- History of the Faculty Women’s Club
- Purpose of the Club
- Membership
- Membership Fees and Costs
- Meetings
- Interest Groups
History of the Faculty Women’s Club
- How did the Club get started?
- Please explain the name of the Club. Is the name still appropriate for today? Should it be changed?
- What is the relationship between the Faculty Women’s Club and the University Women’s Club?
The Faculty Women’s Club was founded in 1917 to assist women students, under the visionary guidance of UBC’s first President, Dr. Wesbrook, and the Board of Governors. It holds the honour of being the oldest and most enduring service organization on the UBC campus. For over a century, we have fostered a spirit of community and support, and it’s our honour to continue that legacy today (excerpt from a Fall 2023 Welcome Speech by the FWC President).
For additional information, see the 2017 FWC 100th Anniversary Dinner Speech.
Here is a list of FWC Presidents from 1917- present.
Please explain the name of the Club. Is the name still appropriate for today? Should it be changed?
The ”Faculty Women’s Club” (of the University of British Columbia, FWC) has been in existence for over a century and is named appropriately for today and beyond for these reasons:
- The FWC name is synonymous with its long-standing, historical, and mutually beneficial relationship with the University. It stands true to the Club’s overall mission.
- In recent years, UBC has acknowledged that FWC is affiliated with the University, and has long recognized the important contributions that the Club provides.
- Re-naming the Club would end its 100+ years history moving forward. A new name/entity would have its own history beginning with the name-change only, and its relationship with UBC would not be guaranteed.
What is the relationship between the Faculty Women’s Club and the University Women’s Club?
They are separate organizations and there is no relationship between the two.
Purpose of the Club
- What is the purpose of the Club today?
- How and to whom is fundraising directed?
- How are fundraising needs identified?
- How much money per year is raised for scholarships?
What is the purpose of the Club today?
The purposes of the Club are:
- to provide assistance to students through scholarships, bursaries and other means;
- to provide services to the University community;
- to promote social, recreational and cultural activities among the members.
For more information, please see the FWC Constitution and Bylaws.
More informally, the Club nurtures a caring community and lasting friendships as we work towards our common goal of improving the lives of UBC students. And we have a lot of fun along the way!
How and to whom is fundraising directed?
The Faculty Women’s Club supports a number of financial awards to UBC students annually, including ten scholarships, four bursaries, and two prizes. The capital for these endowed awards has been raised through various activities of the Club as well as donations and bequests. For more information about existing awards, see FWC Award Descriptions.
In addition, members support students through the UBC Alma Mater Society (AMS) Food Bank with donations of funds as well as with food donations. Members also volunteer their time to help out at the Food Bank.
The Club engages in a variety of fundraising activities each year, including holiday teas and special events, with reminders sent to members through the Club newsletter. The FWC also solicits sponsors directly, and partners with various UBC stakeholders’ fundraising events, such as co-hosting the AMS Just Desserts celebration.
How are fundraising needs identified?
Some of the fundraising needs are identified through UBC partnerships such as the student food bank. Most of FWC’s fundraising activities are directed to increasing scholarship and bursary funds.
The FWC Scholarship Committee keeps a vigilant eye on all areas relating to our scholarships and makes regular recommendations regarding endowment fund(s) that need topping up and/or new scholarships. These recommendations are reviewed by the Executive Board, and are then submitted to the membership for their vote at the Annual General Meeting. Most recently, for example, funds were raised for the FWC Childcare Bursary.
How much money per year is raised for scholarships?
During the 2022-23 membership year, the Club raised $32,000 to benefit UBC students. Most of these funds went towards our scholarships and bursaries, with about $3,600 being donated to the UBC AMS Food Bank.
Since its inception, the Club has donated in excess of $1 million to UBC for scholarships and bursaries.
Membership
- What are the criteria for FWC membership?
- Are there opportunities for volunteers?
- Are activities restricted to women only, or may men or other genders also participate?
- Why does the Club accept sponsored members who have no UBC connection?
- Is there any kind of affiliation between FWC and similar organizations from other universities?
- Do you need to be a resident of Metro Vancouver to be a member? Could UBC Okanagan affiliated people become members?
- How many members are there?
- Can the FWC members’ email address list or contact information be used to send out personal marketing or event promotions?
- teaching or research faculties of the University and its affiliated Colleges and Schools;
- administrative executive staff of the University and its affiliated Colleges and Schools;
- professional staff of the University community.
Regular Membership is also open to women who are:
- retired faculty or wives/partners of retired faculty or deceased faculty;
- visiting faculty or wives/partners of visiting faculty during their tenure at the University;
- post-doctoral fellows or wives/partners of post-doctoral fellows during their tenure at the University;
- individuals designated by the Executive Board in consultation with an Advisory Committee on Membership;
- women who are faculty or retired faculty or who are the wives/partners of faculty or retired faculty of other universities or colleges;
- daughters or daughters-in-law of current or deceased FWC regular members (amended in 2010);
- a woman interested in the welfare of the University of British Columbia and its students who is proposed for Club membership by a regular (not sponsored) Faculty Women’s Club member in good standing, and approved for membership by the Executive Board via the Membership Chair. These members will be recorded as sponsored members and must abide by all rules and regulations applicable to regular FWC members. Sponsored members will have full membership rights but may not sponsor others (2012). Sponsored members must not exceed 20% of total Club membership (2016);
- “Graduate Visiting Scholars to UBC or an equivalent position or the wives/partners of Graduate Visiting Scholars or an equivalent position” (2022).
For details of other membership categories, please see the FWC Constitution and Bylaws.
- What is the membership fee?
- What does the membership fee cover?
- Are there other fees or costs to FWC events?
- Do we get a special parking rate when we attend FWC functions at UBC?
- Can I join during the middle of the school year? And will the membership fees be prorated?
- Does FWC membership include the free use and booking of Cecil Green Park House (CGPH)?