Monday update

August 31, 2021

Updates from UBC

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.
  • July 23 – September 3: Weekly mindfulness sessions: Join your community to practice mindfulness to improve your ability to manage stress and feel more connected while working from home.
  • September 14: Supporting Resilient Teams: Recognizing and managing burnout (For Leaders & Managers): Take away a set of supportive leadership strategies for recognizing and supporting burnout prevention within teams.
  • September 24: QPR Suicide Intervention Training: Learn to recognize suicide warning signs, approach someone who may be at risk, and connect the person to resources that will help resolve crises.

Operations updates

Facilities

Building Operations, Energy & Water Services and Infrastructure Development

  • Project list for Infrastructure Development/Properties Trust: September 2021 construction project list is now available on the Facilities website.
  • Projects approved by Executives: This month, the Hydrogen Fueling Station received Executive 1+2 approvals, First Nations Longhouse Expansion received Executive 3 approval, and The Gallery received Executive 3 approval. Learn more about UBC’s development and planning projects on the Campus & Community Planning website.
  • Farewell to Dave Woodson: David Woodson, Managing Director, Energy & Water Services will be leaving UBC at the end of October. Full announcement, as well as Dave’s farewell poem, are available on the Facilities website.

Finance

Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury

  • Update on contacting Payroll: Payroll Operations is requesting that all payroll inquiries be submitted via the Service Now self-service portal, effective September 1, 2021. Learn more
  • Yellow Belt project resources available on the Operational Excellence website: Operational Excellence has added some helpful resources, including checklists and templates, that will guide you in producing a comprehensive Lean Six Sigma report. Learn more
  • Carolyn Rhee-Thompson joins UBC as Finance Director, VPFO/VPHR: Joining us from WorkSafeBC, Carolyn is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 10 years of financial leadership experience supporting a broad group of internal clients. Learn more

Operations & Advising

Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services

People in motion

Please join us in welcoming those who are joining us, celebrating promotions, and saying goodbye to team members who are moving on to their next steps.

  • Jessie Wu joined the VPFO Finance team as the Financial Analyst on August 26.
  • Best wishes to Michelle Lei and Shaun Stoch. Thank you both for your contributions to the VPFO!

VPFO job openings

All positions at UBC are available on the UBC HR Careers website, or through the career application in your Workday account. The following VPFO positions are currently open:

  • Procurement Services Team Lead (JR3784) – closing Aug 31
  • Millwright (JR3919) – closing Sep 1
  • Head Trades 2 – Metal Worker (JR3918) – closing Sep 1
  • Patrol Officer II (JR3803, JR3804) – closing Sep 1
  • Manager, Business and Support Services (JR3849) – closing Sep 1
  • Sr. Procurement Officer (JR3883) – closing Sep 3
  • Auxiliary Service Worker (JR3807) – closing Sep 3
  • Labourer 3 (Streets and Operations Support) (JR3890) – closing Sep 6
  • Shift Engineer (JR4031) – closing Sep 7
  • Operating Engineer (JR4037) – closing Sep 7
  • Patrol Officer II (JR3952) – closing Sep 9
  • Director, Campus Security (JR3820) – closing Sep 16

Please remember to apply as an internal candidate. This ISC Knowledge Base article shows how: How do I apply for an internal job posting?.

Other notable updates

Message from Peter Smailes: Our next steps for return to campus

We have all been following the news from the Provincial Government and have seen the recent messages from Professor Ono about the latest changes to COVID-19 public health guidance. We know our return to campus will need to be different than the plans we discussed at our VPFO all-staff town hall on July 15.

To make sure you have the latest information to enable all VPFO staff return to campus by our current target of October 4, we will be hosting a series of meetings across the portfolio:

  • During the weeks of August 31 to September 10, SRS and HR will be leading meetings with all supervisors across the VPFO to give clear direction for how we plan to implement our return.
  • On September 10, the senior leadership team will meet online with their leadership teams to share and discuss our process and preparations for our return to campus.
  • On September 22, we will have an optional online all-staff meeting to revisit the most current information and confirm the steps and timing required.

As always, the university will be posting the most recent information and communications to the UBC COVID-19 website and we will be resharing this information through all of our VPFO communications channels.

Read the full message

Reminder: Complete the updated mandatory safety training

As we return to campus, all UBC faculty and staff are reminded of the need to complete mandatory safety training.

Two new online training modules are now available on UBC Workplace Learning (WPL):

For instructions on completing the Remote Work Request form, please visit Workday Knowledge Base.

Announcing the recipients of the 2021 President’s Awards for Staff

Congratulations to the 18 staff recipients of the 2021 President’s Service Awards for Excellence and the President’s Staff Awards. These awards are presented annually by the university to recognize staff members who demonstrate outstanding achievement and excellence within the UBC community.

Congratulations to all!

Read about the 18 staff who are making UBC a great place to work and learn.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) drop-in vaccination clinic is available at Life Sciences Centre

The VCH drop-in vaccination clinic will open at Life Sciences Centre on a first-come, first-served basis depending on your eligibility and vaccine availability. People 12+ are eligible to be vaccinated and you are eligible for a second dose 28 days after your first dose.

UBC Life Sciences Centre 
West Atrium (Entrance on Agronomy Road)
2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z3

August 30-September 3:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is easy and safe. It’s vital that we all do our part to protect everyone in the UBC community.

For locations on other VCH mobile and drop-in vaccination sites, please visit the Vancouver Coastal Health.

Helpful news

Some interesting news articles team members 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.

  • In the 20th century, most vaccines took over a decade to develop. But the vaccines for COVID-19 were cleared for emergency use in less than 11 months. The secret behind this speed is the mRNA vaccine. So how do these revolutionary vaccines work? Watch this 5-minute TED video.
  • An 1800-pound walrus named Wally is adorably terrorizing Ireland. Wally has won over the hearts of people in Ireland. Even though he’s sinking their boats. Read more

Have an article for the VPFO team? Email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.

Be Part of the VPFO Monday Update

Each Monday we capture a snapshot of important university updates, the work across our departments, and other resources relevant to the VPFO team. This will be reposted, along with all past issues, at vpfo.ubc.ca/news.

Additions or questions can be sent to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca at any time.