Last week’s updates from UBC
- June 7: UBC Bulletin: Call for letters of intent for Large TLEF Transformation projects
- June 4: President’s Weekly Update: Statement on the Kamloops Indian Residential School
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, 17, 24: 4-week Self-Compassion Series: Explore different practices, teachings, discussion or writing exercises all designed to help you build a foundation of mindful self-compassion.
- July 10: Self and Community Care Facilitated Webinar: This 2-part facilitated webinar focuses on increasing mental health literacy for individuals.
Resources for those distressed by the recent residential schools coverage
Our thoughts are with the families, the communities, residential school survivors and all who mourn. If you need support, we recommend you reach out and get help from these UBC and community resources.
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Energy & Water Services and Infrastructure Development
- Project list for Infrastructure Development/Properties Trust: June 2021 construction project list is now available on the Facilities website.
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- Quarter end dates for Q1: The quarter end dates for Q1/June are now available as a PDF and on the UBC Finance website.
- Consolidating Capital Expertise in the VPFO: A new Capital Financial Management team has been created to improve end-to-end oversight and governance for UBC’s significant capital operations. Read the full update on the UBC Finance website.
- General Wage Increase (GWI) increase information: Reminder that there will be GWI implemented in Workday effective July 1, 2021 and Sept 1, 2021. For more details, please refer to the May 25 memo.
- VPFO Finance realignment following Workday go-live: Carri Lawrence is returning to the Okanagan Finance team as Director, Finance Operations, following her three-year secondment with the Integrated Renewal Program (IRP). Carri will join Manon Harvey, Director Integrated Planning and Chief Budget Officer, in leading the UBCO Finance team. More information available on the VPFO website.
- An update on UniForum data collection for 2021: Moving forward for 2021/2022, instead of collecting UniForum information in June, we will collect data later this year in October/November 2021. Learn more on the new UBC Operational Excellence website.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Yvonne Kwok promoted to Communications Manager, Facilities and Safety & Risk Services: In her new role, Yvonne will leverage her years of experience to deliver improved services for both the Facilities group and Safety & Risk Services (SRS), while continuing to support portfolio priorities. Read more on the VPFO Comms website.
- New team photos available for use on Flickr: We recently added some new team photos to our Flickr library. Visit the VPFO Flickr to see the collection, as well as other photos of VPFO teams that are brand compliant and free for UBC staff and faculty use.
- 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 any questions, please contact Senior HR Manager, Arvind Kang.
- June 7: Gregor Macdonald, Arvind Kang
- June 8: WFH
- June 9: Kasia Burza, Sonia Lachar
- June 10: WFH
- June 11: WFH
Other notable updates
Join the National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism on June 10-11, 2021
On June 10-11, 2021, join the National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism. This is an opportunity for candid conversations about how to address the ongoing crisis of anti-Asian racism in Canada.
Through open conversations with key figures in education, health care, media, the corporate world, the not-for-profit sector and government, we’ll produce bold actions and key priorities to be implemented across the country.
For registration and agenda, please visit the event page.
Workday survey to gather feedback on HR / Finance administrative processes
On June 1, over 6,000 randomly selected faculty and staff across the UBC community will be asked for their insight into how selected Workday processes have stabilized, improved, or require attention post go-live.
Get rapid tested for COVID-19
Have you signed up for rapid COVID-19 testing yet? Eligible groups can now get free, fast and easy COVID-19 tests at Orchard Commons Residence on the UBC Vancouver Campus. All individuals can participate regardless of vaccination status.
Register today and learn more on the UBC Housing 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.
- June is Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month. Check out these 16 books by LGBTQ Canadian creators, and 35 books by First Nations, Métis and Inuit authors.
- What can introverts and extroverts learn from each other? This interesting article from The Atlantic suggests going against your instincts can help improve your well-being and make you happier.
Have an article for your peers? Email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.