Last week’s updates from UBC
- March 5: President’s Blog: Weekly Update
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 – 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.
- March 9, 16, 23: Mindfulness with Kunye
- March 10 – 23: 10 Day Mindfulness Challenge – March: Improve your ability to manage stress, feel more connected while working from home, or get your morning started with an exercise to improve focus.
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Energy & Water Services and Infrastructure Development
- Public Open House: Public consultation is now open for the New Recreation Centre and Student Union Boulevard Upgrades. The virtual open house will be hosted for this project from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on March 18, 2021. For more information, visit the Campus & Community Planning website.
- Museum of Anthropology (MOA) aDNA Lab renovation: The MOA aDNA Lab renovation project has been completed and will be handed over to Building Operations effective today. There are a few small deficiencies still associated with this project, which Project Services is actively working on resolving. For questions, please contact Facilities Manager, Patrick Wong (patrick.wong@ubc.ca).
- Berwick Child Development Centre renovation: The Berwick Child Development Centre renovations (Phase 1) have been completed and will be handed over to Building Operations effective today. There are a few deficiencies still associated with this project which Project Services is actively tracking for completion when Phase 2 is completed by end of summer 2021. For question, please contact Facilities Manager Jeet Amritsar (jeetender.amritsar@ubc.ca)
- University Services Building (USB) rooftop unit replacement: The USB rooftop unit above the Project Services office area is scheduled for replacement on March 31, 2021. The old unit will be removed and replaced with a new unit on the same day. A crane will be parked at the front of the USB parking lot for the day to complete this work. For more information, please contact Facilities Manager, James Bellevance (james.bellavance@ubc.ca)
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- T2200S forms: Tax slips for faculty and staff to use in claiming home office expenses for the 2020 tax year are now available. Visit the Finance website for more information, including how to access the forms.
- February month end dates: Month end dates for February have been added to the UBC Finance website.
- Cash sale deposits and conversion accounts: Please remember that revenue and spend categories beginning with “C-“ are conversion categories, and should not be used for new transactions in Workday.
- Q3: The third quarter financial report is now finalized, and will be presented during the April Board cycle. It serves as the base for UBC’s 2021/22 budget, which is currently being drafted.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- COVID-19 vaccination clinics: Safety & Risk Services is working with UBC Facilities and the COVID-19 campus leadership advisory committee to bring an on-campus vaccination clinic to the UBC community. This is in the planning stage, but the clinic is anticipated to launch near the end of the month. More information to come.
- COVID-19 rapid testing pilot project: The rapid testing pilot project in Orchard Commons is going strong and additional residence buildings have been included in the program. Safety & Risk Services has been assisting Student Housing (SHCS) in the program to UBC students and staff who live or work in first-year residence, Thunderbird Residence, Fraser Hall Residence and Fairview Crescent Residence. This initiative is a collaboration between Health Canada, Providence Health Care, as well as Vancouver Coastal Health, UBC’s School of Nursing and Student Housing and Community Services.
- Privacy & information security training: Safety & Risk Services’ PriSM team recently developed the Privacy & Information Security Training for IT professionals course. This is a major milestone in the development of this key new training offering.
- Privacy, freedom of information & information security training: Safety & Risk Services’ PriSM team is collaborating with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Office of the University Counsel to deliver this training to UBC ‘data stewards’. Data stewards are a community across UBC with operational responsibility for data including quality, and its protection.
- VPFO HR on-site support schedule this week:
- March 8: Arvind Kang, Kasia Burza
- March 9: Matt Furgal, Gregor Macdonald
- March 10: Sonia Lachar, Kasia Burza
- March 11: Arvind Kang, Gregor Macdonald
- March 12: Matt Furgal, Rachel Lau
Other notable updates
What is intersectionality and why does it matter?
At UBC we believe excellence cannot be achieved without inclusion. But how we are included is shaped by how we present ourselves, the ways we are seen by others, the systems and norms of our campus, and how they all intersect. Read more about how intersectionality affects all of us, both as individuals and as a community, on the VPFO EDI website.
Apply now for Healthy Workplace Funding
Applications are now being accepted for the Healthy Workplace Initiatives Program (HWIP).
The HWIP provides start-up funds for health-related activities for UBC departments and units interested in promoting wellbeing in the workplace.
Have a great idea? Want to boost team-building and the health of your colleagues? Submit your application on the UBC Health & Wellbeing website by April 16, 2021 at 4pm.
UBC Staff & Faculty Sports Week – Save the date
To accommodate for our diverse staff, and our different working and living situations, Staff & Faculty Sports Day is now Staff & Faculty Sports Week!
This free virtual event will be held for both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses during May 3-7, 2021.
For more information, please visit the UBC Recreation website.
Helpful news
Some interesting news articles people have found informative, helpful, or fun! These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply this content.
- Today is International Women’s Day and the 2021 theme is #ChooseToChallenge – a call to end inequality for our gender and those who identify as a woman. Read about these 5 female entrepreneurs who #ChooseToChallenge in their own businesses.
- The pandemic has blurred the boundaries between our work and home lives, leaving many of us exhausted, cynical, and inefficient. Here are 6 ways to beat Work-From-Home burnout.
Have an article for your peers? Email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.