Counselling / Conflict Resolution

Ready to help you manage the transition back to school.

At VCC we know that returning to school can be exciting but also stressful and confusing. Our professional counsellors and arbiter are committed to working with both students and prospective students to help make the transition and their experience at VCC a successful one.

Counselling
Whether you are a student or a college applicant, VCC offers professional, free and confidential counselling to help you choose a program, plan a career, manage a course load, make decisions and deal with stress, anxiety and personal matters. Counsellors also provide workshops on a variety of topics including study skills, stress and time management, communication skills and job search. Workshops may be offered as part of scheduled class time or during non-class time.

If you are not sure whether to make your appointment with a counsellor or a program advisor, consult the sample questions chart.

To make an appointment with a counsellor at either campus, you may call 604.871.7204, book an appointment online or stop by our offices at either the Broadway or Downtown campuses.

Telephone appointment booking and Broadway campus reception hours:
Monday - Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Thursday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Broadway campus counselling office:
Located in the room 4022 in the Welcome Centre at the Broadway entrance (4th Floor)
Monday - Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 12:00 noon - 7 p.m.
Thursday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Downtown campus counselling office:
Located in room 103 (by Pender Street entrance)
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Conflict Resolution
The Arbiter of Student Issues (ASI) recognizes the need to provide support to VCC students around conflict and complaints arising at VCC and relative to VCC policies.

As part of VCC Student Services, the ASI is a dedicated resource available to guide a student who finds him/herself either at the centre of a complaint or lodging a complaint. The ASI is a neutral party in all complaint processes, with the ability to hear complaints, investigate them with all parties concerned, and offer informal and formal conflict resolution mechanisms to resolve the dispute.

Principles of the ASI:
  • Neutrality and impartiality: The ASI does not represent one party's interests over another's.
  • Fairness: The ASI looks to enforce fairness in process and procedure surrounding conflict.
  • Equity: The ASI strives to arrive at equitable outcomes that improve the quality of student life at VCC.
  • Objectivity: The ASI looks at the complaint from all angles in trying to arrive at a resolution.


    • Services
  • Information
  • Investigation
  • Intervention
  • Complaint navigation
  • Meeting facilitation
  • Formal and informal dispute resolution options
  • Referrals
  • Mapping of systemic issues and recommendations for change


    • Remember:
  • The ASI does not advocate on either the student or the college's behalf.
  • The ASI does not have the power to impose a resolution. Rather, the ASI uses its influence to effect change and arrive at mutually agreed upon solutions.


    • Students who wish to speak with Arbiter of Student Issues, Tanny Marks, can book an appointment by phone, email or in person at the Broadway campus, building A, Student Services area, room 4017. No drop-in appointments.

    Arbiter of Student Issues, Tanny Marks
    604.871.7000, ext. 7040
    Work Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday