Student Elections - Spring 2026
Students have an opportunity to become involved in the governance of SFU by submitting a nomination form (see below) for positions on Senate, Board of Governors, and Senate Graduate Studies Committee (SGSC).
| Committee | Positions | Term of Office | Information |
| Senate* | Seventeen students, elected by and from the student body, with at least one student elected from each faculty and at least three undergraduate and three graduate students. |
June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 | Senate meets once a month and is responsible for the academic governance (all matters that bear on teaching and research) of the University. |
| Board of Governors** | One undergraduate student, elected by and from the undergraduate student body. One graduate student, elected by and from the graduate student body. |
June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 | The Board of Governors meets six times a year and is responsible for the business (property, revenue and policies) of the University. |
| Senate Graduate Studies Committee (SGSC) | Four graduate students (2 regular, 2 alternate), elected by and from graduate students. | June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 | SGSC meets once a month and is responsible for making recommendations to Senate concerning graduate programs, courses, regulations, and policies. |
*Candidates elected to Senate are asked to sit on at least one Senate Committee during their elected term.
*As per Senate document S.25-137, one student space will remain open from the elections to elect student Senators for June 2026 to May 2027. A byelection will be called for the vacant seat for the School of Medicine in August 2026 to serve until May 2027.
Eligibility to Nominate, Stand for Office and Vote
Undergraduate students refer to those who are members of the Simon Fraser Student Society and who also: (i) are in good standing and are registered in at least one course (for credit) in the term in which nominations are due, or (ii) are registered in a co-op work term in the term in which nominations are due, or (iii) are designated by resolution of the Senate as an undergraduate student.
Graduate students refer to those who are members of the Graduate Student Society at Simon Fraser University and who also: (i) are duly registered as graduate students in the term in which nominations are due, or (ii) are designated by resolution of the Senate as a graduate student.
Nomination Form:
Nomination Deadline: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 4:00 pm
If only the required number of nominations is received, the candidate(s) will be declared elected by acclamation.
Candidate Information
All candidates and their agent(s) are expected to be familiar with and follow the campaign rules as set out in the Candidate Information Sheet.
All nomination forms are to be submitted to Steven Noel, senate@sfu.ca, by Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 4:00 pm. Scanned/emailed copies are preferred.
Campaign Period: March 18, 2025 to March 22, 2026
The campaign period begins after the posting of Candidates on March 18, 2026 and ends on March 22, 2026. Campaigning is prohibited during the voting period of March 23 to 26, 2026. For further information about campaigning, please refer to the Candidate Information Sheet.
Online Voting: March 23, 2026 to March 26, 2026
If voting is required, eligible students will receive an email with the following information: instructions on voting, links to candidate information statements, and a link to the online voting system. Students will be required to use their SFU Computing ID and password in order to access the voting system. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be declared elected (provided all requirements of the specific election are satisfied).
**Board of Governors Information Session
SFU is seeking engaged and committed individuals to fill two student roles on the Board of Governors for a one-year term. If you are a current undergraduate or graduate student interested in providing a student lens to SFU’s strategic governing body, join Margarita Fullerton, University Secretary, to learn about being a member of the Board. An information session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 from 12:00-1:00pm. Register to attend by emailing the Board Office at board_admin@sfu.ca or if you are unable to make it, the Board Office can provide you with the presentation materials and can answer any questions you may have.
Questions?
Questions about elections may be directed to Steven Noel, Senate Assistant and Electoral Officer, at senate@sfu.ca.