Dedicated Citizens

Make Your Community Proud

The best universities are a cause for uncommon pride in their communities. Their cutting-edge research helps drive the economy. Through vibrant music, theatre and arts programs -- and world-class venues -- they help foster the cultural energy. And through a broad web of learning activities, students, faculty, staff and alumni are highly engaged with community needs.

Jordan Marr exemplifies that kind of community commitment. During the 2004 spring break, he and a group of engineering students taught computer skills to people with HIV / AIDS in one of several community service projects organized by the UBC Learning Exchange and several UBC departments. Marr built on that experience with a pilot project, which has now evolved into a program that engages partner organizations to bring computer training to low-income, marginalized people throughout the city.

By 2010, at least 10 per cent of UBC's students will be engaged in community service learning. The approach integrates real-life experience with classroom learning to cultivate critical thinking, social responsibility and global citizenship. Many UBC students are already tutoring children in inner city schools, coaching youth in sports programs, enhancing non-profit programs, and taking part in special spring break and summer projects. Hundreds of faculty, staff and alumni are also performing community service, learning about community concerns from the people who live and work with challenging issues every day.

UBC serves local communities through many other educational outreach programs. For example, through its downtown Vancouver Robson Square campus, the Sauder School of Business provides business education to local professionals. The Women's Resources Centre serves 25,000 area residents every year. And through the First Nations House of Learning, as well as dozens of innovative faculty programs, UBC reaches out to First Nations youth.

Recognizing its responsibilities to citizens of British Columbia, UBC plans to increase community service learning programs and volunteer opportunities for faculty and staff. It will increase access for area residents to academic, cultural and recreational offerings. UBC will aim to enhance outreach activities to First Nations. And it will act to engage alumni in more meaningful ways.

The University recently took stock of its community partnerships, faculty by faculty. It identified over 500 linkages including student co-op placements, community workshops and conferences, First Nations programs, cooperative research projects and professional development courses.

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences student Jordan Marr teaches computer skills to members at Vancouver's Dr. Peter Centre. Last year the number of participants at the UBC Learning Exchange Trek Program more than doubled to include 650 students.

Related Links

• UBC Learning Exchange
• UBC Robson Square
• Sauder School of Business
• Women's Resources Centre
• First Nations House of Learning