As I enter my final semester at SFU, I can't help but reflect on what made my time here so memorable and what experiences have set me up for a successful career path after graduation. When I began my academic journey at SFU in Fall 2020, the first two years felt like a never-ending cycle. While a global pandemic didn't help, my routine of attending Zoom lectures and leaving campus with limited social interaction became too repetitive and I felt I had no other purpose as a student. I often wondered, Is this all there is to being a university student?

It wasn't until my third year that I decided I didn't want to leave university feeling like I was not a part of anything or achieved goals beyond my academic pursuits. In my last year, I got involved with the Communication Student Union (CMNSU) as the Undergraduate Student Representative, which has been the most memorable part of being a student at SFU. Looking back, I wish I had participated in more campus engagement right from the start of my first year of university and hoped that there were more resources and guidance on how to get involved.

The Benefits of Student Union Participation

There is currently still a lack of willingness to participate in university student unions as incoming students are unaware of the benefits of being involved in extracurricular activities outside their scheduled classroom hours. Canadian University Survey Consortium shows that more than half of today’s undergraduates benefit from hands-on learning experiences such as co-ops, internships and service learning as part of their university education. Student unions also play a crucial role in ensuring that students have a voice in shaping policies and decisions that affect their academic and social experiences. Through collective action, they can address issues related to student welfare, campus facilities, and tuition fees etc. For example, SFU’s student unions invite one student representative to participate in the faculty hiring process and department meetings to voice their concerns and mobilize their agenda to the Simon Fraser Student Student Society (SFSS). Speaking from personal experience, as the former CMNSU faculty representative I was allowed to sit on faculty meetings, which is when I recognized the significance of my role and power as a student who can make direct change to my learning experience in the School of Communication at SFU.

Some students may argue that being involved in student unions may seem intimidating and an extra burden on top of keeping up with your studies. While it is ultimately up to the student to take the initiative to get involved, I believe it is also the responsibility of university faculty members and the administration to provide more inclusive and accessible spaces which may stray people away from wanting to get involved in the first place.  

How can Universities incentivize and promote the Benefits of Student Union Participation and Engagement of incoming students?

Awareness of Student Union engagement starts in high schools so that students know their options before entering the university setting. For instance, faculty can promote the experiences of current student union members at events such as #KnowYourSFU where incoming first-year students are introduced to various services and resources, that will help support them throughout their studies. 

Student unions can seem intimidating, but it is the responsibility of the school’s faculty and the campus community to convince students that the university experience is more than just attending lectures and rushing home after class to beat the traffic. It is a space filled with opportunities to explore your passions, take on leadership roles and foster a community. I hope my story inspires other students seeking an opportunity to get involved in their student union and discover the fulfilling opportunities that university life has to offer.