Welcome back to campus and the start of the 2022-23 academic year! I hope you all had a good summer.
Welcome Students
This week, UBC welcomes thousands of new and returning students to our campuses and learning sites. Thousands of new students are coming to our Okanagan and Vancouver campuses from across British Columbia, Canada and countries around the world. Yesterday, we welcomed our new UBC Okanagan students yesterday at the Create student orientation event. Today, UBC Vancouver comes alive with Imagine UBC.
Thanks to the many volunteers and staff who have worked so hard to make their first week at UBC so special. And thanks also to all the faculty and staff who have been working hard over the summer and the past few weeks to ensure our campuses are ready for the new academic year.
Celebrate Homecoming
I’ve always loved the first day of the fall session because it is filled with promise, with excitement, and with joy. I also look forward to Homecoming, which takes place September 23 & 24. Bring your friends and family and celebrate on both campuses!
The fun starts Friday evening with a double header of the Heat Women’s and Men’s soccer teams in the Okanagan and the annual UBC Vancouver Homecoming Football Game Presented by RBC – UBC’s largest school spirit event of the year.
On Saturday, from 11:00 – noon, we invite you to THINK FORWARD with us as we celebrate the launch of UBC’s largest fundraising and alumni engagement campaign in history with our first ever live simulcast event from both campuses. You will hear from some of UBC’s most outstanding forward thinkers and be entertained by a special spoken word performance by Shane Koyczan. Find out how, together, we can move the world forward. Bring your family and friends. Everyone is welcome!
While you are on campus, enjoy the complimentary attractions pass in Vancouver and the UBC Okanagan Open Day along with many other faculty activities. There is something for everyone. Find out more at homecoming.ubc.ca.
A Healthy and Safe Campus
As we announced in June of this year, UBC no longer requires students, faculty and staff to wear non-medical masks, but we continue to recommend that masks be worn in indoor public spaces.
As a reminder, students, faculty and staff who take part in academic activities in health settings on campus or outside of university campuses may still be required to wear a mask if mandated by a Public Health Order.
This approach reflects advice from our internal experts and public health guidance, as well as discussions with student leaders, Deans, Senate Planning Committee and unions, and is in alignment with other BC public post-secondary institutions.
We also want to take this opportunity to remind you of the safety measures we can all take:
- Know the symptoms of COVID-19 and complete a daily health assessment. If you are sick, stay at home. Learn about the self-assessment tool at https://bc.thrive.health.
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Follow the measures outlined in the COVID-19 Campus Rules. You can learn more at https://srs.ubc.ca/covid-19/ubc-campus-rules-guidance-documents.
- We strongly recommend that all UBC community members get vaccinated and if eligible, receive their booster dose. You can learn more at https://immunizebc.ca.
- Don’t forget, in BC, free vaccines are available to students arriving from international destinations and other provinces.
UBC will continue to monitor the situation regarding COVID-19, and is well placed to adjust its approach should circumstances change.
To everyone — students, faculty and staff — best wishes for an amazing year.
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor