Know Your Rights: Ask an Advocate for Support

About Our Office

How We Can Help

Welcome to Student Advocacy Support at BCIT! This is your direct line to personalized guidance and support for navigating challenges and understanding your rights as a student. 

Our mandate is to help you understand your rights and responsibilities, while providing you with unbiased support and conflict resolution guidance in a confidential and supportive environment.  

Our primary service is one-on-one appointments where you can connect with an advocate to discuss your specific situation so that you can get personalized support and answers to your questions about BCIT policies and procedures. Whether you have questions about academic regulations, need assistance with a grade or program concern, or simply want someone to help you understand your options in a conflict situation with a peer or instructor, we’re here to listen and empower you to find effective solutions.

We work closely with students like you, as well as faculty and administration, to address your concerns and create positive change where possible. Explore below to learn more about how our individual support can help you during challenging times during your studies at BCIT.

Confidentiality is important: Advocacy 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 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.