BCIT Student Association Advocate

BCIT Student Association Advocate

Who is the BCIT Student Association Advocate and what does she do?

My name is Robyn Lougheed, and I am the BCITSA Advocate. My office provides confidential, unbiased services to current, former and/or prospective BCIT students, and other members of the BCIT community, by providing information and guidance on students’ rights and responsibilities, as well as BCIT regulations, policies, and procedures. I also provide advice, intervention, and referrals and champion procedural fairness. With other members of BCIT’s staff, I seek to educate the BCIT community at large regarding accurate policy and procedure implementation, effective communication, and informal dispute resolution. All dealings with the BCITSA Advocate are confidential, and may only be revealed on a “need to know” basis, and with the written consent of the student.

My office may also make recommendations, where appropriate, for changes to BCIT policies and procedures, and to promote discussion about Institute -wide concerns. I strive to review all situations in an impartial manner, and work to help students become their own advocates by providing them with information or advice, and strategies for constructive ways to raise and resolve issues.

I also provide support services to students by listening to their personal and academic issues, building an action plan for quick (and preferably informal) resolutions, editing written statements, and attending meetings between students and faculty and/or staff. Students may be scared, intimidated, or angry when attending a meeting, so I believe it’s always best that they have someone there to support them and keep them on-topic. I try to be the calming influence.

So what happens when I attend a meeting?

I’m essentially a silent note-taker. I do NOT speak for the students, as I prefer to empower them to speak for themselves and learn the skills to resolve conflict respectfully and effectively. I work to act as a bridge between the student and BCIT, attempting to open up the lines of communication, using a non-adversarial and collaborative approach.

Navigating conflict in the most constructive way:

Students here at BCIT work hard, and are under a great deal of stress. When something doesn’t quite go as planned, their reactions to seemingly small issues may be big and emotional. My job is to help students separate that emotion from the issue at hand, and be able to move forward in a respectful and procedurally correct way to find a quick resolution. The easiest way to achieve these goals is to ensure that all parties are following BCIT’s procedures correctly, and leaving their emotions at the door.

Common pitfalls and suggested best practices for faculty and staff:

A common pitfall that I see in my office is one that has its roots in kindness. Faculty and staff at BCIT care about the success of their students and so may find themselves stepping beyond the bounds of policy to accommodate a student. While this may seem like a good idea at the time, problems arise when students talk to one another and discover that inequitable treatment has been applied. If you do something for one student, even out of good intentions, prepare for others to ask for the same treatment.

The most important thing that all members of the BCIT community should know is the correct procedure for addressing specific student concerns. Often a student will come forward with a complaint and will wish to speak with their Dean, or even the President of BCIT, Kathy Kinloch. It’s always helpful to know the ‘chain of command’ and be able to direct students toward the right person at the right time, for the right concern. My office is always available to anyone in the BCIT community if they have a question or concern about policy or procedure: it is just one of the many resources available for faculty and staff.

Learn more on my BCITSA Advocacy site and please feel free to email advocate@bcitsa.ca or call 604-456-1161 if I can be of assistance.