Frequently Asked Questions

The Okanagan Leadership Council (OLC) Steering Committee has unanimously recommended the creation of a new arts faculty (name to be determined), based on an analysis from the Design Working Group and informed by consultation with faculty and staff. The recommendation was accepted by the executive sponsors, who have directed that work begin to advance a formal proposal to Senate.

The name and structure of the new arts faculty are yet to be determined. The process will begin with the development of a Senate proposal to create and name the new faculty. Engagement will take place throughout the year to help shape the faculty’s structure.

The process began with the Okanagan Leadership Council (OLC) Steering Committee establishing guiding principles and objectives for considering changes to the academic structure, grounded in UBCO’s recently established academic priorities.

Engagement with the campus community included targeted discussions with faculty and a campus-wide survey for both faculty and staff to gather feedback.

Using this input, the Design Working Group (DWG)—which included faculty representatives from every Faculty and staff with relevant expertise—reviewed and analyzed several structural models.

The DWG met bi-weekly over four months and provided its analysis to the steering committee. Based on this work, the steering committee recommended creating a new arts faculty. The executive sponsors accepted the recommendation and directed that work begin on a formal proposal to Senate.

This proposal 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.

This change will allow the campus to meet the challenges of the future through innovative programs and research.

Although broader structural changes involving all Faculties across campus were considered, the Okanagan Leadership Council Steering Committee determined that this approach best met the established objectives and principles.

Creating a new arts faculty is a proactive step that strengthens alignment, clarity and collaboration across academic programs, and provides the flexibility and agility required to ensure updated and relevant Bachelor of Arts programming into the future.

Key benefits include:

• Clearer student pathways: A new single faculty will help Bachelor of Arts students understand program connections and progress confidently through their degrees
• Improved opportunity for curricular development in areas of importance for students and resilient societies
• Stronger academic identity: Potential to organize disciplines around shared strengths and opportunities at UBC Okanagan
• Improved sustainability: Aligning leadership and resources to support long-term academic and operational effectiveness

This is a foundational and focused step that strengthens collaboration and supports student success while positioning the university for future growth.

Students

Students will not see any changes to their programs during the 2026/27 academic year. There will be no impact to students completing their degree requirements.

Faculty and Staff

Planning is ongoing, and the proposed structure would not take effect until summer 2027, at the earliest, subject to approvals. Faculty and staff will be instrumental in providing input on the new faculty name. In addition, faculty will play a key role, through established academic governance processes, in informing decisions on the department structure, under the leadership of the dean.

Now that a recommendation is being pursued through development of a proposal, we will begin inviting specific questions and gathering feedback. Opportunities to ask your questions will likely take place in a shared forum for impacted Faculties.

If you have any immediate questions, please reach out to Dean Traister at bryce.traister@ubc.ca.

In July, Bryce Traister, Dean of FCCS and Dean pro tem of FASS (effective July 1), will begin the work to develop and advance the necessary proposals for approval by Senate and the Board of Governors, starting with a senate proposal to create and name the new faculty in fall 2026.

Engagement will take place throughout the year to help shape the faculty’s structure and future direction. Additional details on the engagement and governance process, and timeline, will be shared in the coming months.

The proposal is subject to approvals by Senate and the Board of Governors, the decision-making bodies that will ultimately consider and approve the creation of a new arts 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.