SFSS Student Advocacy Office Logo

The Student Advocate supports undergraduates at SFU in academic and non-academic matters.
The Student Advocate provides resources and options, in a confidential manner, for students who need help. This may include help with navigating university policies and procedures, advice on how to deal with tricky situations, help you plan an academic or conduct appeal, serve as a support person in difficult situations, provide referrals to specialized support services, or help get a new project off the ground. The goals are to improve undergraduates’ overall university experience and work to make SFU a safer and more respectful space for all students, faculty, and staff.
You are welcome to book a one-on-one session with her or if you prefer, we have compiled self-help and how-to guides on the most common issues students face, just check out the menu at the bottom of this page.
How do I meet with the Advocate?
Step 1: Book an appointment in-person or remote
Step 2: Fill out this information form by clicking here
Step 4: Review the self-help tools in the menu at the bottom of this page
Step 3: Meet with the Student Advocate and come up with a plan
I don’t want to meet, I want to do it myself
For a multitude of Self-Help Guides, tailored resource lists, and referrals on a wide range of topics, please see the menu at the bottom of this page.

 

Image of a wooden door at the end of a hallway with a large window to the right. The sign above the door says Student Advocacy Office. The office is Number 3301.

Advocacy Office SUB 3301

Legal Help

Please note, the Student Advocate is NOT a lawyer, so if you need LEGAL help, please see:

TSSU Strike FAQ

Priorities and main areas of services

(Include, but are not limited to)

  • Support and guidance for students dealing with academic, institutional, and equity issues on campus.
  • Assistance with disciplinary and misconduct matters
  • Assistance with health and wellness concerns
  • Improving campus safety and access
  • Combating sexual and other forms of harassment and discrimination
  • Connecting students with campus resources
  • Advocating for new/improved services and policies that benefit students
Goals:

This office aims to amplify the voices of students by advocating on their behalf and assisting them as they navigate through difficult or crisis situations in the University setting.

Funding and Autonomy: 

The SFSS Advocacy Office is run by the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS). The SFSS is a not-for-profit organization that represents all Undergraduate Students at the Simon Fraser University (SFU). The SFSS provides members with a broad range of advocacy work, services, and events. The vision of the SFSS is students thriving everywhere and this is realized through our support of students to reach their full potential by providing resources and services that represent, connect and benefit our membership. Because we are funded by students, for students, we are not obliged to remain neutral which opens options for how we can support students.

To learn more, see sfss.ca.

 

Hours & Info

Student Union Building
Room 3301,
(3rd floor, via corridor past elevators)
8888 University High St, Burnaby, BC V5A
Monday (remote), Thursday to Friday (SUB) 10:30am to 5:30pm

studentadv.coord@sfss.ca

We respectfully and gratefully acknowledge that we are located on the ancestral, unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) and q̓icə̓y̓ (Katzie) Nations. Unceded means that these territories have never been handed over, sold, or given up by these nations, and we are currently situated on occupied territories. To learn more about Indigenous territories, please visit native-land.ca.

COVID 19

Centre for Accessible Learning

Illness Forms

  • Self Declaration of Illness Form: This form should be acceptable in lieu of a doctor’s note for short-term illness or injuries and instructors SHOULD accept it according to the Academic Concessions guidelines from 2021/2022. This process is now under review for 2023/2024. You can still try using this form as of June 2023, but an instructor may require a sick note.
  •  SFU Certificate of Illness Form: aka “Doctor’s Note”. This form is for longer-term illness or injury or where instructors require official evidence of illness or injury. SFU discourages faculty from requiring these due to the burdens they create for students and medical providers, though some instructors still require this form for things like Final Exams, Deferred Grades, or longer-term Concessions.

Counseling and Mental Health Support