Updates, news and stories

Reminder: Preparing for extreme weather at UBC

With snowfall across the province in the coming days, please note that information is available to help you prepare for extreme weather on your campus.Last month, a UBC Bulletin and UBCO Admin were issued for the Vancouver and the Okanagan campuses, respectively, with information on how to be prepared during extreme weather, steps being taken to keep the campus safe, and how faculty members can support students.

Voting open for Board of Governors and second call for nominations for Vancouver Senate

A message from Rella Ng, Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services and Registrar Further to the UBC Broadcast last month, the first round of elections for the 2023 – 2026 triennium is currently underway with opportunities for you to participate.

Staying safe during the winter flu season

A message from Deborah Buszard, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor; Lesley Cormack, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan As you may have seen in the media, many provinces are being challenged right now with increased cases of flu and respiratory viruses. Canada, and other countries around the globe, are also still managing the ongoing situation regarding COVID-19 and its variants.

Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation Town Hall

UBC researchers find high rates of iron deficiency in pregnant women

UBC Library digitizes William Shakespeare’s First Folio

UBC Library has made its first edition of William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies openly accessible to the public by publishing a digitized version of the volume online through Open Collections. The process to digitize the First Folio took more than a year to facilitate due to the Folio’s age and fragility. The First Folio arrived at UBC in September 2021 and almost immediately, work with UBC Library’s conservator Anne Lama began in order to plan for its 2D digitization.

Spread the seasonal cheer by sharing your favourite holiday-inspired photo

Holidays inspire all of us in different ways. Last fall, we asked our faculty and staff community to tell us what this time of year means to them by sharing a fun and festive holiday-inspired photo. Thanks to last year's success, we've decided to do it again this year. Spread the seasonal cheer by sharing your favourite holiday-themed photo, and we'll publish it on UBC Today.What do you need to do?

Apply for a Move UBC grant

Move UBC is an annual university-wide initiative in February to encourage faculty, staff, students, and the wider university community to move more.  Building on the success of the February initiative, Move UBC grants are now available in two funding streams:

Greenspaces should support mental health among young adults

Even though many global cities incorporate greenspaces such as pocket parks and community gardens into their urban planning efforts, new UBC research shows those plans often fail to include the needs of youth and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. As a result, this age demographic can miss out on the known social, physical and mental health benefits of these nature-based solutions.

Paid leave for staff between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

With the holiday season approaching, please note that certain UBC staff are eligible for paid leave during the university’s seasonal closure — the three normal working days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. This year’s seasonal closure falls on December 28, 29, and 30, 2022.

Diet and lifestyle education in a family practice clinic can benefit wellbeing

A staggering 70 per cent of Canadians report an unhealthy diet—a risk factor which is often closely associated with the development of chronic disease. Low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diets have shown to improve weight loss and cardiovascular health.  But for many people, it’s not often clear when or how to implement such a change. A new UBC Okanagan study explores how primary care physicians and allied health professionals can help patients adopt dietary and lifestyle interventions to improve their overall health.

Frank Laezza appointed Vice-President, Finance and Operations

A message from Professor Deborah Buszard, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor