Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to those of you here, and to those joining us virtually and via livestream.
I would like to acknowledge that UBC’s Vancouver campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Musqueam people, and that UBC’s Okanagan campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. Board members and others are joining us remotely from many places near and far, and I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners and caretakers of those lands as well.
To our students, faculty and staff on both campuses and beyond, I hope the first term of your Winter Session went well, and to our students, good luck on your exams!
I would like to acknowledge that this is the first Board of Governors meeting with our Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, Deborah Buszard. Welcome Deborah – we are very fortunate to have you with us, and I can say that you have certainly hit the ground running!
Rehan Sadiq is no stranger to the Board, as he supported us serving as Provost and Vice-President Academic pro tem of the Okanagan campus. Rehan has now been appointed to that position on a permanent basis. Congratulations Rehan, and welcome – we look forward to continuing to work with you!
I also want to acknowledge Yale Loh for stepping into the role of Interim Vice-President Finance. Thank you, Yale! The next Vice-President Finance & Operations has been announced, and we look forward to welcoming Frank Laezza into that role in the new year.
As we always do, I would like to acknowledge three faculty members of notable distinction:
- In the research category we have Professor Sunera Thobani from the Department of Asian Studies in the Faculty of Arts, recently named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Thobani’s scholarship focuses on critical race and postcolonial theory and politics; intersectionality and social movements; colonialism, migration and violence; Islam, Gender and Muslims; and South Asian Gender & Sexuality Studies.
- In the service category we recognize Zul Kanji, Associate Professor of Teaching and Acting Director of Student Affairs in the Faculty of Dentistry, who received a Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. Dr. Kanji has helped develop the orientation program for the Dental Hygiene Degree Program and augmented orientation programming this past summer for the Doctor of Dental Medicine and graduate programs. He also spearheaded the development of a faculty-wide peer mentorship program.
- In the teaching category we congratulate Professor Jason Sutherland from the School of Population and Public Health and Interim Director of the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research. Professor Sutherland has been honoured with the Faculty of Medicine’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring Early-Career Faculty, which recognizes faculty members who have been formally identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers.
To these distinguished faculty members, and the others whose research, scholarship, teaching and other academic contributions have recently been recognized, we offer our recognition and appreciation.
I would like to take a moment to thank our UBC community for your engagement in some important matters which the Board has been considering.
First, I would like to thank the over 4800 students who took the time to respond to the tuition engagement survey, as well as those who are here today to be heard, and to the AMS/GSS and SUO who have made submissions to the Board on this topic. We hear you and appreciate your feedback on how UBC can better support students in these challenging times. Both the affordability plan and tuition proposal are up for discussion on today’s agenda.
Next, I would like to thank the UBC community at large and our host nation Musqueam for your input and engagement on Campus Vision 2050. Through the Advisory Committee on Campus Vision 2050 & Rapid Transit and the Property Committee, the Board is deeply engaged in the oversight and strategic guidance for this generational project, the results of which will include our 30-year vision for the future of the Vancouver campus, a refreshed Housing Action Plan, and a new academic infrastructure plan for the Vancouver campus.
We have heard clearly that there are differing perspectives to growth and change on the Vancouver campus, and look forward to continuing discussions in the new year around strategic priorities, and to balancing needs and interests that reflect the principles, the technical aspects of planning, and the feedback received in this consultation phase.
To all those who have provided your feedback, we thank you, and encourage you to participant in the next phase of engagement activities in late January. More information on Campus Vision 2050 and these activities can be found on the UBC website.
