Weekly Update: October 30, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community. Earlier this week, I provided an update on steps we are taking to address issues of equity, diversity and inclusion and to identify and address gaps in supporting racialized students, faculty and staff. Those steps include creating a new position, Senior Advisor to the President on Race and Inclusive […]
Addressing Issues of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: An Update
UBC remains deeply committed to tackling issues of equity, diversity and inclusion in our core academic mission and to identifying and addressing gaps in supporting racialized students, faculty and staff to succeed. An inclusive university is one which actively confronts and overcomes systemic barriers faced by different groups and enables everyone to realize their full […]
Weekly Update: October 23, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community: On November 2, the way we work together will change, with the launch of Workday for Finance and Human Resources. The road towards implementation of Workday has been a long one, with reviews of the university’s systems starting over a decade ago. When the Integrated Renewal Program kicked off […]
TESS Online 2020: Flexibility, feedback and forgiveness: Lessons in humanity from UBC’s digital learning frontlines
eCampus Ontario Thank you for that kind welcome, Daniel. I am truly honored to be able to join you today from the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam First Nation, on the edge of the Pacific Ocean here in Vancouver, BC. It is always a privilege to be included in important conversations about […]
Weekly Update: October 16, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you had a chance to relax with your loved ones, whether in person or virtually. I’d like to thank you again for observing UBC’s COVID-19 protocols. Thanks to you, we are keeping healthy and safe and bending the curve. […]
Voting in the 2020 BC Provincial Election
British Columbians will elect a new provincial government on Saturday, October 24, 2020. While this is the official Election Day, there are options to vote by mail or during advance voting days. Every eligible member of the UBC community is encouraged to take part in the provincial election. For the 2020 BC Provincial Election, the […]
Episode 11: Land & Food Systems Roundtable
Blue and Goldcast · Episode 11: Land & Food Systems Roundtable This week on the Blue and Goldcast, join Santa and guests for a roundtable discussion about how the Faculty of Land and Food Systems is integrating anti-racist and social equity frameworks into the natural sciences, while partnering with communities along the way. Dr. […]
Weekly Update: September 25, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community. Just over half a year ago, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic and B.C.’s provincial health officer declared a public health emergency. In the past six months, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on all of us, on individuals, on cities, provinces and nations, […]
Weekly Update: September 21, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community: As you know, since September 16, masks have been required on UBC campuses. I’ve been impressed by how quickly the university community – students, faculty, staff and visitors – have adapted to the new requirements. Thank you everyone for doing your part to stop the spread of COVID-19. But […]
Welcome Back to the Blue & Goldcast!
I’m delighted to let you know that the Blue and Goldcast, my regular podcast series where I sit down with students, faculty and staff to discuss a wide range of topics, has resumed after taking a short break. We’ve recorded several new episodes, which will be released over the next few months (we’ll be recording […]
Celebrating the Indigenous Strategic Plan
UBC Vancouver Unceded Territories of the Musqueam People Thank you, Coastal Wolf Pack, Elder Grant, Drs. Lightfoot and Moss for your warm welcomes. I would like to thank the UBC community for providing their input and sharing their opinions. Thank you in particular to the ISP planning team, especially Drs. Lightfoot and Moss for the […]
Weekly Update: September 14, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community: Recently, the number of COVID-19 cases in British Columbia has been increasing dramatically. This past Friday alone, there were 132 new cases. Hospitalization from COVID-19 are at their highest in four months. We all must do what we can to fight COVID19. Therefore, UBC is implementing a new measure […]
Welcome Back, UBC
Dear members of the UBC community. Welcome to the new academic year. I hope you’ve had a good summer. Whether you’re a new or returning student, a faculty member or a staff member, this year will be like none we’ve ever experienced before. But even though this year will be different, we have been working […]
Weekly Update, August 28: Welcome New Students
Dear members of the UBC community. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost September. In just a few days we’ll be starting the Fall term. I look forward to this time of year. One of the reasons I like September is because I have the privilege of welcoming new first year and transfer students to […]
Weekly Update: August 21, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community. I hope your summer is going well. It’s hard to believe, but the summer is almost over, and soon the Fall term will start. Of course, it will be a very different back to school than we’re used to. I’ll be providing more information on that in the next […]
Looking Forward to the Next Five Years
Dear members of the UBC community. Earlier this month the university’s board of governors ratified my reappointment as president and vice-chancellor of UBC for a second five-year term. I would like to thank the Board for their confidence in me, and I look forward to working with them, along with all of you, to help […]
Statement on Tragic Events in Beirut
On behalf of the UBC community, I wish to express my condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the tragic events that took place in Beirut, and I wish a speedy and complete recovery to all those who were injured. My thoughts are also with the members of UBC’s Lebanese community. Please […]
Weekly Update: July 24, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community: I hope you’re all having a good summer. It’s hard to believe, but September is only six weeks away, so today I’d like to update you on our plans for the fall. As I mentioned before, this fall, UBC will primarily offer larger classes online with selected smaller […]
Weekly Update: July 10, 2020
Dear members of the UBC community. In recent years, certain individuals have either been invited to speak or have requested to speak on campus. This has resulted in a robust conversation on controversial speakers whose views are deeply offensive and hurtful to members of our community. Such views, when expressed on campus, also threaten to […]
Update on UBC’s Approach to Controversial Speaker Bookings
Dear members of the UBC community: In recent years, certain individuals have either been invited to speak or have requested to speak on campus. This has resulted in a robust conversation on controversial speakers whose views are deeply offensive and hurtful to members of our community. Such views, when expressed on campus, also threaten to […]