UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) has been working on numerous projects and initiatives over the past several years in response to concerns about housing affordability, food insecurity, and the general health and wellbeing of graduate students. These are complex problems, and we continue to engage with the university and graduate students on finding solutions.
Dean pro tem Michael Hunt established several working groups in July 2024 involving faculty, staff, and students from various Faculties and units across the university with recommendations expected in mid-2025. These groups cover the topics of supervision, funding, and graduate student experience, specifically addressing the topics of health & wellbeing, housing and career development.
In September 2024 Dean Hunt and Vice-President Students Dr. Ainsley Carry hosted a joint listening session with graduate students. A report of themes identified was released on December 5, 2024, and future engagement sessions will be considered.
In February, G+PS will launch the 2025 iteration of the Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey. This survey assesses the academic experience, general satisfaction, professional skills development, research experience, financial support, university resources and student life, as well as social life experiences of graduate students.
While the work of these groups continues, at this point we can provide updates on concrete projects related to infrastructure developments.
Addressing housing concerns
G+PS has been working closely with Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS), St. John’s College, Campus and Community Planning and the Vice-President Students Office on advocacy around graduate student housing needs. In 2022 a task force was formed and conducted a needs assessment via numerous consultations.
Guided by the Campus Vision 2050, and the university’s need to expand on-campus student housing, SHCS led a Lower Mall Precinct Student Housing Re-development process. An outcome of this process includes the redevelopment of the St. John’s College site. The housing project on the SJC site will include 1,500 student beds in addition to new childcare spaces, a 400-seat dining hall, expanded academic and administrative office space, and infrastructure focused on graduate student health and wellbeing. The project will feature five new student residence buildings in the Lower Mall Precinct on the current site of St. John’s College. Project funding of $300 million was announced by the province in August 2024. Construction is set to begin in fall 2026, with a phased opening of this new facility expected to start in 2028.
With the more than 1,300 net new student housing beds in this project focused on providing homes for graduate students, this project provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the graduate student community and peer support at UBC.
We recognize that current students today face housing challenges, and we continue to work on resources to help students secure housing. We continue to offer dedicated orientation webinars for newly admitted students on living in Vancouver, including providing house-hunting tips. These sessions also connect students in a virtual community to house hunt together or learn about available rooms in shared tenancies among other things. UBC continues to explore alternative opportunities, such as co-living or off-campus developments, while we create new residences on campus.
Advocating for graduate student spaces on campus
G+PS has worked with the Graduate Student Society and the VP Students Office on advocacy or more graduate-focused spaces for a number of years. Currently available spaces include the Research Commons in Koerner Library, the GSS Loft in the Nest, unit/faculty-specific graduate student lounges, and library spaces. Most recently the Graduate Life Centre in Thea Koerner House opened in January 2024. The first phase of that project was completed with financial support from Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, VP Students and the Provost Office and saw a renovation of the ground floor of Thea Koerner House. With areas for quiet study, events and child-minding, it is a mixed-use space that addresses the needs of the ever-changing graduate student body. Future phases will renovate the other floors of the building and add bookable rooms for academic, social, and cultural needs.
G+PS also advocates for the establishment and development of a Graduate Student Precinct in the north-western part of campus where numerous facilities and services are already located and provide opportunities for future developments.
We recognize the challenges for graduate students, particularly around housing scarcity and increases in living costs, and are looking forward to recommendations becoming available from the various working groups.
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Banner image: Students outside qʷta:yθən leləm̓ (Sturgeon House). Courtesy of Paul Joseph / UBC Brand & Marketing.