The Alma Mater Society (AMS) is the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) student society, and works to improve the academic, social and personal lives of the 56,000 UBC students at its Vancouver campus. The AMS also runs nine food and beverage outlets, a catering and conference operation, and the AMS Student Nest, providing on-campus employment opportunities and generating revenue that goes directly back into supporting the students at UBC.
Position title: Advocacy Assistant Coordinator
Department: Student Services
Start: September 2, 2025
Term ending: May 31, 2026
Reports to: Advocacy Coordinator
Hours: 12 hours / week
Wages: $26.02 per hour
The AMS Advocacy Office was established in 1999 to provide information and support to students facing bureaucratic challenges and disciplinary committees of UBC. The Advocacy Office is one of few resources on campus that is 100% pro-student. Its goal is to empower students to advocate for their rights when facing a conflict with the university and the inherent power imbalances between the institution and individual students. The Office strives to provide students with information about UBC’s policies and procedures to help them navigate what options may be available to them. Although the office does not provide legal advice, the Office offers confidential and effective support to any undergraduate or graduate student at UBC in regards to the disputes outlined below.
Academic Misconduct – Academic Misconduct may include engaging or attempting to engage in cheating, plagiarism, falsifying information, etc.
Academic standing – Academic Standing refers to issues such as failing a grade, being required to withdraw from a program, or promotion to next level of studies.
Housing appeals – Housing incidents that relate to the UBC Resident Contract, subletting, etc.
Library fine appeals – Appealing library fines and other charges.
Other Disputes - accusations of bias, interpersonal complaints about faculty or staff, etc.
The AMS Advocacy Assistant Coordinator – Academic Misconduct Cases will assist the AMS Advocacy Coordinator in casework and developing relationships with external organizations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop expertise in Academic Misconduct and Appeals processes at UBC, including both the Diversionary Processes and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Student Discipline
Preparing students for and attending meetings with faculty where there will be an allegation of academic misconduct, as well as hearings before university committees
Assisting students with editing, structuring, and submitting appeals, including the documentation required to support their case, in keeping with the UBC Academic Calendar
Assisting students with editing and structuring communication about their case with university administrators and faculty
Running intake and follow-up appointments with clients, with a focus on explaining processes and available options to students
Developing relationships with key university administrators that work with academic misconduct cases, including the Academic Integrity Hub and Academic Integrity Officers within faculty units
Working towards the long-term goal of growing the Advocacy Office.
Supporting the development of online resources and guides
Participate in regular meetings with the AMS Advocacy Coordinator
Prepare reports as advised by the Advocacy Coordinator, and a transition package (manual, report and position timeline) for the next Advocacy Assistant Coordinator
Other duties as required
Qualifications:
Must be a currently registered student at UBC Vancouver or one of its affiliated colleges.
Must be currently enrolled in the JD program or with a previous education and/or practice in law
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal
Experience working with vulnerable clients where empathy and understanding are emphasized
Strong organizational, time management, and team-collaboration skills
Strong self-starter mentality with the ability to work independently
Strong demonstrated familiarity with principles of procedural fairness
Familiarity with Canadian administrative law, including the completion of LAW_V 372 or LAW_V 509, is an asset
To Apply:
Please submit your resume and cover letter. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a cover letter that explains their interest in the role and how their previous experience makes them a good candidate.
Application deadline: 11:59pm August 18, 2025.
At the AMS, we believe that a diverse workforce enriches our organization and we value individual life experiences, knowledge and self-expression that different people bring. We actively seek to create an environment where all employees, regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristics, feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best.
We warmly welcome and encourage individuals from any underrepresented group to apply for this position. We are dedicated to maintaining fair and inclusive practices in our hiring, promotion, and professional development processes to create the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Due to the large volume of resumes we receive at the AMS, we are only able to contact those we are interested in interviewing and cannot reply to email/phone/walk-in inquiries regarding application status.
