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Advocacy Office

How does the Students’ Advocate support students?

The Students’ Advocate supports students by empowering them to understand their individual and collective rights. Our goal is to actively seek to resolve individual matters, while also pursuing systemic improvements for the student body as a whole.

Operating Principles:

Confidential – All information provided to the Students’ Advocate shall remain confidential unless directed otherwise by the student. Confidentiality will cease if a student makes comments about self-harm, harm to others, or speaks to the Students’ Advocate about a criminal act. The students’ Advocate is neither a lawyer nor medical professional, and there is no legal privilege connected to communications between students and the Students’ Advocate.

Independent – The Students’ Union operates independently of UBC Okanagan and is responsible for students who are UBC Okanagan Student Union Members.

The Students’ Advocate will:

  1. Provide guidance and assistance to UBC Okanagan Student Union Members
    – Undergraduate students
  2. Support students who are experiencing a challenge or conflict with their professor, faculty, or UBC Okanagan administration.
  3. Actively guide and support students by communicating directly with the involved parties – this includes but is not limited to:
  • Participating in meetings with professors/faculty/administration
  • Attending Academic Committee meetings and President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline (PACSD) hearings
  • Taking meeting minutes
  • Providing feedback on written communication
  • Providing support with various university processes, i.e., grade appeals, academic misconduct, failed standings, concession requests, senate appeals on academic standing

    The Students’ Advocate will not:

    1. Provide legal advice or answer legal questions
    2. Offer counseling
    3. Participate in legal proceedings against the University. Need Support?
      Contact the Students’ Advocate – advocate@suo.ca, or visit our office at UNC133
    On-Campus Resources
    Community & Government Resources