Stakeholder Engagement

SFU works with numerous local stakeholders. There are procedures, protocols, memoranda of understanding, and agreements that guide these engagement activities. This includes specific protocols and agreements with the Host Nations on which SFU’s three campuses reside. SFU also has meaningful mechanisms for local stakeholders (such as local residents, government, and civil society representatives) to participate in university decision-making through our Board of Governors (election of external stakeholders, public and transparent Board meetings) and public engagement processes, where stakeholders are asked to comment on specific strategies and plans (e.g., forest fire prevention on Burnaby Mountain with UniverCity residents), and community dialogues on critical issues (e.g. through the Centre for Dialogue and Public Square). Below, we provide a number of examples of the SFU offices and engagement “open doors” offered to local stakeholders. 

Policies and procedures to identify & engage with external local stakeholders

SFU’s B10.00 Policy on Policies outlines a clear and structured process for developing, amending, repealing, and reviewing university policies within the Board of Governors’ jurisdiction, including how and when stakeholder consultation occurs. A draft policy cannot be shared for consultation until it has been reviewed and approved by the Governance, Risk and Compliance Committee (GRCC) of the Board of Governors. Once GRCC approves consultation, targeted or required stakeholders- those with whom the University is required to consult pursuant to contract or policy – are engaged. In addition to these stakeholders, the Designated Lead (and supporting team) may identify others to engage early in the process, such as local stakeholders, external to the university. All members of the University Community, including those not initially engaged, are given the opportunity to provide input during the university-wide consultation phase. When policies and/or their associated documents are undergoing community consultation, a link to the policy consultation page is provided on the SFU Community Consultation on University Policies page. 

Read about Anticipated Policy Consultations

SFU’s Indigenous Protocols & Procedures (how to engage respectfully) 

SFU has co-developed several protocols and procedures for how to engage with local Host Nations: 

Indigenous protocols at SFU events (who speaks first, when to invite Elders, acknowledgements).

University guidance from Ceremonies & Events and the Truth & Reconciliation pages and be found here: Indigenous protocol for ceremonies and events

Speaking program details (Elders should open major events) + how to book an Elder.

Practical steps and timelines, and the Elder Request Form can be found here: SFU Ceremonies Toolkit

Territorial acknowledgements by campus

Burnaby: Tsleil-Waututh, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, and Squamish; Vancouver: Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh; Surrey: Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, and Tsawwassen. They can be found here:  Communicators Toolkit_territorial_acknowledgement

Indigenous research ethics & protocols.

SFU’s plan to convene an Indigenous Research Committee to establish respectful protocols for research “in and with” Indigenous communities (from the Aboriginal Reconciliation Council calls-to-action) can be found here: Strategic Research Plan Implementation on Indigenous Research

Agreements & MOUs with local First Nations

SFU has formal agreements and memoranda of understanding with Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (MST). 

Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ) & SFU – Agreement to advance reconciliation (Sept 6, 2023).

Formal commitment to work together; outlines collaboration to support Nation priorities. SFU News Story

Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) & SFU – MOU (first signed Nov 29, 2017; renewed May 2023).

A renewable three-year partnership to collaborate on cultural, academic and research activities. SFU News story

SFU reconciliation overview (2025).

Confirms the Tsleil-Waututh agreement and Squamish MOU renewal as core relationship commitments with Host Nations. Aboriginal Peoples

Who at SFU handles MOUs/contracts

Research agreements & MOUs (research context).

Central guidance on when and how to use MOUs, and that Research Services reviews/negotiates research agreements. Researcher Resources

University contracts generally.

Office of the General Counsel explains what counts as a contract (including binding MOUs) and reviews terms to align with SFU policies. General Council

Neutral Platform to Discuss Political Issues at SFU  

SFU PUBLIC SQUARE

SFU Public Square, a signature initiative designed to spark, nurture and restore community connections, establishes SFU as the go-to convener of serious and productive conversations about issues of public concern. Public Square works across all of SFU’s campuses, supporting faculty, students, staff, alumni and diverse communities to convene accessible, innovative and inclusive programming that brings people together to find ways to meaningfully contribute to the issues that affect their lives. Every year, they collaboratively program dozens of workshops, debates, public conversations, discussion panels and other gatherings, creating a safe space and neutral platform for political and social discussions. These spaces encourage perspectives and ways of knowing from different political stakeholders to collide, influence each other, and frankly discuss challenges. The experience is transformative, inspiring deeper conversations, igniting networks, building capacity and catalyzing curiosity and concern into advocacy and action. 

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SFU MORRIS J. WOSK CENTRE FOR DIALOGUE 

The SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue is a world class, accredited conference facility and a programming unit that aims to foster shared understanding and positive action amongst different political stakeholders through dialogue and engagement. The Centre strengthens Canadian democracy by providing a neutral platform for promoting democratic participation and innovation, spreading best practices via dialogue training and tools, and helping governments engage citizens and stakeholders.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGED RESEARCH INITIATIVE (CERi)

CERi is SFU’s campus-wide hub that promotes research grounded in community participation, cooperation, and knowledge translation, enabling students and faculty to engage ethically and collaboratively with Indigenous Nations, local organizations, and community leaders. Through its funding programs, fellowship tracks, and Indigenous-centred knowledge exchange initiatives, CERi strengthens institutions of community research engagement and supports pathways for communities to actively shape research agendas and outcomes. 

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RADIUS SFU  

RADIUS at SFU provides a supportive, neutral platform where students, local organizations, community leaders, and political stakeholders work together to frankly discuss social and economic challenges. By creating space for meaningful participation and capacity-building across civil society and public institutions, it strengthens more fair, accountable, and community-responsive decision-making. RADIUS labs are multi-year commitments working in reciprocal relationships with communities most impacted by the challenges being addressed. They aim to build shared power to influence unjust socioeconomic systems, advance the solutions prioritized by community, and co-identify and advance interventions for broader change. RADIUS labs are designed to create a safe space to convene various groups of impacted communities and other stakeholders. They are a place to activate the collective intelligence, creative capacity, and leadership potential of all in the system. 

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CENTRE FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

The Centre for Restorative Justice is an initiative by the School of Criminology at SFU that partners with various stakeholders from communities, political bodies, justice agencies and the university to support and promote the principles and practices of restorative justice. The Centre delivers education, innovative program models, training, evaluation and research through a resource centre and meeting place. These safe spaces facilitate outreach, promotion, dialogue and advocacy amongst stakeholders. 

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Reconciliation at SFU

SFU’s commitments to reconciliation are reflected in concrete, ongoing work across the university that strengthens inclusive governance and meaningful participation. This includes establishing Indigenous leadership roles, advancing the First Peoples’ Gathering House and the expansion of the Indigenous Student Centre, and supporting new Indigenous-led academic and professional development pathways. Together, these initiatives help build safe, culturally grounded spaces, strengthen community capacity, and move the university toward more accountable and just institutional practices. 

Read latest report: Aboriginal Strategic Initiative (ISI) Final Report (March 2024)

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Working with local Indigenous Community partners

SFU has formal relationship agreements in place with both the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw  (Squamish) Nation and the səlilwətaɬ  (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation to guide this collaboration. These agreements support ongoing dialogue, shared educational and research initiatives, the respectful inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and cultural protocol, and the strengthening of long-term, community-grounded relationships.

Working with the Provincial Human Rights Commissioner

SFU reached a key milestone in the Fall 2023 when the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner approved SFU’s Special Program allowing the university to proactively hire at least 15 Indigenous staff members. This marks a concrete step toward improving Indigenous representation and advancing reconciliation through more equitable and inclusive employment practices at SFU. 

This builds on the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner’s approval earlier in 2023 of a separate Special Program at SFU that supports the proactive hiring of Black staff and tenure-track faculty, further advancing representation and equity across the university.

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Indigenous Health

In Summer 2024, the Province of British Columbia advanced SFU’s new School of Medicine with significant funding to support planning and campus development in Surrey. The School is being built in partnership with Indigenous leaders and community health organizations to ensure that cultural safety, Indigenous knowledge, and community-led care are foundational to its programs. This approach strengthens inclusive, accountable, and community-responsive health institutions, aligning directly with SFU’s commitments to reconciliation. 

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SFU has multiple independent student unions. The SFU Student Society represents all undergraduate students and regularly provides governance input to the university, particularly through operational offices and through the Board of Governors. The Graduate Student Society has a similar role while representing graduate students. SFU also has a student organization, Embark Sustainability Society, that serves all SFU students (undergraduate and graduate) and regularly provides governance input to the university. 

All three student societies offer social activities for students and provide support for SFU students. 

SFU's Student Union Building offers 113,000 square feet of amenities, student activity and study space, including space for SFU Student Society staff.

SFU Student Society (SFSS) for Undergraduate Students 

SFSS is a student-led organization that represents and advocates for the interests of the 25,000+ undergraduate students at SFU. The SFSS is home to various social and academic clubs open to all SFU students. Students also have access to several services through the SFSS, not limited to: free legal advice, an annual kick-off concert in the fall, affordable medical care, social clubs, and much more.

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Graduate Student Society (GSS) for Graduate Students

GSS is the society and government for all graduate students at SFU, representing over 4,000 students in 38 academic units. The GSS supports graduate students to achieve their personal, professional and academic goals at SFU and beyond. The society is committed to receptive stewardship in order to provide relevant representation, advocacy and services to its membership.   

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Embark Sustainability Society

Embark is an independent, student-centred, not-for-profit based out of Simon Fraser University. Itcreates space for transformation by catalyzing student sustainability journeys that centre justice, equity, decolonization, diversity and inclusion. The society does this by engaging students in programs, events, and other initiatives that spark dialogue and cultivate action to address systemic challenges within climate and food systems.

Embark is a student society at SFU which represents all graduate and undergraduate students, making it the largest student society at SFU.    

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Simon Fraser University has a rich history of deeply engaged partnership practices at the local, national and international levels. SFU works very closely with the City of Burnaby, City of Vancouver, and City of Surrey, engaging in a variety of levels through various departments and units, with faculty, staff and students from all areas of the university. 

The university also engages at the regional level by working with the British Columbia provincial government on initiatives of strategic importance, as well as collaborating with the federal government on large-scale and long-term projects. 

Learn more:

• SFU partners with City of Burnaby on Civic Innovation Lab

• Center for Environmental and Food Analysis

• B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation

• Canadian Energy and Emissions Data Centre

Government of Canada: National Immigration Policy

SFU engages directly at the federal level on national immigration policy, particularly in relation to international student pathways, post-graduation work eligibility, and faculty and researcher mobility. These discussions are led through the President and Provost, supported by SFU’s Government Relations Office, and informed by evidence gathered from student experience, institutional planning, and sector-wide coordination. SFU also formally reports these engagements through the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, ensuring public transparency. 

See SFU Provost and Vice-President Academic Dilson Rassier’s full statement on SFU’s advocacy efforts (February 2025)

Province of British Columbia: Value-Added Housing Project 

SFU’s Renewable Cities works are supporting the provincial government’s “BC Builds” program, and engaging local government, Indigenous representatives and community land-owners in policy and implementation design.

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Metro Vancouver: Housing That Connects Us 

In partnership with Happy Cities and Hey Neighbour Collective, SFU’s Renewable Cities is working with six local governments in Metro Vancouver to co-create policies for social wellbeing in multi-unit housing. The project brings together local governments, community organizations, and academic researchers to co-design more inclusive housing options, and strengthening meaningful participation of residents in shaping local policy and practice.

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Metro Vancouver: Connecting Transportation and Livable, Resilient Communities

The project amplifies perspectives of multilingual and equity-deserving transit riders in Metro Vancouver, ensuring meaningful participation and representation in public transit decision-making. By collaborating with local governments and transit agencies to improve transparency, accountability, and system-wide policy, it contributes to the development of more inclusive and accountable institutions.

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City of Burnaby: Burnaby Community Assembly 

In collaboration with the Cityof Burnaby, SFU's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue designed and oversaw a 40-member citizen assembly selected by civic lottery to provide recommendations on the city’s Official Community Plan (OCP). The City committed to receive and respond to the assembly’s recommendations, fostering transparent and accountable governance.

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City of Burnaby: Civic Innovation Lab

Co-funded with the City of Burnaby in 2022, the Civic Innovation Lab's mandate includes advancing collaborative research and learning opportunities focused on community and civic issues such as climate action, mobility, equity, and truth & reconciliation in Burnaby. The City describes the Lab as providing a “permanent research base” where SFU researchers and students apply education and knowledge to address city-scale problems. 

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City Program

The City Program at SFU Continuing Studies provides professional training and stakeholder capacity-building for public officials and community members in urban design, community data, housing policy and municipal planning. This supports local government and civil society capacity to engage effectively in governance and planning. 

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UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE

At SFU, both the Board of Governors and the Senate have elected representation from all major stakeholder groups—faculty, staff and students (both undergraduate and graduate)

The Board of Governors is the senior governing body at SFU constituted under the University Act. SFU Board members do not receive any remuneration for their services to the Board. The overall responsibility for the business of the university (property, revenue and policies) is vested in the Board. The Board has 15 members including the Chancellor, the President, two elected faculty members, two elected students, one elected staff member and eight individuals appointed by the Government of the Province of British Columbia.

The Senate is responsible for the academic governance of the university and so it must be concerned with all important matters that bear on teaching and research in the university: this includes the development of new initiatives; the formation of priorities; and the consideration and approval of policies. The Senate is composed of the University Chancellor, University President & Vice Chancellor, and several members of the senior executive team. It also includes the eight faculty deans; 16 faculty members; 18 joint faculty; 17 students and four convocation members.

Learn more: Senate | BoG 

OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, PEOPLE, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

SFU’s Office of the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion strengthens meaningful participation, safe spaces, and fair university decision-making by ensuring that students, staff, faculty and community partners have equitable access to governance processes and institutional support. By advancing written policies and procedures grounded in human rights, accountability and anti-racism, the office helps SFU build transparent, inclusive and trustworthy institutions aligned with SDG 16.’ 

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RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT POLICY

SFU's Responsible Investment Policy states that, "the university incorporates environmental, social, and corporate governance considerations into its investment decisions." The policy also notes that "SFU is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment to support incorporating [environmental, social, and corporate governance] into its investment decisions." 

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