Simran Sarai for VP University and Academic Affairs

My name is Simran Sarai, and I am running with the SFU Progressives to be your next Vice-President of University and Academic Affairs.

In my 3 years at SFU, I have witnessed and experienced the immense pressures students face. 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic, students continue to experience unaffordable tuition, inaccessible learning options, and more.

In my time at SFU, I have volunteered for the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation, Ocean Wise, and am a project lead for The Year of the Salish Sea Project. 

Post-secondary education isn’t easy or accessible. However, I truly believe that if we work collectively, we can push SFU to dismantle the barriers that so many students face.

As VP UAA, I hope to facilitate student engagement and dialogue to make SFU a more vibrant, accessible, and inclusive environment.

TLDR; Increase student engagement and mobilize for a safe, accessible, and affordable education.
INCREASE STUDENT CONSULTATION

• Work with Executives and Council to hold regular town halls, and facilitate dialogue between students, SFSS, and SFU
  
• Consult extensively with students on prospective policy put forth by both SFU and SFSS. Improve accessibility of meetings, reports, and survey results.
  

GREATER COVID-19 SAFETY

• Fight for access to free rapid tests for all. 
  
• Push SFU to provide adequate and free PPE (N95 masks) on campuses. 
  
• Demand SFU clearly communicates exposure and transmission events on campuses.
  
• Open the SUB when it is safe to do so. Ensure university infrastructure is sufficiently ventilated.
  

PUSH FOR STUDENT AFFORDABILITY

• Pressure SFU for a Tuition Freeze Now. Work with council, students, and SFU Board of Governors to push for lower tuition and fight for full publicly funded post-secondary education.
  
• Mandate Open Educational Resources. This includes free and open textbooks for all.
  
• Accessible Bursaries and Scholarships. Collaborate with the Financial Aid and Awards office to gather student data, and work with SFU Advancement and donors to change scholarship requirements.
  
• Push SFU to create equity-based students scholarships, bursaries and awards for racialized and marginalized students such as women, disabled, neurodivergent, and single parent students, and recognize the specific barriers to access that these students continually face.
  

ADVOCACY IN SUPPORT OF MARGINALIZED STUDENTS

• Advocate for hybrid class options. Work with and amplify the needs of existing student groups on campus calling for accessible hybrid options. Mandate recorded lectures.
  
• Work with council and SFU to provide training and workshops against all forms of discrimination including racism, casteism, homophobia, and transphobia.
  
• Work alongside the VPES to build on previously implemented student-led work, such as Black Faculty Cluster Hiring.
  
• Push SFU to increase mental health supports, and improve academic concession policy to better support students struggling with mental health, as well as disabled and marginalized students.
  

We Will Defend Student Power, and Build Solidarity and Community across Campus.

Please remember to vote on February 15-17 through SFU Mail!  

Pledge to vote at www.bit.ly/vote-simran.

Website: bit.ly/Simran4VPUAA
Team Website: http://sfuprogressives.weebly.com
IG/FB/Twitter: @simran4VPUAA
Email: simran_sarai_2@sfu.ca

​