UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 15 | October 4, 2001

What we do matters more than ever: Piper

Fourth annual general meeting focuses on community

Faculty, staff and students who are searching for answers, building community, leading debate and finding solutions in communities locally, nationally and globally were the focus of UBC's fourth annual general meeting held last week.

"It is our challenge and our duty to make sure that what we do in here -- within the walls and halls of UBC -- matters out there," said UBC President Martha Piper.

"More than ever, people are relying on UBC to address the complex issues facing our society today," said Piper, referring to the attacks in the U.S. Sept. 11. "More than ever, UBC students are seeking an education that prepares them for global citizenship. More than ever, UBC must actively participate in building the fabric of a civil society, through our learning and research."

More than 400 people attended the meeting held in the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.

UBC's fourth annual report, titled Out There, profiles the work of the university's most important resource -- its people -- who are conducting research into areas of critical importance to society, working from Syria to Peru to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to apply their knowledge to benefit the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.

The university ended the year with an operating surplus of $100,000, said Terry Sumner, vice-president, Administration and Finance.

For the first time in 10 years, the provincial government increased the university's operating grant by five per cent, or $14 million this fiscal year.

In addition, the government provided a one-time $19-million lift to the operating grant and a one-time addition of $11 million to fund the indirect cost of research.

"This was a major breakthrough," said Sumner, "a real recognition that there are real costs to the university in conducting research, whether it's the Library, or the Dept. of Research Services."

The funding injection of $30 million has been invested strategically to achieve the university's Trek 2000 goals, said Sumner.

Some $10.5 million went towards retention and recruitment of faculty and staff through salaries and benefits.

More than $7 million was invested in achieving objectives outlined in the learning pillar of Trek 2000, the university's vision document. More than $3 million went towards objectives in the research pillar. More than $2 million was invested in upgrading and maintaining buildings, landscape and physical infrastructure.

Copies of the annual report were distributed through the Vancouver Sun and the Greater Toronto area edition of the National Post.

An on-line version is available at www.ubc.ca/annualreport. To receive a printed copy, call UBC Public Affairs at 604-UBC-INFO (822-4636).

Feedback on the report is welcome. Those providing feedback by Oct. 15 will be entered to win a $200 gift certificate from UBC Bookstore.