UBC launches inaugural Student Diversity Census 

The event series, Black History Month in Political Science, is a three-day academic and community-building project that will take place from February 26–28, 2025 at UBC. The events will celebrate and promote Black History Month through a series of intellectually rigorous and community-centered programs that highlights the research and contributions of Black scholars. It is also designed to foster dialogue among BIPOC faculty, students, and allies. By centering Black political thought and encouraging conversation around anti-racist scholarship, the project aims to advance UBC’s ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across both academic and social spaces. 

Applied Science’s Black Excellence in STEM (BEST) Speaker Series 2026, now in its second year, is the Faculty’s Black History Month initiative. It amplifies the experiences, research, and technical skills of Black STEM scholars and professionals. Led by Black undergraduate students and the EDI office, the four-event series feature presentations, moderated Q&As, and networking to foster mentorship, visibility, and community. By increasing visibility of Black excellence in STEM, the series aims to offer representation and inspire equity-deserving students to pursue and persist in STEM fields. 

The project seeks to support the development of a Low Barrier Reporting (LBR) system to provide a safe, accessible, and confidential way for students to report incidents of bias, discrimination, and racism. This initiative responds to recommendations from the 2021 Faculty of Education Task Force on Race, Indigeneity, and Social Justice, which identified barriers to reporting and a culture of under-reporting among students from diverse backgrounds. Informed by a 2024 case study and environmental scan, the project aims to implement a centralized reporting system that advances accountability and aligns with StEAR’s structural change goals.

This initiative is to celebrate Nowruz with the UBC community through an event of performances by community musicians, traditional food, and cultural games. The event creates space for Central Asian students to celebrate a meaningful tradition together while inviting others to learn and participate. Through this celebration, the Central Asian Student Union seeks to foster cross-cultural connection, strengthen belonging, and promote a more inclusive, globally engaged campus environment. 

The Indigenous Nursing Collective is an intergenerational circle of support that brings together Indigenous students, faculty, staff, alumni and Elders connected to the UBC School of Nursing. Rooted in Indigenous ways of being, the Collective aims to foster belonging and connection for Indigenous nursing learners throughout their academic and professional journeys. Grant-supported activities – including an Indigenous Film Screening & Dialogue, Tea & Talk with Musqueam Elders, and land-based gatherings – will serve as relational spaces for knowledge-sharing and community building. These touchpoints will also strengthen ongoing engagement with alumni and Elders, grounding the Collective in cultural knowledge and intergenerational guidance.

The ACSC Legacy Gala is an annual event hosted by the African Caribbean Student Club (ACSC) following the conclusion of Black History Month with a formal celebration. The Gala seeks to honour and celebrate Black excellence, instilling cultural pride among African and Caribbean students. By recognizing outstanding contributions within these communities, the event will promote a sense of belonging and highlight the importance of diversity, ultimately enhancing the overall university experience and generating a more inclusive atmosphere at UBC Okanagan and beyond.

The initiative aims to create a dedicated space for POC students to engage in open, Q&A-style conversations with POC staff and faculty. Through these discussions, students can ask questions, seek guidance, and learn about how to navigate academic life, access campus supports, and address challenges unique to POC experiences in higher education.

This initiative will bring together a paid cohort of Black-identifying UBCO students to co-develop institutional responses to racial harm, exclusion, and systemic gaps identified by their peers in partnership with UBC Okanagan Staff. Grounded in the StEAR Framework and ARIE Report, this initiative centers student leadership in shaping equity-driven change, with a focus on improving institutional accountability, communication, and support for Black students on the Okanagan Campus.

This project extends the Global Research Collective on Anti-Oppressive Language Education, established in 2024 in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, to advance disability equity in multilingual education. The next phase, for which the StEAR Fund support is requested, examines how intersecting language and ability hierarchies marginalize learners and how educators can engage in more inclusive, anti-oppressive practices. Through research dialogues, international partnerships, mentorship, and open-access resource creation, the initiative aims to foster anti-ableist pedagogies and strengthen equity in multilingual education. 

This initiative aims to bring together disabled students and disability advocacy groups from universities across BC, and potentially Canada, to explore how to better support student and institutional accessibility needs. Through panel discussions, workshops, and interactive dialogue held over one to two days, the event will foster conversations between students and representatives from government and national organizations, such as the National Educational Association of Disabled Students. The goal is to better understand student concerns, build connections and initiate collaboration between groups representing disabled students at various post-secondary institutions. 

The Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) at UBC supports secure, scalable digital assessments across multiple courses, operating in 50-minute sessions with proctored supervision. However, current setups create disruptions for Centre for Accessibility (CfA) students who require extended time and specific accommodations. This project aims to enhance the CBTF experience by establishing a dedicated room for CfA students, equipped with appropriate furniture and technology to support a range of accessibility needs. The goal is to offer an inclusive digital exam environment that matches the quality and accessibility of paper-based exams administered through the CfA.

This initiative seeks to assemble a working group to explore the feasibility, governance, funding, privacy, and implementation of a Workplace Accessibility Fund for graduate students in the Life Sciences Institute. Prompted by survey findings from the Microbiology & Immunology Graduate Student Society, the project responds to gaps in accessibility support for disabled graduate students, who fall outside existing workplace accommodation policies. By consulting with stakeholders and disability advocacy groups, the initiative aims to address these unmet needs and reduce the financial and psychological strain of inaccessible research environments. 

This project aims to create a GIS-based system that identifies, maps, and helps remediate physical barriers across UBC’s Vancouver campus. Combining spatial data analysis with field-verified accessibility assessments, it will also include surveys of individuals with disabilities to ensure lived experiences shape the findings and recommendations. The system will highlight how well the campus meets accessibility standards and identify areas for improvement. By enhancing navigation, access, and inclusion, the initiative works to make UBC a more inclusive campus where accessibility is built into every part of planning and design.

Working in collaboration with partners from higher education, disability-led organizations, and community groups, this two-day Music and Collective Access Symposium will focus on accessible and disability-centred music-making. The event will feature a series of workshops designed to celebrate and bring attention to disabled musical practices and innovations. Through this work, the project aims to support and benefit members of the disability community by making music more accessible to all. 

UBC TogetherActive is a pilot program that pairs students with visual impairments with trained student volunteers for one-on-one support in UBC’s recreational spaces, including group classes, gym workouts, and sport leagues. Designed to foster community and autonomy, the program addresses barriers to physical activity—an essential part of student well-being—that many students with disabilities face. Volunteers will be trained through BC Blind Sports and the Centre for Accessibility. Informed by UBC’s 2025 Student Diversity Census and student experiences, the program aims to create safer, more inclusive fitness environments.

The workshops, organized and run by members of the SUO’s Student Advisory Board (SAB) for the Disability Resource Centre (DRC), aims to provide a space for students and faculty at the UBC Okanagan campus to learn how to better accommodate their students and peers and work towards creating a more accessible learning environment. Workshop attendees will be given space to ask questions, share their concerns regarding accommodation policies, and be connected with additional resources to expand on their learning beyond the limits of the workshop.

This project proposes the purchase of a stair chair to support individuals with physical disabilities when elevators are unexpectedly out of service—a recurring issue on campus, particularly in buildings where upper floors are only accessible by stairs or elevator. Operated by trained Campus Security staff, the stair chair would offer a safer, more dignified alternative for assisting individuals during non-emergency situations. This initiative supports a more inclusive and accessible campus environment and aligns with the StEAR Framework’s commitment to enhancing integration of EDI principles and practices across physical spaces and operational infrastructure.

TECHforward is an interdisciplinary tech conference that empowers gender minorities-particularly women and non-binary students-by providing an accessible, welcoming alternative to traditional coding-centric events. The initiative supports mentorship, skill-building, and networking across fields like commerce, healthcare, arts, and data science, decoupling success in tech from deep computer science expertise. Building on the success of its 2025 pilot, TECHforward fosters community, confidence, and career development through panels, workshops, and one-on-one industry chats. The event creates tangible pathways for students to grow professionally and contribute meaningfully to technology, aligning with UBC’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

This initiative aims to support women who seek to make a positive impact in the legal field. Through panels and open discussions, it creates a supportive and non-judgmental environment where students can ask questions, share experiences, and develop confidence in their goals. It provides an accessible entry point into legal education by connecting students with mentors, professionals, and peers who can guide them through the law school admissions process and the broader realities of the legal field.

youCode is a 24-hour hackathon that empowers women and gender minorities to build technical confidence, leadership, and community in a supportive, inclusive space. Designed to dismantle barriers often found in traditional hackathons, youCode fosters learning and social innovation. This year’s theme, “Innovation for Equity and Community,” encourages participants to design tech that uplifts underrepresented groups. In addition to project-building, participants engage in workshops, wellness sessions, and mentorship. With ongoing support through the Diversity in CS Project Hub, the initiative promotes long-term growth and belonging in tech—responding to a demand that consistently exceeds capacity. 

Planting Pride is a low-barrier, drop-in event hosted by the Pride Programming Team within UBCO’s Student Experience Office, designed to foster connection among 2SLGBTQIA+ students through a fun, community-building activity: painting terracotta plant pots. By creating an explicitly queer space for students to connect and feel comfortable, the event supports personal wellbeing, social belonging, and academic success. While primarily serving 2SLGBTQIA+ students, it is open to the wider student body. With support from StEAR funding, the event aims to reach more students and contribute to a more inclusive, connected, and equitable campus community at UBCO.

This initiative is a one-time film screening and dialogue event featuring Sudanese filmmaker and organizer Mazen Alsafi, whose work bridges art, resistance, and collective memory. The event will showcase Alsafi’s short films Pain Relief and Bullets of Freedom, using African cinema as a tool for political education and transnational solidarity. Alsafi’s in-person participation will transform the screening into a space for active exchange on the role of art in liberation movements. Designed to connect UBC students, faculty, and local communities, the event fosters collaboration and political education through a lens of global anti-colonial resistance.

The UBC Black Student Union (BSU)’s Black History Month initiative aims to create a month of meaningful, inclusive, and celebratory events for Black students and allies. With support from StEAR funding, the BSU plans to host seven events that center artistry, reflection, and joy—ranging from a cultural dance class, improv workshop, and career panel to a Black Love Panel and Community Circle. Informal BSU Kickbacks will foster belonging, and the month will culminate in a Legacy Gala celebrating Black student excellence. This initiative uplifts Black identity, fosters connection, and makes Black History Month a time of pride, growth, and visibility at UBC.

Traditional mentoring programs, while beneficial, often fail to fully engage underrepresented groups and rely on conventional, one-dimensional designs. This initiative seeks to establish an inclusive, engaging, and enriching mentoring program that intentionally recruits diverse mentors and mentees and facilitates cross-faculty and cross-functional partnerships. By fostering equity, belonging, and sustained engagement, the project aims to enhance mentee success, strengthen their sense of community, and improve retention, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and supportive institutional culture aligned with campus equity and anti-racism priorities.

This project seeks to support displaced students and faculty arriving at UBC due to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, political repression, and/or armed conflict to foreground the possibility and limitations of understanding UBC as a sanctuary university. Through community-building events, resource sharing, and data gathering, we aim to foster networks of belonging that reduce isolation, and amplify marginalized voices. The project will directly support queer and trans scholars, racialized and international students, and students with disabilities, while strengthening UBC’s long-term equity and anti-racism commitments.

EDI Foundations is a 4-part learning series for UBC employees, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The series explores human rights at UBC, how to apply an equity lens to anti-racism and conflict engagement, and ways to address systemic inequities. Aligned with the Vice-President, Finance and Operations EDI Journey and the upcoming EDI Education Hub, it builds essential knowledge to foster inclusion, reduce barriers, and support a more equitable workplace. The StEAR funding will support the development of the first module, “Understanding Human Rights at UBC”.

The project involves the comprehensive revitalization of an underutilized, overgrown, and partially inaccessible garden space located between the Forest Sciences Centre and the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. The goal is to transform this area into a fully functional, culturally enriching, and highly inclusive outdoor learning and gathering space for the students from the Indigenous Land Stewardship Undergraduate Program.

Organized for the Department of Chemistry, the Kairos Blanket Exercise is led by an external organization that guides participants through Indigenous history in Canada. Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers are invited as facilitators for this interactive exercise that involves learning about relationships between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, sharing and reflection. This initiative encourages participants to further engage with Indigenous history and culture and reflect on their relationship to Indigenous people and land.

The initiative is designed to deepen UBC students’ understanding of Africa’s diverse histories, cultures, and contemporary realities through five interactive sessions. Responding to the limited African studies programming at UBC, each session will explore a major region—North, West, East, Southern, and Central Africa—through expert talks, interactive activities, and community-building over food. The series aims to provide representation for African students while educating the broader community, challenging stereotypes, and fostering cross-cultural understanding. By celebrating Africa’s richness and complexity, the initiative promotes inclusion and encourages meaningful dialogue on campus.

This project expands collaborative, community-rooted initiatives in disability justice, racial justice, and decolonial practices, in partnership with the Carnegie Learning Centre. It aims to foster reciprocal learning through three activities: monthly community dialogues led by academics, students, and Carnegie patrons; two small relationship-building events at UBC and SFU featuring artists and activists; and the co-creation of a resource to support non-extractive, community-led knowledge exchange. The project builds solidarity across grassroots and academic spaces and promotes liberatory learning grounded in lived experience.

The Roots project serves as a key bridge between the first pilot cultural safety training initiative at the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) and its future permanent implementation. MOA’s first cultural safety training was developed for the new pilot Gallery Tours program (March to September 2025), after 2 years of tour hiatus. The Roots (mid-November 2025 to mid-November 2026) will integrate lessons from extensive pilot data analysis, work with sniŵ Indigenous consultants, and extend cultural safety training for all current and future staff and volunteers.

Supplier Connections Day is a one-day hybrid event that puts UBC’s procurement goals into practice through a focus on equity. It connects UBC budget holders and procurement staff with Indigenous and equity-deserving suppliers through curated matchmaking meetings, pitch sessions, and skill-building workshops—making inclusive purchasing more tangible across campuses. By the end of 2026, the event aims to facilitate over 200 buyer–supplier meetings and generate at least 10 new contracting opportunities with equity-deserving suppliers.

This project aims to create a centralized digital hub for graduate students, consolidating resources on conduct, safety, and wellbeing. The platform will feature plain-language policy guides, anonymous reporting, and a resource directory. In the short term, it will improve access to program-specific and university-wide supports, streamline referrals, and help students navigate institutional policies. Long-term, it seeks to foster a culture of care and accountability within the School and UBC, enhancing student safety, belonging, and overall wellbeing.

Tea and Tatreez is a cultural initiative that creates a welcoming space at UBC for community members to learn about Palestinian culture through the traditional art of Tatreez (embroidery) and the sharing of tea. A Palestinian Tatreez artist will lead the workshop, teaching participants about the history, resilience, and storytelling embedded in this ancestral practice. The event fosters cultural exchange and empathy by centering Palestinian voices, identity, and lived experience. Alongside embroidery, guests will enjoy traditional tea and food, encouraging conversation and connection. The initiative aims to build community and understanding through hands-on engagement and celebration of cultural resilience.

Maktabat El Yasmin is a volunteer-run community library dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices from the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) region at UBC and in Vancouver. In response to rising Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism, and anti-immigration sentiment, the initiative will host storytelling and oral history workshops, expand its multilingual collection, and develop a digital research hub. Programming will center alternative knowledge production, including poetry salons and curated resources in Arabic and Kurdish. By November 2026, the library aims to offer an inclusive, student-led space that supports culturally relevant learning, critical dialogue, and collective engagement across campus.

The UBC Black Mental Wellness Collective (BMWC) is a peer-led initiative that supports the mental wellness, belonging, and overall wellbeing of Black-identifying students through culturally grounded, community-based programming. Created in response to gaps in existing wellness systems, BMWC offers intentional spaces that reflect the lived experiences of Black students. Programming includes the Black Wellness Circle, De-Stress and Connect, and media-based discussions on Blackness in academia. Across the year, BMWC will host at least 20 events and co-host a faculty partnership to strengthen cultural competence, foster connection, and build a sustainable resource hub that supports Black student retention and success. 

This student-led initiative fosters equity, belonging, and systemic change in nursing and health education at UBC by centring the lived experiences of racialized, migrant, international, Muslim, and other ethnic minority students. Through a year-long series of themed Story Circles, participants will share stories of racism, resilience, and inclusion in academic and clinical settings. These narratives will inform the co-creation of a Storytelling Toolkit for Equity and Belonging, featuring student voices, reflection prompts, and strategies for inclusive education. The project will culminate in a Knowledge Sharing and Art Exhibit, advancing the StEAR Framework through interactional, curricular, and structural change.

Afrochella, hosted by the Fusion Dance Club at UBCO, is a four-week Black History Month initiative that celebrates and educates through the vibrant art of African and Caribbean dance. Promoting cultural literacy, unity, and inclusion, the program offers a safe, joyful space for students, faculty, and staff to engage with Black culture. The first three weeks feature focused teaching sessions on Afrobeat, Amapiano, and Caribbean styles, with historical context shared for each. The series culminates in a grand intercultural celebration with global dance, food, and community, highlighting Black joy, resilience, and connection across campus.

The Black Student Hair Care Workshop is a three-day, hands-on event hosted by the Black Student Association from February 2–6 to kick off Black History Month. This initiative aims to break pervasive, harmful stereotypes about afro-textured hair by providing practical, culturally affirming education on topics such as washing, moisturizing, protective styling, and ingredient knowledge. Designed to empower and support Black students at UBC, the workshop promotes self-care, confidence, and identity. By addressing a specific, unmet need for culturally relevant resources, the project fosters a more inclusive, supportive campus environment where Black students feel seen, valued, and empowered.

STREAM is a multi-pronged initiative that aims to enhance the appreciation of equity-based and HPSM-led scholarly work at UBC and beyond, across the fields of Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. STREAM’s overarching philosophy is to demonstrate to students, staff, and faculty that there is much to learn from marginalized voices and those doing things differently in scholarly research. The initiative seeks to foster great interdisciplinarity and inclusion in both research and teaching across the university.

This project will create seven online sexual health education modules on various topics surrounding cultural diversity, empowered decision making, and inclusive sexual health literacy. The program aims to promote equity and inclusion by improving access for students who may face cultural, social, or accessibility barriers to in-person sessions. By increasing students’ knowledge and communication skills, it will foster healthy, consensual relationships, overall helping to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.