Students’ Union Quality Money program supports an affordable meal option on campus

For many students and members of the University of Calgary community, food is just another item on a long list of concerns. 

Between the cost of groceries; the time it takes to prepare, cook and pack meals; and even the fact that learning to cook is a skill that takes practice, it’s no wonder that, for many people, it’s easier to order takeout, count an iced coffee as breakfast or to skip meals altogether.

Ermia Rezaei-Afsah, president of the UCalgary Students' Union (SU), knew this struggle first-hand, so he decided to make a change. Together with previous SU President Shaziah Jinnah Morsette, he took advantage of the SU Quality Money program and developed the SU Quality Meal, now available at The Den.

"(We) wanted to create this program because both of us as students constantly skipped meals to be able to save money. We also knew that many other students, including our friends, did so as well," Rezaei-Afsah says. "The intention of this program was to be as stigma-free and accessible as possible, so that one doesn’t think to themselves that they cannot get it because someone else needs it."

The SU Quality Meal, which consists of a bowl of stew served with two slices of bread for dipping, is vegan, gluten-free and nut-free (gluten-free or vegan bread can be substituted on request). And the whole thing costs $3.

For the student who worries about cancelling plans with friends because they can’t afford to go out; the student who has no time to cook in between classes, studying and working; or the student who can’t otherwise regularly access a hot meal, this project aims to remedy those worries. The meal has no stigma attached — it’s aimed at absolutely anyone on campus.

“No student can be expected to thrive if they are constantly hungry — their academics, their social life and their health all take a toll,” Rezaei-Afsah says.

Hopefully, for many students and members of the UCalgary community, the SU Quality Meal will help them check off food as another item on their long list of concerns.

An SU Quality Money project

The SU Quality Meal is just one of a multitude of SU Quality Money projects. Each year, the SU is provided with approximately $1.65 million from the UCalgary Board of Governors to invest in projects that will enhance the overall quality of student experience.

Each fall semester, the SU invites Quality Money proposals from students, faculty and other members of the campus community. The major stipulation of these proposals is that the project or initiative must contribute to one of the Quality Money funding pillars, which are Quality of Education, Quality of Student Life, and Affordability and Accessibility.

Past Quality Money projects have included funding for physical-space changes to create needed meeting/study space and lockers, as well as collaborative spaces like the Q Centre and SU Clubs areas. Some projects have enhanced sustainability by supporting bicycle transportation and the community garden. Others have increased accessibility to academic opportunities through book-loan and bursary programs and provided much-needed computer and laboratory equipment. Quality Money has also funded projects to support the health and wellness of students, such as the flu clinic, various mental health initiatives, sexual violence-prevention projects and updating on-campus prayer spaces.

Applications for 2024-2025 Quality Money projects are being accepted until Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. For more information and to submit your own project proposal, please visit the Quality Money webpage.