Simon Fraser University is getting rid of the two crosses on its coat of arms, saying they sent the wrong message to international students.

The Burnaby-based university is replacing the crosses at the top of the coat of arms with images of open books.

A spokesman for Simon Fraser University says the two crosses on the 40-year-old coat of arms creates 'confusion.'

Warren Gill, SFU's vice-president of university relations, said the crosses created the wrong impression.

"For some people, particularly internationally, the crosses were seen to identify us as a private religious institution as opposed to a secular public one, and a lot of our international folks were getting that back.

"If our name was the University of Burnaby, it probably wouldn't have conveyed the same thing, but named for a person it caused some confusion internationally."

Gill said the new coat of arms will still have the Fraser shield, in honour of explorer Simon Fraser.

He also said the old symbol will remain on the university's buildings.

The current coat of arms was approved in 1965.

The new design has been in the works for 18 months, said Gill, and is expected to be approved by the Canadian Heraldic Authority by May.