Faculty, staff and students are being encouraged to be on alert for phishing emails impersonating Human Resources, payroll and/or university administration. UBC’s cybersecurity team has identified highly convincing emails that include links to fraudulent login pages and multi-factor authentication (MFA) prompts designed to compromise payroll systems. The phishing campaign uses deceptive HR- and payroll-themed emails possibly concerning pay, bonuses, or leave approvals to trick users into revealing credentials or approving uninitiated MFA prompts.

These tactics may also exploit MFA fatigue – where attackers repeatedly send MFA push notifications hoping that a user will accidentally or out of frustration approve one. Receiving an MFA prompt that you did not initiate is a clear sign that your username and password have been compromised. Never approve an MFA request you did not initiate, and report it immediately to UBC Cybersecurity at security@ubc.ca.

While there is no evidence of a Workday or system breach, these emails indicate the need for continued vigilance in our community.

Sample phishing email subjects seen at UBC include:

• “Paige Capece shared ‘Employee Salary Adjustment Approval1’ with you”
• “16.89% Salary Increase Letter – Monday, October 3, 2025”
• “Q2 Payroll and Compensation Update – Action Needed University of British Columbia”
• “Bonuses Distribution, Payroll Upgrade, and Health Insurance for All”
• “[Approval Rejected] Your Annual Leave/Vacation application have been rejected by HR Coordinator (Review & Re-Apply)”

These same lures have been used across multiple universities.

We are reminding all members of the UBC community to be vigilant and suspicious of any email that asks you to click on links that require you to enter your UBC credentials. If you receive an email asking you to log in to Workday or any other system at UBC, please note the following:

• Never approve multi-factor authentication prompts you did not initiate.
• Emails received from senders outside UBC will usually have a yellow banner stating [CAUTION: Non-UBC Email] at the top. If you receive an email requesting you to log in to a UBC system, and that email has a yellow banner, it means it is not from UBC and you should report the email to UBC Cybersecurity immediately at security@ubc.ca
• The correct UBC Workday URL is hxxps://myworkday.ubc.ca which will take you to the official CWL login URL for Workday starting with hxxps://authentication.ubc.ca
• If you receive an uninitiated MFA prompt, or you have accidentally provided your credentials, please report this immediately to UBC Cybersecurity at security@ubc.ca

For more information, please review our resources on phishing emails here: hxxps://privacymatters.ubc.ca/phishing-emails

Please note: For added security, we have changed the above links to include an hxxps:// prefix. Simply copy and paste the URL into a web browser and replace hxxps:// with https://. Together we can keep our information secure.

Thank you for your continued attention to cybersecurity and for helping to protect the UBC community.

Jennifer Burns
Associate Vice-President, Information Technology
Chief Information Officer

Larry Carson
Acting Chief Information Security Officer

This message was sent to faculty, staff and students in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

I invite you to join me for the upcoming UBC Vancouver All-Faculty Forum on November 3, hosted by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic. This gathering is another opportunity to engage in an open discussion about our academic mission and the evolving role of faculty in shaping UBC for the future.

We recently launched UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025–2030, which places our students, faculty and staff and partners at the center of the university’s success. It is a shared vision that unites our community and our campuses and signals to governments, industry, and society that UBC is committed to academic and research excellence while adapting to new realities and addressing the most pressing issues of our time. These commitments underlie the work of the Provost’s Office at UBC Vancouver in advancing our core academic mission.

Now that we are a few months into the academic year, it’s time to reflect on and share where we are as an institution, as well as where we are going. In conversation with our moderator, Dr. Jan Hare, Dean, Faculty of Education, we will discuss some of the key topics that are currently impacting our work at the university, including:

• UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025–2030;
• Student enrolment, both domestic and international, and supporting current students;
• Balancing the growth of emerging technologies alongside academic development;
• UBC’s role as a leading university in Canada.

Provost’s All-Faculty Forum (fall 2025)

• Date: November 3, 2025
• Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
• Location: Ponderosa Commons Ballroom (6445 University Blvd.)

Register for the event online by October 30 to attend in-person or virtually. When you RSVP online, you will have an opportunity to submit questions and desired topics in advance. For those attending, we will be using Slido for live Q&A, which you will be able to access with your mobile device at the live event or with your computer if you are joining online.

I hope this event helps generate important dialogue within the UBC Vancouver faculty community, and I look forward to welcoming you on November 3.

Gage Averill
Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver

This message was sent to faculty in Vancouver.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

As you are aware, UBC is embarking on a search for the next Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) as Dr. Gail C. Murphy will be stepping down from her role next spring.

Reporting to the President, the VPRI is responsible for providing leadership in the development and administration of research at UBC. The role is also responsible for promoting interdisciplinary research programs on both campuses. The VPRI will be a strong advocate for the full range of the university’s research and will establish and maintain effective liaison with external funding agencies, business, industry, non-profit, government, and the broader community.

As part of the search process, the university is inviting nominations from faculty members and graduate students to serve on the advisory committee, as follows:

• One faculty member from UBC Vancouver
• One faculty member from UBC Okanagan
• One graduate student from UBC Vancouver
• One graduate student from UBC Okanagan

Please note that “Faculty Member” is defined in the University Act and includes all Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Professors of Teaching, Associate Professors of Teaching, Assistant Professors of Teaching, and Lecturers. Clinical, sessional, emeritus, adjunct, honorary and other teaching appointments are not eligible.

Please further note that “Graduate Students” must be in a degree or diploma program to be eligible. More information about the search process is available online.

Nominations will close at 4pm on Thursday, October 23. More information about nomination forms and eligibility information is also available online.

Thank you for your consideration. Once the committee is established, we will share further updates regarding the process.

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Rella Ng
Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services and Registrar

This message was sent to faculty in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

As you may be aware, throughout the last year of each triennium, the university embarks on a series of elections for representatives to the Board of Governors and the Okanagan and Vancouver Senates for the upcoming three-year term. At this time, the first round of elections for the 2026-2029 triennium is underway with opportunities for faculty and staff to get involved.

UBC Board of Governors

This message serves as a call for nominations for available positions on the UBC Board of Governors. Nominations are now open for the following positions:

• three faculty members (two from UBC Vancouver and one from UBC Okanagan)
• two staff members (one from UBC Vancouver and one from UBC Okanagan)

UBC Senates

At the same time, this message also serves as a call for nominations for available positions on the UBC Senates. Nominations are now open for the following positions:

• 12 representatives of the joint faculties for the Vancouver Senate
• 16 representatives of the joint faculties for the Okanagan Senate

Nominations for all Board of Governors and Senate positions above will close at 4pm on Tuesday, October 28.

For nomination forms and information about eligibility, please visit the Triennial Elections website.

Subsequent elections will be held for faculty-specific and other positions on the UBC Senates.

Please contact UBC Elections at elections.information@ubc.ca if you have any questions about these elections.

Rella Ng
Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services and Registrar

This message was sent to faculty and staff in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

At UBC, we are deeply committed to making a positive impact in our local communities.

In that spirit, we are pleased to announce that this year’s UBC United Way campaign officially launches on Thursday, October 9, in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

United Way British Columbia serves over 4.5 million people by strengthening vital services and connections that support people in need in our local communities.

As a member of the UBC community, you can help address critical issues affecting our neighbours by participating in the long-standing UBC tradition of supporting this great cause. Funds raised in our annual campaign support a range of programs that enhance community wellbeing, focusing on urgent response, children and youth, seniors, poverty, mental health, and food security.

Funds raised in your community go directly to supporting your community. That means funds raised on the Vancouver campus support the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley region, and funds raised on the Okanagan campus support the Southern Interior Region.

We encourage you to show your support by becoming a donor for this campaign. On Thursday, October 9, you will receive an email from campaign@uwatwork.com inviting you to make a payroll pledge online.

To learn more about the UBC United Way campaign, please visit:

• UBC Vancouver
• UBC Okanagan

Thank you in advance for supporting this year’s United Way campaign. Every contribution, whether it’s your time, energy or financial support, makes a significant impact and is deeply appreciated.

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Lesley Cormack
Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, UBC Okanagan

This message was sent to faculty and staff in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

I am pleased to announce that the Board of Governors and the Vancouver and Okanagan Senates have endorsed UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025–2030

The plan was developed through extensive community input and was informed by a long-term visioning process that looked ahead to 2050. Together, students, faculty, and staff imagined an ambitious and optimistic future – one that addresses today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities, and where UBC is recognized among the world’s premier institutions of higher learning.

The resulting plan, UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025–2030, presents a clear and focused roadmap that builds on our strengths while preparing us for the opportunities and challenges for the next five years.

The plan is grounded in the university’s crucial existing priorities and plans, which the university recommitted to as part of the process. These institutional plans include the Indigenous Strategic Plan, UBC Okanagan’s Declaration of Truth and Reconciliation Commitments, Climate Action Plan 2030, the Student Strategic Plan, the Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) Framework, the Focus on People Framework and the Wellbeing Strategic Framework.

In addition, UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025–2030 introduces seven new and exciting strategic directions that will help UBC catalyze its impact as a top-ranked university that is home to world-class teaching, learning and research.

The seven new strategic directions are:

• Discover and innovate for impact
• Partner for purpose
• Create flexibility for learners
• Enhance experiential education
• Maximize UBC system strengths
• Nurture a strong and vibrant UBC community
• Excel in the development and application of emerging technologies

Importantly, UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025–2030 places our students, faculty and staff and partners at the center of the university’s success. It is a shared vision that unites our community and our campuses and signals to governments, industry, and society that UBC is committed to academic and research excellence while adapting to new realities and addressing the most pressing issues of our time.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the launch of the plan:

Okanagan:
Monday, October 6, 2025 (10:30am – 12:00pm)
Learn more and RSVP

Vancouver:
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (10:30am – 12:00pm)
Learn more and RSVP

These events are an opportunity to connect with fellow community members and explore how, together, we can bring our new strategic directions to life.

Thank you for being part of this important moment in UBC’s journey.

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor

This message was sent to faculty, staff and students in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

Hello everyone,

It is that time of year again! We are in the midst of our graduation ceremonies, and this spring, we are celebrating 10,380 graduates at UBC Vancouver and 2,618 graduates at UBC Okanagan. To each and every one of you—congratulations! We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see you on your way to a successful and self-determined life.

As the 2024-25 academic year comes to a close, I also want to offer my heartfelt congratulations and sincere thanks to every member of the UBC community for another strong year under what remain challenging circumstances. You make UBC great and your work is deeply appreciated.

There is no question that the year unfolded in a world that continues to be complex and at times unsettling. From geopolitical conflicts and tensions, to challenges within higher education and the very real pressures unfolding in our own communities—these are times that call for a clear sense of purpose. In that context, the role of a great university becomes even more important, in championing education and research with a commitment to academic excellence and academic freedom that reflects who we are and what we stand for.

UBC, like all universities in Canada, also navigated significant financial constraints this year. The impact of changes to international student policies, combined with inflationary cost pressures and a shifting global economy, are impacting the entire sector. In response, we have taken a disciplined and prudent approach to financial planning. Our academic and operational units continue to work thoughtfully and carefully to manage our resources, while staying focused on long-term sustainability and our core academic mission.

Thanks to these collective efforts, we were able to present a balanced operating budget for 2025-26, which was approved by the UBC Board of Governors in March. That is no small accomplishment, and it speaks volumes about the dedication and stewardship across our community. I also want to acknowledge our partners in government, industry and non-profit organizations, as well as our great alumni and donors for their continued support of UBC’s mission and operations.

In addition, as part of our broader financial planning and to support ongoing renewal and UBC’s long-term future, we have recently introduced a voluntary retirement program for eligible faculty and selected staff. This program, designed in collaboration with our Faculty Association and unions, will provide our Faculties and Administrative Units with another option as they look to support their long-term objectives and priorities.

Amidst it all, UBC researchers have continued to lead significant and impactful research discoveries. This year saw major momentum in biotech and health innovation, including a $31-million provincial investment—on top of $140 million in federal funding announced last year—in Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub, strengthening UBC’s capacity to support public health and prepare for future pandemics. Another health highlight was the opening of the superb Gordon B. Shrum Building, the new home of UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering.

Across disciplines and campuses, UBC scholars advanced knowledge in ways that captured international attention and informed public understanding—from identifying 128 new moons around Saturn, to uncovering how specific brain cells help us remember, and mapping Canada’s food flows to strengthen food security. UBC Okanagan researchers also quantified the economic value of developing NHL talent in local communities, and work by a UBC philosopher was cited in a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Among many important Indigenous initiatives, UBC Vancouver launched a new Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship program—a first-of-its-kind degree in Canada, co-developed by Indigenous leaders and the UBC Faculty of Forestry. Created in response to the growing need for Indigenous-led land management, the program integrates Indigenous science and ways of knowing with courses in ecological science, governance, law, economics, and business.

UBC Okanagan will celebrate its 20th anniversary on July 1, marking two decades of educational advancement and community impact. This milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on progress while also envisioning future development. This past April, the UBCO Senate approved a new Bachelor of Commerce program, transitioning from the current Bachelor of Management degree. The UBC Okanagan Debates series continues to demonstrate the university’s commitment to fostering critical public discourse, with recent debates tackling the opioid crisis, and Canada’s relationship with the United States.

Looking ahead to next year, we are preparing to launch our refreshed strategic plan, “UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025-2030”. The refreshed plan articulates the kind of university we aspire to be by 2050, defines a focused set of academic priorities for the next five years, and reaffirms our ongoing commitment to the institutional and faculty-level plans that continue to guide us—notably the Indigenous Strategic Plan, UBCO Declaration of Truth and Reconciliation Commitments, StEAR Framework, and Climate Action Plan. My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed ideas and feedback to this year long process. The plan has now been endorsed in principle by both Senates and we look forward to sharing the final version in the fall.

As we transition into summer, I encourage everyone to take time to rest, reflect, and recharge. Whether you’re graduating, preparing for the next academic term, or simply pausing to take stock, I hope you all carry a strong sense of pride in what we have accomplished together this year.

Once again, thank you for everything you do for UBC!

Sincerely,

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor

This message was sent to faculty, staff and students in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

Faculty, staff and students are being asked to be on alert for any possible phishing emails requesting UBC credentials.

The UBC Integrated Service Centre and the UBC Cybersecurity team have identified a sophisticated phishing website designed to closely mimic the UBC CWL authentication site and UBC Workday system. The site appears to be created to capture CWL user credentials.

We are reminding all members of the UBC community to be vigilant and suspicious of any email that asks you to click on links that require you to enter your UBC credentials. If you receive an email asking you to log in to Workday or any other system at UBC, please note the following:

• Emails received from senders outside UBC will usually have a yellow banner stating [CAUTION: Non-UBC Email] at the top. If you receive an email requesting you to log in to a UBC system, and that email has a yellow banner, it means it is not from UBC and you should report the email to UBC Cybersecurity immediately at security@ubc.ca
• Always take a moment to verify the legitimacy of any link before clicking. If you receive an email requesting you to log in to a UBC system, the safest approach is to navigate to the system log in page via trusted UBC sources and websites, rather than clicking on links embedded in the email.
• The correct UBC Workday URL is hxxps://myworkday.ubc.ca which will take you to the official CWL login URL for Workday starting with hxxps://authentication.ubc.ca
• Please check any email claiming to be from Workday to ensure that the URL matches exactly. If you receive a new or unfamiliar email notification that asks you to log in to Workday (especially if it conveys a sense of urgency or requires you to enter personal details), and you cannot navigate to the site via other means, double-check the URL to ensure it is a trusted UBC website.
• If you encounter anything suspicious or you have accidentally provided your credentials, please report this immediately to UBC Cybersecurity at security@ubc.ca

For more information, please review our resources on phishing emails here: hxxps://privacymatters.ubc.ca/phishing-emails

Thank you for your continued attention to cybersecurity and for helping to protect the UBC community.

Jennifer Burns
Associate Vice-President, Information Technology
Chief Information Officer

Don Thompson
Chief Information Security Officer

This message was sent to faculty, staff and students in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

Last September, UBC launched a process to refresh its strategic plan in order to better define the university’s long-term vision and establish priorities and actions, largely focused on our academic and research mission, for the next three to five years.

Since then, more than 3,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and other members of the UBC community have contributed their thoughts, through a series of surveys, workshops, pop-ups and other events and activities.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the process. Your input has helped inform the development of a draft 25-year vision for UBC, together with emerging academic and research priorities, that will strengthen our position as one of the world’s leading universities.

As we get close to completing the strategic plan refresh, we are offering an opportunity for the wider UBC community to give input. We are asking for your feedback in relation to what extent you believe the emerging priorities will help advance the university over the next three to five years.

You are invited to complete this survey: https://president.ubc.ca/strategic-plan-refresh-survey. The deadline for responses is April 11, 2025.

Your input will help ensure the final priorities reflect the diverse perspectives of our UBC community. Survey responses will remain anonymous and will be analyzed in aggregate. The data will be used to further refine the priorities.

Looking ahead, we plan to finalize the priorities and actions identified within the plan, with the intention of seeking endorsement from both Senates and the Board of Governors this spring. The final, refreshed strategic plan will be officially launched in the fall. You can learn more at https://president.ubc.ca/strategic-plan-refresh .

The UBC community has already played a key role in this process, and I hope you will continue to support this final phase by sharing your feedback.

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor

This message was sent to faculty, staff and students in Vancouver and the Okanagan.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more

I invite you to join me for UBC Vancouver’s All-Faculty Forum on March 17, hosted by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic. This gathering is an opportunity to engage in an open discussion about our academic mission at UBC and the evolving role of faculty in shaping it for the future.

UBC is committed to cultivating academic excellence and impact—advancing innovative teaching, supporting faculty wellbeing, and stewarding the academic resources that empower our students and research while we deliver on commitments to the Indigenous Strategic Plan and reconciliation, and to equity, diversity and inclusion.

As we navigate an increasingly complex landscape, we have to ask: How do we continue to lead in teaching and learning innovation when technology and our students’ worlds are changing so fast? How do we sustain a strong and supportive environment for faculty development and wellbeing, especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic? How do we ensure responsible stewardship of our academic resources to serve both current and future generations? And how do we maintain the support of the public and the government for post-secondary education?

In conversation with Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee, Director of the School of Journalism, Writing, and Media, I will discuss key issues shaping our collective work, including:

• The future of universities and UBC’s focus on teaching and learning
• UBC’s place in a changing global and socio-political landscape
• UBC’s budgetary environment and the pressures on international enrolments

There will also be an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on these and other topics, with half of the event dedicated to faculty questions.

In-person attendance will be limited, but the event will be streamed online. Please RSVP as soon as possible to reserve a seat in person. The deadline for in-person and online registration is March 12, 2025. If you cannot attend or wish to submit a question in advance, you can do so via the registration link below.

For those attending in person, please bring a mobile device, as we will use Slido for live Q&A.

Provost’s All-Faculty Forum

Date: March 17, 2025
Time: 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Location: Jack Poole Hall, Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre
Register (for in-person and streaming link): https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgpHLyyUdjJQ4ui

I hope this event helps generate important dialogue within the UBC Vancouver faculty community, and I look forward to welcoming you on March 17.

Gage Averill
Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver

This message was sent to faculty in Vancouver.

UBC Broadcast is used to communicate time sensitive, organization-wide information to faculty, staff and students. Learn more