Our work

The Vice-President, Students Office is committed to supporting student-focused initiatives both within the VPS and across campus, particularly in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, inclusive excellence, anti-racism, Indigenous engagement, mental health and wellbeing, affordability, and student communications.

The following units are housed within the Vice-President, Students Office:

Student Health and Wellbeing provides integrated health and wellbeing services, programming, and resources to help students thrive mentally, physically, and emotionally.

The Wellness Centre is a friendly, peer-hosted space that offers many wellbeing programs for students, including drop-in or virtual advising, a Sexual Health Shop, and wellbeing training and education. At Student Health Services, students can connect with a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, or other medical professional virtually or in-person at multiple locations across campus. Counselling Services offers mental health support to students in person, online, and over the phone.

In addition, staff, faculty, and students can participate in or book wellbeing events and workshops on navigating health resources, minimizing harm in situations with substance use, helping a friend in distress, and more. The Student Recovery Community provides a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for students who are in recovery, or curious to explore their relationship with alcohol, drugs, and/or addictive behaviours, including disordered eating, gaming, gambling, and more.

Student Affairs provides comprehensive, student-centred support, resources, and programming to help students make the most of their time at UBC. Working in partnership across the university and with the wider community, Student Affairs helps students navigate university life, develop personally and academically, and connect to experiences and opportunities that prepare them to be engaged, global citizens. 

The Centre for Student Involvement provides student leadership and involvement opportunities, as well as orientation programs like Jump Start and Collegia to welcome new students. Additionally, the Centre for Community Engaged Learning offers community grants, workshops, programs, and competitions around today’s most critical social and environmental issues.

The Centre for Accessibility offers disability-related accommodations to support students with disabilities or medical conditions. Additionally, International Student Advising provides visa and immigration information and resources to international students.

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office extends a safe and confidential space and support options to students, staff, and faculty who may have experienced sexual or gender-based violence, harassment, or harm.

The Student Careers team supports students in every aspect of their career development, from the moment they begin their studies to graduation and beyond.

Programs and services in Student Careers help students apply their learning to real-world settings through paid work experiences and volunteer roles, including Co-op, on-campus jobs, and the Work Learn program.

The Student Careers team also offers career advising, mentorship programs, events, networking opportunities, and workshops to help students reflect on their skills and interests while exploring their career path.

UBC provides accommodation for more than 13,000 students across 15 residences on the Vancouver campus and 10 residences on the Okanagan campus. The student housing and residence teams offer extensive resources and events that support the health, wellbeing, and safety of our students living in residence.

UBC Food Services plans healthy, innovative dining options for students with a focus on local ingredients, sustainable packaging, and creating welcoming spaces for students to share meals and build community. Many food services on campus source local ingredients and prepare plant-based options in house.

Student Housing and Community Services also oversees operations for UBC Conferences and Accommodations, UBC Childcare, Campus Mail, the UBC Bookstore, and UBC Parking.

From varsity sport to fitness classes and intramurals, UBC Athletics and Recreation is dedicated to making sure all students can engage in healthy physical activity, access world-class sport facilities, and attend high-caliber sporting events while making friends, learning new skills, and having fun.

UBC Recreation helps the campus community to get active with a wide variety of options, including Intramural sports, the Get Moving Program, and major events like Day of the Longboat and Storm the Wall. The UBC Rec team also has a wide variety of fitness programs and classes, and the Inclusive Recreation program works to improve access to programs and services, and remove barriers to participation for the entire UBC community. 

UBC is home to the Thunderbirds, who have won more national championships than any other varsity program in Canada. With 26 teams and over 600 student athletes, the Thunderbirds excel at the highest level of national and global competition and generate pride and school spirit amongst the UBC community. They also bring Thunderbird pride to students and the UBC community with marquee events like Homecoming, Winter Classic, and Courtside.

The Associate Vice-President, Students Portfolio provides services, programming, and support to students on the Okanagan campus including:

• Office of the AVP Students
• Athletics & Recreation
• Indigenous Programs and Services
• Global Engagement Office
• Student Wellness
• Sexual Violence and Prevention Response Office
• Student Engagement and Learning
• Academic and Career Development