Shaping UBC’s Next Century: An update on the strategic plan
As you know, earlier this year, UBC adopted a new strategic plan, Shaping UBC’s Next Century. Over the past few months, we’ve been busy putting the structures in place to implement the plan. At this time, I’d like to give an update on where we are and where we are going, as we transition from […]
The President’s Medal of Excellence: “A significant contribution to the purposes and ideals of the university”
This week I had the honour of presenting the University of British Columbia President’s Medal of Excellence to five of the University’s strongest supporters – Linc Kesler, Bill Levine, Risa Levine, Jim Pattison and Angela Redish. The Medal is awarded to a person who has made a significant contribution to the purposes and ideals of the […]
Continuing the journey: UBC’s strategic plan
Today, UBC’s Board of Governors endorsed in principle Shaping UBC’s Next Century, our new strategic plan. With the Board’s endorsement, and the plan’s approval by the UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan Senates, we embark on our next century as a leading public university. Building on the success of UBC’s previous strategic plan, Place and Promise, […]
Life is a marathon, not a sprint
Sending all students and faculty love during exams. A post shared by Santa J. Ono (@ubcprez) on Apr 10, 2018 at 9:28pm PDT The other morning while walking by the UBC Life building, I noticed a young woman sitting at a table, her books and laptop spread in front of her, fast asleep with her […]
Inspire: “This is our moment”
Last week, I had the privilege of presenting a draft of Inspire: the strategic plan of the University of British Columbia (UBC) to the UBC Vancouver Senate. Later this week, I will present it to the UBC Okanagan Senate. It will go back to the Senates next month and, following that, to the Board of […]
Looking back on 2017, looking forward to 2018
Dear friends: December is traditionally a time to reflect back on the year that was and to look forward to the year to come. Looking over my blog posts over the past year, I’m struck by UBC’s many accomplishments in 2017: We began work in earnest on the new strategic plan. The planning process – […]
Summer at UBC
I love summer at UBC. The sunshine, the luxuriant foliage, the mountains and the ocean, the historic buildings – it all reminds me how lucky I am to work at this amazing institution. Another thing I like about walking or cycling through the campus on my way to work at this time of year is […]
Tokyo trip lays building blocks for future engagement with Japan
As you may know, I recently returned from a week-long visit to Tokyo. It was the first time a UBC president has travelled to Japan since Stephen Toope went there in 2010. While there, I visited the University of Tokyo, as well as two Japanese firms that regularly hire UBC coop students. I also engaged […]
We cannot change the past, but we can honestly recognize it
This past weekend, I was honoured and humbled to participate in the raising of Reconciliation Pole at UBC’s Vancouver campus. It was gratifying to see so many people turn out for this important occasion and to hear from residential school survivors such as Elder Barney Williams and Pauline Jones (below left), who spoke with courage and candour of the […]