Our work

The Vice-President Students portfolio provides institutional leadership in the areas of student housing and community services, health and wellbeing, athletics and recreation, and careers. The VPS portfolio supports all UBC students in accessing all that the university has to offer throughout their journey at UBC. In partnership with students, we are building a more connected and caring university experience.

Student Strategic Plan 2026-2029

Developed with the input of students and staff, the Student Strategic Plan (SSP) outlines our shared commitments and priorities in fostering an outstanding student experience that supports all students across both campuses in accessing all UBC has to offer. Guided by our student mission to work together to advance an equitable environment that supports holistic personal growth, inspires purposeful contribution, and removes barriers to full participation, the SSP embraces the student proposition of “Living and learning in a better world.” The plan focuses on three key commitment areas: supporting you throughout your time at UBC, nurturing your health and belonging, and fostering your growth and future success. The SSP is built upon the foundations of several other key institutional frameworks that guide the work of the university.

Foundations of our work 

The work of the Vice-President Students portfolio is guided by several institutional plans and frameworks. These frameworks also underlie our Student Strategic Plan 2026-2029.

VPS Portfolio

Vice-President, Students Office

The Vice-President Students Office provides strategic leadership and coordination across student services and programs at UBC. Working in partnership with units across the portfolio and the broader university community, the VP Students Office helps ensure students have access to comprehensive, integrated support throughout their journey at UBC. The office champions student-centred initiatives, fosters collaboration across student-facing services, and works to create an exceptional student experience that enables all students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally – supporting student success.

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

  • Centre for Student Development and Leadership – leads and contributes to orientation and transitions for all students new to UBC in an effort to ensure students are capable and active contributors to the campus experience.
  • International Student Development – aims to enhance Canadian immigration literacy among international students. The team works closely with UBC campus partners, incorporating international students’ perspectives into the development of UBC policies and protocols, making international students an integral part of our community. ​​
  • Student Communications Services – helps students navigate UBC and build a sense of belonging through web, social media, design, and in-person activations. The team helps connect students with VPS services and programs, and work with teams across campus to reach students where they are.
  • Student Conduct and Safety – provides student support and case management, including Early Assist which helps faculty and staff provide more comprehensive support for students who are facing difficulties that put their academic success at risk.​​
  • Early Assist – provides proactive support and intervention for students to address challenges they may be facing before these become overwhelming.​​
  • Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program – fosters a cross-campus community of Black undergraduate scholars through an established award, a systemic network of support, and programming that enhances scholars’ academic, career, and leadership goals.
  • Respondent Resource Specialist – provides non-judgmental assistance to members of the UBC community who have been named as a respondent or have been reported to have caused harm under UBC’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.
  • IBPOC Initiatives – provides portfolio-wide centralized support in advancing strategic and intersectional initiatives, programming, and services for equity-deserving students.​​
  • Strategic Initiatives – provides portfolio-wide centralized support in advancing strategic initiatives and projects.
  • Research, Data, and Assessment – provides portfolio-wide centralized support in strategic planning, research, evaluation and assessment.
  • Investigations Office – manages formal complaints under the Sexual Misconduct Policy and Discrimination Policy by conducting investigations and facilitating alternative resolution processes.​​​
  • Human Resources & Organizational Development and Learning – supports staff, managers and leadership teams in the areas of recruitment, selection, employee relations, and HR & EDI strategies. The Organizational Development and Learning (ODL) team supports the portfolio with strategy, learning and development, process improvements and coaching​.​
  • Executive Administration – collaborates with the portfolio on administrative projects and provides direct support to the Vice President, Students.  
  • Finance – provides financial leadership and day-to-day support of the Vice President Students portfolio.

Student resources and support
From wellness options to international student advising, to career development support, the VPSO assists students with a broad range of resources and programs.

Campus Partner information and resources
The VPS Portfolio partners with units, faculty, and staff across UBC to support and strengthen the student experience and to share and ensure faculty and staff have up-to-date information about resources in place to support students.

Student Health and Wellbeing

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


SHW operates an integrated SHW Clinical Services unit that provides mental health and physical health care to all students – undergraduate, masters and PhDs. SHW Clinical Services offers individual appointments with counsellors, family physicians, occupational therapists and medical specialists free to all registered students. We also offer group counselling programs and specialized counselling tailored to your identity and background, with mental health professionals who are connected to or have similar lived experiences.


SHW Clinical Services also includes the embedded counselling program, which are counsellors that work in various faculties and areas of campus to provide more specific counselling and programming to students in those areas.


The Centre for Accessibility facilitates disability-related accommodations designed to remove barriers for students with disabilities and ongoing medical conditions in all aspects of university life. The Centre works with students to explore their accommodation needs, and to connect them with appropriate support and resources.


The Sexual Violence, Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) is a confidential place for those who have experienced, or been impacted by, any form of sexual or gender-based violence, harassment, or harm, regardless of where or when it took place. We recognize that you are the expert of your own experience and you get to decide what is right for you. We aim to be a safer space for all by respecting each person’s unique and multiple identities and experiences. All genders and sexualities are welcome.


UBC Wellbeing is a collaborative effort to make the university a better place to live, work, learn, and play through a systems-wide, settings-based approach to health and wellbeing. Guided by the Okanagan Charter and UBC’s Wellbeing Strategic Framework, we are committed to creating campus environments that support health and wellbeing for people, places, and the planet – locally and globally. For students, SHW Health Promotion and Wellbeing operates the Wellness Centre, the Sex Shop, the Student Recovery Community, the Food Hub Market and a range of other health promotion and education programs, workshops and initiatives.

Student Careers & Centre for Community Engaged Learning

The UBC Career Centre helps students and recent graduates reflect and explore, gain confidence, and take the first or next step in their career journey. 

We encourage students to explore possibilities, connect with alumni and members of industry, and find quality work experiences during their degree. We understand that the university experience is shaped by unexpected opportunities, shifting interests, and evolving environments.  

Whether students are beginning their academic journey or thinking about how to use their skills and knowledge after graduation, the UBC Career Centre is here to support them through a variety of programs and services, including:

Centre for Community Engaged Learning

The Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) offers curricular and co-curricular experiential education for students that enable students and faculties to work on issues that impact society today.

Student Housing and Community Services

Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS) consists of seven self-supporting, self-funded service units (Bookstore, Campus Mail, Child Care, Conferences and Accommodations, Food Services, Parking Services and Student Housing). 

UBC provides accommodation for more than 16,000 students across the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses (13,833 and 2,120 beds respectively). The student housing and residence teams offer extensive resources and events that strive to support the creation of healthy, well, and safe communities for 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. 

Athletics and Recreation

From varsity sport to fitness classes and intramurals, UBC Athletics and Recreation on the Vancouver campus 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. UBC Rec also has a wide variety of fitness programs and classes, while its Inclusive Recreation initiative works to improve access and remove barriers to participation for the entire UBC community.  

UBC Vancouver is home to the varsity Thunderbirds teams, 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. 

UBC Thunderbirds
Learn more about our varsity athletics programs, and view the full event schedule for the UBC Thunderbirds.

UBC Recreation
Browse fitness and recreation experiences available at UBC for students.

Associate Vice-President, Students Portfolio, Okanagan

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
  • Wellbeing and Accessibility Services
  • Sexual Violence and Prevention Response Office
  • Student Engagement and Learning
  • Academic and Career Development

Student resources and support
From wellness options to international student advising, to career development, UBC Okanagan is here to support you.