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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
APPLYING
Applications open here on May 1st for committee members and June 1st for non-committee members. You can view the full application here.
2022/23 Summary Report
For last year's funding recipients and projects, please visit 2022/23 Strategic Initiatives Fund Summary Report
Past Projects
Here are just a few UBC Wellbeing Strategic Initiative-funded projects from last year, supporting UBC's commitment to becoming a health and wellbeing promoting university. We look forward to seeing even more great projects this year!
Project Lead: Campus + Community Planning
To kick off Thrive month at UBC Vancouver campus, Campus + Community Planning, in partnership with Blank Vinyl and the Thrive Committee, organized Thrive by the Fire. This one-day pop-up event transformed Lee Square into a cozy relaxation space with toasty table seating, chill tunes from UBC's own student musicians, and a resource fair highlighting mental health resources and supports on campus.
Project Lead: Sustainability Hub
UBC’s Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) added a new funding stream to support projects with a specific focus on promoting health and wellbeing in line with advancing UBC Wellbeing Strategic Framework targets. This year, two wellbeing-focused projects were selected, including "Mind In Motion: Developing an exercise referral pathway for students seeking help for depression" and "Indigenous Campus Living Laboratory at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden".
Project Lead: Office of Wellbeing Strategy
Operating funds and student-staff funding to support the Food Hub Market, an at-cost grocery store and welcoming community space in the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability at UBC Vancouver.
Project Leads: Health Equity, Promotion & Education and Human Resources
Funds were used to hire a graduate student position to support a greater understanding of IBPOC experiences in mental health at UBC.
Project Lead: School of Kinesiology
This new booklet is a research-based resource for parents, offering family-friendly recipes, ideas for healthy eating habits, meal planning advice, and information on Indigenous food and nutrition.
Project Lead: Faculty of Arts
UBC ARTIVISM 'A Festival of Creative Resistance' is a student-initiated and run art festival that highlights the ways creative practices are used to express and advocate for social justice.
Other funding opportunities
Looking for other UBC funding opportunities for your project or initiative? Visit the links below from UBC’s centralized funding webpage.
- Healthy Workplace Initiatives Fund Program
- Equity Enhancement Fund
- Workplace Sustainability Fund
- Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Fund
- UTown@UBC’s Inspiring Community grants
- Strategic Plan Funding Calls