Special advisor will review future football opportunities for SFU
This message is sent on behalf of Rummana Khan Hemani, vice-provost, students & international, and Wade Parkhouse, provost and vice-president academic, pro tem. It has been sent to all faculty and staff.
Following our announcement, we have had dialogue with the SFU Football Alumni Society and members of the broader football community. We have also heard from student-athletes, alumni and others in the community about the importance of football. We know SFU football was loved by many and we want to thank everyone for their active involvement on this issue and for coming to the conversation with a shared desire to ensure student-athletes are supported in every way to pursue their academic and athletic goals.
We reiterate that:
- All parties agree there is no path forward for SFU to play varsity football in the NCAA.
- We will not be playing varsity football in the fall of this year.
The university is supporting football athletes who want to explore varsity football options. For those who want to stay at SFU, we are ensuring their scholarships continue throughout their academic journey and providing any additional support needed.
Since our announcement, we have heard suggestions about establishing non-varsity football or seeking an exemption with other Canadian varsity football programs. We also have heard from individuals that support the decision to end the football program.
Open dialogue is needed to fully consider and explore future options for football at SFU. To that end, President Joy Johnson has directed that SFU appoint a Special Advisor to review and make recommendations regarding potential sustainable opportunities for football. The Special Advisor will report to the Provost and will meet with students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, alumni and the broader football community to hear perspectives and gather information. We are committed to an open and transparent process. A final decision will be made by the university. This process will take time for all to be heard and for options to be weighed. We will report back by the end of the calendar year.
This has been an active conversation, and our focus is on students and student-athletes.
If you would like to share a perspective on this issue, please email football@sfu.ca.
Rummana Khan Hemani
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Vice-Provost, Students & International | Student Services
Simon Fraser University | MBC 3114
8888 University Dr., Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
sfu.ca/students
Wade Parkhouse, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice-President Academic pro tem
Professor of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology
Simon Fraser University | Strand Hall 3000
8888 University Dr., Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
www.sfu.ca