Science Undergraduate Society of UBC Strategic Plan, Draft #1

Community Outreach and Engagement

SUS strives to work within the Faculty to create a strong sense of community and support for students while aiming to provide students with increased opportunities to engage with SUS, one another and the external community. Goals Expand the SUS community by creating more leadership and involvement opportunities for Science Students Strategies Create more structured volunteer opportunities and expand events and committee involvement opportunities Support our student leaders by providing Professional Development resources and support for volunteers Provide assistance for helping students become involved within the Faculty and UBC Community through Peer Involvement Coaching and Mentorship Sessions Create funding and support programs for student run conferences and initiatives aimed at and run by Science Students based on their needs Provide opportunities for diverse groups of students to become involved with SUS Build and maintain strong relationships with other Student Service arms within the Faculty through continuous communication and collaboration Increase Science Identity by providing merchandise and promotional materials that emphasize faculty pride and association Create a more inviting, approachable and student friendly space in the Abdul

Work towards creating a unified Science Community

Ladha Science Centre Maintain and expand Flagship Faculty wide events including SUS First Week and Faculty Fair, Science Week and Science Graduation Create greater opportunities for students to provide feedback to SUS and utilize SUS resources through expanding Services and Grant programs Outreach to High School conferences and events to engage and support prospective UBC Science Students Establish and maintain SUS Alumni Network Increase collaboration with UBC Orientations Programs to connect First Years students with the Faculty and SUS Community Increase SUS administered awards and appreciation events with widespread reach to recognize student achievements outside of SUS Highlight the accomplishments of Science Students in SUS Publications and communication mediums Expand and restructure Awards and Grants Programs to increase awareness and utilization among students Increase communication between Executives and the Deans Office Provide more opportunities for Science Students at large to engage with representatives from the Faculty of Science Leadership Team Provide Council Representatives with the premise and tools to effectively communicate their Departmental Heads and Program Advisors Create and implement a comprehensive social media strategy that engages

Connect and engage with Alumni, Current and Prospective Students

Recognize and Celebrate the achievements of Science Students

Establish Strong Relationships between SUS Council and The Faculty of Science Departments and Deans Office

Increase communication and understanding

between SUS and Science Students -

students Increase promotions and advertisement of SUS resources, services and grants Develop methods to share the vision and purpose of SUS with students to increase understanding. Make council more relevant and accessible to students

Internal Affairs
SUS recognizes that in order to develop a strong society, we must first improve our internal structures and processes. This in turn will enable us to increase efficiency and transparency with our students and councillors. Goals Strengthen and improve SUS Council and Leadership structure Strategies Create more structured turnover process between current and former Councillors and Executives Revise and enforce Council and Executive accountability and oversight policies Provide adequate professional development training and resources for incoming Councillors and Executives Continuous re-examination of councillor and Executive Roles Re-examine and restructure SUS Governance documents to increase relevance and transparency Create and store consistent templates and branding of official SUS Documents Encourage the use of electronic copies of documents Digitalize SUS documents and increase archival database for future SUS leadership Create and maintain and effective intranet for SUS as a whole

Develop strong Information Management System and procedures

Strengthen relations with SUS Clubs -

Strengthen and develop the SUS brand Establish Clubs Commission as a resource for Science Clubs Host effective and beneficial Club Forums and Orientations for Clubs Act as a central forum to connect and increase collaboration among Science Clubs

Student Transition
SUS is committed to improving the overall student experience by ensuring that the student transition into and out of UBC Science is put forth as a priority in the Faculty. Student transition goes beyond orientation sessions or crash course workshops, in order for students to feel fully supported, transition must be recognized as long term rather than short term. Provide support and resources for High School to Post Secondary Transition Expand and improve the structure of SUS First Year Committee Integrate a stronger connection between SUS First Year Committee and Faculty programs providing tools and resources to First Year students Work with UBC Orientations to facilitate continuous mentorship and support for First Year students in the Faculty of Science Increase the breadth and reach of Science Frosh Work with Science Career Services to create and implement Graduation Transitions programming with events and workshops throughout the year specifically for Science Students Encourage and support Program Representatives on Council and SUS Departmental Clubs to host Program specific Career Nights Work towards the development of a large scale Science Career Fair or Expo with input and participation from all Departments

Provide support and tools for Graduating members in their transition out of Undergraduate University

Work with existing groups within the Faculty who host transition events to increase promotion and outreach to students Play a more active and engaged role in Transfer Student Orientations Provide specific information sessions and events directed towards orienting transfer students with SUS and our involvement opportunities

Provide support and information to transfer students entering the Faculty of Science

Academic and Non Academic Lobbying

SUS is the collective representative voice of Science Students, Academic and Non Academic Lobbying is our way of voicing student concerns, presenting solutions and providing a student perspective to issues in the Faculty of Science. SUS aims to use its position and relationship with the Faculty and Administration to bring forth student concerns in a productive manner. Provide mechanisms for students to express feedback and concerns about their student experience Host annual feedback surveys, focus groups and events to obtain student input and concerns to shape Academic Lobbying projects and goals annually Develop an online database for students to express grievances and concerns at any time throughout the year

Increase opportunities for student input and feedback in the Faculty

Aim for increased student representation in Science Faculty committees Including students in departmental level curriculum reviews and making these changes more widely promoted and communicated to all students Work towards creating midterm course review for core courses to enable students to provide continuous feedback to promote their learning and understanding

Bring forth Mental Health and Wellness as a priority for the Faculty

Encourage Faculty and Departments to monitor and support student MH&W in their programs Lobby for increased resources and support for MH&W in the Faculty Encourage Faculty wide examination of academic policies and program structures to explore their impact on student MH&W Work with Deans Office to develop advising and academic support practices that are student centric and friendly Develop methods of increased communication between Faculty Leadership and students at large Work with Deans office to promote and implement Advancing Science on undergraduate level through organizing regular Town Hall Meetings and other feedback sessions

Fostering supportive, engaged and accountable Faculty environment