Why wellbeing matters at UBC

At UBC, we believe that wellbeing is foundational to excellence in teaching, research, learning, and working. 

That’s why wellbeing is a strategic priority and over many years, progressively woven into day-to-day operations, leadership development, workplace practices, and provision of support.  

Universities are dynamic and demanding environments. Pursuing world-class research, teaching, fostering student success and healthy workplaces, and advancing societal impact requires intentional focus and commitment at all levels. But it also requires care for ourselves, our teams, and the systems we create and maintain.

Our approach to wellbeing goes beyond programming. While initiatives like workshops and yoga classes can support individuals, fostering organizational wellbeing and transformation comes from how we lead, how we manage workloads, how we build inclusive communities, and how we design our systems to reduce harm and support thriving environments.  

UBC’s Wellbeing Strategic Framework, rooted in the Okanagan Charter, outlines this systems-level approach. It guides our efforts to embed wellbeing into the policies, structures, and practices that shape the daily experience of faculty and staff. Through the Workplace Wellbeing teams across both campuses, we work across departments and faculties to:  

• Build leadership capacity to foster psychological health and safety within teams and workplaces
• Integrate wellbeing into planning, HR, and organizational processes
• Use data and measurement tools to evaluate impact and inform continuous improvement
• Prioritize equity, recognizing that not everyone experiences workplaces in the same way.  

This work is supported and reinforced through UBC’s Strategic Plan: Shaping UBC’s Next Century and the Wellbeing Strategic Framework, which positions wellbeing as critical to our collective success. It’s also aligned with our commitments under the Okanagan Charter, which calls on institutions to embed health into all aspects of campus culture.  

Wellbeing at UBC is not the responsibility of one unit or a few passionate individuals. It’s a shared commitment and one that involves collaboration across disciplines, roles, and leadership levels. When our systems are aligned to support wellbeing, we create an environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive.  

We invite you to stay connected to this work, explore resources and events, and find ways to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable UBC. Subscribe to our newsletter, Healthy UBC, and join us on the journey.