UBC’s Student Strategic Plan
UBC’s Student Strategic Plan
A refreshed plan, shaped by you
What we promised
In 2021, UBC made a promise to you: To place students at the heart of everything we do.
Since then, we’ve:
Expanded tailored career support
Increased harm reduction training and resources
Expanded healthcare supports
Expanded on-campus housing
And more, all in response to your feedback.
What’s changed
But since 2021, the world has changed, and you are navigating new opportunities and complex challenges. In response, we are refreshing the Student Strategic Plan (SSP), because our commitment to you means adapting alongside you and responding to your needs.
This strategic plan is not a step-by-step action plan, but it sets the direction and priorities that will guide the actions we take to support you during your time at UBC.
What we heard
Over the past 18 months, we’ve been listening to you through surveys, listening sessions, and conversations. What we’ve consistently heard is that you want:
- Easier access to support
- A more seamless and welcoming student experience from the very beginning
- Meaningful opportunities that support your future
Hear from UBC’s leadership on the Student Strategic Plan 2026-2029.
- Preparing students to thrive—A message from UBC’s President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- A plan shaped by you, for you—A message from UBC’s Vice-President, Students and Associate Vice-Presidents, Students
Our renewed commitments to you
The Student Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2029 has clarified and focused key commitment areas to reflect what we’ve heard from you. These commitment areas guide how we support you, and we will measure and work to strengthen the impacts in these areas year over year.
Student commitments
Support throughout your time at UBC
Providing supports, programming, and spaces, and connecting you to resources designed to meet your needs throughout your journey at UBC.
Your health and belonging
Supporting your mental, physical, spiritual, and social wellness so you can thrive at UBC.
Your growth and future success
Helping you develop skills, explore opportunities, and prepare for life after graduation.
Our areas of focus
These three strategic priorities reflect what we heard from you. The actions that evolve from these priorities will advance our commitment areas over the next three years.
Priority 1
Student-centred navigation
What this means for you:
We are making it easier to find the right help when you need it, with fewer steps between you and the support you’re looking for.
Areas we are focusing on:
- Improving and streamlining how you access student services
- Creating clearer pathways to connect with the right resources and supports when you need them
Priority 2
New to UBC
What this means for you:
We are expanding the new student experience to help you thrive and connect with other students.
Areas we are focusing on:
- Strengthening transition support for incoming graduate, transfer, and international students
- Expanding access to orientations and extending programming beyond the first week
- Making it easier to meet people and build connections throughout your first year
Priority 3
Experiences that shape you
What this means for you:
We are increasing opportunities and removing barriers so more students can access and participate in distinctive opportunities like on- and off-campus jobs, community engagement, signature events, study abroad, and research.
Areas we are focusing on:
- Removing barriers to accessing opportunities that meet your interests, and academic and career goals
- Expanding funding and support for you to participate in experiences like Go Global, Community Service Learning, and research projects
- Creating enhanced connections between classroom learning and hands-on experience
Let’s do this together
Through the SSP we’re working toward a great student experience for all. We will provide regular updates on the actions that we take to advance each strategic priority. Your feedback is essential to ensuring that we’re on the right track.
How to stay involved
We invite you to stay connected, get involved, and continue sharing your feedback. You can submit comments, ask questions, or get in touch with the VP Students or the AVP Students (Okanagan) office any time.
What guides this plan
What is an institutional strategy?
An institutional strategy sets the direction for where we’re going and what we’re working toward together; it’s the shared foundation that guides decisions and priorities across the university. It’s not a detailed list of actions or projects—it’s more like a roadmap that helps us stay aligned as we plan and act in specific areas.
This approach ensures that actions across UBC are connected, coordinated, and collectively move us toward our shared goals as a university.
How this plan fits into UBC’s bigger picture
The Student Strategic Plan (2026-2029) aligns with UBC’s strategic plan, Strategic Directions 2025-2030, and helps to define how those shared priorities will support each of you in accessing all the university has to offer. This key framework, along with the following frameworks, underlies each of the commitments we’ve made to you in the SSP.
Download the plan
Prefer to read offline? Download the Student Strategic Plan 2026-2029 in these formats: