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Overview

In early June 2022, the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) Board of Directors and management team participated in a facilitated strategic planning session. The primary purpose of the session was to determine the strategic priorities and associated goals for the UNA’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan.

The planning session provided an opportunity for the Board and management to:

  • define the Board’s vision for the University Neighbourhoods community and for the UNA organization,
  • confirm the mission, or central purpose, of the UNA,
  • identify a set of values to guide the organization in all that it does,
  • explore and understand the context in which the organization exists — that is, the forces, trends, pressures, challenges, and opportunities that, taken together, define the environment in which the organization works,
  • build a “long list” of potential themes, or strategic priorities, to consider including in the new Strategic Plan,
  • create a final list of strategic priorities on which to focus attention and resources in the coming years, and
  • provide input for use in defining goals under each priority.

The Board provided additional feedback to the facilitator over the summer, and at the September Board meeting the UNA 2023-2025 Strategic Plan was approved.

The resulting plan contains five strategic priorities and associated goals. The priorities and goals will inform the specific actions to be taken by the organization in the coming years and will guide the organization’s use of resources. They are not listed in any priority order as all five areas will be addressed over the next three years.

Each year, as part of the planning and budget process, an annual work plan will be developed in parallel with the budget process to ensure that resources are allocated to priorities and any new initiatives or projects are appropriately resourced.

UNA Strategic Plan 2023-2025

Definitions and Values

University Neighbourhoods

The University Neighbourhoods are a vibrant and growing community situated on the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus.  People of all ages and backgrounds call the Neighbourhoods home, attracted to the community by its high quality of life, celebration of diversity, commitment to sustainable living, and positive energy.

University Neighbourhoods Association

The University Neighbourhoods are administered by the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA), a unique, elected body that works in close partnership with the University of British Columbia to meet the service needs of the community.

UNA Values
  • Service Oriented – The UNA anticipates and responds to the needs of the community.
  • Engaging – The UNA seeks ways to engage all groups in the community, working to eliminate language, access, technological and other barriers in order to promote and facilitate connection.
  • Committed to Reconciliation – As an integral part of the UBC Point Grey Community, the UNA recognizes the importance of reconciliation with the Musqueam people on whose traditional territory the University Neighbourhoods are situated.
  • Responsible – In its decision-making, service provision, use of resources and interactions with the community, the UNA recognizes its responsibility to honour and respect all cultures, accommodate a diversity of social groups and individuals, protect the natural environment, and work within financial limits.
  • Open and Transparent – The UNA welcomes new ideas from residents, stakeholders and partners.  The organization is committed to the principle of transparency in its decision-making, spending and operations.

Strategic Priorities

Strategic Priority:

Strengthen the UNA’s role as the administrative body of the University Neighbourhoods, with the authority, autonomy and scope of responsibilities required to meet the needs of the diverse and growing community, raise sufficient financial resources, regulate in public spaces, and effectively represent the interests of the Neighbourhoods.

Goals:

  1. Continue to work with UBC on the revision of the Neighbours’ Agreement to set out, in a clear and complete fashion, the rights and obligations of the UNA and UBC.
  2. Develop the capacity and tools to regulate matters of public safety and public order, including matters related to animal control and protection for pedestrians and cyclists.
  3. Work to strengthen local democracy by engaging residents on the importance of UNA membership, encouraging residents to become members, and helping residents to overcome challenges to voting and participating in civic affairs.

Strategic Priority:

Enhance the capacity of the UNA to represent the University Neighbourhoods, and to advocate on behalf of the community in discussions with the University of British Columbia as well as with a range of other public bodies whose decisions and services affect the University Neighbourhoods.

Goals:

  1. Develop well-researched and -articulated positions on matters of community development for presentation to UBC as part of the Campus Vision 2050 planning process.
  2. Create a UNA Advocacy Strategy to identify the key public agencies whose decisions and initiatives impact the University Neighbourhoods, identify opportunities and methods for engagement, and develop UNA positions to advocate.

Strategic Priority:

In close collaboration with UBC, create opportunities for the organization and the community to reduce the University Neighbourhoods’ ecological footprint, take action on climate change, protect the natural environment and position the Neighbourhoods as a leader in environmental sustainability.

Goals:

  1. Participate with UBC in the development of a Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan for the community.
  2. Work with UBC to ensure that the UNA’s landscaping service is based on, incorporates, and makes optimum use of, sustainable landscaping practices.
  3. Seek ways to reduce the environmental and climate impacts of UNA’s own operations.
  4. Develop accessible information resources and supports to help residents reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to irreversible climate changes, connect to nature, and protect the environment.
  5. Ensure that natural disaster planning efforts undertaken by UBC and Metro Vancouver take into account the needs and expectations of the UNA and the University Neighbourhoods.

Strategic Priority:

Develop the opportunities, materials and tools to engage residents, irrespective of differences in language, culture and background, in UNA services, UNA decision-making, and efforts to build a strong sense of community.

Goals:

  1. Review messaging and methods used to communicate information on the UNA and its role, local services, opportunities for engagement and community-building efforts to different groups in the community.
  2. Work with UBC to define a role for the UNA in supporting the University’s reconciliation efforts.
  3. Activate and support, directly and through the actions of others, volunteers in the community who wish to undertake or participate in community-building efforts, local service delivery and other initiatives aimed at strengthening community.
  4. Create technological and other platforms that can be used by the UNA to engage the community, and by different groups in the community to engage each other.

Strategic Priority:

Ensure that the organization has the people and resources in place to support the Board in its work, take decisive action on the UNA’s strategic priorities, and meet the local service needs of the community in innovative and cost-effective ways.

Goals:

  1. Develop programs, incentives and other initiatives aimed at enhancing the UNA’s ability to attract qualified staff in a tightening labour market.
  2. Develop a long-term organizational resources strategy to ensure that the UNA has the operational capacity to meet the evolving needs of the organization and community.
  3. Create and implement metrics to measure the organization’s performance in delivering services and acting on the UNA’s strategic priorities.

PDF: Strategic Plan 2023-2025

Download a printable version of the UNA’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan

PDF: Strategic Plan 2023-2025

UNA Strategic Plan 2018-2022

Early in fiscal year 2021-2022, the Board of Directors extended the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan to cover one more year. With the November 2021 UNA elections and a new elections cycle in mind, the Board agreed to wait another year to renew its strategic goals so that the newly elected Board can take the lead in its creation. View the UNA Strategic Plan 2018-2022 by clicking the link below.

UNA Strategic Plan 2018-2022