UBC Public Affairs is launching UBC’s new brand in the fall, redesigning UBC’s website, and creating a social media component for the new brand launch. … … We’ve all heard this before. Talk about “using social media” with no real follow-up – just talk about all the risks, why it isn’t appropriate, and trouble defining who is responsible.
Well, they just had to go ahead and prove me wrong! They brought in Social Signal today for a full-day workshop with units from across campus to talk about what social media (not just social networking) would be appropriate and beneficial for prospective students, current students, alumni and donors. (Further discussions with other campus units and members of those audiences need to occur obviously, but at least this spurred some great initial brainstorming).
One of the exercises that Alex Samuel and Rob Cottingham did a great job at was getting us to think about what UBC “rocked” at. We want to highlight those, right? I jotted down some of my favourites from the discussion because I thought they were either very accurate (or just witty). This is obviously not the final (or official) list.
UBC ROCKS AT….
- Research. The international rankings speak for themselves.
- Intramural athetics and events. UBC REC has the biggest and best intramural recreation program in North America.
- Having intelligent undergraduate and graduate students. The profs aren’t the only bright ones!
- “One university, two campuses.” UBC Vancouver, UBC Okanogan, UBC Robson Square, Great Northern Way campus (…. I count 4. Further integration/promotion is definitely needed).
- Sustainability. The UBC Farm, Botanical Gardens, AMS’ lighter footprint, Sustainability Office, etc
- Being a great employer. One of “BC’s top 50″ and “Canada’s best diversity employers” in fact.
- Working in silos. (haha)
- Fundraising. $135 million raised last year for student scholarships, research chairs, facilities, etc.
- Helping students lead initiatives/programs. I think of Residence Life, UBC REC, Peer Programs, and all the conferences that UBC hosts that are all organized and run by students.
- Providing many resources and services to help students succeed socially and academically. (Letting them know about all of them, however, is not a strength)
- Community Service. Humanitities 101 and the Learning Exchange come to mind.
- International opportunities. Research, volunteering, exchanges, or just meeting students from tons of different countries on campus.
Teaching was also thrown out as strengths but, even though UBC is working on it and putting energy and resources to improving it (like LEAD and the Carl Wieman Initiative), it wasn’t considered a current strength. Valid.
All that being said, I gotta love UBC for being willing to put itself out there. UBC publishes not only the great, but the not so great as well. And to be honest, as a continuing student, a current staff member, and a proud alumnus, I know that the reputation of UBC is one that will always reflect on me – so I’d rather contribute to making it better than on complaining about how it sucks. No one wants to study at, work for, or graduate from a crappy university.
Good news – you can help UBC rock. Make the decision to make it better. And then do it.
Start by commenting here.
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