To the UBC Community:
2015/16 Budget Update
In recent months, UBC’s Faculties and administrative portfolios have been engaged in dialogue around the 2015/16 budget. Recognising the ongoing financial pressures within the public sector, and the need to invest in our core academic mission, the University has developed a budget that enables us to strengthen our Faculties and provide greater financial support for research and learning.
The budget for 2015/16 demonstrates UBC’s commitment to maintaining a balanced budget and having a framework that ensures long-term financial sustainability. It also outlines key strategic investments to support our aspiration of being counted among the best global institutions in the world. These include:
- $16 million investment in our Faculties.
- $4.5 million investment in UBC’s Strategic Priority Fund.
- $6 million investment in student financial aid, mental health and campus life.
In addition, the budget includes:
- Investment in the Student Information System to improve the way faculty, staff and students interact to support student success.
- A renewed commitment to establish a regular process of administration program review that reflects feedback from the campus community and promotes continuous quality improvement.
This year’s balanced budget will allow for strategic investments in research faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, as well as leading-edge research, flexible learning and undergraduate student support. We believe that by making these investments we will support our strategic goals, while ensuring our budget remains balanced for the long term.
Recognising our ongoing financial pressures, UBC will continue to seek opportunities for revenue growth to enable strategic reinvestments. These include an expansion of career and personal education opportunities, the Vancouver summer programs, and increasing international tuition fees.
In addition, there will be a reallocation of funds from central administrative units on the Vancouver campus, to be used to support our Faculties and facilitate strategic investments. This shift provides greater support to the academic mission of the University, including research and learning.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank faculty and staff for your contribution to this year’s budget review/planning process. This is an ongoing process for the University and we will make every effort to ensure you remain involved in the dialogue.
Read the full budget summary and accompanying FAQs by visiting: http://www.vpfinance.ubc.ca/2013-14-actuals/2015-16-budget/
As a reminder, if you have a new way of working, please submit it online before May 13. You can access details at: http://www.vpfinance.ubc.ca/2013-14-actuals/have-your-say/
Dr. David Farrar
Provost and Vice-President Academic UBC Vancouver Campus
Dr. Deborah Buszard
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and PrincipalUBC Okanagan Campus