New Academic Structure
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Updates | Frequently Asked Questions | Campus Engagement: Key Themes | Phased Approach | Project Governance
In fall 2025, we began exploring how our academic structure could better align with our focus on resilient people, communities, economies and environments in support of a sustainable future.
Following broad consultation and analysis, the Okanagan Leadership Council (OLC) Steering Committee has recommended the creation of a new arts faculty, bringing together programs currently housed within the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS).
This represents an exciting opportunity to shape a new arts faculty designed to unify and strengthen the arts, humanities, social sciences and creative activity at UBC Okanagan.
Development of a formal proposal will begin shortly. During the 2026/27 academic year, FASS and FCCS programs will continue as planned, with no impact to students completing their degree requirements.
Updates
May 20, 2026 — Following broad consultation and analysis, the Okanagan Leadership Council (OLC) Steering Committee has recommended the creation of a new arts faculty.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the collective strengths of the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS), positioning the campus to deliver the programs and research necessary to understand and influence our rapidly changing world.
Drawing on the analysis completed by the Design Working Group (DWG), the recommendation reflects careful consideration of a broad range of options and a shared opportunity to create a strong, future-focused arts faculty.
With the recommendation accepted by the executive sponsors, the focus now turns to FASS and FCCS to begin the work of collaboratively designing a new arts faculty for UBC’s Okanagan campus. Work will begin shortly and continue over the next 12–18 months, including development of a proposal for Senate consideration in fall 2026, followed by the Board of Governors’ review.
Throughout the process, there will be opportunities to learn more, ask questions, and help shape the future of the faculty.
During the 2026/27 academic year, FASS and FCCS programs will continue as planned, with no impact to students completing their degree requirements. Planning and design work will occur alongside regular academic operations.
February 9, 2026 —A Design Working Group, composed of faculty and staff from across campus, is meeting every two weeks from January to April to examine potential academic structures through multiple perspectives. Areas of focus include academic integrity, student experience, workload and wellbeing, governance, equity, and institutional sustainability.
In late 2025, UBC Okanagan faculty and staff were invited to share their perspectives through a campus-wide survey. The feedback will inform the Design Working Group’s review and recommendations, which will be provided to the Steering Committee in April.
Following Steering Committee review, a proposed future academic structure will be shared with the campus community for broader engagement.
Campus Engagement: Key Themes
In 2025, UBC Okanagan faculty and staff were invited to share their perspectives through a campus-wide survey. UBC Okanagan faculty members were also invited to participate in engagement sessions to support cross-faculty dialogue.
These engagements identified five overarching themes that reflect what the community values in the current academic structure, and the conditions identified as necessary for any future structure to be successful, credible and sustainable:
- Governance, systems and efficiency: People recognize that there is duplication in our current systems and are supportive of reviewing structures to make it more efficient.
- Student experience and learning design: People are highly supportive of the principles set out in the design guidelines, particularly prioritizing experience for students.
- Academic programs, departments and disciplinary integrity: People emphasized that strong disciplines lead to strong collaboration.
- People and capacity: People highlighted the importance of preserving relationships and maintaining strong supports within our academic structure.
- Identity, equity and external relationships: People want to maintain our identity, and commitments to equity and our relationships with community partners as we look at our academic structure.
Phased Approach
Stage 1: Planning, Discovery and Design
Community engagement, exploration of structural options and development of initial recommendations.
Stage 2: Governance and Approvals
Formal review and approval of proposed academic structure components.
Stage 3: Implementation Planning
Detailed planning to support academic, administrative and operational needs for transition.
Stage 4: Execution and Transition
Implementation of the approved academic structure and transition to the updated model.
Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Okanagan campus.
Provides executive leadership and overall direction for the academic restructure process.
Access the Steering Committee Terms of Reference
Okanagan Leadership Council.
Guides the academic restructure to ensure alignment with UBC Okanagan’s core academic focus and strategic priorities.
Access the Design Working Group Terms of Reference
Comprised of faculty and staff from across UBC Okanagan. Chaired by the Associate Provost, Teaching and Learning, and the Associate Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation.
Applies specialized expertise to evaluate potential academic structures and develop recommendations during Stage 1 of the process.
The Transition and Launch Working Group Terms of Reference will be created at a later date.
Initiated during implementation phase.
Access the Project Team Terms of Reference
Plans, oversees and executes the academic restructure process.
The most up-to-date information on the academic restructure process will continue to be shared on this site. Please check the regularly for updates. For questions, connect with your faculty or unit leadership on the Okanagan Leadership Council.