The New to UBC Vancouver Connections Program is designed to support new faculty and staff with building new connections within the UBC community and creating shared experiences as they navigate their onboarding journey.
About the program
Every year, hundreds of new staff and faculty join UBC, a workplace of over 18,000 people. While each person's onboarding experience is unique, there has always been a shared interest for opportunities to connect with others in the UBC community.
That’s where the New to UBC Vancouver Connections Program comes in – this self-directed, cohort-based program was developed especially for new faculty and staff who are in their first year of employment at UBC Vancouver. This program is a great way for you to connect with people outside of your team or department who may be in a similar role as you or share similar professional interests.
How it works
- Respond to an intake survey and share some general information about your role, interests, availability, and goals.
- Get matched into groups of 4-5 people based on those survey responses.
- Get access to the Connections Program Canvas course, which provides suggestions for activities and events to participate in as a group based on your shared areas of interest, such as arts and culture, nature and wellbeing, recreation, and more.
Throughout the six-month program, you and your group members will be able to direct your own experience. You will have the flexibility to decide how often to meet and the type of activities you engage in.
At the beginning and end of the program, you will be invited to attend a community event with other participants from your cohort. This will provide a great chance to meet other new faculty and staff from outside your group.
Eligibility
Only current UBC Vancouver faculty and staff who meet the program requirements will be considered.
You are encouraged to register for this program if:
- you are within your first year of employment at UBC (at the time you register for the program or waitlist)
- your role has a term length of at least nine months, and you are able to participate in the full duration of the program (see dates below)
- you work at least 17.5 hours per week in your role
- your primary work location is on the Vancouver campus or at an off-site location near the Vancouver campus; cohorts will be matched based on location, where possible.
Spaces are limited but we are working on expanding our capacity to support the wider UBC community in the future.
Time commitment and expectations
Each cohort will run for 6 months either in the winter or summer.
The program is self-directed, but you are expected to engage meaningfully with your group throughout the cohort by attending the community events at the beginning and end of the program and setting aside approximately 2 hours per month to connect with your group.
Program objectives
After engaging with the program, you will:
- Build connections and community with new faculty and staff across campus
- Expand your network at UBC to foster potential collaborations at work
- Experience UBC's culture, events, activities and places of interest
- Recognize the value of the diverse skills, experiences and perspectives of UBC’s community
Key program dates
Dates vary for each Summer and Winter cohort, but generally follow this schedule:
| Summer Cohort | Winter Cohort | Details |
|---|---|---|
| April | October | Program intake form opens. Spaces are limited and enrollment may close earlier if capacity is reached. |
| May | November | Cohort groups announced via email. |
| June | December | Cohort launch and closing events are held. |
| June – November | December – May | Groups are expected to meet at least three times during the program; groups have flexibility in when, where, and how often to meet. |
Registration
Intake for the Winter 2024 cohort has now closed. We are now accepting interest for the Summer 2025 cohort, which will begin in June 2025. Register for the Summer 2025 cohort by completing the form below. Our team will contact you with an update closer to the intake period for the next cohort with more information.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please reach out to workplace.orientations@ubc.ca.