UBC Sauder

UBC Sauder Statement of Community Values

At the UBC Sauder School of Business, our community values align with the school’s foundational values of rigour, respect and responsibility. It is these values that help inspire and guide our behaviour.

What are our community values at UBC Sauder?

Rigour

• We are committed to the rigourous search for knowledge.
• We seek deep insights rather than superficial conclusions.
• We rely on evidence, and our assumptions are open to testing and debate.

Respect

• We are attentive to and conscious of how our words and actions affect others.
• We welcome, learn about and respect a diversity of traditions, values and experiences.
• We strive to ensure an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment for all.

Responsibility

• We are active participants in our community who make a positive impact on the lives of those around us, both locally and globally.

UBC Sauder Student Professionalism Expectations

Professionalism is demonstrated through actions that align with UBC Sauder’s core values – of rigour, respect and responsibility. As members of the UBC Sauder Community students are expected to uphold these values and behave professionally.

Personal wellbeing

Taking care of your physical and mental health is a priority. Although we, as members of the UBC community, have pledged to help and support each other, taking care of your own health and wellness is a core personal responsibility, as is completing coursework and meeting deadlines. If you need support with maintaining your physical and mental health, there are resources available within UBC Sauder and the greater UBC community. Additionally, staff and fellow students are valuable sources of support when you need help. Find support for your mental health and wellbeing here.

Community

Students are expected to be mindful of their words and actions, showing empathy, listening with an open mind, treating others fairly, and respecting our community's diversity. This diversity is a valuable resource that enriches the learning experience.
Students who act disrespectfully will be asked to leave the class or activity, and may face consequences such as absence marks, team or course withdrawal and loss of access to resources.

UBC Sauder students represent the school within the wider business community. Students are expected to adhere to attendance and behavioural expectations to respect the community’s time, including alumni, employers and volunteer-based organizations. This respect is essential to both personal and school reputations. Students are expected to uphold the school’s values and demonstrate professionalism in various UBC Sauder contexts, such as club participation, events, networking, student leadership, job application and work experiences.

For detailed expectations, please visit UBC’s Non-Academic Misconduct: Student Code of Conduct.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity means you conduct your work and studies in accordance with UBC’s Academic Honesty and Standards as outlined in the UBC Academic Calendar’s Campus-wide Policies and Regulations. In addition to adhering to the UBC Policies, you are responsible for understanding the expectations outlined in your course syllabi. This is a crucial first step in establishing your reputation as a professional and fulfilling your obligation to understand academic integrity expectations and consequences of misconduct at UBC.  

For information on the use of generative artificial intelligence tools, please refer to UBC’s Generative AI Guidance and your individual course syllabi.

Violations of academic integrity are taken seriously by UBC. Review the UBC Sauder Student Academic Integrity Handbook and Discipline for Academic Misconduct here.

Attendance and participation

Students are expected to attend 100% of their scheduled class hours on time and be prepared to engage and contribute as outlined in the course syllabi. If you have any difficulties with attendance, please discuss this with your instructor or the program office as soon as possible. Find more information on specific class policies on attendance, consequences for missing class, and academic concessions in your course syllabi.

Signing up for events, workshops and appointments is a commitment to participate. Adequate notice should be given if you are no longer able to attend. Academic commitments should be prioritized; job interviews and other non-academic commitments should be scheduled outside of class hours.  Attendance and participation expectations for each activity are specified at the time of registration, with potential consequences including loss of access.

Use of electronics in class

In-person classes

The default electronics policy in most classrooms is “lids down”, which means not using electronic devices while class is in session. The use of electronics in the classroom can be distracting to yourself, your peers and the instructor.

Classes and activities have various electronic requirements and specific guidelines around in-class use of electronics are determined by each instructor or supervisor as appropriate. Students are responsible for understanding and abiding by these expectations. If electronic devices are permitted in the classroom, meeting, or activity, or if you have an accessibility need, they must be used strictly for the educational or professional purpose at hand.

Students who disregard the electronics policy may be asked to leave the class and penalized.

Online classes

The use of electronics is essential for online learning, and UBC uses various learning technologies to support online courses.

Students must be respectful and mindful of their peers and instructors in virtual settings. Plan to join your classes five minutes early to avoid technical difficulties. Please have your video on unless you are experiencing connection issues.

Put your microphone on mute when not speaking and use the “raise hand” feature if you would like to participate. Try to avoid talking over or at the same time as other participants. Just like in a regular classroom, it is important that you refrain from using all other technology (phones, other applications, etc.) during classes.

Physical space

Taking care of our physical space is an important aspect of professionalism. Respecting our shared space means we commit to keeping it in good condition for the next individual. This includes keeping workspaces clean, composting, recycling or disposing of waste, returning rearranged furniture and following guidelines and room-use policies.

If you have concerns regarding any of these expectations due to accessibility requirements, please reach out to the Centre for Accessibility to discuss tailored accommodations to address your specific needs. For more information and to explore available resources, visit the UBC Centre for Accessibility.