm season – you’ve got this!

Frank Finley
President, The Students’ Union

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