Last week’s updates from UBC
- April 29: UBC Broadcast: Building a more inclusive UBC: virtual forum
- April 30: President’s Blog: Weekly Update
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 your ups and downs. Our VPFO HR staff is always available for a confidential conversation.
- Self-guided: Self and Community Care: Building skills to manage stress: Learn to integrate relaxation and your personal needs into your daily life in this self-paced webinar.
- Self-guided: Wellbeing in the Workplace: Learn tools and skills to support wellbeing while working within changing environments in this self-paced webinar.
- June 10 & June 17th: The Working Mind Virtual: Mental Health Training for Managers: Established by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, this program is designed to address mental health and reduce stigma in a workplace setting.
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Energy & Water Services and Infrastructure Development
- First Nations Longhouse Expansion: A development permit application for a one-storey addition to the First Nations Longhouse will make use of the existing exposed post and beam log structure at the east side of the building. Public comment is open until May 19, 2021. For information, visit the Campus & Community Planning website.
- Project list for Infrastructure Development/Properties Trust: April 2021 construction project list is now available on the Facilities website.
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- April month end dates: A reminder that the April month end dates have been adjusted slightly, and continue to be available as a PDF and on the Important Dates feed on the Finance website.
- Resources from the Payroll call-in session: The ISC hosted a call-in session about Payroll this week, and the presentation and recording are now available on the ISC website.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Working remotely sub-committee: Safety & Risk Services continue to work with the sub-committee in developing guidelines and requirements pertaining to all safety aspects of working remotely for faculty and staff.
- UBC’s Risk Group 2 Human Pathogen and Toxin License granted renewal: The Public Health Agency of Canada has granted renewal of UBC’s Risk Group 2 License which supports 422 of UBC’s 600 active Biosafety permits across UBCV, UBCO, and three hospital sites. This allows UBC to continue all research protocols that include the use of human pathogens and toxins.
- What is UBC Today?: UBC Today is a website where faculty and staff can go to access communications and resources at a university-wide level. Learn more about how it differs from other channels and when to use UBC Today in your communication, on the VPFO Communications & Engagement website.
- VPFO HR on-site support schedule: Due to increased safety measures, the VPFO HR team will be working from home on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the month of April. For any questions, please contact Senior HR Manager, Arvind Kang (arvind.s.kang@ubc.ca).
- May 3: Arvind Kang, Gregor Macdonald
- May 4: WFH
- May 5: Matt Furgal, Rachel Lau
- May 6: WFH
- May 7: WFH
Other notable updates
Message from VP Peter Smailes
Last week our VP Peter Smailes shared an update on the VPFO strategic plan as we embark on a new fiscal year.
The update covers the operational changes that have occurred over the past months, as well as the portfolio’s next steps, which include transforming the VPFO into a more unified portfolio to improve efficiency and customer service.
Read the full update on the VPFO website.
The Operational Excellence team is growing
As you read in Peter’s update above, the VPFO is looking to new processes and tools to further enhance our integration and improve operational efficiencies. Part of this work includes the development of the Operational Excellence department, which will eventually become a centre of excellence for UBC.
Our OpEx team continues to grow this week, with two new team members joining in Business Intelligence functions — Pearle Lundeen from BOps and Shirlett Hall from the ISC. Led by Janice Weigel, this newly integrated team will work side-by-side with the VPFO to find opportunities to simplify, standardize or even automate our work.
Go By Bike Week: May 31st – June 6th, 2021
Want to get out on your bike more? Like a little friendly competition? Go by Bike Week returns May 31st – June 6th!
Register yourself and colleagues today. To help you prepare, HUB Cycling is hosting two free webinars for the UBC community on May 13 and 20. One is on basic bike maintenance and the other is on bike route planning.
Learn more and RSVP on the UBC Campus + Community Planning website.
In memory of Alexandra Psiharis
It is with deep sadness that we are announcing the unexpected passing of Alexandra Psiharis.
Alexandra was a valued member of the Building Operations team for over 30 years. In 2016, she was officially recognized for her exemplary collaboration, reliability, and professionalism in handling and dispatching service calls, via a Building Operations Staff Excellence Award for Teamwork in conjunction with her team.
Alexandra had a positive impact on many of us and she will be both in our thoughts and missed very much.
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.
- This year has already proved to be the emotional equivalent of an ultramarathon. Here are a few ideas from an assistant clinical professor in psychiatry, on how to reset or lower your stress in 5 minutes.
- In this article, the author of #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, shares 7 easy ways to getting more out of each book you read.
Have an article for your peers? Email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.