UBC Wellbeing Strategic Initiative Fund

 

UBC Wellbeing Strategic Initiative Funds are granted to departments and units at UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses to support our commitment to the Okanagan Charter to become a health and wellbeing-promoting institution, as outlined in UBC's Wellbeing Strategic Framework. 

This year, $125,000 in funding has been allocated to advance work on six strategic priority areas: Food & Nutrition, Physical Activity, Social Connection, Built & Natural Environments, Mental Health & Resilience, and Collaborative Leadership.

Funding for 2023/24 has been allocated in three ways:

1. Priority Area Committee – To support strategic initiatives led by Priority Area Committees to advance progress toward the 2025 Wellbeing Strategic Framework targets and milestones. Applications open May 1st, 2023. 
    
2. Non-Committee member – Through small grants for staff- or faculty-led initiatives (or student-led projects with staff/faculty support) towards any of the six priority areas listed above, or other emerging areas of wellbeing focus. Up to $2,000 per request is available. Additional information about this application process is outlined below. Applications open June 1st, 2023.
    
3. Teaching, Learning and Research projects like the Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) Wellbeing research project stream – Last year funds were leveraged to pilot a new Wellbeing CLL project stream. CLL uses campus infrastructure, assets and resources to support applied research projects that have an operational benefit for the university, advance faculty research agendas, and create opportunities for student learning and knowledge exchanges. Check back in fall 2023 for more information on applying to CLL. 

For last year's funding recipients and projects, please visit 2022/23 Strategic Initiatives Fund Summary Report 
 

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STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

• Must be a current UBC faculty or staff to apply. Student-led projects require a staff or faculty sponsor.
• Initiatives must have a clear linkage to UBC's Wellbeing Strategic Framework targets.
• Funding may not be used retroactively, or exclusively for the purchase of equipment.
• Recipient must agree to report back on project outcomes and how the funds were used.

• Up to $2,000 per request is available for faculty/staff/student-led projects. Projects must take place and funds be used by March 31, 2024.

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STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND SELECTION CRITERIA

Preference will be given to proposals that:

• Align closely with advancing the Wellbeing Strategic Framework milestones/targets and our commitments to the Okanagan Charter for health-promoting campuses.
• Showcase inclusion, innovation, and collaboration as per the UBC Strategic Plan.
• Showcase observable or measurable benefits to promoting the health and wellbeing of UBC community members and ecology.
• Are first time applicants.
• Advance elements of UBC's Indigenous Strategic Plan 2020, Inclusion Action Plan, Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Report, Climate Action Plans, Student Strategic Plan, and HR Focus on People Plan.

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FUNDING DECISIONS

• Student/faculty/student-led project proposals will be reviewed for eligibility and alignment to priority areas by the Priority Area Committees and/or representatives from the Office of Wellbeing Strategy; VPHR Health Wellbeing & Benefits; VPS Health Promotion & Education; and UBCO Student Wellness.

• Decisions will be made on an ongoing basis until funds are spent.

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REPORTING

Funding must be used by March 31, 2024. In March/April 2024, applicants who have received funding will be asked to complete a brief report about project outcomes within 30 days.

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QUESTIONS

If you are a department or unit with an idea that you feel is well suited to this fund, we are happy to chat with you about it, help make connections, and/or put you in touch with the appropriate committee chair/lead unit for that area. Please email your questions to sara.kozicky@ubc.ca.

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APPLYING

Applications open here on May 1st for committee members and June 1st for non-committee members. You can view the full application here.  

Apply here