Presidents Message

Hello UCalgary,

We are less than four weeks away from the last day of classes. And there is still a lot going on and a lot to look forward to – including a Student Day of Action, a Q&A with Opposition Leader Rachel Notley, and of course, Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD).

Alberta Student Day of Action: March 27 

Join us in the TFDL Quad on March 27 at noon for the Alberta Student Day of Action. We’re standing up against tuition increases, the cancelled student jobs program, and lack of mental health support on campus. Let’s show politicians that these issues matter. Will you be there? Let us know.

Evening Q&A with Rachel Notley: April 5 

The SU is hosting Opposition Leader Rachel Notley for an evening Q&A on post-secondary and Calgary issues. Join us Wednesday, Apr. 5 at 5 p.m. in MacEwan Ballroom for this free event. RSVP at this link.

Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD) in the Den: April 12 

Celebrate the last day of classes in the Den: April 12, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will be drink specials and special drinks (with alcohol and alcohol-free), free food and snacks, games and prizes, DJs, karaoke, and more.

Trivia Night at the Den: The Office 

Who is Big Tuna? What is the name of Angela’s favourite cat? Join us for The Office Trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, Mar. 21, from 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Pet Therapy in That Empty Space 

Join our fluffy friends from P.A.L.S. on Wednesday, Mar. 22 in That Empty Space. (This is the last Pet Therapy of the year, so make sure you come by for a visit!)

The SU Volunteer Tax Clinic 

The tax clinic is open and accepting new clients until April 6. Tax filing services are provided by CRA-trained volunteers for qualifying clients at no charge. Eligibility and booking on our website.

Ramadan hampers 

From March 13 – April 17, 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

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt
President, Students’ Union

Follow us!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Hello UCalgary,

I hope you are enjoying a well-deserved rest on your term break. (And if you have a few extra minutes, consider nominating your most deserving prof for an SU Teaching Excellence Award!)

SU Teaching Excellence Awards: nominations are due this Friday

If your professor or TA has helped make this semester great, it might be time to nominate them for an SU Teaching Excellence Award! Show them you appreciate their efforts and help us recognize them by filling out a quick online form. The deadline for nominations is this Friday, Feb. 24, 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 watch one or more of the candidate forums next week to see them in action. This year’s General Election ballot will also have a plebiscite question about the mandatory Dinos Athletics fee. You can preview the question here. Voting days to elect SU leaders and participate in the plebiscite will be March 7, 8, and 9 through your my.ucalgary.ca student centre.

The SU is hiring: student staff positions available

We’re hiring! The SU is looking for a variety of part-time positions for the spring/summer and for next fall. Are you looking for real world experience in planning events, administrative or volunteer leadership experience, or social media marketing? See all the opportunities on our website.

The SU Volunteer Tax Clinic opens next week

The tax clinic will open on Monday, Feb. 28. Tax filing services are provided by CRA-trained volunteers for qualifying clients at no charge. Eligibility and booking on our website.

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt, President, Students’ Union

Follow us!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Hello UCalgary,

February is just around the corner and it’s going be another busy month around the SU – here’s what we have lined up:

WinterActive: physical fitness, games, and prizes

We’ve partnered with Active Living to help you jumpstart your semester. Drop by Mac Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and participate in some easy physical games and activities designed to energize you. Looking for a bigger challenge? Register your team of five for a dodgeball tournament in the Gold Gym on Thursday, Feb. 2. (Participants on both days will be entered to win lots of prizes, including a Nintendo Switch!)

SU General Election: important dates

Nomination Days are from Feb. 6 – 8. If you have decided you’re going to run for a position, download the nomination package here, and make sure to drop it off in person at Council Chambers 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Voting days will be March 7, 8, and 9 through your my.ucalgary.ca student centre.

Sex Week (Feb. 13 – 17)

Join us in the Mac Hall North Courtyard on Monday for a resource fair/carnival, and all week long for trivia, speakers, and other events throughout Mac Hall. Check out the full week of events here.

Sex Week Speaker Event: a Conversation with Martin Boyce

Join us on Thursday, Feb. 16 for a conversation with Martin Boyce, LGBTQ2SIA+ activist and participant in the Stonewall riots. This event is presented by SU Q Centre, RBC, and your SU. RSVP at this link.

Fines for Food (Feb. 13 – 19)

We are excited to continue our partnership with UCalgary’s Parking and Transportation Services – it’s called Fines-for-Food. Have you got outstanding parking fines? Pay them between Feb. 13 – 17, and half of the revenue will be donated to the SU Campus Food Bank!

All tickets paid during this period will be included in the program, regardless of when they were originally issued. Not sure how to pay your tickets? Visit parking.ucalgary.ca.

SU Survey

Got a few minutes to fill out a survey? You could win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards just for letting us know what you think of the SU’s programs, services, and advocacy. The survey is open until Feb. 13. Take the survey now.

Students for Literacy Book Sale

Browse through a tonne of books for just $2 – $3 from February 6 – 10 in the North Courtyard, Mac Hall. All proceeds will go directly towards supporting literacy in our community.

Trivia Night is back at the Den

Join us for a Valentine-themed trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Last (but not least) – do you have an exceptional prof or a TA this semester? Show them you appreciate their efforts and nominate them for a Teaching Excellence Award! The deadline for all TEA nominations is February 24.

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt,
President, Students’ Union

Follow Us!

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Happy New Year, UCalgary!

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Nicole Schmidt – your Students’ Union President. I have a few updates for you as you ease back into classes as well as updates on events for the winter semester.

Take the SU Survey: Open now until Feb. 13

Take the annual SU Survey now and enter to win one of ten $100 Amazon.ca gift cards. It’s your chance to voice your thoughts on the SU and your student experience – we want to make them even better, but we can’t do it without your help. It only takes 10 minutes: take the survey now.

SEED Conference: RSVP by Jan. 13

Explore what leadership means to you, and discover resources that you can use to support yourself and your peers right here on campus. The SEED Conference will be held in MacEwan Conference and Event Centre on Friday, Jan. 27 beginning at 10 a.m. Sessions will include Mental Health and Wellbeing, Conflict Management, and other leadership topics, with an insightful keynote talk from our VP Academic, Shaziah Jinnah Morsette.

RSVP by Jan. 13: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/students-union-seed-conference-tickets-473425015967

Trivia Nights at the Den!

Who is the manager of Central Perk? Who gets meat sweats? Join us for F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 6 – 8 p.m.

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? Attend one of our Pre-Election Workshops (Jan. 24 online, and Jan. 25 in person).

SU Clubs Week: Jan. 16 – 20

Clubs Week is back! Stop by the North and South Courtyards in Mac Hall – there’s bound to be one or more clubs that’s a perfect fit for you. If you are a club leader and want some help getting the word out about your events, we are happy to help. Make sure to connect with @SUUofCClubs on Instagram.

Wayback Wednesday: movies in That Empty Space Jan. 25

Put a movie break in your calendar this month. Drop by That Empty Space any time Jan.25 for free movies, snacks, and fun activities. We’re showing The Devil Wears Prada at 11 a.m., and School of Rock at 1:30 p.m.

More events in That Empty Space…

The puppies are back! Pet Therapy returns on Jan. 18 at 12 p.m.

Mind and Body in the Space: join us for free guided meditation sessions at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and free yoga classes at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

Last call to join our Election Staff Team! Part time work in February and March.

Join our elections team to help run the SU’s General Election this semester. The deadline has been extended to Tuesday, Jan. 10. Apply on the SU website.

Health and Dental Plan Deadline (Opt-out and Family Add-on): Jan. 27

If you are a new student this semester, you should know that you are automatically enrolled in the SU’s health and dental plan. If you have alternate coverage, you may opt out by Jan. 27.

If January is your enrolment anniversary (you are not a new student but you started at UCalgary in a previous January), then this is also your annual deadline for adding family members. Details and forms are all here at: https://www.mystudentplan.ca/uofcalgary

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt,
President, Students’ Union

Follow us!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Hello UCalgary,

Thank you so much to all those who voted in the SU By-Election and Referendum last week. I’ve got just a few more quick reminders for this month.

Teaching Excellence Nominations close on Friday, Oct. 21

This is the last week to nominate your prof or TA for an SU Teaching Excellence Award. Has an instructor or TA gone the extra mile this semester to make your class extraordinary? Nominate them for a Teaching Excellence Award. It’s super easy: just complete the short online form.

Fall Food Drive continues until Oct. 31

October is Food Security Awareness Month at the SU, and we are holding our annual Fall Food Drive. You can make a donation in person at the Information Centre in Mac Hall, or a monetary donation on our GoFundMe page. Your support helps us provide healthy food options for campus community members in need.

SU Quality Money proposals are due Nov. 25

Finally, SU Quality Money is a program that funds projects and programming that improve campus life. In the past, we’ve funded brilliant ideas like club scholarships, the SU Pride Scholarship, study space renovations, and free menstrual products in Mac Hall. If you’ve got a big idea, apply for a SU Quality Money grant and make it a reality. The deadline is November 25. Need some inspiration? Check out the hundreds of projects we’ve funded already.

I’ll be back with another email soon, and in the meantime, the best way to stay up to date is to follow the SU on social media, @SUUofC.

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt
President, Students’ Union

Follow us!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Hello UCalgary,

As the semester winds down, we celebrate the winners of our annual Club Awards. These awards honour clubs that have raised the bar in categories like advocacy, sustainability, EDI, and engagement. This year’s winning clubs are:

• Advocacy Award: Mental Health for South Asia
• Future Alumni Network’s SU Club Award for Alumni Engagement: University of Calgary Consulting Association AND Students of the Arts and Science Honours Academy
• Best New Club: Data Science and Machine Learning Club
• Campus Pride Award: Kinesiology Students’ Society
• Club of the Year: RED (Reforming Education on Drugs)
• Collaboration Award: Chinese Students’ Society
• Community Service Award: The Mustard Seed, U of C
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award: American Sign Language Club
• First Year Engagement Award: Nigerian Students’ Association
• Innovation Award: Evren
• Leadership Award: Schulich Ignite
• Longevity, Ongoing Vitality, and Engagement Award: Women in Science and Engineering
• Quality of Education Award: Canadian Organization for Undergraduate Health Research Calgary Chapter
• Student Life Award: Pakistani Students’ Society
• Sustainability Award: Go Baby Go

We also awarded $1,000 each to ten outstanding student leaders, through the Eric Lahoda Scholarship. Check out the full list of winners and honourable mentions on the SU website. You can also follow our SU Clubs account on Instagram @SUUofCClubs
Clean out your fall/winter locker
Make sure you clean out your locker by Friday, April 29 (even if you have a spring locker). 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’re available on your Student Centre now!

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. – 4 p.m. Check out Bound and Copied’s website for more information.

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

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt,
President,
The Students’ Union

Follow us!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Hello UCalgary students,

First, I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who voted last week in the SU elections. Congratulations to the new executives of the 80th Students’ Legislative Council! Current elected officials continue until April 29, when the new elected officials take their oaths of office. Check out our website for a full list of all the newly elected faculty representatives and other election results.

SU awards deadlines

This year we launched two new scholarships with a focus on EDI.

The first is the SU ABLE Award. This $500 award seeks to address challenges in current awards systems and processes that create barriers for persons with disabilities from accessing scholarships and awards. The award aims to recognize students that have demonstrated resilience and shown that regardless of these barriers, they have been ABLE to excel in their educational field and have proven to be a leader for others in their community.

The second is the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advocacy (IDEA) Award. Funded through Quality Money and administered by the SU, this award seeks to recognize University of Calgary undergraduate students who are actively dedicated to advocating for and improving Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives on campus. Two $1,500 awards will be given out at the end of the winter semester.

Find more information about these awards, or start your application on the SU website.

The deadline to apply for either award is March 21 at 4 p.m.

We’re hiring

The SU is recruiting for a long list of positions that start this summer and next fall. Work on campus and work around your class schedule. Maybe you are looking for experience in administration, leading volunteers, or behind-the-scenes work as the Deputy Speaker at SLC. Or, maybe you have always wanted to help plan events, or run multiple social media accounts. Check out our website – the deadline to apply is this Friday, March 18.

Ramadan hampers

The SU Campus Food Bank is proud to introduce a new initiative – Ramadan Hampers. With Ramadan beginning next month, we are offering a special food hamper for those campus community members who may need a little support to celebrate the occasion this year. Requests open March 28, through the SU Campus Food Bank.

The Den: now offering take-out

Finally, one more quick tip for those who are back on campus: the Den has a new take-out ordering section on their website. You can place your order from anywhere on campus, and then pick it up on your way through Mac Hall.

Nicole Schmidt
President, Students’ Union

Follow us!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram