Last week’s updates from UBC
- January 18: UBC Broadcast: Seeking nominations for the President’s Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence
- January 14: President’s Blog: Congratulations to UBC’s Killam Professors
- January 13: UBC Broadcast: UBC’s approach for 2021 Summer Session
Updates on UBC’s response to COVID-19 are at covid19.ubc.ca.
Managing your mental health
HR has collected mental health resources to help you manage our ups and downs. Our VPFO HR staff is always available for a confidential conversation.
- January 18 – 29: 10 minutes of mindfulness challenge
- January – March: Through the Lens: A series of interactive workshops designed to enhance UBC’s understanding of diversity, while offering practical ideas for creating a more equitable and inclusive campus.
- February 19, 22, 25: Adaptive Resiliency by Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Energy & Water Services and Infrastructure Development
- Request for swing/interim space: Facilities Planning continue to work with faculty/departments to assign temporary swing space and/or interim space. Information on how to request and what to expect during this process is now posted under ‘Facilities Planning’ on the Infrastructure Development website.
- UBC pump house replacement: The project is reaching the completion of major construction activities and is currently coordinating for commissioning. Construction site fencing has been reduced – both north and south lanes of U Blvd are open again with the exception of a small construction area for tie-ins near Martha Piper Fountain. For an updated photo of the current construction and information on this project, visit the Infrastructure Development website.
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- Employee payroll information for 2021: Please note that pay cycle deductions for CPP and EI resumed as of Jan 15 for those who contributed the maximum in 2020. More information is available on the UBC Finance website.
- January month end dates: are now available, posted on the Budget Schedules & Guidelines page of the UBC Finance website.
- Q3 Financial Report: YTD financial information for December has now closed, and work on the Q3 financial report has begun. This will serve as the basis for the FY21/22 Budget.
- Audit process: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) begins their interim audit today. If you receive information requests from OAG please be as responsive as possible to support the process.
- Welcome Stanley Lau and Steven Bao: Stanley joined UBC last week as Manager, Payroll Operations and Control, and Steven Bao is the new Finance Director, Special Projects.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Sanitary sewers: Metro Vancouver has developed updated guidelines that are available to research, teaching labs, and art studios for post-secondary institutions. Visit the SRS website to view our updated video, and review Metro Vancouver’s guides to managing wastewater.
- RCMP stakeholders meeting: SRS hosted its first stakeholders’ engagement meeting with the RCMP this month to discuss opportunities to enhance collaboration and effectively align efforts with UBC.
- Find your department’s logo: Communications & Engagement has worked with Central Marketing to ensure that all units in the VPFO have up-to-date logos following the latest UBC standards, find yours on the C&E website.
- VPFO Equity, Diversity and Inclusion update: With the close of our initial EDI Survey (a strong 30% response rate sets us up for success), Human Resources and the EDI Committee have created a new section on the VPFO website where you can follow our progress and connect with the committees.
- Changes in Human Resources: With Liana Chang announcing her departure next month for a new role outside UBC, Arvind Kang will be stepping up to support Elana and her teams in Finance Operations, Operational Excellence and the ISC. In a parallel move, Sonia Lachar will be taking on leadership of Human Resources across Facilities.
- VPFO HR on-site support schedule this week:
- January 18: Matt Furgal, Kasia Burza
- January 19: Arvind Kang, Kasia Burza
- January 20: Gregor Macdonald
- January 21: Sonia Lachar, Rachel Lau
- January 22: Matt Furgal, Rachel Lau
Helpful news
Some interesting news articles people have found informative or helpful at work. These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply this content.
- While we keep waiting for the full-force of winter to arrive, the Huffington Post has some easy advice, right up there with don’t eat yellow snow, with the horrifying reason you should never, ever eat an icicle.
Have an article for your peers? Email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.
Thank you to all for your continued hard work and dedication to enabling excellence at UBC. From the VPFO Executive Team.