UBC has appointed Dr. Robert Helsley as the associate provost for the UBC at Surrey project.
In November 2021, UBC purchased a $70 million tract of land at the intersection of King George Boulevard and Fraser Highway in Surrey to expand its regional presence in the area.
Provost and VP Academic pro tem Gage Averill announced Helsley’s appointment on October 26 on the provost’s website.
“Building on partnerships within Surrey and across the region, Dr. Helsley will provide leadership in the planning and programming of the University’s academic and support facilities for the Surrey site in partnership with Faculties from UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, as well as UBC Properties Trust,” the announcement reads.
Helsley is currently a Grosvenor professor of cities, business economics and public policy at Sauder — which he’ll continue to do alongside his new responsibilities as associate provost, Gage wrote. He also served as dean of the business school from 2012 to 2022.
His two-year term started on October 1.
According to the announcement, Helsley will lead the integration of academic programming and "shared community interests" during the development of the Surrey site.
How the Surrey site will be used remains unclear. UBC administrators have told the Board of Governors that the site should not be thought of as a separate campus. Meanwhile, the UBC Vancouver Senate approved the creation of a master's of occupational therapy program at the Surrey site last month.
In a statement sent to The Ubyssey, Matthew Ramsey, director of university affairs at UBC Media Relations, said teaching, research and other potential uses are still being discussed, and that occupancy isn’t expected for at least five years.
“The university will be providing updates on the discussions and collaborative planning process as and when appropriate,” he wrote.
He added that any future hires similar to Helsley’s will be determined as the “vision for the site coalesces.”
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