Students' Union, UCalgary

SU @UCalgary
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NOTICE OF REFERENDUM – BY-ELECTION 2024
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM – BY-ELECTION 2024 150 150 admin

Summary

The SU’s current fee structure is disproportional in its assessment of the SU general fee for full time, part-time, co-op and internship students. The SU proposes updating its fee structure as outlined in the table below by assessing MD full-time students at the full-time student rate while part-time, co-op and internship students will be assessed to pay two-thirds of the full-time student rate. The aim of this proposed update is to keep up with inflation and to ensure its services can cater to the 10,000 new undergraduate students the university seeks to add to the student population by 2030.

Background

The SU exists to advance and support the needs of undergraduate students at the University of Calgary. As an organization, one of our key priorities is to advocate for students’ interests to the university and all three orders of government. We also provide essential services, programs, and events curated to enhance the student experience, both in and out of the classroom. All undergraduate students are active members of the SU; they benefit from all advocacy initiatives of the SU and can access all SU benefits and privileges (i.e., scholarships and financial awards, the Clubs systems, advocacy efforts, Campus Food Bank etc.). While SU events are primarily accessed by students most frequently on campus, they too are open to all undergraduate students who are interested.

The SU has operated on a differential general fee assessment structure over the past few decades. This structure was created because the SU’s past offerings were largely events-focused, and the SU could not provide remote access to SU services because the internet was not a widely available utility until 2004. Furthermore, students on satellite locations found it difficult to access SU benefits and privileges on main campus due to limited transit connections as the City of Calgary was still expanding its fleet of buses and trains and its transit routing network to meet the teeming population growth in the city.

At the time, the SU’s differential fee assessment was an equitable tool adopted to ensure students were charged general fees that reflected their accessibility to SU benefit and privileges. These concerns are less applicable today as the SU is primarily advocacy-driven and provides unfettered remote access to almost all SU benefits and privileges, thus making the SU’s general fee differential assessment structure out-dated.

Question

Given the background provided above, do you support the proposed update to the SU General Fee structure, starting Fall 2025?

  • YES
  • NO

A REFERENDUM FAQ is available for more information.

 

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Vice President Internal Biography
Vice President Internal Biography 150 150 admin
Lorraine Ndovi, Vice President Internal

Biography coming soon.

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Advocacy Blog: Call for an Independent Review, Housing, and More
Advocacy Blog: Call for an Independent Review, Housing, and More 150 150 admin

The past couple of months have been very busy for the SU advocacy team, working to support students on a variety of important issues. Read about our recent accomplishments and what we have been up to these past couple of months:

The SU has called for an independent review into the University administration’s handling of May 9th

The SU is calling for an independent review of the actions and decisions that led to multiple student injuries on May 9th at the University of Calgary, where a police response requested by President Ed McCauley and the University administration turned violent.

There is precedent within recent university history for these kinds of independent reviews, most recently in 2015 when then-president Elizabeth Cannon was alleged to have a conflict of interest that was investigated by former Justice Terrence McMahon.

The Students Legislative Council, which is the official governing body for the SU, called on the university’s board of governors to publicly initiate a review on May 28. Beyond the review, the Student Legislative Council also demands an explanation for why no students were involved with the crisis management team assembled to deal with the protest and a review of the policies and procedures the university was acting under.

Another win for Housing

After delivering more than 250 postcards to Ward 7 City Councillor Terry Wong and speaking at the public hearing about why the issue impacts students, the Rezoning for Housing motion was passed on May 14th by Calgary City Council. The passing of this motion will loosen zoning bylaws to allow more housing to be built and built faster. The zoning change was one of the recommendations in the housing strategy, which the SU advocacy team also advocated strongly for and was successfully passed in the fall.

SU Elected Officials have successfully delayed the university from eliminating a layer of protection in the academic appeal process

The University Appeals Office was looking to collapse its second layer of appeals, which provides an accountability measure and the ability to appeal the original decision due to procedural unfairness. SU elected officials expressed that this will not benefit students because if students choose to or require an appeal for their original appeal, they will need to go to the civil courts instead.

After long consultation, it has been agreed to maintain the two-level structure of appeals and do further consultation with the SU about the matter. The University Appeals Office has also committed to having consistent consultation with the SU in the future regarding the entire appeals system in general.

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Senior Coordinator, Student Engagement
Senior Coordinator, Student Engagement 150 150 HR
ABOUT THE STUDENTS’ UNION

The Students’ Union (SU) is one of the leading undergraduate student associations in Canada. We are a not-for-profit organization that works to ensure that University of Calgary undergraduate students have the best possible university experience through advocacy, representation, and providing valuable on-campus services and programs. We also manage several businesses within the MacEwan Student Centre including a restaurant and bar, two concert venues, a convenience store, a used bookstore and copy centre, and the MacEwan Conference & Event Centre.

We’re in the business of student leadership, and so SU staff are all teachers in some capacity. We coach, mentor, and work alongside the elected members of our student government to help them develop skills and make good decisions for the organization. As such, the SU is a nimble and leading-edge organization that can pivot quickly to address emerging issues and trends.

The SU offers all our employees a competitive, market-determined salary. Our benefits, though, tend to exceed the market. These include:

  • Five weeks paid vacation, to start
  • Unlimited paid sick time
  • A six percent RRSP matching program
  • Full health and dental benefits plus a health spending account
  • A mission-driven culture that values work-life balance, diverse experiences, and kindness

People love working for the SU because we care about our employees and empower them to thrive and succeed. The result is a very low turnover and a long-serving staff who are passionate about what they do. If you’re tired of being treated like a cog in a machine and want to do something that matters without sacrificing your home life, the SU might just be the right fit for you.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Manager, Student Services, the Senior Coordinator, Student Engagement is primarily accountable for the effective management, coordination, and continuity of new and ongoing SU events and programming, including high level oversight of the SU registered clubs service.

The Senior Coordinator, Student Engagement works with two full-time Coordinators, Student Organizations, and up to six part-time student Program and Event Assistants. The incumbent is responsible for advising and coaching elected officials and SU staff in accomplishing their mandate as it relates to fostering student engagement and a vibrant and inclusive student life on campus. The position oversees the SU’s annual events program, advises the Coordinators, Student Organizations on SU registered club issues, and conducts research and analysis with the aim of understanding the desires of undergraduate students in this regard.  To this end, the position will seek out and nurture relationships and partnerships with university units and departments with similar goals.

SALARY

For this position, the hiring range is $54,000 to $60,000 and the offered salary will be negotiated based on a candidate’s relative experience. As a not-for-profit organization, it is extremely unlikely that we will be able to offer a successful candidate a salary outside of this range.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Directs all aspects of engagement activities, including conceptualization and planning of events and programs, booking space, equipment, catering, and talent (speakers, bands, etc.), execution of on-site logistics and effecting of consistent debriefing and evaluation with the goal of continuous improvement.
  • Directs all aspects of the Undergraduate Research Symposium including abstract submission and vetting, solicitation of award donations, coordination of judges and ensuring the symposium and awards reception runs smoothly.
  • Directs all aspects of the Teaching Excellence Awards including soliciting student nominations, scheduling classroom visits, coordination of committee responsibilities, and ensuring the awards reception is executed well.
  • Provide information and advice on club and SU operational and governance procedures to the Coordinators, Student Organizations, the Programs and Services Committee, and the VP Internal.
  • Assists the Executive, elected officials, Program and Event Assistants and department staff to articulate, plan and implement events programming as it relates to their portfolio responsibilities; ensures all engagement activities are consistent with SU policies and organizational priorities.
  • Support the orientation and training sessions for the elected officials as they are transitioning into their roles.
  • Support the recruitment, hiring, training, supervision and evaluation of the Coordinators, Student Organizations and Program and Event Assistants; mentors and coaches them towards the successful conceptualization, planning, and execution of mandated responsibilities.
  • Facilitate relationships with university administrators and units in relation to SU registered clubs’ coordination and SU events programming.
  • Support the Marketing and Communications Department with event marketing and communication planning as required.
  • Directs and implements the creation and conceptualization of new programming, as required, including researching, budgeting, writing, and presenting proposals, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring the passage of new programming proposals through the SU’s administrative system.
  • Ensures compliance of all events and SU registered clubs’ activities with internal procedures and policies related to risk management.
  • Monitors expenditures related to program and activities; ensures expenditures remain within budgetary guidelines; applies cost-saving techniques were possible; reviews financial statements to ensure accurate reporting of monthly expenditures.
  • Contributes to budget development by providing accurate expense estimates.
  • Assists with the creation and updating of operational policy related to SU registered clubs administration, space, and event management.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Director, Student Services.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
  • Skilled Communicator: possesses strong written, verbal and listening skills; can distill and clearly communicate complex information; demonstrates a transparent, succinct, and positive communication style across a variety of communication settings and styles.
  • Multi-Task and Manage Priorities: effectively balances multiple projects and the interests of competing stakeholders through a system of compromise, prioritization and planning while integrating day-to-day emerging issues; can orchestrate multiple activities and diverse resources simultaneously to accomplish a goal.
  • Event Management: proven ability to plan for the design, development, implementation and evaluation of events and other programming geared towards increasing student engagement; differentiates among goals, measurable objectives, related activities, and expected outcomes; decides what skills and knowledge to incorporate into event staff training.
  • Problem Solving: capable of assessing and mitigating short and long-term risk, while being agile and pivoting or adapting plans when necessary. Critical thinking and conflict management skills are a must.
  • Organizational Awareness: understands post-secondary organizations, their politics, and their environments; can effectively get things done through both formal channels and informal networks; recognizes and uses post-secondary culture and language to produce the best possible response; understands the history, political context and reasoning behind key policies, practices, and procedures.
  • Team Leadership: proven ability to lead, coach and manage a diverse team; resolves conflicts and gives constructive criticism; uses strategies to boost morale and productivity (i.e. team-building activities, informal recognition and professional development).
  • Mentorship: experience in coaching or training others; can effectively guide and assist others to make strong decisions based on evidence; ability to remain calm when faced with conflicting ideas or requests.
  • Financial Management: budgeting aptitude and basic financial literacy; demonstrated ability to understand and justify budgetary decisions.
QUALIFICATIONS

A university degree (preferably in communications, education, psychology, sociology, or equivalent) or a diploma in event planning or management with two to three years of relevant experience in professional event planning, program management, or supervision. An equivalent combination of education and experience would be considered. Experience within a post-secondary education or a non-profit setting is preferred.

For more information, check out the position description.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a resume and cover letter to resumes@su.ucalgary.ca. We are accepting applications until January 2, 2026, or until we find the right person. We’re hoping to interview candidates and make a decision in mid to late January.

STATEMENT ON EMPLOYMENT EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

The Students’ Union is committed to ensuring that members of equity-deserving groups, from a broad range of communities, feel empowered to apply for positions within the organization. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from Black, Indigenous, and/or other racialized communities to apply. Qualified candidates who identify as 2Spirit and/or LGBTQIA+ or are otherwise marginalized on the grounds of gender expression, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation are also strongly encouraged to apply.

The Students’ Union welcomes applications from people with disabilities and believes strongly in accessibility in the work we do. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process – please advise us at any point and we will work with you to meet your needs while respecting your privacy as much as possible.

The Students’ Union is grateful to work on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikuni, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. The University of Calgary is situated on land adjacent to where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, and the traditional Blackfoot name of this place is Moh’kins’tsis, which we now call the City of Calgary. The Students’ Union also recognizes that land acknowledgments are not enough. We need to pursue truth, reconciliation, decolonization, and allyship in an ongoing effort to make right with all our relations.

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University of Calgary Students’ Union Response To Violence Against Student Protestors
University of Calgary Students’ Union Response To Violence Against Student Protestors 150 150 Nathan Ross

The University of Calgary Students’ Union (SU) unequivocally condemns the actions taken against students on May 9th, which saw students assaulted with flash-bang grenades, tear gas, and non-lethal munitions in alarmingly rapid escalation. This extreme response was requested by the University of Calgary President Ed McCauley and the University Administration.  These students, many of whom were arrested or injured, were exercising their freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

The university’s utilization of Calgary Police Service (CPS) was an invitation for violence against students. It is our belief that without this, the protest would have remained peaceful. Unlike at other Canadian universities, the University of Calgary’s administration made no serious efforts to speak with the protestors before directing CPS to remove them from campus. This is a failure of leadership from President McCauley and the University of Calgary Administration. 

Student protesters sought dialogue with admin, only to be continuously rebuffed. The fact that the university’s president feels more comfortable calling the police than meaningfully engaging with students demonstrates where his priorities lie. 

Furthermore, we vehemently dispute the accuracy of the statement released by the Office of the President that the protest only ‘devolved’ with the arrival of counter-protestors. According to protestors as well as video footage posted from the event, no counter-protesters were present when the CPS escalated its tactics. Calgary Police had secured the area well before 10:00 pm with only a singular point of entry that was being used to escort individuals out, which either means that no one was able to enter or those that entered were permitted to do so.

We have reached out to President McCauley early this morning, but as of publication of this statement, our request to better understand why the protesters were not engaged has gone unanswered. The fact that we have yet to hear back from the administration after students were teargassed on our campus yesterday is deeply unsettling. Yesterday’s actions set back years of progress that was built towards strong relations between the administration and students, leaving students to ask how they are supposed to feel safe exercising their rights on campus if the first response is to call the police. 

An apology will not be sufficient from President McCauley, and we will wait for either the administration to resume dialogue with us or for them to take accountability for what happened. If that does not happen, we will be pushing for more serious action, as determined by student demand. 

The SU is above all else concerned with ensuring student safety and that student rights are upheld. We appreciate the continued response and the unified calls for accountability from the community. The SU continues to invite all students interested in speaking with us or requesting support to contact the SU or visit our offices during the week. 

 

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2024 Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Awards Winners
2024 Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Awards Winners 1024 1024 Nathan Ross

The Students’ Union (SU) announced yesterday the professors, instructors, and teaching assistants being honoured through the SU’s annual Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA). Awards and honourable mentions were given to 34 exceptional members of the university community to highlight their commitment to student success over the past academic year.

The annual TEA is the SU’s campus-wide recognition program giving undergraduate students the chance to honour and thank those instructors, professors, and teaching assistants who have supported and made a lasting and positive impression on their students. Students solely determine all nominees and winners.

Not only did the educators being honoured navigate the challenges of the year with grace, but they also committed to going above and beyond to support and prioritize students. The impact that this year’s winners have made in student lives does not go unnoticed and it is a privilege to be able to recognize their hard work with this year’s teaching excellence awards.

Dr. Fabiola Aparicio-Ting was one of two recipients of the Cumming School of Medicine Award

Jayar Espejo was one of five Teaching Assistant Award recipients

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The SU received at total of 1,022 nominations and shortlisted 75 educators. Award winners received an Apple Award and a framed certificate. The SU will also donate $5,000 to the Taylor Centre for Teaching & Learning in recognition of the contributions made by the award winners.

The SU has been honouring teaching excellence at UCalgary since 1975, with the current format of TEA beginning in 1984. These funds are used to offer further training and workshops to UCalgary instructors and facilitate an environment where high quality of teaching becomes a standard for all students. From the start, the awards were intended to give undergraduate students the opportunity to provide feedback on the quality of the university instruction they receive.

For more information about the SU TEA program, please visit www.su.ucalgary.ca/TEA.

The SU wishes its sincerest congratulations to all of the winners and honourable mentions. The complete list of award winners and honourable mentions is available below.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Nathan Ross
Manager, Communications and Government Relations
nathan.ross@ucalgary.ca
Cell: 403-835-1836

Photo Credit: Gene Baines

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Housing Advocacy Continues!
Housing Advocacy Continues! 150 150 admin

Housing continues to be a hot topic, and the SU is ensuring that student voices continue to be heard as we approach a pivotal vote at City Council on April 22!

In September, students made their voices heard loud and clear joining hundreds of others rallying for housing affordability in front of City Hall. The energized group heard messages of support from Mayor Gondek, Councillor Walcott, and many inspiring individuals sharing the impact that the housing crisis is having on folks in Calgary. On September 16, our hard work paid off and the city’s proposed housing strategy was successfully passed in full, with additional amendments made to prioritize student housing.

NOW we are calling on the City Council to finish what they started and Vote “yes” to R-CG zoning on April 22.

What does this vote mean?

On April 22, City Council is voting to approve R-CG zoning city-wide. Passing this vote will mean putting an end to exclusionary zoning practices in Calgary. Students in Calgary continue to be pushed to the far corners of the city because of the lack of housing options. This needs to stop now.

Current zoning in Calgary creates a host of unnecessary barriers for folks looking to live near the University of Calgary or in other vibrant neighbourhoods. Approving R-CG zoning will help address this problem.

Find the City’s info sheet here to learn more about RC-G.

Want to make your voice heard?
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President’s Message: Changes to SU Clubs and SU Living Room Movie Times
President’s Message: Changes to SU Clubs and SU Living Room Movie Times 150 150 admin

Hello UCalgary,

April is almost here, and we have a few more notes on events and programs to wrap up this winter term. We’ve also made a pretty big change that affects both existing SU Clubs and new club applications.

SU CLUBS MANDATORY RE-REGISTRATION: MARCH 20 – MAY 15, 2024

Attention SU Clubs: important, time-sensitive changes are coming to SU Clubs Mandatory Requirements. These changes impact both existing SU Clubs and new club applications.

All clubs wishing to maintain active status for the 2024-25 academic year must complete the Re-Registration Form through ClubHub by May 15. All applications to form new clubs for the 2024-25 academic year must be received through the Register an Organization process through ClubHub by May 15. There will be no exceptions for clubs who do not re-register within this time period. Details on the SU Clubs Page.

SU COMMITTEE POSITIONS AVAILABLE

We are looking for students-at-large for two different SU Committees. The Program and Services Committee helps to adjudicate awards and supports SU programs, and the Refugee Student Program Committee helps sponsored students integrate into university life. You can learn more and apply on the SU website. 

SU VACANCIES: FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES POSITIONS

Three faculty rep positions remain vacant after the SU General Election: Veterinary Medicine, Werklund School of Education, and Nursing. These positions will be filled by appointment for a term from May until October. Learn more and apply by March 27. 

SUPER HERO TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE DEN: TUESDAY, MARCH 26

Join us for Super Hero Trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, March 26, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Reserve your table by emailing theden@su.ucalgary.ca.

LETTERKENNY STAND-UP COMEDY AT MAC HALL: MARCH 30

Letterkenny: A night of stand-up comedy featuring comedians from the Letterkenny family, Saturday, Mar. 30 in MacEwan Hall. Tickets at https://www.showclix.com/event/letterkenny-presents-a-night-of-stand-up-

SU LIVING ROOM: APRIL 3

Take a study break with us! Drop by That Empty Space any time April 3 for complimentary movies and snacks. We’re showing Wonka at 9:30 a.m., Barbie at 11:45 a.m., and The Creator at 2:00 p.m. Plus the first 200 students to drop by can grab a special SU goodie bag to help get you through the exam period.

LOCKERS

Make sure you clean out your locker by April 23. If you leave anything behind, you’ll be able to retrieve it at a cost of $10/bag at Bound and Copied. Unclaimed items will be donated to local charities. Please visit the locker page on our website for more information. If you need a locker for the spring or summer semesters, they will be available to rent starting April 1.

CONSIGN YOUR USED TEXTBOOKS

If you need to get rid of some of those textbooks from your locker, consign them and make some money. Bring your used textbooks to Bound and Copied, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Check out Bound and Copied’s website for more information.

Good luck with your final projects and exams – you’ve got this.

You’ll hear from me again soon, but in the meantime the best way to stay up to date is to follow the SU on Instagram or TikTok at @SUUofC.

Your Students’ Union President,
Shaziah Jinnah Morsette

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President’s Message: Pet Therapy, C of Red at the Den, Work with US
President’s Message: Pet Therapy, C of Red at the Den, Work with US 150 150 admin

Hello UCalgary,

With only four weeks left of regular classes, we are on the home stretch! Here are a few ways to help lift some of that end-of-semester stress:

Fun nights coming up at the Den and Mac Hall Concerts:

  • C of Red at the Den: Thursday, Mar. 14. Join us for Calgary Flames giveaways and Den specials. The fun starts at 4:30 p.m. – see you there!
  • Superhero Trivia night: Tuesday, Mar. 26 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Reserve your table by emailing theden@su.ucalgary.ca
  • Letterkenny: A night of stand-up comedy featuring comedians from the Letterkenny family, Saturday, Mar. 30 in MacEwan Hall. Tickets at https://www.showclix.com/event/letterkenny-presents-a-night-of-stand-up-

Pet Therapy in That Empty Space: Mar. 20

Join our fluffy friends from P.A.L.S. on Wednesday, Mar. 20 in That Empty Space.

Work with US as a Volunteer Coordinator: Apply by March 15

The SU is hiring student staff coordinators for our Volunteer Services programs (Q Centre, SU Campus Food Bank, and more!) These positions run mid-August to next April, 2025. The deadline has been extended to Friday, March 15. See the position descriptions and how to apply on our website.

Ramadan hampers

Until April 4, the SU Campus Food Bank is offering a special food hamper for those campus community members who may need a little support to celebrate the occasion this year. Request a Ramadan Hamper through the SU Campus Food Bank by emailing foodbank@ucalgary.ca

Food and Housing Insecurity at the University of Calgary Research Survey

The GSA is conducting an online survey about food and housing insecurity at UCalgary and we are helping to get the word out to more undergrads! Please see this message from the research team about the survey:

Share your experiences with food and housing security with us by participating in an online research study! Given the demands placed on students and the rising costs of living, it can be difficult to meet basic needs. We are conducting a research study to understand food and housing security in the University of Calgary student population. Your voice will help us advocate for supports to ensure all students have access to food and housing. The University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board has approved this research study (REB 23-1211). The Principal Investigator is Dr. Erin Spring (erin.spring@ucalgary.ca). To participate in the research study survey, please click HERE.

Your Students’ Union President,
Shaziah Jinnah Morsette

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Vice President Academic Biography
Vice President Academic Biography 150 150 admin

Gabriela Dziegielewska, Vice President Academic

Biography coming soon.

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