BCITSA Student Services  |  SE2-2nd Floor, BCIT Burnaby Campus  |  Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

About Our Office

The BCITSA Advocacy Office provides trauma-informed, nonjudgmental, and unbiased conflict resolution guidelines to students who are experiencing conflicts and outlines information about students’ rights and responsibilities at BCIT.

What Advocacy Specialists do:

  • Work with students experiencing conflict.
  • Provide confidential, non-judgemental, unbiased guidance and information.
  • Guide students to navigate policy and procedures.
  • Attend meetings with students.
  • Outline options and potential outcomes.
  • Assist students with professional communication.
  • Empower students to self-advocate.

What the Advocacy Specialist can’t do:

  • Anything a student can reasonably do themselves.
  • Go against a policy or any collective agreement.
  • Speak directly to a student’s experience.
  • Get anyone fired or reprimanded (or make suggestions)
  • Change grades or pass students.
  • Intervene in issues external to BCIT.
  • Act as witnesses in appeals.
  • Provide legal assistance.

Learn More About
BCITSA Advocacy Services

Confidentiality is important

The Advocacy office is committed to providing confidential services, and all information shared with the Advocacy team is used in conformity with BCITSA and BCIT policies and procedures. While personal information will not be shared outside the Advocacy Office without express consent, there may be times when information is shared with the Wellness and Advocacy Manager for the purposes of guidance or consultation.

In situations where Advocacy Specialists believe students may be of harm to themselves, someone else, or the BCIT community, they have an obligation to report this information even without the students’ explicit consent.

Our relationship with BCIT

The Advocacy office has a strong, mutually collaborative relationship with BCIT. It’s a common misconception that Advocacy Specialists advocate for students no matter what the situation—in reality, Advocacy Specialists advocate on the side of policy and procedural fairness. If a student has violated the policy, Advocacy Specialists will work with the student to identify options for moving forward.
The strength of the relationship with BCIT allows them to provide effective advocacy to all students because they use a non-adversarial approach that is rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability.

The Advocacy Office also advocates for the larger student population by holding a seat on various policy committees to enact change at a systemic level.

Ask the Advocate

The BCIT Student Association Advocacy Office offers free, confidential, unbiased, and non-judgmental support and services to all BCIT students. We value fairness, transparency, and accountability, and we aim to empower students to use their voices to self-advocate and exercise their rights. The Advocacy Specialists have social work backgrounds and practice from a trauma-informed, intersectional, and student-centred lens.

Keep reading below to learn more about our services and how we can you. 

Ask The Advocate Responses

Be sure to check back regularly as we update this throughout the school year.

How do I appeal a grade?

Answer

As per policy 5104 Academic Integrity and Appeals and procedure 5104-PR1 Academic Decision Review Process, your first step is to speak with your instructor to get some information on why you received the grade you did, and if there is any way you could remediate it. If after speaking with your instructor you wish to pursue an appeal, you have 20 days from the day you received your grade to file an appeal with your associate dean. You can find the paperwork necessary here. You fill out this paperwork, go to the Student Information desk in SW1 and pay the $26 grades appeal fee, then take your receipt, paperwork, and supporting documents to your associate dean. From there your associate dean will assign someone to reassess your grade. It is important to start this process as soon as you wish to appeal the grade. Waiting until the end of the term to appeal your mid-term may not be accepted, as it is assumed that you would have appealed it at the time. A word of note: sometimes when a student has a grade appealed, they may get assessed at a lower grade than the one they are appealing. It is important to clarify this with your program before you consider an appeal.

Failing due to attendance, how is this fair?

Question

I have been told I am failing my course due to too many absences. Is this fair?

Answer

As per policies 5101 Student Regulations and 5103 Student Evaluation, while full attendance is expected, if an instructor assigns a percentage to attendance, it needs to be clearly laid out in the Course Outline. If you did not receive a hard copy of the course outline, you may access it on-line at http://www.bcit.ca/study/outlines/  It is the students’ responsibility to be aware of what instructor expectations are, and to seek clarity if need be. If you did not receive a course outline, and one is not available on-line, please speak with the advocate.

I'm being discriminated against, what can I do?

Question

I think my instructor is unfair and is treating me differently from other students, what can I do?

Answer

As laid out in policy 7507 Harassment and Discrimination, all BCIT students have the right to a learning environment that supports respect, diversity, and human rights, and one which is free from harassment and discrimination. Students have the right to safely pursue academic success, and to be treated with dignity and civility by all those within the BCIT community. If you feel that you are being treated unfairly based on protected grounds, please contact BCIT’s Harassment and Discrimination office (http://www.bcit.ca/harassment/) for immediate assistance. You may also want to consider filing a Student Complaint (http://www.bcit.ca/judicial/complaints.shtml) and you are encouraged to work with the advocate if you choose this route. It is important to document the incident(s) with as much objective information as possible, including the time and date of the incident, what happened, who was involved, and if there were any witnesses. Students are strongly encouraged to speak in confidence with the advocate if they have a complaint or concern about an instructor.

I'm being accused of cheating, what do I do?

Question

Q: I learned that my instructor reported me to the Associate Dean for cheating. What does this mean and what should I do?

Answer

As laid out in procedure 5104-PR1 Procedure for Violations of Code of Academic Integrity, if an instructor suspects you’ve cheated or plagiarized, they have a responsibility to act on that suspicion. You should receive an email which outlines the allegations, but don’t be alarmed by this email — this doesn’t mean you’re automatically guilty. In the email, you should receive an invitation to meet with the investigator where you will be able to share your side of the alleged incident. If you are not afforded an opportunity to provide your side of the story, please see an Advocate ASAP. Remember that cheating and plagiarizing are serious offences in higher education, and it’s important that you’re maintaining academic integrity throughout your time here at BCIT. If you knowingly violated policy, consider owning this mistake. An Advocate can walk you through what to expect and also attend any meetings with you.

I'm having issues with my instructor, what can I do?

Question

Q: I am having issues with a teacher in my program and I’m not sure how to go about it. It has gotten to a point where I am constantly distressed in the class and I am unable to ask for help. I am also planning on avoiding her future classes because of this. Who can I talk to about this in more depth? How can I get the help I need?

Answer

Thank you for your question on Ask the Advocate and I’m sorry to hear you’re having a challenging time with your instructor. Depending on what you’re ideally seeking as a resolution, you have the option to submit a complaint to the department outlining your experience with the instructor. Another option would be to have a mediated meeting with your instructor and an Advocate present—this would strictly be an informal meeting to allow you to address some of the concerns you’re having. Since this would be informal, there would be no record of the meeting. Lastly, students are welcome to connect with a counsellor at BCIT—this service is free for students and they can be reached at 604.432.8608.

If none of these options work for you, please connect back with our office (advocacy@bcitsa.ca) and we can discuss the issue in further detail.

Burnaby Campus

In-person

Downtown Campus

In-person

Aerospace Campus

In-person

Virtual/Telephone

Here to help, even when we’re not!

Before Booking

Here are a few things to consider when booking an appointment with the BCITSA Advocacy Specialists.

  1. To give us enough time to prepare for your case, it is in your best interest to get in touch with us at least five business days in advance.
  2. If you schedule an appointment with us as opposed to dropping by, it will be simpler for us to spend more time with you.
  3. Please give us at least 24 hours’ notice if you must cancel or reschedule appointments.
  4. We provide students with 30-minute appointments. If you arrive fifteen minutes late you will have to reschedule.
  5. Our regular hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Book an appointment with us today

Whether you need an in-person appointment on campus, or would rather meet virtually we can meet you there.

View our terms and conditions.

Self-advocacy is a critical skill that will benefit students beyond their time at BCIT. By self-advocating, students represent their own beliefs, needs, and rights when experiencing conflict or adversity.

External Legal Resources

Legal Aid BC
(604) 585-6595

Access Pro Bono
(604) 878-7400

Robson Square Small Claims Court
(604) 822-5791

Who we are & what we do

About Our Office

The BCITSA Advocacy Office provides trauma-informed, nonjudgmental, and unbiased conflict resolution guidelines to students who are experiencing conflicts and outlines information about students’ rights and responsibilities at BCIT.

What Advocacy Specialists do:

  • Work with students experiencing conflict.
  • Provide confidential, non-judgemental, unbiased guidance and information.
  • Guide students to navigate policy and procedures.
  • Attend meetings with students.
  • Outline options and potential outcomes.
  • Assist students with professional communication.
  • Empower students to self-advocate.

What the Advocacy Specialist can’t do:

  • Anything a student can reasonably do themselves.
  • Go against a policy or any collective agreement.
  • Speak directly to a student’s experience.
  • Get anyone fired or reprimanded (or make suggestions)
  • Change grades or pass students.
  • Intervene in issues external to BCIT.
  • Act as witnesses in appeals.
  • Provide legal assistance.

Learn More About
BCITSA Advocacy Services

Confidentiality is important

The Advocacy office is committed to providing confidential services, and all information shared with the Advocacy team is used in conformity with BCITSA and BCIT policies and procedures. While personal information will not be shared outside the Advocacy Office without express consent, there may be times when information is shared with the Wellness and Advocacy Manager for the purposes of guidance or consultation.

In situations where Advocacy Specialists believe students may be of harm to themselves, someone else, or the BCIT community, they have an obligation to report this information even without the students’ explicit consent.

Our relationship with BCIT

The Advocacy office has a strong, mutually collaborative relationship with BCIT. It’s a common misconception that Advocacy Specialists advocate for students no matter what the situation—in reality, Advocacy Specialists advocate on the side of policy and procedural fairness. If a student has violated the policy, Advocacy Specialists will work with the student to identify options for moving forward.
The strength of the relationship with BCIT allows them to provide effective advocacy to all students because they use a non-adversarial approach that is rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability.

The Advocacy Office also advocates for the larger student population by holding a seat on various policy committees to enact change at a systemic level.

Ask us Anything!

Ask the Advocate

The BCIT Student Association Advocacy Office offers free, confidential, unbiased, and non-judgmental support and services to all BCIT students. We value fairness, transparency, and accountability, and we aim to empower students to use their voices to self-advocate and exercise their rights. The Advocacy Specialists have social work backgrounds and practice from a trauma-informed, intersectional, and student-centred lens.

Keep reading below to learn more about our services and how we can you. 

Ask The Advocate Responses

Be sure to check back regularly as we update this throughout the school year.

How do I appeal a grade?

Answer

As per policy 5104 Academic Integrity and Appeals and procedure 5104-PR1 Academic Decision Review Process, your first step is to speak with your instructor to get some information on why you received the grade you did, and if there is any way you could remediate it. If after speaking with your instructor you wish to pursue an appeal, you have 20 days from the day you received your grade to file an appeal with your associate dean. You can find the paperwork necessary here. You fill out this paperwork, go to the Student Information desk in SW1 and pay the $26 grades appeal fee, then take your receipt, paperwork, and supporting documents to your associate dean. From there your associate dean will assign someone to reassess your grade. It is important to start this process as soon as you wish to appeal the grade. Waiting until the end of the term to appeal your mid-term may not be accepted, as it is assumed that you would have appealed it at the time. A word of note: sometimes when a student has a grade appealed, they may get assessed at a lower grade than the one they are appealing. It is important to clarify this with your program before you consider an appeal.

Failing due to attendance, how is this fair?

Question

I have been told I am failing my course due to too many absences. Is this fair?

Answer

As per policies 5101 Student Regulations and 5103 Student Evaluation, while full attendance is expected, if an instructor assigns a percentage to attendance, it needs to be clearly laid out in the Course Outline. If you did not receive a hard copy of the course outline, you may access it on-line at http://www.bcit.ca/study/outlines/  It is the students’ responsibility to be aware of what instructor expectations are, and to seek clarity if need be. If you did not receive a course outline, and one is not available on-line, please speak with the advocate.

I'm being discriminated against, what can I do?

Question

I think my instructor is unfair and is treating me differently from other students, what can I do?

Answer

As laid out in policy 7507 Harassment and Discrimination, all BCIT students have the right to a learning environment that supports respect, diversity, and human rights, and one which is free from harassment and discrimination. Students have the right to safely pursue academic success, and to be treated with dignity and civility by all those within the BCIT community. If you feel that you are being treated unfairly based on protected grounds, please contact BCIT’s Harassment and Discrimination office (http://www.bcit.ca/harassment/) for immediate assistance. You may also want to consider filing a Student Complaint (http://www.bcit.ca/judicial/complaints.shtml) and you are encouraged to work with the advocate if you choose this route. It is important to document the incident(s) with as much objective information as possible, including the time and date of the incident, what happened, who was involved, and if there were any witnesses. Students are strongly encouraged to speak in confidence with the advocate if they have a complaint or concern about an instructor.

I'm being accused of cheating, what do I do?

Question

Q: I learned that my instructor reported me to the Associate Dean for cheating. What does this mean and what should I do?

Answer

As laid out in procedure 5104-PR1 Procedure for Violations of Code of Academic Integrity, if an instructor suspects you’ve cheated or plagiarized, they have a responsibility to act on that suspicion. You should receive an email which outlines the allegations, but don’t be alarmed by this email — this doesn’t mean you’re automatically guilty. In the email, you should receive an invitation to meet with the investigator where you will be able to share your side of the alleged incident. If you are not afforded an opportunity to provide your side of the story, please see an Advocate ASAP. Remember that cheating and plagiarizing are serious offences in higher education, and it’s important that you’re maintaining academic integrity throughout your time here at BCIT. If you knowingly violated policy, consider owning this mistake. An Advocate can walk you through what to expect and also attend any meetings with you.

I'm having issues with my instructor, what can I do?

Question

Q: I am having issues with a teacher in my program and I’m not sure how to go about it. It has gotten to a point where I am constantly distressed in the class and I am unable to ask for help. I am also planning on avoiding her future classes because of this. Who can I talk to about this in more depth? How can I get the help I need?

Answer

Thank you for your question on Ask the Advocate and I’m sorry to hear you’re having a challenging time with your instructor. Depending on what you’re ideally seeking as a resolution, you have the option to submit a complaint to the department outlining your experience with the instructor. Another option would be to have a mediated meeting with your instructor and an Advocate present—this would strictly be an informal meeting to allow you to address some of the concerns you’re having. Since this would be informal, there would be no record of the meeting. Lastly, students are welcome to connect with a counsellor at BCIT—this service is free for students and they can be reached at 604.432.8608.

If none of these options work for you, please connect back with our office (advocacy@bcitsa.ca) and we can discuss the issue in further detail.

Booking an Appointment

Burnaby Campus

In-person

Downtown Campus

In-person

Aerospace Campus

In-person

Virtual/Telephone

Here to help, even when we’re not!

Before Booking

Here are a few things to consider when booking an appointment with the BCITSA Advocacy Specialists.

  1. To give us enough time to prepare for your case, it is in your best interest to get in touch with us at least five business days in advance.
  2. If you schedule an appointment with us as opposed to dropping by, it will be simpler for us to spend more time with you.
  3. Please give us at least 24 hours’ notice if you must cancel or reschedule appointments.
  4. We provide students with 30-minute appointments. If you arrive fifteen minutes late you will have to reschedule.
  5. Our regular hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Book an appointment with us today

Whether you need an in-person appointment on campus, or would rather meet virtually we can meet you there.

View our terms and conditions.

Important Resources

Self-advocacy is a critical skill that will benefit students beyond their time at BCIT. By self-advocating, students represent their own beliefs, needs, and rights when experiencing conflict or adversity.

External Legal Resources

Legal Aid BC
(604) 585-6595

Access Pro Bono
(604) 878-7400

Robson Square Small Claims Court
(604) 822-5791

GENERAL INQUIRIES

TANIA DE RIDDER, BA, FCBC

Advocacy Specialist
604.432.8264
tderidder@bcitsa.ca

NARU OTA

Advocacy Specialist
604.432.8549
nota@bcitsa.ca

GURLEEN KAUR MANN

Advocacy Specialist
778.331.1328
gmann@bcitsa.ca
Speaks English and Punjabi

GIOVANNA CATUSSI

Wellness & Advocacy Manager
604.456.1161
gpinheiro@bcitsa.ca
Speaks English and Portuguese