VPFO Monday Update

May 11, 2020

Last week’s updates from UBC

General updates about UBC and its response to COVID-19 continue to be updated at covid19.ubc.ca.

Department updates

VPFO and UBC

  • Board Meetings: UBC’s Board of Governors is now meeting monthly in order to receive updates and consider strategic issues associated with COVID-19 and its impact on the university.

Facilities – Building Operations, Energy & Water Services, and Infrastructure Development

  • Planning for researchers’ return to campus: Facilities and Safety & Risk Services are coordinating efforts to provide guidance to researchers planning to return on campus. For more information on COVID-19 research curtailing activities, visit the VPRI Covid-19 website.
  • Building Operations’ Fleet achieves E3 Fleet Platinum Level Rating with 97/100 points: E3 Fleet recognizes UBC’s high standard in green performance and management across Canada. For more information on the E3 rating, visit the E3 Fleet website.
  • Project Services’ Project Coordinators on-site support schedule this week: Please continue to contact the designated Project Manager/Coordinator for project inquiries.
    • May 11: David Meek
    • May 12: David Kosub
    • May 13: Victor Wong
    • May 14: Darren Harrington
    • May 15: David Meek

Finance – Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence, and Treasury

  • COVID-19 Analysis: An update on UBC’s financial scenario analysis (different scenarios and financial impact) as well as mitigation strategies (both implemented and under consideration) will be reviewed at the May Board meeting.

Operations & Advising – Communications & Engagement and Human Resources

  • Communications & Engagement is offering a lighting fast weekly Zoom series to build your communications skills:
    • May 13: Engage your team with Video
    • May 20: Understand how to work with Communications & Engagement

For more information and to make sure you’re registered, visit the workshops section of the VPFO website.

  • VPFO HR on-site support schedule this week:
    • May 11: Matt Furgal, Kasia Burza
    • May 12: Gregor MacDonald, Alena Martin
    • May 13: Elliot Campbell, Kasia Burza, Liana Chang
    • May 14: Arvind Kang, Racheal Lau
    • May 15: Matt Furgal, Racheal Lau

Safety & Risk Services

  • EP boost waste disposal efficiencies: As part of a long-term optimization plan, Environmental Protection have changed their biomedical waste disposal process leading to significant time savings. The latest example in a string of optimization efforts by the team, it prepares them for the return of some researchers to campus next month.

Other notable updates

THE COVID COMMUNICATIONS SESSIONS: EASY TIPS TO MAKE YOUR EMAIL WORK FOR YOU

COVID-19 has challenged us to rethink many aspects of how we work, from taking meetings online to redesigning paper-based processes. It takes extra effort to be understood and stay engaged — especially when moving to less familiar digital communications. To help you succeed, Communications & Engagement is offering a lighting fast — only 15 minutes — weekly Zoom series to build up your skills.

Thanks to everyone who attended the first session — Easy Tips to Make Your Email Work For You. For those who could not attend, we’ve shared the resources from the session on the VPFO website:

UBC RANKS SEVENTH GLOBALLY FOR “IMPACT”

UBC continues to excel in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, placing first in Canada and seventh globally out of more than 850 participating institutions from 89 countries across six continents. The rankings, inaugurated in 2019, measure universities’ overall impact through their work in meeting the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals. Read more on the UBC Sustainability website.

Helpful news

People have been suggesting news articles that they have found informative or helpful at work. These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply editorial to this content.

  • It’s an old article, but one that not only helps pople find their way… it may also contain the plot of Disney’s Frozen movies. National Geographic originally published How to survive (almost) anything as a resource for outdoors enthusiasts and adventurers. But you can use the 14 points in any crisis situation.

Sharing an article that may be helpful to your peers? Send it to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca at any time.

Be Part of the VPFO Monday Update

Each Monday we capture a snapshot of important university updates, the work across our departments, and other resources relevant to the VPFO team. This will be reposted, along with all past issues, at vpfo.ubc.ca/news.

Additions or questions can be sent to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca at any time.