The strategic plan framework illustrates how the Faculty of Arts’ shared vision—to lead, empower, and thrive—is realized through five strategic directions that reflect our academic strengths and community priorities. These directions are guided by our core commitments and anchored in the Faculty’s enduring values, which shape how we create knowledge, foster learning, and contribute to a better world. Each concentric layer builds on the next, highlighting an integrated approach that connects our vision with meaningful action.
Vision
Lead. Empower. Thrive.
The Faculty of Arts, grounded in our connection to Musqueam land and community, will lead in inclusive academic excellence to empower critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, and to build a thriving future that is more just, sustainable, and full of possibility for all.
Mission
The Faculty of Arts advances research, teaching, and engagement that foster creativity, critical inquiry, and meaningful impact.
The Faculty of Arts fosters path-breaking research and creativity and enhances knowledge mobilization on local and global scales. We empower students to build a better society through teaching and learning that uses human-centered, critical, and creative approaches. We elevate our impact by addressing complex societal challenges and actively engaging within UBC, with Musqueam, and with other external partners. We are committed to building a sustainable and inclusive culture grounded in academic freedom, equity, decolonization, Indigenous resurgence, and accessibility.
Strategic directions
Our five strategic directions reflect UBC’s core areas while addressing the Faculty of Arts’ distinct focus. As we look ahead to the next five years, our focus will be on:
- Excelling in research and creative practice
- Advancing transformative education
- Engaging communities for greater impact
- Generating sustainable futures
- Integrating digital innovation
The first four directions are directly aligned with the Shaping UBC’s Next Century plan, ensuring that our faculty upholds the broader university mission. The addition of Integrating Digital Innovation highlights our commitment to using technology to enhance learning and research, while bringing Arts perspectives to the forefront of digital transformation.
Commitments
We uphold open inquiry, critical thinking, and respectful dialogue as essential to scholarly excellence and intellectual growth.
We work to identify and dismantle physical, digital, and systemic barriers to ensure full equitable participation and success for all.
We commit to taking tangible, measurable, and sustainable actions that support Indigenous students, faculty, and staff, grounded in reciprocity with Musqueam and respect for Indigenous knowledge within our research, teaching, and community practice.
We strive to transform our systems and spaces to ensure all members of our community can thrive, guided by principles of fairness, representation, and belonging.
Values
We cultivate curiosity and critical thinking through diverse perspectives and open and respectful dialogue that challenges assumptions and inspires growth.
We build community through respectful and reciprocal partnerships that value diverse perspectives and collective wellbeing.
We embrace creativity, experimentation, and bold thinking to transform challenges into opportunities for transformation.
We act with honesty, accountability, and ethical clarity, upholding trust, credibility, and intentionality in all we do.