Community

While committed to its role as a global university, UBC recognizes its responsibilities to the citizens of British Columbia and Canada. We are accountable to the society that supports us, and must seek ways of responding to its needs and concerns through research, through educational outreach, and through partnerships that bring mutual benefit. We should also invite our alumni to participate more fully in our affairs, and to contribute their expertise and experience to career development, fundraising, advocacy, and new educational opportunities for current students.

UBC will expand its community presence by developing Community Service Learning courses and programs; by devising more joint programs with other provincial post-secondary institutions; and by offering new learning opportunities to meet the needs of communities and life-long learners throughout British Columbia. UBC will also develop more opportunities for local communities to make use of UBC facilities and contribute actively to learning and research.

GoalS and Strategies

Develop more opportunities for community involvement and collaboration.

• Create community-university groups to identify possible areas for joint activity in such matters as local health and education needs.

• Develop Community Service Learning programs, whereby experience in the field will complement academic study or be integrated with academic credit courses, and aim for participation in such programs by at least 10% of our students.

• Create more volunteer opportunities for members of faculty and staff.

• Acknowledge community and volunteer contributions by all members of the University.

• Create opportunities for employers, secondary school counselors, and other interested groups in the community to provide input and advice on goals and outcomes.

Encourage greater connection between UBC and the external community.

• Develop improved and innovative ways for the external community to gain access to UBC ’s many academic, cultural, and recreational offerings.

• Explore the creation of outreach centres like the Learning Exchange in other parts of the province, acting independently or in collaboration with other post-secondary institutions.

• Through enhanced use of communication media, expand community awareness and understanding of the breadth, quality, and significance of research and learning at UBC.

• Offer more public lectures and forums at all UBC venues.

• Ensure that the new Irving K. Barber Learning Centre fulfils its mandate as a provincial resource for the citizens of British Columbia.

• Support and recognize faculty members whose work makes a significant contribution to professional practice, public policy, and leadership at the local, regional, or national level.

• Build academic, recreational, and community programs around UBC’s role as the leading educational partner for the 2010 Olympics.

• Model UBC as a responsible, engaged, and sustainable community, dedicated to the principles of inclusivity and global citizenship.

Expand UBC’s engagement with Aboriginal communities, especially in British Columbia.

• Invite First Nations bands to share their perspectives with UBC students and with the general public through expanded or newly-developed credit and non-credit programs.

• Continue to develop community-based programs in partnership with Aboriginal peoples, and seek to address their learning needs and aspirations, including the preservation of indigenous languages.

• Explore ways and means of developing a closer relationship between UBC and the First Nations communities located near our campuses.

Expand UBC’s engagement with its Alumni.

• Invite alumni to assist students in community service, mentoring, co-operative work-term opportunities, and career self-management.

• Assist alumni in developing connections with each other.

• Encourage alumni to assist Government Relations in advocacy for the University.

• Encourage alumni to assist the Development Office in developing fundraising strategies.

• Work with international alumni to create links with important groups or communities in other countries.

• Create intellectual and professional learning opportunities for UBC alumni.