Managing Your Mental Health
HR has collected a great set of mental health resources to help you manage the ups and downs of our COVID-19 experience. Need someone to help guide you through these resources? The VPFO has HR staff on campus every day for confidential conversations. See the Departmental Updates below for this week’s HR duty roster.
Are you interested in playing a vital role in championing health and wellbeing for your departments and among your peers? Become a Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador, submit your application by end of today.
Last week’s updates from UBC
- June 12: President’s Weekly Update
General updates about UBC and its response to COVID-19 continue to be updated at covid19.ubc.ca.
Department updates
Facilities – Building Operations, Energy & Water Services, and Infrastructure Development
- In memory of Lorraine Beckett: It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of our friend and dear colleague Lorraine Beckett. Lorraine was a cherished member of the UBC family for over 25 years. Read more about Lorraine from AVP Facilities, John Metras.
- Buildings planned for reopening: Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) received approval on Friday, June 12 to reopen today for exempt research activity. View the full list of buildings planned for reopening in June 2020 [PDF].
- Brock Commons Phase 2 & TEF4: A prudent step has been taken to temporarily delay construction this summer for Brock Commons Phase 2 and TEF4 given the significant capital investment required for this project. Design work will be completed to ensure that the project is ready to move forward quickly when the time is right and until there is better economic certainty.
- Projects continuing to move forward and in design/construction: Pacific Residence, Arts Student Centre, MacLeod Renewal, Water Pump Station, and Museum of Anthropology. For more information, visit please the Infrastructure Development website.
- Project Services’ Project Coordinators on-site support schedule this week: Please continue to contact the designated Project Manager/Coordinator for project inquiries.
- June 15: Victor Wong & David Meeks
- June 16: Victor Wong & David Meeks
- June 17: Victor Wong & David Meeks
- June 18: Darren Herrington & David Kosub
- June 19: Darren Herrington & David Kosub
Finance – Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence, and Treasury
- Audited financial statements: UBC’s audited financial statements were presented at the Board Audit Committee on June 8, and will be presented to the Board tomorrow (June 16).
- Operational Excellence: The Operational Excellence team has begun conducting focus groups to gather input for strategy development.
Operations & Advising – Communications & Engagement and Human Resources
- Mutual agreement with CUPE 116: UBC and CUPE 116 have agreed, without prejudice, not to enforce the 30-day notice requirement for schedule changes when employees move from one shift to another. The current terms from Phase 1 of the resumption plan will continue. Discussions with IUOE 115 are underway, and information will be shared when available.
- CUPE 116 Collective Agreement: Summary of key changes to the CUPE 116 Collective Agreement in 2019-2022 is posted to the HR website.
- Recruitment and Onboarding support: Starting Monday June 15, Gregor MacDonald is moving from Recruitment and Onboarding to support the Integrated Service Centre (ISC) project, partnering with a team to deliver onboarding, orientation, and training. Please direct your Recruitment and Onboarding questions to Kasia Burza and Rachel Lau.
- VPFO HR Workday and Change Project Coordination: Effective Tuesday June 16th, Elliott Campbell is transitioning to support the Finance stream in the IRP project management office. Your HR Business Partner, along with Patricia Paz, will offer direct support for work Elliot was leading.
- VPFO HR on-site support schedule this week:
- June 15: Alena Martin, Elliot Campbell
- June 16: Arvind Kang, Rachel Lau
- June 17: Liana Chang, Kasia Burza, Gregor MacDonald
- June 18: Matt Furgal, Gregor MacDonald
- June 19: Alena Martin, Elliot Campbell
Safety & Risk Services
- Chemical Amnesty Restart: SRS will soon restart a chemical amnesty program aimed at removing hazardous material from the many laboratories across UBC. The activity, which started earlier this year, was placed on hold while labs were closed.
Other notable updates
JOIN UBC’S VIRTUAL GRADUATION ON JUNE 17TH
It’s a time for trying new things. Help support our students as they attend a new type of graduation. Please join UBC’s virtual graduation ceremonies on June 17.
NEW UBC CAMPUS PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN KELOWNA
UBC is expanding its Okanagan presence by building a new campus in downtown Kelowna. For more information, visit the UBC Okanagan website.
PRIVACY & INFORMATION SECURITY TIP: DO YOU KNOW YOUR PHISH?
Regular phishing is like casting a net, hackers cast it wide and hope to catch something… these are usually easy to spot. Spear phishing is when they are after a known target, and make a custom email for a person or group… these are harder to spot. Whaling is like spear phishing, but targets high profile targets like CEOs, VPs and political candidates. These are the hardest to spot of all. Learn how to spot phishing and spear phishing @ Privacy Matters.
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.
- Understanding Black Stories: Cineplex is offering a collection of important films curated to elevate Black stories, artists and filmmakers and spark discussion. These films are available to view on their website at no cost.
Sharing an article that may be helpful to your peers? Send it to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca at any time.