Our lens
We are on a collective journey to transform the VPFO from conventional, traditional practices to develop a cross-portfolio brand promise as trusted business partners. We will work closely with our customers to guide, advise and ensure the right fundamental services are in place to support UBC.
Having a strategic plan gives us a clear path, keeping everyone on the same page.
Here is where we’re going next—and how we plan to get there.
Our vision
We are global leaders of exemplary services and outstanding customer experience
Our purpose
Enabling excellence at UBC
Our values
Innovation — I am agile
I challenge us to be curious and move courageously.
Unity — I am collaborative
I engage the collective efforts of the VPFO team to build a better UBC.
Accountability — I am a steward
I lead myself and others to care and be responsible for our university.
Our strategic directions
1. Innovation: Business Transformation
Enhance our safety, sustainability and financial accountability
- Reimagine both our budget and funding strategies
- Advance finance and accounting practices and their supports
- Improve stewardship through data management, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), reporting and forecasting capability and strategy
- Renew and align capital planning with UBC’s strategic vision, sustainability goals, and campus development priorities
- Conduct a thorough assessment of campus environment, appearance, and functionality to identify areas for improvement
- Identify, review and benchmark critical safety and security measures, then develop and deliver on enhanced strategies
- Develop and implement sustainability initiatives for waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation
2. Collaboration: Customer Service & Engagement
Advance our culture of service, stewardship & continuous improvement
- Enhance cross-portfolio clarity and collaboration through improved planning processes
- Foster project management competency and maturity across divisions
- Reimagine our approach to cross-portfolio work intake to improve shared accountability and increase efficiency
- Establish a comprehensive engagement strategy with the necessary resources and tools to better understand and address customer needs
- Develop a robust customer experience strategy, including systems and processes, to enhance service delivery
- Transform our digital systems and channels into a cohesive and streamlined set of tools to facilitate university operations
- Partner internally and externally to share expertise and effectively manage service expectations
3. Inclusion: Culture Transformation
Inspire, recruit, develop and support people through a unified VPFO culture
- Develop a unified, efficient and engaging recruitment and onboarding process
- Enhance leadership through a comprehensive learning and development program
- Build communities of practice to advance both our people and collaborative processes
- Promote VPFO values through targeted, people-focused initiatives
- Foster trust and loyalty through the VPFO culture, values and brand promise
- Strengthen connections and create opportunities between the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses
What we do matters
Each member of the VPFO actively plays a role in supporting UBC’s vision of inspiring people, ideas, and actions for a better world. Sharing what we do and how it makes an impact on the UBC community is one of the ways we move our strategic plan forward.
The VPFO works in alignment with key university strategic initiatives, including: the UBC Strategic Plan, Campus Vision 2050 Plan (UBCV), Outlook 2040 Plan (UBCO), Climate Action Plan 2030 (CAP), Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP), StEAR Framework, UBC Hybrid Work, Integrated Renewal Program (IRP), among others.