The Faculty of Arts has embarked on a strategic planning process that will result in a new five-year strategy for our students, faculty, and staff.

Our new plan will be informed through comprehensive input and feedback from across our community, and by the opportunities and challenges for Faculty of Arts and higher education. Our process aims to centre Justice, Equity, and Inclusion, and ensure historically marginalized community members are heard.

Latest Updates

Strategic Plan 2025-2030 Preliminary Report
This report captures the essence of our community discussions, and synthesizes common themes and key insights gathered during the Listening Phase.

Our Approach

We are bringing the new strategic plan to life through a phased approach that involves ongoing community consultation and validation right up until the launch. Below, learn more about what’s in store for each phase of this project.

Phase 1: Planning (COMPLETE)

November 2023 - February 2024

  • Establish project team and governance model
  • Kick-off event at the Chan Centre
  • Internal alignment work on approach and process

Phase 2: Listening (COMPLETE)

February - August 2024

  • Cross-faculty conversations via focus groups and online survey(s)
  • Conversations with targeted community groups and Musqueam
  • Synthesis of key insights and gathering further feedback for emerging framework

Phase 3: Development

September - December 2024

  • Pillar-specific discussions to develop goals and strategies
  • Validation of key goals and strategies
  • Integration and alignment with institutional priorities

Phase 4: Drafting

January - March 2025

  •  Internal agreement on implementation approach and roadmap
  • Development of strategic indicators and operationalization of the plan

Phase 5: Launch

April 2025

  • Finalize report and launch plan
  • Townhall kickoff event for the UBC Faculty of Arts community
  • Initiation of plan

Phase 6: Implementation

May 2025 and beyond

  • Implement and sustain our plan
  • Ongoing tracking of our efforts
  • Development of dashboard with key performance indicators

Our Guiding Principles

Our strategic planning process is rooted in the following guiding principles. They serve to anchor our dialogue, focus groups and follow up conversations that will take place over the course of the project.

See the terms of engagement

  • We believe in active listening and ongoing learning.
  • We believe in approaching conversations and feedback with curiosity. We embrace the tenet there are no right or wrong answers—only valuable insights.
  • We believe in encouraging everyone to contribute and be heard, whether through open dialogue, surveys, or one-on-one conversations.
  • We recognize communication styles are not uniform and not everyone wishes to engage in the same way. Whether you speak up in a focus group, share your thoughts via a survey, or reach out via our formal meeting opportunities, your voice will be heard.
  • We will seek to make connections between diverse ideas throughout this process.