During your educational journey at BCIT, you are part of a safe, accessible, and respectful environment that fosters your growth and learning. The BCIT Student Association (also known as the BCITSA or the SA) plays a huge part in cultivating this space for you.
The BCITSA is a non-profit, student-funded organization run by your fellow BCIT classmates, serving to advocate for and support everyone in the student community. All BCIT students—including you—are members of the BCITSA.
Services offered are designed to enhance your educational and professional journey. These include career services, wellness and advocacy support, entrepreneur mentorship, clubs, events, and many more. A part of your student fees—whether you’re a full-time, part-time, or co-op student—go toward creating and enhancing BCITSA programs and support systems for you and your student community.
How is the BCITSA Governed?
The BCITSA is led and fuelled by the voices of our diverse BCIT student community. This system propels students to the forefront of the organization and is a great way to gain leadership skills.
There are three levels of student leadership: executives, councillors, and set representatives (set reps).
Elected to their roles in the spring by students, the executives consist of the president, four vice presidents, and seven chairs. The president and vice presidents oversee the entirety of the SA, from administration to operations. The chairs, together with the councillors, represent the voices of students from each of the six schools and different campuses at BCIT. Set reps differ from all these roles in that they are responsible for gathering concerns from students in a specified set within their program of study, bringing them forth to Council meetings for discussions on ways to resolve them. Set reps are generally nominated by their classmates or assigned to the positions by their instructor.
You can count on these student leaders to represent you, and you are always welcome to connect with them if you have any questions or ideas for enriching the student experience. You can also get personalized support from the BCITSA Advocacy team by scheduling an appointment.
For further information about governance at the SA, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Minnu Bennichan at mbennichan@bcitsa.ca.
How Can I Get Involved?
As a BCIT student and a member of the SA, you have great opportunities to help transform the future of BCIT student life. These include dropping by a Council meeting (or more!), held biweekly throughout the year, as well as the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held annually in November.
The main goals of the AGMs are to report on the current operations of the SA, the spending of student fees, and any policies and bylaws that may be amended.
As Stewart McGillivray, BCITSA Government Relations Strategist, says, “In addition to annual elections in the spring and biweekly Council meetings, the AGM is an essential part of [the SA’s] accountability to members—the students of BCIT. [Attending one is] a great way to meet fellow students, get to know the BCITSA executives, and learn more about the association.”
The next AGM will be held on Monday, November 28, at 5:30 pm in the Council Chambers on the third floor of SE2 on the Burnaby campus. Students are welcome to attend in person or online, and more information on how to join will be provided on the SA website and over email. Dinner will be served for in-person attendees.
What Does This All Mean?
During your time at BCIT, the SA is here to serve and advocate for you so that support is available to you every step of your journey. As the organization continues to develop new programs to enhance the student experience, you have a say in how it all happens. Participating in student elections, dropping by Council meetings, or attending the AGM are great ways to share your thoughts and contribute to a supportive and empowering environment for your student community.
