What is UBCO Life?
UBCO Life is a newsletter delivered twice per month to continuing undergraduate students, featuring academic and social events, upcoming deadlines, university news, and other issues relevant to student life and success at UBC Okanagan.

Feb. 17, 2021

In this issue:

Note: Anchor links may not function in all email applications. Scroll to view items below.

• Upcoming dates and deadlines
• What do you want your classes to look like in September? Tell UBC your preferences for your chance to win a $50 gift card
• February is Black History Month
• Enter the alumni UBC Student Tuition Contest to win $2,500 towards your tuition
• Graduating this year? Don’t forget to apply by Feb. 28
• Eager for a job? UBCO is hiring!
  • Is your resume ready?
• Be seen. Be heard. Emerge — Career week for students of colour
• The Golden Apple x I Am Accessible Awards
• Join us for a lunchtime series of Climate-Friendly Food Dialogues
• March 4 & 5: Join eight leading voices in the battle against misinformation
• Share your experience moving to Canada
• Upcoming Rec events:
  • Move UBC month is gaining momentum
  • Move UBC Wellbeing Challenge
  • In-person yoga is back
  • Cooking classes
  • Decolonizing Physical Activity and Sport – Feb. 26

Upcoming dates and deadlines

Mar. 26: Last day to self-drop a course in the SSC

Apr. 13: Last day of classes and last day to withdraw with a W standing

If you need to drop a course, do so early. If in doubt, contact an Academic Advisor to discuss your options.

Tell UBC your preferences for class format in September

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact the way we teach, perform research and work, UBC is gathering updated feedback from students on your preferences for class format in September 2021.

This information will help units within the university to better understand what matters to students, as well as the kind of information you need to make the decision about your Winter term 1 (September 2021) classes as UBC plans for the safe resumption of on-campus activities.

You can complete this short survey in less than ten minutes, and all students who participate in the survey before Wednesday Feb 24 will be entered in a draw to win one of 10 $50 gift cards to Disney+ ! 

Complete the survey

February is Black History Month

While we should celebrate Black history and excellence every day, this is an opportunity for a focused, intentional, and elevated reflection of Black history and achievement – and the many contributions of Black Canadians, Black British Columbians, and Black students, faculty and staff at UBC.

See what's happening

Follow the UBCO African Caribbean Student Club for more Black History Month events and celebrations:

Enter the alumni UBC Student Tuition Contest to win $2,500 towards your tuition

Hey UBC Students. Studying is hard work but entering this contest isn't!

Win $2,500 towards your UBC tuition to make your academic life a little easier. Two prizes will be awarded — one for the UBC Vancouver campus and one for the UBC Okanagan campus.

Enter for your chance to win! Open to all currently registered UBC students. Contest closes March 14.

Enter the contest

Graduating this year? Don’t forget to apply by Feb. 28

Regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the June 2021 graduation ceremonies, you must apply to graduate before Feb. 28, 2021 in order to receive your degree. You will not receive your degree if you do not apply to graduate.

If you have questions about your degree requirements or would like to do a grad check, meet with an academic advisor.

Complete the Graduation Application on the Student Service Centre (SSC) by selecting Graduation -> Apply to Graduate

Apply to graduate

Eager for a job? UBCO is hiring!

Hundreds of paid and volunteer positions will be posted on the UBCO Student Job Board in April. Whether you’re looking for a summer gig or something part-time during the school year, there are a variety of jobs to browse. Some of the available positions will include:

• Peer Mentors
• Orientation Leader
• Math, Science, Writing, and Language Tutors
• Supplemental Learning Leader

Looking to learn more about these positions? Sign up to receive an email notification once the jobs are posted.

Receive updates!

Is your resume ready?

Create a competitive application and stand out amongst other candidates. Career Services has resources available to help set you apart during your job search. Check out some of the upcoming workshops:

• Feb. 25 - Virtual Job Search Strategies
• Mar. 9 - Resume Building
• Mar. 15 - Interview Skills

Find a workshop

Be seen. Be heard. Emerge.

UBCO is proud to announce EMERGE, a virtual career week tailored specifically towards students who identify as Black or as a person of colour. Connect with peers, alumni, and industry members to learn helpful tips for job hunting and starting your career.

Learn how to navigate the unique situations that students of colour may experience while searching for jobs, as well as the resources that are available to help. This event will include workshops, a job fair, and the opportunity to network. There will also be a keynote speaker featuring UBC alumna and entrepreneur, Adobea Foli.

EMERGE Career Week spans March 2 to 5, with different sessions happening each day. Sessions are free to attend, but advanced registration is required. Click the link below to learn about each session.

Learn more

The Golden Apple x I Am Accessible Awards

Campus Health, the Disability Resource Centre, and UBC Wellbeing are excited to bring you the Golden Apple x I Am Accessible Awards 2021! The Golden Apple Awards celebrate faculty that promote student wellbeing in the classroom or academic environment. The I Am Accessible awards celebrate staff & faculty that create an accessible environment. This is the first year these two student-driven awards will be celebrated together.

This schoolyear has been challenging for everyone, and now is the time to share how much you appreciate the staff and faculty that have supported you! UBCO is excited to hear from you about who has made this year great and how they did it! You have until Sunday, March 7 to nominate a faculty or staff member that really contributes to the wellbeing and/or accessibility of/for students. We will be holding an online awards ceremony at the end of March. Stay tuned for more information.

Nominate a faculty or staff member

Join us for a lunchtime series of Climate-Friendly Food Dialogues

The UBCO Food Climate Action Plan (CAP) Working Group and members of the Food Strategy Committee (FSC) are teaming up to bring you a series of three dialogues. Our aim is to contribute to the ongoing development of an inclusive, community-engaged, and emissions-reduced climate-friendly food system at UBCO.

Everyone is welcome! Please join us in fostering a welcoming discussion.

Dialogue 1 – Feb. 26, 12 p.m. PT:

What is a Climate Friendly Food System?

With expert presenters, facilitators and lots of dialogue, together we will explore our university’s working definition of a climate friendly food system.

Dialogue 2 - March 12, 12 p.m. PT:

Wicked Questions

With a diverse team of experts and community members, we will dive into deep consideration of the wicked questions that arise when we ask "Can we achieve climate friendly food systems?" and "Can we achieve culturally appropriate diets, food access for all, and support for local food?"

Dialogue 3 - March 26, 12 p.m. PT:

Let’s Take Action

With a focus on actionable takeaways, we will learn about climate friendly food systems at other universities and reflect on next steps for our own UBCO campus.

Register here

March 4 & 5: Join eight leading voices in the battle against misinformation

The Economics, Philosophy and Political Science Department in UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences presents the next Roger W. Gale Symposium in Philosophy, Politics and Economics: The Misinformation Age.

On March 4 and 5, from 1 to 5 p.m. PST, a diverse expert panel will discuss how we can combat misinformation while preserving free speech. Join for particular sessions, or all online virtual sessions.

Learn more and register

Share your experience moving to Canada

Are you interested in participating in a psychology study? We are looking for undergraduate and graduate international students who started their program either in September 2020 or January 2021 to talk about their experiences moving to Canada during COVID-19!

If you are interested in discussing your experience, please contact atseu836@mail.ubc.ca (Anne Tseu, Clinical Psychology Graduate Student) for more information on how to do so.

Upcoming Rec events

Recreation is here for you.

Recreation is offering a wide array of programs and events for our staff and faculty. Compete in a Badminton Ladder, shoot hoops through our Register and Play program, paint wood signs to decorate your home, or get outside with cross country and snowshoe events. There's something for everyone!

Learn more

Move UBC month is gaining momentum

With over 45 events and programs still happening in February, there is sure to be one to fit your movement goals.

Get moving

Move UBC Wellbeing Challenge

Join the Wellbeing Challenge — a celebration of movement and nutrition that invites you to explore opportunities to move well and eat well! Why participate? If a $500 gift card to your favorite fitness related shop and $250 to a local restaurant isn’t inspiring enough, for every person who signs up for this challenge, $1 will be donated to UBC’s Meal Share program to provide students who are experiencing food insecurity with immediate support.

Learn more

In-person yoga is back

Relax with a morning flow, energize with power or balance out with a yin and yang. There are six weekly yoga classes offered within the Hangar Fitness center each week, and eight live, virtual classes each week.

Learn more

Cooking classes

Join Recreation with virtual live, easy to follow cooking classes that will have your home smelling wonderful. Recipes include lasagna with zucchini rolls, tomato rice soup with fresh buns, pesto gnocchi, and ratatouille with flat bread.

Learn more

Decolonizing Physical Activity and Sport – Feb. 26

Decolonizing Physical Activity and Sport is a panel to bring awareness to how physical activity and sport can be decolonized for Move UBC month. Join us on Feb. 26 from 12:00–1:30 p.m. PST to learn how to promote sport and physical activity within Indigenous communities.

Register here

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