SU Committees
Your Student Legislative Council (SLC) members do not confine their work to regular SLC meetings but are involved in a number of Students’ Union (SU) committees. Appointed by SLC, these committees assist in developing policy, processes and initiatives as well as in making decisions regarding financial awards and recognition programs.
Each SU Committee has a terms of reference which is a type of policy passed by SLC that details the mandate (or purpose) of the committee, its size, membership qualifications and reporting requirements.
The SU has three types of committees:
Standing (or Permanent) Committees
Committee of Academic Policy
Members: VP Academic as Chair, six (6) members of SLC or more
Description:The Committee of Academic Policy deals with all considerations and recommendations that would promote the academic interests of the SU as well as monitor all University of Calgary academic policies, programs and procedures.
Policy Development and Review Committee
Members: VP External as Chair, two (2) member of SLC, two (2) Students at Large
Description:The Policy Development Committee meets as needed to review and draft new and revised SU policies for consistency, formatting and wording as well as to review and evaluate existing SLC mandates and/or SU regulatory policies.
Quality Money Committee
Members: President as Chair, All Executive, three (3) members of SLC, two (2) Students at Large
Description:The Quality Money Committee is mandated to recommend to the SLC the allocation of monies received by the university for funding of projects to improve student life. This body meets throughout the entire academic year.
University Relations Committee
Members: President as Chair, VP Academic, VP External, VP Student LIfe, VP Operations & Finance, GSA BoG Representative, SU BoG Representative
Description:The University Relations Committee's main purpose is to share relevant information among elected officials on matters related to the relationship between the Students' Union, Graduate Students' Association and the University of Calgary. This body meets as needed.
Operations and Finance Committee
Members: VP Operations and Finance as Chair, All Executive and three (3) SLC members
Description:The Operations and Finance Committee is an Empowered Standing Committee delegated with the authority to make day-to-day operational and financial decisions for the SU.
Empowered Standing Committees
Refugee Student Board
Members: VP Operations and Finance as Chair, one (1) member of SLC, one (1) former recipient of WUSC; one (1) University of Calgary staff -CISSA, one (1) University of Calgary staff -Residence Services, two (2) Students at Large
Description:The Refugee Student Board selects those refugee students who will be sponsored by the to attend and study at the university. The money for sponsorship is obtained from a levy collected each semester from all SU members. The body meets once per month and the meeting is approximately two hours in length.
Committee of 10,000
Members: VP Student Life as Chair, two (2) to six (6) Students at Large
Description:The Committee of 10,000 allocates money given by Active Members to charitable organizations in Calgary.
Events and Communications
Members: President as Chair, All Executive
Description: The Events and Communications Committee oversees the SU’s communications strategies and priorities as well as annual, weekly and one-time events of the SU.
Club Committee
Members: VP Student Life as Chair, six (6) members of SLC
Description: The Club Committee deals with issues related to student clubs. This committee sanctions clubs, monitors club activity and determines allocation of funding
Nominations Committee
Members: one (1) Executive Member as Chair, five (5) members of SLC
Description:The SLC Nominations Committee sets closing dates for committee applications and ensures all SLC and student-at-large positions are adequately advertised. The committee also appoints candidates for various committees and boards. This body meets as necessary.
Students’ Union Sustainability Board
Members: VP Operations and Finance as Chair, three (3) members of SLC, two (2) Students at Large
Description:The SU Sustainability Board provides environmentally sound and socially ethical decision making at the SU and at the University of Calgary in matters outlined by the Sustainability Policy. This body meets every second Tuesday and meetings are one to two hours in length.
Teaching Excellence Awards Committee
Members: VP Academic as Chair, two (2) to seven (7) of SLC, three (3) or more Students at Large
Description:The Teaching Excellence Awards Committee promotes, administers and selects the recipients of the Teaching Excellence Awards. This body is busy at the end of the fall and winter semesters.
Ad-hoc (or Temporary) Committees
Governance Review Committee
Members: one (1) Executive Member as Chair, one (1) or more members of SLC, one (1) or more Students at Large
Description:The Governance Review Committee’s main purpose is to review the SU’s internal governance structure, including but not limited to SLC according to the SU vision and mission statement. This body meets as needed.
Opportunities for Students and Volunteers
SU Committee memberships require the leadership and participation of SU executive members. However, many committees offer opportunities for current SLC members and non-elected students (students-at-large) to participate in committee work.
Representing the student voice on an SU committee is often a rewarding experience. From influencing the direction of policy or financial decisions to gaining valuable professional and work experience – membership on an SU committee comes with a number of professional and personal opportunities.
The SU often looks for volunteers to sit on a particular committee. Ideal candidates have a sincere concern for student interests and should be comfortable speaking in a committee or professional meeting setting. Diplomacy, organization, and level-headedness are qualities that would be of benefit to an SU committee.
All committee members serve on the committee from the time they are appointed until April 30th.
How to Apply as a Representative
If you are interested in applying to become a committee representative, please use the downloadable version of the application form ( MS Word or PDF.) It’s important your application be as complete as possible, as applicants are selected solely on the basis of the information provided.
Please address your submission and any questions or comments to:
- Joann Weston, Executive Assistant
- Students’ Union, University of Calgary
- MSC 251
- 2500 University Drive N.W.
- Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4
- Email: jweston@ucalgary.ca
After the Committee Administrator reviews the letters of intent, the SLC Nominating Committee will meet to consider the applications. The Committee Administrator will then contact those persons appointed by the SLC Nominating Committee.
