Students' Association of MacEwan University (SAMU)

What Students' Association of MacEwan University (SAMU) does

The Students' Association of MacEwan University (SAMU) is a non-profit student association founded in 1971 that serves as the elected representative body and service provider for more than 20,000 students at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. SAMU operates independently from the university under a student-governed structure led by a 14-member Students' Council and a five-person Executive Committee, currently chaired by 55th President Nathan N. Poon. The organization is supported by approximately 63 staff (over 50 full-time and part-time) and runs its operations from a LEED Gold-certified three-storey SAMU Building that houses student services, four food vendors (Deville Coffee, Chachi's, OPA!, Edo Japan), an RBC OnCampus branch, the Student Benefits Plan Office, and dedicated floors for peer support, food security, and administration.

SAMU delivers a comprehensive service portfolio spanning health and wellness (health and dental insurance, MyWellness, MyLegalPlan, Peer Support, Mental Health Resources, Support Kits), food security (Breakfast Club, The Pantry, Produce Pop-Up), student life programming (Student Groups, Volunteer Program, Fall Fest, Winter Fest, Culture Cafe, Artworks, Free Range Connections podcast, The Griff publication), academic advocacy (Student Advocacy Centre), financial support (SAMU Cares bursary, grants, emergency loans), and transportation (U-Pass transit access across seven Edmonton-area municipalities). Core technology is limited to the Campus Labs Student Groups Connect platform for student organization management and the MyStudentPlan benefits portal for insurance/claims administration; no proprietary technology platform or product is developed.

Revenue is generated primarily through mandatory student membership fees of $13.50 per credit (capped at $202.50 annually for 15 credits), supplemented by ancillary fees including a Healthcare Benefit ($114.75/semester), Dental Benefit ($93.37/semester), U-Pass ($180/term), Building Levy ($35), MyLegalPlan ($18/year), and Global Education Fee ($3.50/term), bringing total per-term fees to $647.12. Additional revenue is generated through on-campus food vendor lease arrangements and an RBC on-campus partnership. The go-to-market model is community-led: SAMU engages its student constituency through elections, surveys, social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok), campus events, and direct leadership outreach, with no external B2B or multi-institutional revenue streams.

Name

Students' Association of MacEwan University (SAMU)

Legal name

Students' Association of MacEwan University

Website

https://samu.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SAMU is the elected, student-governed non-profit association serving more than 20,000 students at MacEwan University in Edmonton, delivering health benefits, transit access, food security, advocacy, and student life programming funded primarily through mandatory membership fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Association Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals) (EDALANAE), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

Keywords

• Student association services
• Campus advocacy programs
• Student health benefits
• Student welfare services
• Campus engagement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Membership Fees: SAMU is funded primarily through mandatory student membership fees. Each student pays $13.50 per credit to a maximum of 15 credits ($202.50 maximum for 2025-2026 academic year). Additional fees include Health Care Benefit ($114.75/semester), Dental Benefit ($93.37/semester), MyLegalPlan ($18/year), U-Pass ($180), Building Levy ($35), and Global Education Fee ($3.50). Total fees including all additional fees are $647.12.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAMU is a non-profit student association that represents, advocates for, and delivers services to more than 20,000 enrolled MacEwan University students. Its offerings include mandatory and optional membership-funded benefits (health, dental, legal, transit), wellness and food security programs, academic advocacy, student leadership opportunities, student groups, campus events, and negotiated discounts. The organization operates from a dedicated three-storey on-campus building and is governed by elected student representatives.

Product overview

SAMU (Students' Association of MacEwan University) is a non-profit student organization offering a comprehensive suite of student services rather than a unified technology product. The portfolio includes: Student Life programs (Student Groups, Fall Fest, Winter Fest, Culture Cafe, Artworks, Volunteer Program), Health & Wellness services (Health & Dental Benefits, MyWellness, MyLegalPlan, Peer Support, Mental Health Resources, Support Kits), Food Support programs (Breakfast Club, The Pantry, Produce Pop-Up), Financial Support (SAMU Cares bursaries, grants, emergency loans), Academic Advocacy (Student Advocacy Centre), Student Discounts (Oilers tickets, ski passes, WEM passes), Media (The Griff publication, Free Range Connections podcast), and Transportation (U-Pass). The SAMU Building houses four food vendors (Deville Coffee, Chachi's, OPA!, Edo Japan) and various student support offices. The organization also partners with WUSC for the Student Refugee Program and uses the Student Groups Connect platform (Campus Labs) for managing student organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student Groups Program Program supporting dozens of student-run groups with shared interests, passions, and causes through extracurricular activities and events, building community and celebrating campus diversity.
• Health & Wellness Services Comprehensive wellness support encompassing Health & Dental coverage, Mental Health Resources, Peer Support, The Pantry food assistance, and Breakfast Club for MacEwan students.
• Health & Dental Benefits Plan Student health and dental insurance plan providing coverage for paramedical services, psychology, social worker services, and dental care including diagnostic, preventative, and restorative services.
• MyWellness Plan Mental health support service providing free anonymous mental health assessments, online video counselling, and wellness tools for MacEwan students.
• MyLegalPlan Student legal plan providing access to online legal library, legal hotline consultation, and lawyer consultations from a national network for civil legal issues.
• U-Pass Program Transit pass providing MacEwan students unlimited access to public transit in Edmonton and surrounding municipalities including St. Albert, Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, Leduc, and Beaumont for $180 per term.
• Breakfast Club Free weekly breakfast service for students offered every Thursday, accommodating dietary needs including Halal, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
• The Pantry Confidential food service providing non-perishable food and hygiene hampers to students up to twice per month, supporting dietary options including Halal, Vegan, and Vegetarian.
• Produce Pop-Up Free fresh vegetable distribution program allowing students to build custom produce bundles for home cooking, held monthly in the SAMU building.
• Peer Support Confidential peer support service providing a safe space for students to talk about their concerns with trained student volunteers, available in-person and via text-based chat.
• SAMU Student Advocacy Centre Academic and non-academic advocacy service providing confidential support to help students self-advocate, including policy guidance, meeting preparation, and correspondence assistance.
• SAMU Cares Bursary Program Bursary program assisting over 80 families each year with emergency financial support, funded by the Grant MacEwan University Foundation endowment.
• SAMU Grants and Bursaries Financial assistance programs including Student Professional Development Grants (up to $500 for academic conferences), emergency loans, and external scholarship information.
• Student Discounts Program Collection of discounts and special offers from local and national businesses including Oilers tickets, ski lift tickets, West Edmonton Mall passes, retail, food, and technology discounts.
• Oilers Ticket Sales Discounted Edmonton Oilers hockey game tickets available exclusively to MacEwan students through SAMU, with limited pairs sold online.
• Fall Fest SAMU's largest annual welcome event featuring live concerts, food trucks, beer garden, exhibitors, and entertainment for MacEwan students.
• Winter Fest Winter semester welcome event featuring live music, entertainment, and freebies for MacEwan students at discounted entry.
• Culture Cafe Monthly drop-in events exploring global traditions through cultural activities and learning experiences, designed to help students connect and feel part of a welcoming campus community.
• Artworks (Art After Hours) Program showcasing student artwork at SAMU, creating a space for creative celebration and engagement with the campus community.
• Student Refugee Program Partnership with WUSC to sponsor refugee students at MacEwan University through the Global Education fee, promoting education access and global awareness.
• The Griff MacEwan University's student publication covering campus life, downtown Edmonton, and student issues. Founded in 2011, publishes seven issues per academic year.
• Free Range Connections SAMU's community podcast featuring authentic conversations about student life at MacEwan, covering topics including campus experiences, mental health, and world issues.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities with VIP (Volunteer Incentive Program) rewarding participants with points for swag, gift cards, and event tickets.
• Mental Health Resources Comprehensive mental health resource library covering stress management, mental health awareness, suicide prevention, self-harm reduction, relationships, gender identity, and disability support.
• Support Hub Central hub providing access to Peer Support, The Pantry, and local resources including free support items such as condoms, pregnancy tests, and personal care products.
• Support Kits Monthly wellness kits at no cost containing curated wellness items and support supplies, available to students during Fall and Winter semesters.
• Student Groups Connect Platform Online platform for managing student groups, events, and engagement activities at MacEwan University.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World University Service of Canada (WUSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMU partners with WUSC to support the Student Refugee Program (SRP). Under this program, $2.50 of the Global Education fee per term funds the sponsorship of a refugee student at MacEwan University. Once in Canada, the student lives in MacEwan Residence and attends classes full-time. SAMU assists with integrating them into student life and setting them up for success at the university.
• City of Edmonton / ETS TransitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAMU facilitates the U-Pass program providing MacEwan students unlimited access to transit in Edmonton, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, Leduc, and Beaumont for $180 per term.
• MyStudentPlan (Benefits Management Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationExternal benefits management platform providing students access to health and dental insurance, mental health resources (MyWellness), and legal support (MyLegalPlan). Students register through the platform to access benefit cards and submit online claims.
• SAMU Benefit Plan OfficecoreOthersLocated in SAMU Building (SA-109A), provides in-person support for student health and dental benefits. Phone: 587-881-2169, Email: [email protected]
• RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRBC operates an on-campus branch and ATM in the SAMU Building (SA-104/SA-104A). Offers free student bank accounts and various financial services to MacEwan students.
• Various National and Local BusinessesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAMU negotiates student discounts with national and local businesses including restaurants, retailers, fitness centers, entertainment venues, and technology providers. Discounts include oilers tickets, ski lift tickets, West Edmonton Mall passes, software subscriptions (Adobe, Microsoft, Apple), and retail discounts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@sa_macewan?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• Facebookfacebook.com/samacewan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samacewan
• Instagraminstagram.com/sa_macewan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Students' Association of MacEwan University (SAMU)