Coverage start and end dates

This page describes when your coverage for specific UBC benefits will begin and end, assuming that you are eligible for the benefit. Visit our Eligibility page for information on your benefits eligibility.


Dental

Coverage begins

UBC’s Dental Plan begins on your date of hire (or when you have completed your enrolment if you did not enroll within 45 days of your hire date). For example, if you begin work at UBC on April 17, your Dental coverage will begin on April 17.

Coverage ends

If you leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement), your UBC Dental coverage ends at the end of the same month. For example, if you leave UBC on November 20, your Dental coverage will end on November 30.

Your coverage may also end if:

  1. You voluntarily cancel your coverage. In this event, Workday will use your requested end date (must be the end of a month).
  2. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  3. You are working past your normal retirement date* and elect to receive your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan retirement income/benefit option(s). In this event, coverage will end on the day before you elect to receive your pension.
  4. You are working past your normal retirement date* and have deferred your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan until age 71. In this event, coverage will end at the end of the year you turn age 71, the maximum pensionable age as defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada).

* The Normal Retirement Date for staff is the end of the month you turn 65. For Academic Executive or Faculty, your normal retirement date is June 30 or December 31 following (or on) the date you turn 65.

Once your Dental coverage ends you can arrange alternative coverage through an individual insurance policy. For more information, visit the Leaving UBC page.


Extended health

Coverage begins

UBC’s Extended Health Plan begins on your date of hire (or when you have completed your enrolment, if you did not enroll within 45 days of your hire date). For example, if you begin work at UBC on April 17, your Extended Health coverage will begin on April 17.

If you are new to BC and arriving from another province, your Extended Health coverage begins on your date of hire (or when you have completed your enrolment, if you did not enroll within 45 days of your hire date).

If you are new to Canada, your Extended Health coverage begins the first day of the month you satisfy the MSP waiting period. The waiting period is the balance of the month you arrive in BC, plus two full months. The only exception is if you are enrolled in the Sun Life Inpatriate Plan during the MSP waiting period – if this is the case then your Extended Health coverage begins on your date of hire (or when you have completed your enrolment, if you did not enroll within 45 days of your hire date).

Coverage ends

If you leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement), your UBC Extended Health coverage ends at the end of the same month. For example, if you leave UBC on November 20, your Extended Health coverage will end on November 30.

Your coverage may also end if:

  1. You voluntarily cancel your coverage. In this event, Workday will use your requested end date (must be the end of a month).
  2. You no longer meet MSP’s eligibility rules, such as if your work permit has expired. In this event, coverage will end as of the date you are no longer eligible.
  3. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  4. You are working past your normal retirement date* and elect to receive your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan retirement income/benefit option(s). In this event, coverage will end on the day before you elect to receive your pension.
  5. You are working past your normal retirement date* and have deferred your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan until age 71. In this event, coverage will end at the end of the year you turn age 71, the maximum pensionable age as defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada).

* The Normal Retirement Date for staff is the end of the month you turn 65. For Academic Executive or Faculty, your normal retirement date is June 30 or December 31 following (or on) the date you turn 65.

Once your Extended Health coverage ends you can arrange alternative coverage through an individual insurance policy. For more information, visit the Leaving UBC page.


Surrogacy & Adoption

Coverage begins

UBC’s Surrogacy and Adoption Benefits begin on your date of hire (or when you have completed your enrolment in the extended health benefits plan, if you did not enroll within 45 days of your hire date). For further details regarding enrolment in the extended health benefits plan if you are new to BC or Canada, refer to the Extended health Section above.

Coverage ends

If you leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement), your UBC Surrogacy and Adoption Benefits coverage ends at the end of the same month. For example, if you leave UBC on November 20, your coverage will end on November 30.

Your coverage may also end if:

  1. You voluntarily cancel your coverage by cancelling your extended health benefits. In this event, Workday will use your requested end date (must be the end of a month).
  2. You no longer meet MSP’s eligibility rules, such as if your work permit has expired. In this event, coverage will end as of the date you are no longer eligible.
  3. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  4. You are working past your normal retirement date* and elect to receive your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan retirement income/benefit option(s). In this event, coverage will end on the day before you elect to receive your pension.
  5. You are working past your normal retirement date* and have deferred your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan until age 71. In this event, coverage will end at the end of the year you turn age 71, the maximum pensionable age as defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada).

* The Normal Retirement Date for staff is the end of the month you turn 65. For Academic Executive or Faculty, your normal retirement date is June 30 or December 31 following (or on) the date you turn 65.


Employee and Family Assistance Program

Coverage begins

If eligible, you will be automatically enrolled for the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). If you have dependents, you must also complete an enrolment task in Workday for them.

UBC’s EFAP coverage begins on your date of hire.

For example: if you start your job on January 12, your EFAP coverage begins on January 12.

Coverage Ends

Your coverage ends if:

  1. You leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement). In this event, coverage will end three months after the first of the month after your employment ends or you retire. For example, if you end your employment April 22, your EFAP coverage will end July 31.
  2. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  3. You are working past your normal retirement date* and elect to receive your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan retirement income/benefit option(s). In this event, coverage will end three months from the day you elect to receive your pension. For example, if you start collecting your pension on June 1, your EFAP coverage will end on August 31.
  4. You are working past your normal retirement date* and have deferred your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan until age 71. In this event, coverage will end three months after the end of the year you turn 71, the maximum pensionable age as defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada).

* The Normal Retirement Date for staff is the end of the month you turn 65. For Academic Executive or Faculty, your normal retirement date is June 30 or December 31 following (or on) the date you turn 65.


Basic Life Insurance

Coverage begins

If you are eligible, you will be automatically enrolled in Basic Life Insurance on your date of hire. You must also complete the beneficiary designation section of the enrolment task in Workday.

Coverage ends

Your coverage ends if:

  1. You leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement). In this event, coverage will end when your employment ends.
  2. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  3. You are working past your normal retirement date* and elect to receive your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan retirement income/benefit option(s). In this event, coverage will end the day before you elect to receive your Pension.
  4. You are working past your normal retirement date* and have deferred your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan until age 71. In this event, coverage will end at the end of the year you turn 71, the maximum pensionable age as defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada).

* The Normal Retirement Date for staff is the end of the month you turn 65. For Academic Executive or Faculty, your normal retirement date is June 30 or December 31 following (or on) the date you turn 65.

Once your coverage ends, you can convert your coverage to an individual insurance policy. For more information, visit the Life Insurance Conversion page.


Optional Life Insurance

Coverage begins

Coverage begins for Optional Life Insurance when you and/or your spouse’s application is approved by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. You (and UBC) will be advised of your coverage effective date in writing.

Coverage ends

Your coverage ends if:

  1. You voluntarily cancel your coverage. In this event, Workday will use your requested end date.
  2. You leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement). In this event, coverage will end when your employment ends
  3. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  4. You are working past your normal retirement date* and elect to receive your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan retirement income/benefit option(s). In this event, coverage will end on the day before you elect to receive your pension.
  5. You are working past your normal retirement date* and have deferred your UBC Staff, UBC Faculty or BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) Pension Plan until age 71. In this event, coverage will end at the end of the year you turn age 71, the maximum pensionable age as defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Once your coverage ends, you can convert your coverage into an individual insurance policy. For more information, visit the Life Insurance Conversion page.

Your spouse’s coverage ends if:

  1. You voluntarily cancel your spouse’s coverage. In this event, Workday will use your requested end date.
  2. If you leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement). In this event, coverage will end when your employment ends.
  3. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  4. You reach your normal retirement date.* In this event, your spouse’s coverage will end on your normal retirement date* even if you continue to work at UBC.

* The Normal Retirement Date for staff is the end of the month you turn 65. For Academic Executive or Faculty, your normal retirement date is June 30 or December 31 following (or on) the date you turn 65.


Optional Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

Coverage begins

Coverage begins for Optional Accidental Death and Dismemberment when you and/or your spouse’s optional life insurance coverage begins, if you also elected AD&D coverage.

Coverage ends

Coverage ends when you and/or your spouse’s optional life insurance coverage ends.

Once your coverage ends, you can convert your coverage into an individual insurance policy. For more information, visit the Life Insurance Conversion page.


Income Replacement Plan and Disability Benefit Plan

Coverage begins

If eligible for the Income Replacement Plan (IRP) and Disability Benefit Plan (DBP), you will be automatically enrolled for this benefit on your date of hire.

Coverage ends

Your coverage will end if:

  1. You leave UBC (either through the end of your employment or retirement). In this event, coverage will end when your employment ends.
  2. You are laid off.
  3. You are on an unpaid leave of absence and elect not to continue coverage.
  4. You reach your normal retirement date.* In this event, your coverage will end six months before this date (four months for CUPE 2950).

* The Normal Retirement Date for staff is the end of the month you turn 65. For Academic Executive or Faculty, your normal retirement date is June 30 or December 31 following (or on) the date you turn 65.


UBC Pension Plan

Coverage begins

Faculty Pension Plan: If you are appointed for one year or more at more than 50% FTE, you may be eligible to join the pension plan effective on the date of your appointment.

Other part-time faculty and administrative executive staff may be eligible to join the plan after two years of continuous service, if you have earned at least 35% of the Canada Pension Plan earnings ceiling in each of two consecutive calendar years.

Sessional lecturers appointed for four months or more and who meet the 50% appointment requirement are eligible to join the plan.

Staff Pension Plan:

If you are eligible, you will be automatically enrolled in the Staff Pension Plan when enrolled in the Basic Life Insurance.

Coverage ends

You have options for your pension that depend on how old you are when you leave your employment at UBC, and if you are retiring.

Learn more about the Faculty Pension Plan or call the UBC Pensions Office at 604.822.8100.

Learn more about the Staff Pension Plan or call the UBC Pensions Office at 604.822.8100.


Leaves

Coverage begins

The date you become eligible for Leaves depends on the leave you are applying for.  Apply for a leave of absence in writing to your Supervisor.

Coverage ends

Your access to all leave coverage will end when your employment with UBC ends.


Professional development: tuition waivers

Coverage begins

Monthly Staff: You are eligible for Tuition Waivers after three months of service. For CUPE 2278 only, you are eligible after six months of service.

Hourly Staff, with the exception of CUPE 116 and IUOE 115: You are eligible for Tuition Waivers after three months of accumulated service, if you satisfy the minimum hourly requirement for the three-month period before the course start date (17.5 hours or 20 hours per week, depending on your employee group).

Hourly CUPE 116 and IUOE 115 employees are eligible for Tuition Waivers after 12 months of accumulated service, if you are normally scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week for the 12-month period before the course start date. If your hours fall below 20 hours per week, you can remain eligible, provided you have satisfied the waiting period and worked 960 hours in the previous 12 months before the course start date and you have not been laid off or terminated your employment.

Faculty (members of the Bargaining Unit) and their dependent children: You are eligible for Tuition Waivers when you start at UBC.

Coverage ends

Your access to Tuition Waivers will end on your last day of employment with UBC. However, if you are taking a course that began while you were employed, you are still eligible if you were approved for the Tuition Waiver before your last day of employment.

Faculty with emeritus status who were previously a member of the Faculty Association are eligible for Tuition Waivers for themselves and for their dependent children.


Professional Development (PD): PD funding

Coverage begins

Staff: You can access Professional Development Funding when you start at UBC, provided that it is available to your employee group.

Faculty (members of the Bargaining Unit): You can access Professional Development Reimbursement funds when you start at UBC.

Sessional Lecturers without continuing status: You are entitled to Professional Development Reimbursement funds at a rate of $100 per credit course taught.

Coverage ends

Staff: Your access Professional Development Funding will end when your employment ends. If you are taking a class or attending a PD event, that event must begin before the last day of your employment at UBC.

Faculty: Your access to Professional Development Reimbursement funds will end when your employment ends. If you are taking a class, attending a PD event or purchasing equipment, that event must begin before the last day of your employment at UBC.

Sessional Lecturers without continuing status: You may carry forward your Professional Development Reimbursement funds for up to two years, even if you do not have an active appointment.

Tuition waivers

As a UBC employee, you and your dependent family members may be eligible to take UBC courses without paying some or all of the tuition fee.

The tuition waiver you are eligible for depends on your employee group and may include:

Tuition Waivers by employee group

To learn more about Tuition Waivers as they relate to your employee group, visit the appropriate link below:

Note: BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care) employees are not eligible for the Tuition Waiver. Please contact your supervisor for information about funding for professional development activities.

Questions?

If you have general questions about tuition waivers or your eligibility, please contact UBC Benefits. If you have submitted a tuition waiver application, and have questions about processing, please contact the Integrated Service Centre

Professional development funding and opportunities

Funding is available to several employee groups to support learning opportunities that enhance knowledge, work performance, and career growth at UBC. Professional development funds can be accessed to supplement UBC tuition waivers and can be used for a variety of external learning activities such as professional membership fees, workshops, conferences, and courses. Discover your eligibility and information on how to apply by visiting our PD Funding page.

Human Resources also offers a variety of programs that support you, your unit and the university as a whole. Explore career development  opportunities such as workshops, one-on-one coaching, leadership programs, on-demand learning and conflict theatre.

Employee and Family Assistance Program

The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is a confidential and voluntary counselling support service that provides you and your family with the help you need to resolve a wide range of personal, work, health or life issues.

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Professional counselling services

GreenShield is available 24 hours, seven days a week, at 1-866-424-0770 or via the GreenShield+ platform, with unlimited hours at no charge to eligible faculty, staff and their eligible dependents. 

With GreenShield, you can match with a counsellor based on your specific needs and preferences across more than 50 search criteria. Visit Counselling Services for more details. 

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Crisis counselling services

If you are experiencing a crisis and require immediate counselling services, call 1-866-424-0770 and select the emergency option to speak to a crisis-trained counsellor who will provide immediate support. 

You can also access crisis support on the GreenShield+ platform.

  

Access GreenShield+

Having trouble accessing EFAP? If you're experiencing issues accessing UBC's Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), it may be because your information hasn't yet been loaded into GreenShield’s system — this can happen if you're new to UBC. If you're unable to access EFAP services, please reach out to efap.info@ubc.ca for assistance.

If you need immediate support and you can't access our EFAP provider, call or text 988 or visit 988.ca the National Suicide Crisis Helpline. This free resource offers a range of supports to all Canadians and includes accessibility services, support in other languages, and culturally appropriate, trauma-informed support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Sign-up to GreenShield+ signin

To access the integrated health services and wellbeing offerings through GreenShield Health, eligible faculty and staff will need to login to the GreenShield+ platform.

  • Go to app.greenshieldplus.ca/en/sign-up
  • Select “Through an Employer or Organization”
    • If your family member is signing up, they will select “Through a family member”, and then provide their email. They will then follow the same steps below.
  • Select “I have an Organization Code”
  • You will then need to enter and verify the email address you will use to access the platform
  • Our Organization Code is: UBC
  • Follow the steps to register. You will need your UBC Employee ID
    • You can find your UBC ID on your UBCcard or when you log in to Workday.

If you need more assistance signing in GreenShield has more instructions on their Help Centre.

If you have questions about our new EFAP provider, please send them to efap.info@ubc.ca.

GreenShield+ App

If you want to access our EFAP on the go, you can also download the GreenShield+ app for Apple and Android

Other integrated health services 

In addition to counselling support through EFAP, the GreenShield+ (GS+) platform offers several health services to help you find the right level of care for your health journey. Whether you are trying to nurture your wellbeing, navigate a life-changing event, or you are reacting to a crisis you will be able to explore resources and support through our EFAP and GS+ platform. iCBT

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Work, health, and life counselling  

Through our EFAP you can connect with trained professionals including registered nurses, nutritionists, financial coaches and more to help you achieve your goals. Services include: 

  • Unlimited financial and legal consultations,
  • Up to 5 hours (annually*) of access to health, fitness and nutrition support
  • Up to 5 hours (annually*) for career and retirement transition coaching
  • And up to 5 hours (annually*) for life transition consultations.

Visit Work, health, and life counselling to learn more

*Resets on November 1

 

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Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

GreenShield Health’s Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a self-directed online program that uses CBT to help people with mild to moderate anxiety and depression achieve their wellbeing goals. 

Designed for individuals 16+, Digital CBT offers interactive learning modules, tools and coaching to help you develop positive coping strategies and reduce life-disrupting symptoms without the wait. 

You can access this through GreenShield+ on desktop and on your mobile devices. Get GreenShield+ app for Apple and Android to also receive timely in-app reminders.

 

Access these integrated health services on the GreenShield+ platform

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Substance use support 

Whether you’ve been struggling with substance use or are interested in exploring changes to support your health, you and your eligible dependents can seek substance use support in a confidential, approachable, and stigma-free environment. Through GreenShield+, you can access evidence-based support and coaching, on-demand resources, and tools that are designed to help you effectively manage substance use.  

Visit our Substance use resources to learn more and find out about additional options.

 

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Expert Second Medical Opinion Services 

Within GreenShield+, access expert second medical opinion services through Novus Health, you and your eligible dependent can gain clarity and confidence regarding diagnoses and treatment options, including decisions to proceed with surgery. Including an option to request a comprehensive review of your file from leading medical experts, clarify a diagnosis, confirm or modify a treatment plan, and navigate to appropriate resources.

Visit Expert Second Medical Opinion for more details, and list of conditions you can seek these services for. 

 

dependents

EFAP access for dependents

Did you know that eligible dependents can also access the EFAP? Your eligible dependents will have access to the same services as UBC faculty and staff. 

Who are my eligible dependents who access our EFAP?  

Your eligible dependents are:  

  • Spouse, Common-law spouse or Partner;
  • Children aged 18 or under, or age 24 and under in full-time attendance at an educational institution;
  • Disabled children of any age;
  • Parents who are financially dependent and are living with the eligible employee. 

How do eligible dependents sign up? 

  • Go to app.greenshieldplus.ca/en/sign-up
  • Select “Through a family member”, then provide their own email
  • Select “I have an Organization Code”
  • Our Organization Code is: UBC 

Are there any restrictions for dependents? 

Your eligible dependents will have access to the same services as UBC faculty and staff. This includes access to the GreenShield+ digital platform and the ability to call 1-866-424-0770 to get assistance.  

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Dental benefits

Your UBC Dental Plan covers a wide range of dental services, from regular check-ups to major procedures such as root canals and crowns. These procedures may be provided by a licensed dentist, denturist, dental hygienist or anaesthetist.

If you want to receive Dental Plan benefits, you need to meet eligibility requirements and enrol in the plan. There is no cost to you, as UBC pays the monthly premiums associated with this plan. (Sessional Lecturers working less than 50% FTE or in an appointment of four months or less pay half of the monthly premiums for Dental Plan benefits.)

What dental costs are covered?

Your reimbursement will be based on the percentage levels described below and the fee stated in the BC Dental Association Fee Guide for General Practitioners that is current at the time of the treatment. If services are provided by a dental specialist, then the allowed fees are those outlined in the BC Dental Association Fee Guide for General Practitioners, plus 10%.

You need to obtain a predetermination from Sun Life for all dental procedures that cost more than $500.

What dental costs are not covered?

Your dental plan does not cover:

  • procedures primarily to improve appearance,
  • replacing lost or stolen dental appliances,
  • charges for completing forms,
  • supplies intended for sport or home use, and
  • experimental treatments

What is my deductible?

You do not have to pay a deductible for dental coverage.

What are my coverage limits?

For all employee groups there is no overall coverage limit for preventive, basic or major procedures.

For all employee groups, the maximum reimbursement for orthodontic procedures in a person’s lifetime is $3,000.

If you receive any temporary dental service, these costs will be included as part of the final dental procedure, and not as a separate procedure. That is, the fee for the permanent procedure will be used to determine the usual and reasonable charge for the dental work.

If your dental coverage ends, you will still be covered for procedures to repair natural teeth damaged in an accident if the accident occurred while you were covered, and the procedure is performed within six months after the date of the accident.

When Sun Life is deciding to pay for a dental procedure, they will investigate if there is a viable alternate treatment. If the alternate procedure will result in an equivalent level of success, then Sun Life will pay the amount for the least expensive alternate procedure.

When do I need a predetermination for dental work?

You must receive a predetermination from Sun Life before you receive treatment for:

  • dental care procedure(s) in excess of $500, and
  • all orthodontic work.

To receive a predetermination for this work, ask your dentist to complete the Dental Claim form, detailing the dental procedure(s) or orthodontic treatment plan, and then have them send this form to Sun Life for you. Your dentist can also submit this form electronically.

Your dentist should include supporting information, such as x-rays or pictures of models or molds, to illustrate the services that are being recommended. If your dentist does not provide this information with the form, your predetermination for services will be declined until this information has been received and reviewed by Sun Life. Sun Life may also request further information from your dentist as part of its review process.

Once the review process is complete, Sun Life will send you a Claims Statement outlining what part of the cost is covered by the plan and what you will have to pay.

It’s your responsibility to request a predetermination in advance of receiving dental treatment in order to know what the Dental plan will cover and how much you will be expected to pay out of pocket. If you obtain dental services without a predetermination, you are responsible for what the plan does not cover. In the case of major dental work, this could be a significant and unexpected amount.

How do I make a claim?

Your dentist can often submit a claim for your dental procedure directly to Sun Life. You will need to provide your dentist with your UBC Group Number (025205) and your Member ID (your seven-digit UBC employee number).

If your dentist submits the claim on your behalf to Sun Life, reimbursement will occur as follows depending on your dentist:

  • you pay your dentist the full amount of the service and Sun Life will reimburse you for the amount covered by the Dental plan; or
  • you pay your dentist the amount not covered by the Dental plan and Sun Life will reimburse the dentist for the balance.

Some dentists may ask that you pay first and then submit a claim yourself. In this case, please visit the Claims page for more information on how to submit a UBC Dental claim.

For more information

The outline above is a descriptive summary of the plan and is not a contract. All terms and conditions are governed by Contract Number 025205 with Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. In the event of a discrepancy, benefits will be paid according to the official document and applicable legislation.

Sun Life benefit booklets

For complete details about your plan, please refer to the extended health and dental booklet for your employee group. 

Careers

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Browse careers at UBC and join a community of engaged students, faculty and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world.

INSPIRE: The Developing Leaders Program

Leading others, leading self.

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The Developing Leaders Program is a leadership development program for new and early-career managers, aimed at building their capacity to lead with greater confidence and effectiveness. 

The program is designed to equip newer leaders with the knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to lead, succeed, and grow in their leadership roles at UBC. Over a five-month period, leaders from across the university come together in the program to share experiences and learn best practices on topics related to leading self, others, and within UBC. 

Aligned with UBC’s leadership framework and competencies, this program is designed for people-leaders who are currently in management roles and have been leading staff for three years or less (either in or outside of UBC).  

Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort are now CLOSED.

Cohort Interest Form 

Are you interested in joining the next cohort? Fill out the form below to express your interest, and we will notify you when applications are open. 

Express your interest in the next cohort 

 


Who's eligible

The Developing Leaders Program is open to the following staff:  

  • Management & Professional (M&P) staff only 
  • Currently in a management role, with direct staff report(s). (Note: Staff who manage work learn/student appointments are not eligible) 
  • Has been in a management role for three years or less (in or outside of UBC) 
  • Demonstrates willingness and commitment to their own learning and development 
  • Has support from their manager for full participation in the program  
Note for UBCO

To support meaningful engagement and community-building, UBC Okanagan participants will join one Developing Leaders Program cohort per year. Okanagan-based leaders will be invited to participate in the first cohort of 2026, with details shared closer to the launch. 

If you have any questions about UBCO, please reach out to Shweta Thakur (shweta.thakur@ubc.ca).

What's in it for you?

Driven by industry-standard and UBC-specific leadership insights, the Developing Leaders Program strives to make learning more relevant, agile and meaningful to leaders. The program also contributes to furthering authentic conversations for colleagues to hold each other accountable for inclusive and impactful leadership across the university.  

DLP supports the Focus on People 2025 framework through fostering professional and personal growth – in particular, it meets the following two targets: Catalyst 2: I can grow my career and Catalyst 4: I am inspired by diverse leaders who live UBC’s values. 

"The program exposed me to other UBC staff managing in other departments, which was a great opportunity to network, but also gave me exposure to the breadth of UBC’s vast organization.”

Through the program, you will be able to:

What to expect in the Fall 2025 program

The Fall cohort will be open only to participants from the Vancouver campus. The program will run October 2025 – March 2026, with sessions held virtually, except for the in-person event to conclude the program on the Vancouver campus in April 2026. 

What you'll be required to do 

To earn a certificate of completion, participants are expected to:

  • Attend all workshops, the Coaching Immersion Lab and the in-person event
  • Participate in two Leadership Triad sessions
  • Complete all Canvas learning modules
  • Complete the End-of-Program Evaluation Survey

Schedule

Workshops will take place virtually on Thursdays from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm (3 hours), except for the Coaching Immersion Lab, which is scheduled for 90 minutes. Workshop 5 is divided into Part 1 and Part 2, held on two separate dates. The in-person event concluding the program will be 2.5 hours in duration.  

Fall 2025 session dates    
  • October 23, 2025
  • November 13, 2025
  • December 4, 2025
  • January 15, 2026 (Coaching Immersion Lab)
  • February 12, 2026
  • March 5, 2026
  • March 12, 2026  
  • April 7, 2026 (In-person event) 

Total time commitment of approximately 30 hours over five months, including Canvas pre-work and post-work, as well as Leadership Triad sessions (self-managed).  

Note on schedule conflicts  

Given the significant time, effort and investment behind running this program, participants are required to attend all program elements. In rare cases, exceptions can be made for pre-approved vacation or illness. However, if you anticipate any scheduling conflicts such as planned vacations that may prevent you from fully participating in the program and attending all sessions, please consider applying for a future cohort.

What you will explore

The themes you will meaningfully engage, learn and experiment with cover topics across Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading within UBC. Topics include:

  • Introduction to UBC’s leadership philosophy and competencies
  • A coach-approach to leading others
  • Strength-based leadership
  • Navigating conflict
  • Developing others
  • Leading difficult conversations
  • Performance enablement

Program fees 

The program is fully funded by VP Human Resources at UBC. 

How program participants are selected

To ensure that all qualified applicants are fairly considered, a pool system may be implemented as part of the selection process. Priority may be given to managers in their third year, or those who have applied but were waitlisted in previous years.   

Applicants will be notified of their program status by email by the end of September. We thank all applicants for their interest in the program.   

Questions? 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact leadership@hr.ubc.ca.

Coaching for staff and faculty

Focus and advance your professional goals and development through coaching at UBC. 

UBC Coaching Services is committed to advancing the vision of UBC’s organizational coaching culture with a focus on leadership, career, health and wellbeing, conflict and change.

Coaching Services is for UBC faculty and staff, and includes individual, group and custom coaching partnerships. Coaching is an inquiry-based process with the coach acting as a thought-partner, through the demonstration of active listening and curiosity. Coaching supports goal-setting, accountability and action by surfacing new awareness, insights and learning. It is not counselling or therapy.    

 

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Coaching Portal

Log in to the Coaching Portal to access your personalized profile and our full suite of accredited coaches.

Coaching services and Solutions

Learn about working with a UBC Coach, and what coaching services and solutions are available at UBC. 

 

Coaching Education

Access professional development opportunities to grow your coaching skills and professional coaching competencies.

Coaching Internship Program

Discover how UBC faculty and staff pursuing a coaching credential can access funding and become a UBC Coach.

LinkedIn Learning at UBC

UBC offers an online collection of instructional videos via LinkedIn Learning designed to provide just-in-time training in a variety of topic areas for staff and faculty.

LinkedIn Learning for faculty and staff

This learning resource allows UBC faculty and staff to access digital tutorials, courses, and curated learning paths to enhance their work performance and career development at no individual charge. 

Sign up or login with your CWL to access LinkedIn Learning resources.

Login to LinkedIn Learning

 

Please note that clinical faculty, students, student employees and contractors are not eligible to access LinkedIn Learning under the terms of the agreement.

LinkedIn Learning for students

As of June 10, 2024 the LinkedIn Learning license for students expired – students are no longer eligible for LinkedIn Learning. UBC is currently exploring alternative opportunities, platforms, and technologies to continue to enhance student career development for the future. Students can also access LinkedIn Learning via their local library – learn more about LinkedIn Learning at VPL

LinkedIn Learning benefits

LinkedIn Learning is an online collection of instructional videos designed to provide just-in-time training in a variety of areas, including workplace business practices, software skills, information technology, marketing, design, video, web, 3D and animation, and more.

  • Learn anytime, anywhere. Access LinkedIn Learning courses from your desktop or mobile device—anytime.
  • Learn in your language. Get learning content in English, French, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, German and Brazilian Portuguese.
  • Expert instructors. Learn from industry leaders in business, technology and creative fields, all in one place.
  • Personalized recommendations. Curated course recommendations drawing on insights from over 630+ million LinkedIn members.

Getting started

Activate your UBC LinkedIn Learning account
  1. Login with your CWL.
  2. Go through the short series of prompts to create your account.
  3. You can choose to connect your UBC LinkedIn Learning account with your personal LinkedIn.com profile, or not. Connecting your accounts is optional. 
Connecting your UBC LinkedIn Learning account to your personal LinkedIn profile

When you are activating your account for the first time, you will be prompted to connect your LinkedIn Learning account to your personal LinkedIn account – this step is optional and the choice is up to you. If you aren't sure, you have the option to connect your profile at a later time, or if you change your mind, you can also disconnect your profiles at any time.

Benefits of connecting your profile:
  • Easy access directly from LinkedIn.com
  • Experience more personalized learning with recommendations based on your professional profile and what others in your role or industry are learning
  • Keep learning top-of mind with high-quality, expert-led learning recommendations as you scroll down your newsfeed. One click and the course starts playing right in your newsfeed.
Individual subscription with LinkedIn Learning

If you already have an individual subscription on LinkedIn Learning, you can switch between this account and the UBC subscription, and manage how you choose to share your learning activities with your organization. See the relevant articles and resources linked below in the Additional Resources section for more information.

Privacy

Whether or not you have connected your learning account to your LinkedIn.com profile, the following information is part of your learning account:

  • Learning history
  • UBC employee information (name, employee ID, business email, faculty, department, job title, employee group, job function)

View the privacy information articles and resources linked below in the Additional Resources section for more information, as well as the UBC Privacy Notification information on the bottom of this page.

Additional resources

For help with managing your account, privacy information, gaining skills with LinkedIn Learning and more, there are many relevant resources on the LinkedIn Learning site. No account is required to access these resources.

Questions

If you have any additional questions after reviewing the information on this page, please contact support.wpl@ubc.ca


UBC Privacy Notification

This system will collect some information about you (your name, employee ID, work email address, employment group, campus, faculty/VP portfolio, department, position title) under the authority of section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). The information will only be used for the purpose of delivering online training to you. The information is securely stored on the LinkedIn servers, which are located in the United States and Singapore. Please see the LinkedIn privacy policy and settings for more details about how your information is protected and used. If you choose to link your personal LinkedIn profile to your UBC sponsored LinkedIn Learning account please learn more about what information UBC can see.

Workplace Learning Ecosystem

Faculty and staff can browse, enroll in, and track internal training, learning and professional development courses through the Workplace Learning Ecosystem (WPL).

UBC onboarding, orientation, professional development, wellbeing, and required training, workshops and courses are housed together in one central location on the Workplace Learning Ecosystem (WPL) so that faculty and staff can explore the offerings and find exactly what they need. 

Today’s learning opportunities come in a variety of forms and styles, with something to suit every learner. UBC encourages all faculty and staff to further their professional and personal development by taking part in our learning and leadership opportunities through the WPL.

Browse the WPL

For support with the workplace learning ecosystem, please contact support.wpl@ubc.ca.

Performance conversations

Employees and managers each play an active role to ensure performance conversations happen, and are successful. 

Typically, your manager will schedule your performance conversations as a series of regular check-ins that culminate in a final year-end overview. Along the way, you will be invited to discuss your career interests and aspirations, and seek feedback on your performance. 

If you are new to UBC or have recently come under a new manager, don’t hesitate to ask your manager about the process around probation, team and individual goal setting, check-ins and the annual overview process.

Performance conversation cycle

Performance conversations will generally contain the following activities:

  • Setting performance and development expectations aligned to unit and team goals. 
    Aligned to the role, desired outcomes, level of experience, and job classification.
  • Agreeing to performance, development, and aspirational goals.
    Relevant to role, responsibilities, objectives, interests, career aspirations and feedback received.
  • Making time for regular check-ins about overall wellbeing, goals, learning and teamwork.
    Recommend- at minimum- one regular monthly check-in to build relationship and discuss important updates, goal status, important feedback and learning objectives and outcomes.
  • A dedicated Career Conversation.
    UBC supports career satisfaction and resiliency. Employees are encouraged to engage in at least one career focused conversation with their manager and align developments goals to support their growth. 
  • Reviewing performance and learning outcomes against agreed-to goals and expectations.
    An opportunity to reflect on accomplishments, learning, and actual versus desired outcomes.

Performance conversation principles

UBC strives to cultivate the conditions where employees can thrive and grow. When it comes to performance conversations, adhering to a few important principles can enhance the experience for everyone.

  • Strengths-based. Look for the best in others as well as yourself.
  • A coach approach. Be curious and listen actively.
  • Shared learning. Recognize there is an opportunity for everyone to learn something new.

Phase 1: Prepare for the performance conversation

Enhance your performance conversation by working through the following preparation questions:

  • What would make this a meaningful conversation for you?
  • What feedback or insights are you hoping to obtain?
  • Are you meeting in person or virtually? How can you optimize the meeting space?
  • How are you doing? What would you like to share with your manager? (goal updates, wellbeing, teamwork, remote work, etc.)
  • What aspects of your performance and work do you hope to discuss?
  • What are you most proud of in terms of your technical and interpersonal achievements?
  • What challenges have you been facing, and how are you managing?
  • What progress are you making toward your goals?
  • How do you feel about your collaboration with others?
  • What resources do you need to be more effective in your role?

Phase 2: Have the performance conversation

The Connect, Open, Explore and Close (COEC) conversation model supports effective learning conversations of all kinds. The approach provides employees and managers with a structure, questions and prompts and can be easily applied to your annual and ongoing performance and development conversations.

Phase 3: Learning and reflection for self-development

Enhance your next performance conversation by working through the following reflection statements:

  • What I most appreciated about the performance conversation was…
  • What I learned about myself, my manager and/or my work was...
  • The aspects of the conversation that were challenging involved…
  • My learning edge is…
  • What will I be sure to remember for our next meeting…

Questions

If you have questions or concerns about the performance review process, please ask your manager, or if you need additional support, contact your HR Advisor.

Supports for managers

If you are a manager or people leader looking for support for teams, including tools to assist with having performance conversations with your staff and the 'Intro to Managing Underperformance' Toolkit, view the Staff performance conversations webpage (CWL-protected).

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