The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills is currently accepting applications to fund micro-credential proposals under two micro-credential initiatives: the Stackable Micro-Credentials Initiative and the Micro-Credential Shared Curriculum Initiative. Further details about these initiatives can be found in the Micro-credential Initiatives Applicant Guide.

UBC Okanagan application process

UBC Okanagan faculty interested in submitting an application must adhere to the following process:

1. Submit Letter of Intent (LOI): LOIs must be received via email to cpe.ubco@ubc.ca by November 15, 2023.
   • Download the LOI template
2. Faculty review: LOIs will be reviewed by Faculty leadership. Results of the applications must be confirmed to the Provost’s Office by November 22, 2023.
3. Application development and review: Applicants should complete the application provided in the Applicant Guide for the initiative that they are applying to. Completed applications should be submitted to the applicant’s Dean/Designate for review and approval.
4. Final review and submission: Approved applications must be submitted to the Provost’s Office via email to cpe.ubco@ubc.ca by 3 pm on January 10, 2024.

Get support

Connect with the Continuing and Professional Education team for assistance with this process, including support for market research.

Download the full UBC Okanagan Application Process

More Resources

• Micro-credential Initiatives Applicant Guide
• Micro-credential Framework for B.C.’s Public Post-Secondary Education System
• Micro-credential Toolkit for B.C.

UBC is aware that some community members are concerned about current geopolitical tensions between Canada and India. We also recognize this situation may be causing stress and anxiety and is affecting our students, faculty members and staff in different ways. Please know that there are services and resources available, including academic and mental health support and guidance regarding immigration issues, such as visas and work permits. More information on these resources is available here. Details of support for faculty and staff can be found here.

International students at UBC Vancouver in need of assistance are encouraged to contact International Student Advising at isa@students.ubc.ca or 604-822-5021. UBC Okanagan students can contact the advisors in the Global Engagement Office at global.ubco@ubc.ca or 250-807-8585. Staff at Student Health Services are also available to help, as are multilingual counselors available 24/7 through the UBC Vancouver Student Assistance Program and the UBC Okanagan Student Assistance Program.

Additional supports available for students are also outlined below:

UBC VANCOUVER 

• https://students.ubc.ca/support
• https://students.ubc.ca/health/counselling-services

UBC OKANAGAN  

• https://students.ok.ubc.ca/health-wellness/

In the coming days UBC will continue to monitor the situation, and as it becomes available share new information with community members who may be impacted.

In times of uncertainty, it is crucial that we support each other and foster a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful campus and working environment for all our community members. The safety and wellbeing of our community is our priority.

If you have any concerns for your safety, here are some resources that are available to support you:

UBC Campus Security: UBC has its own dedicated Campus Security team that is available 24/7. They provide safety planning assistance, respond to emergencies, and conduct patrols on campus. Vancouver campus | Okanagan campus

UBC Safe App: “UBC Safe” is a free mobile app designed for the UBC campus community. The multi-function app provides users with immediate access to Emergency Services, First Aid and Safewalk, as well as information on Emergency Procedures, Support Resources and many other vital links and services. To download the app visit Vancouver campus | Okanagan campus 

AMS SafeWalk: This service offers a companion to accompany you if you feel unsafe walking alone on campus after dark. You can request a SafeWalk by calling the following hotlines:
Vancouver campus: 604-822-5355
Okanagan campus: 250-807-8076

UBC Blue Phones: Located throughout the campus, these emergency phones provide a direct line to Campus Security. Simply press the button, and assistance will be on its way.

Dr. Gage Averill 
Provost & Vice-President Academic, UBC Vancouver

Dr. Rehan Sadiq 
Provost & Vice-President, Academic, UBC Okanagan

Dr. Ainsley Carry 
Vice-President, Students

Dear colleagues,

UBC Okanagan’s annual teaching awards provide an important opportunity to recognize faculty who continually demonstrate a strong commitment to creating positive learning environments for students and contributing to a supportive teaching and learning community.

We are currently inviting nominations for the following awards:

Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation: This award recognizes up to two awards for faculty members with continuing appointments and one award for instructors holding a full or part-time, limited-term appointment. Nominations for this award are accepted from students, faculty, deans, unit heads, staff and alumni.

Killam Teaching Prize: UBC Okanagan awards up to one Killam Teaching Prize each year to faculty member with a continuing appointment who has distinguished themselves as an exemplary teacher with a demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence and innovation throughout their career. Department heads or equivalents are invited to submit nominations for this award.

For more details about the awards, including eligibility and criteria, visit provost.ok.ubc.ca/teaching-awards.

Key Dates
Nov 10—Deadline to submit Intent to Nominate forms to Deans’ offices.
Jan. 12—Deadline to submit full nomination packages to the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic.

We encourage our campus community to participate in this important process to recognize and celebrate the outstanding educators whose invaluable contributions to teaching and learning are advancing education at UBC Okanagan and beyond.

Sincerely,

Rehan Sadiq
Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Brad Wuetherick
Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning

Meet Janine Wood

Role: Project Manager, Strategic Projects

Janine Wood joined the Office of the Provost in 2019 as Executive Administrator to the Provost. She completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Waikato in New Zealand before coming to Canada in 2010. Before joining UBC Okanagan, she worked as a Legal Assistant, providing legal and administrative support for a small law firm in Salmon Arm.

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO IN THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST.

I am responsible for the management and implementation of strategic projects in the Provost’s Office. Much of my work happens behind the scenes to ensure our office’s initiatives are executed as smoothly as possible. I love that our projects span the whole campus (and beyond), giving me opportunities to interact with many wonderful people across our university. The projects change constantly, so there is never a dull moment.

I also support the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline on the Okanagan campus and academic leadership searches.

WHAT UPCOMING PROJECTS OR CURRENT INITIATIVES ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

I’m currently supporting searches for the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan campus. I enjoy search processes because I get to hear about the areas and initiatives that Faculties/units are excited to develop. It’s also inspiring to see the talent that our campus attracts and hear about their visions and ideas for the future. I learn something from every candidate that goes through the recruitment process.

I’m also working closely with the VPRI office to support the initial space allocation process in x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn. I’m excited to see how this space will come to life.

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO WORK AT UBC OKANAGAN?

I wanted to work in a place where I would feel like I am making a positive contribution to the world and supporting people to become better versions of themselves. I heard positive things about UBC Okanagan from my husband, who earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees here. Hearing about his experiences and the relationships he built made me excited to join this community. Plus, the campus is really pretty.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE OKANAGAN ACTIVITY OR SPOT AND WHY?

Anywhere with a lake view! I live in Lake Country, and I’ve enjoyed cycling along the rail trail and visiting the park with my cat. Having beautiful scenery so close by makes exercising much less of a chore!

The University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus is embarking on a search for a senior leader to serve as Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan Campus. This position is a key member of both the UBC Library and Okanagan Campus leadership teams, instrumental in the implementation of Library and campus strategic initiatives. The anticipated start date is April 1st, 2024 or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

The UBC Okanagan Library is a vibrant and active part of the UBC Library system. Nimble and campus-oriented, the Library has strategic directions that respond directly to Outlook 2040, UBC Okanagan’s vision for the future, while remaining heavily engaged with inter-campus initiatives. The dynamic team within the Okanagan Library takes an enterprising, entrepreneurial approach to developing programming and services that reflect shared aspirational values, and boasts strong relationships with campus and community partners.

Position Overview 

Reporting jointly to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Okanagan and University Librarian, the Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan Campus leads the UBC Okanagan Library and works collaboratively with colleagues in the UBC Okanagan Library, at the Deans’ table, and across the University community on both campuses. This position supports the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Okanagan and the University Librarian in the administration of the UBC Okanagan Library and as part of the University Library team overall, including development of services, spaces, technology, and collections, budget management and allocation of resources, and assessment of librarianship/teaching, research, and service activities of the Library.

The Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan Campus will assume overall responsibility for the Okanagan Library portfolio, including budget and physical infrastructure, information systems and services, direction and development of staff resources, vision and planning of future Okanagan Library services and the Okanagan Library’s participation in campus, regional, and national efforts. This position collaborates widely and provides leadership for projects and other initiatives supporting the overall strategic direction of the UBC Library and Okanagan campus. General flexibility will be required in taking on new responsibilities in a changing environment.

Application Process

To apply, applicants should send their CV and cover letter to Janine Wood (janine.wood@ubc.ca). Applications close at 12 noon (Pacific time) on October 16, 2023.

Applications should include a CV detailing their academic and professional qualifications and achievements along with a cover letter detailing why the appointment is of interest, how their experience aligns with the selection criteria, and what they can bring to the role.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Dr. W. Stephen McNeil, Associate Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry, is a recipient of the 2023 West Coast Teaching Excellence Award—UBC Okanagan’s first recognition at these awards. This Award recognizes Dr. McNeil’s longstanding dedication to learner-centred and inclusive teaching practices and his significant impact on the culture of teaching and learning at UBC Okanagan and beyond.  

Throughout his celebrated career, Dr. McNeil has played a significant role in shaping and developing the Chemistry curriculum and transforming the learning environment at UBC Okanagan. He led an ambitious reform of the content, delivery, and assessment of UBC Okanagan’s first-year chemistry courses by introducing flipped delivery, guided-inquiry learning, small-group in-class work, collaborative two-stage assessments, and a curriculum framed within societally relevant contexts. He also led the curriculum development process to align UBC Okanagan’s Chemistry curriculum with the UN Sustainable Development goals to demonstrate the relevance and importance of chemistry in society, serving as an exemplar of our campus’ commitment to sustainability and sustainable development in teaching, research and service. 

Working closely with Indigenous Elders and community members within the Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc Nations, Dr. McNeil integrated sophisticated Indigenous knowledges about pit-cooking of balsamroot in the curriculum to teach key chemistry concepts, supporting and advancing UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan and our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation. 

His passion for teaching reaches far beyond UBC. As a leader in the field of teaching and learning, Dr. McNeil regularly shares his knowledge and insights with the larger teaching community through conference presentations, invited talks, and numerous peer-reviewed publications. 

Dr. McNeil has demonstrated continued teaching excellence throughout his career that has been recognized at UBC and nationally. A recipient of UBC Okanagan’s two most distinguished teaching awards—the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation and the Killam Teaching Prize—he also earned the 2018 Canadian Society for Chemistry Faculty Advisor Award and the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Award for Chemistry Education in 2019. 

One student shared “if every instructor approached the classroom with the same energy and commitment as Dr. McNeil, universities would have infinitely better student success with infectious positivity and bright atmospheres.” 

“Stephen’s innovative and reflective teaching practices support his students on their learning journeys whether as future chemists and scientific leaders or as scholars in the larger academic community,” says Brad Wuetherick, Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning. “His work reflects a deep commitment to teaching and learning, inspiring students and colleagues across all disciplines.” 

We’re excited to share that the Kaltura Cloud Migration is now complete! Thank you for your patience as the LT Hub team migrated 180,000 Kaltura videos over the month of April.

What does this mean for me?

1. You can access and manage your Kaltura videos through the new Teaching & Learning Media Portal at learning.media.ubc.ca or via Canvas.
2. Over the next seven days, Kaltura embedded links in Canvas courses will be automatically updated to reflect their new home in the cloud.
3. Links to Kaltura videos embedded outside of Canvas will need to be manually updated by Fall 2023.

We know that dealing with technology changes can be stressful. We are happy to answer questions and help guide you through the process.

• Contact the Centre for Teaching and Learning helpdesk at ctl.helpdesk@ubc.ca as your first point of contact;
• If you require further assistance, contact LT Hub at LT.hub@ubc.ca or 604 827 4775 or visit the LT Hub online for weekday drop-in support.
• Additionally, you can register for a Kaltura workshop, held at noon on variable dates each month. These one-hour introductory sessions will delve into the features available in the Kaltura cloud.

This year, we’re excited to announce that UBC Okanagan faculty will have the opportunity to participate in the 2023-24 Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Asia Pacific Women in Leadership (APWiL) Mentoring Program, beginning November 2023.

This opportunity pairs mentees with experienced mentors from APRU member universities for a year-long program focusing on empowerment, professional growth, and development to support aspiring APRU women leaders. Through one-on-one mentorship as well as seminars and hands-on workshops featuring diverse leaders, participants will explore tools and methods for overcoming barriers facing women in leadership and gain skills and knowledge to support their career goals.

Nomination Process:

All interested faculty are encouraged to apply. We can select up to two mentors and two mentees from our campus to represent UBC. This will be the first year our campus is participating in the program. The deadline for nominating mentors and mentees is June 9, 2023.

If you are interested in participating as a mentor or mentee, contact:

Raina Reddecliff
Associate Director, Campus Internationalization
UBC Okanagan

More information about the program and the nomination process can be found at www.apru.org/event/apwil-mentoring-program.

More Information

Information Session                                                                                                                                              May 1, 2023, 5 pm-6 pm PDT                                                                                                                      Register here

These information sessions are an opportunity for APRU member universities participating in the 4th cohort of the mentoring program to learn more about the program and share tips for recruiting mentors and mentees. Individuals interested in participating in the program as either a mentor or mentee are also invited to join.

Update (June 21, 2023): On the recommendation of the search committee, the Associate Provost, IDEA position will be reassessed in 2024.

UBC is committed to fostering equitable and inclusive learning and working environments in which human rights are respected, where all members of the UBC community are treated fairly and with dignity, and where the rich diversity of UBC students, faculty, and staff have equal opportunity to participate in the life and work of the university.

In recent years, we have intensified our efforts to build a more inclusive campus through our equity and anti-racism plans and initiatives, which are being implemented under the guidance of the Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) Framework, led by UBC’s Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion (AVPEI).

UBC’s StEAR Framework is a community-engaged, data-informed, action-oriented, and accountability-driven tool for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of priorities articulated in the Inclusion Action Plan (IAP), Employment Equity Plan, EDI CRC Action Plan, Anti-racism and Inclusive Excellence (ARIE) Report, Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Diversity (T2SGD) Report, EDI Dimensions Action Plan, and forthcoming Accessibility Plan. The StEAR Framework was developed to align, unify and mobilize the systematic planning, implementation and evaluation of pan-institutional priorities through a consolidated Roadmap for Change.

Learn more about the StEAR Framework and frequently asked questions online at: equity.ubc.ca/about/our-approach

As we continue to foster a campus community centred on inclusive excellence and anti-racism, the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic is pleased to announce a search for the next Associate Provost, IDEA at UBC Okanagan.

The Associate Provost, IDEA, is the academic equity lead for UBC Okanagan, while the AVPEI is UBC’s senior-most ‘diversity officer’ and university-wide equity advisor, overseeing a pan-institutional Equity & Inclusion Office, with teams on the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses, and the Director, IDEA is the administrative head of the Okanagan Equity & Inclusion Office.

Position Overview 

• • Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President Academic, UBC Okanagan, the Associate Provost, IDEA will chair the campus-wide advisory group, which supports the engagement, activation, and implementation of inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism priorities on the Okanagan campus, in collaboration with the AVPEI and under the guidance of the StEAR Framework.
  • Working closely with the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Okanagan, the Associate Provost, IDEA will develop and maintain effective working relationships with the Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion and other senior management members, Deans, faculty, administrative leaders on both the UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver campuses, and the external community.
  • The Associate Provost, IDEA will provide joint oversight of the Equity & Inclusion Office on the UBC Okanagan campus, working closely with the Director, IDEA (starting June 1, 2023) who will have a dual reporting line to both the Associate Provost, IDEA and the Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion.

Position Details 

• This part-time position is internal to UBC Okanagan
  • Tenured faculty, Associate and Full Professors in both streams (educational leadership and research) are welcome to apply.
• An honorarium and teaching release support will be provided.
• The appointment is for a two-year term (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025), with the possibility of an extension.

 Application Process  

Questions regarding the position can be directed to ubco.provost@ubc.ca.

Applications should be sent to Janine Wood by 11:59 pm on May 31, 2023 (extended). Please include a statement of interest (2-page maximum) along with a current CV. All correspondence will be treated in strict confidence.

Applications will be reviewed by the search committee, comprised of the following members:

• Jenica Frisque, Equity Education Strategist, UBC Okanagan Equity & Inclusion Office
• Rehan Sadiq, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Okanagan (chair)
• Arig al Shaibah, Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion
• Silvia Tomášková, Dean, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Adrienne Vedan, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal on Indigenous Affairs

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Dear colleagues,

Each year, UBC Okanagan is proud to celebrate outstanding and innovative teaching by honouring exemplary role models who make significant impacts on the culture of teaching and learning on our campus with the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation and the Killam Teaching Prize.

Please join us in congratulating the 2023 teaching award recipients:

Killam Teaching Prize

Peter Arthur | Professor of Teaching | Okanagan School of Education

Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation

Fiona P. Mcdonald | Assistant Professor | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Fiona McDonald‘s scholarship and research in anthropology took her around the world before she joined UBC Okanagan in 2018. Since then, she has led innovative projects that have significantly impacted teaching and learning on our campus, including developing and teaching new courses focused on visual anthropology and collaborating closely with other departments and units to combine innovative uses of technology with a learner-based approach to teaching.

Claire Yan | Associate Professor of Teaching | School of Engineering

Peyman Yousefi | Lecturer | School of Engineering

Dr. Peyman Yousefi has made significant impacts on the teaching and learning community since he first joined this campus in 2016 as a PhD student. Now a dedicated engineering educator and faculty member, Dr. Yousefi has earned a strong reputation for educational innovation and teaching excellence through incorporating new technologies in his classroom and ongoing commitment to the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Provost Award for Teaching Assistants and Tutors

We are also pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Provost Award for Teaching Assistants and Tutors, which recognizes the exemplary contributions of undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants and tutors in their teaching support roles.

• • Aneleise Peppard, Student Learning Hub
  • Amanda Darbyshire, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
  • Moustafa Mansour, School of Engineering
  • Zachary Sawchuk, Student Learning Hub
  • Dylan Goode, School of Engineering
  • Mehrnaz Makuei, School of Engineering

Teaching Excellence Celebration

The campus community is invited to join us to recognize the achievements of UBC Okanagan teachers and mentors and celebrate our community of teaching excellence.

Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Time: 4 to 6 pm | Award presentation followed by a reception
Location: UBC Ballroom | UNC 200

To RSVP, please contact okanagan.ceremonies@ubc.ca.

Congratulations, once again, to the 2023 teaching award recipients.

Sincerely,

Rehan Sadiq
Provost and Vice-President, Academic
UBC Okanagan

Brad Wuetherick
Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning
UBC Okanagan