Simon Fraser University

This is a review for the library which I had temporary access to for a project in partnership with the university. The library is large, the resources are there in good condition, however, the wifi is hit and miss.

My previous review of the quality of education and staff at SFU still stands, but I must say… I ADORE the Harbour Centre campus! The views are excellent, and there is convenience access to the skytrain, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment downtown.

I was interested in a program but had questions before applying so I contacted the department. I sent a detailed message and even followed up with a voicemail. I never heard back. I’m not sure why they have a «Contact Us» section when they don’t intend to reply back to anyone.

I enjoyed taking classes at Harbour Centre. There is a nice little mall, food court and the SFU Bookstore in the basement, and the downtown location is nice and central for hanging out downtown or going to one of the neighbouring cafes before or after a class (it is within a couple blocks of the Lower East Side though).

Sitting in the «peanut gallery» as the prof used to call those of us who sat in the back of the theatre, I would smugly smile at my good fortune to be in a faculty that had classes downtown instead of the prison-​like institution up the mountain. Plus, it gave me even more reason to hang out downtown.
[end flashback]
Taking classes in the Writing and Publishing program this past year gave me a reason to go back and experience it through adult eyes, and while the views and amenities are still there, I gotta say, I wasn’t so impressed. At one point I dropped a course because it fell into the realm of irrelevance. I know I can go back and finish the certificate program anytime in the next year, heck I even have cash credit towards another course… but I likely won’t use them. It’s not that there isn’t valuable information to be learned here, it’s that it’s not tax deductible. Not tax deductible? Isn’t post secondary education considered deductible? Well, not according to the letter I received this week saying they had wrongly issued me a T2202E…
That’s the second time in my SFU career that their admin department has screwed up costing me money, time and suffering in the tax department. Once it even resulted in me being audited… as a student!
I want to scream at the top of my lungs, «Get it together! You’re an institution!» But I refrain, I have to save my energy for another looming accountant bill which is where this path leads. Hindsight is 20/​20, and the grass is always greener at UBC.

I’ve taken quite a few courses and workshops here in the Writing and Publishing program, and they have all been great. Well, except for one that was kind of lame… In any case, when you sign up for a course here, you not only get a lot of great information from instructors who are professionals in their fields, you also get a course package that includes all the books and materials required, note paper, even pens and pencils. One intensive two-​week workshop I took even included a dinner and fireworks cruise in the tuition fee.
There are also plenty of free events put on throughout the year, such as author talks, that you can attend just by signing up.
The campus is compact, but it’s quite nice, and there are coffee shops in the building and just around the neighbourhood for getting to know your classmates better. SFU Harbour Centre is great for continuing ed — convenient, safe, and attractive.

This is the gorgeous cousin of SFU in Burnaby, It’s located within a picturesque scene with Canada Place and the water on one side, and Granville street and shopping on the other side.
Most of the classes offered here are Communications classes (you should take one! They’re great!), and they have a good selection of continuing education night classes for the working folk!
The computer lab however is pretty small, so you usually have to wait around to get one. And there is barely any sitting space on this campus, so I’m not sure where they expect you to sit and do you homework… it could be that they don’t want you to do your homework on campus when there is a mecca of coffee shops and cafes in the area…