Updates from UBC
- February 7: UBC Broadcast: Announcing the reappointment of Dr. Gail Murphy as Vice-President, Research & Innovation
Updates on UBC’s response to COVID-19 are at covid19.ubc.ca.
Update from VPFO
- Pink Shirt Day 2022: The VPFO’s annual Pink Shirt Day event returns this Wednesday, February 23 from 2 – 2:30. The event will be hybrid again this year with the opportunity to attend in person at USB or online through a Zoom webinar. More information coming next week.
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services
- Potential project delays due to staffing shortage: Please note that our Facilities teams, consultants, and contractors are experiencing labour shortages, and that some projects may be impacted and face delays in the completion date. For questions, please contact the Project Manager, Project Coordinator, or your Facilities Manager. Learn more
- Music Building’s parking lot is closed until further notice: Due to a recent Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) site inspection, the parking lot next to the Music Building has been temporarily closed. There will be no access to the parkade unless responding to a life safety issue.
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- 2022 Year End Timelines and Procedures: In order to allow the Finance community to plan ahead, the year end timelines and procedures are now available on the UBC Finance website. Guidelines are available under Year End 2021/22 and deadlines are available as a PDF and on the Important Dates feed.
- A new Credit Card Report Available in Workday: A new report, Find My Credit Card Transactions, is now available in Workday to help UBC Visa cardholders to view their UBC Visa transaction and reconciliation history, and identify unreconciled transactions. Learn more
- Upcoming Sponsor Leadership Workshop: Designed for executives, managers and process owners, this workshop allows you to support your teams in process improvement initiatives. The next session will be held on February 22. To sign up, reach out to David Pepin, Operational Excellence Knowledge Transfer Manager.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Providing Rapid Antigen Test kits for symptomatic students, faculty and staff: Starting Feb 7, Rapid Antigen Test kits will be made available for UBC students, faculty, and staff who display symptoms of COVID-19 with the presentation of a UBC ID card. Kudos to Safety & Risk Services team members who have volunteered to help with packaging medical masks and rapid antigen test kits! Learn more
- Resources from Data Privacy session: For those unable to attend the Data Privacy session on Jan 28, the session recording and resource page are available on the Privacy Matters website.
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.
- Lori Takenaka has been promoted to Safety Advisor – UBC Facilities within Safety & Risk Services.
- Teela Narsih has been promoted to Advisor, Safety Programs within Safety & Risk Services.
- Rebecca Way joins UBCO Financial Operations as Procurement Manager today.
VPFO job openings
All positions at UBC are available on the UBC HR Careers website, or through the career application in your Workday account. Please note that applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to the posting end date. The following VPFO positions are currently open:
- Student Litter Picker (JR6197) – closing Feb 9
- Human Resources Advisor (JR6009) – closing Feb 11
- Subhead Trades 2 – Plumber (JR6101) – closes Feb 11
- Accounts Payable Processor (JR6118) – closes Feb 11
- Trades 2 – Plumber (JR6094) – closes Feb 11
- Procurement Sourcing Manager (JR6218) – closing Feb 12
- Project Manager II (JR5779) – closing Feb 15
- Manager, Contract and Supplier Management (JR6219) – closes Feb 21
- Manager, Payroll Operations & Control (JR6152) – closing Feb 24
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
Learn about the 2021 WES Overall results at the virtual Open Session on February 14
Over 6,300 faculty and staff participated in the UBC Workplace Experiences Survey (WES) in November 2021, sharing feedback on their experiences of working at UBC.
Join the virtual open session, hosted by Human Resources and TalentMap, on Monday, February 14, for a presentation of the 2021 WES overall results followed by Q&A.
- Monday, February 14
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (via Zoom)
- Register today
Feb 15-18: Join UBC’s Travelling Health Fair
UBC’s annual travelling health fair is back from February 15 to 18 and open is to faculty, staff and postdoctoral students.
Brought to you by the HR Health and Wellbeing team in partnership with the UBC Pharmacists Clinic, the Travelling Health Fair provides you with helpful health information and one-on-one consultation to help you achieve your optimal physical and mental health.
Check the Move UBC calendar and get active this February
Find new ways to fit physical activity into your day and move in ways that are empowering, comfortable, and motivating for you. From standing during meetings to active transportation like walking or taking the bus, when it comes to moving more, it all adds up — every step, squat, and stretch counts.
Check out the Move UBC calendar for events and initiatives happening in-person and remotely this February.
February is Black History Month (BHM)
Black Histroy Month is an opportunity for a focused, intentional and elevated reflection and recognition of Black history and achievement. From events, online webinars to features written by and about our UBC Black scholars, learn about the ways you can celebrate BHM.
- UBC Beyond: To understand B.C.’s Black history, connect past and present in Canada
- Celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black graduate students at UBC
- New scholarship program supports Black Canadian students at UBC
Helpful news
Some interesting news articles our 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.
- The early days of the pandemic were a shock. Next was a period of prolonged psychic pain, which came from our needs for certainty, control, and connectedness not being met. And now, we’re now in the rehabilitation phase. This Harvard Business Review article offers three pieces of advice for us to rebuild, repair, and regrow
- Busy, busy, busy? Too busy to be cute in valentine’s day card? We’ve got you covered with 55 sweet Valentine’s Day wishes for friends, family, and loved ones.
Have an article for the VPFO team? Email communications@vpfo.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.
- Jan 19 – Mar 9: Weekly mindful sessions with Aisha Tejani
- February 15: Travelling Health Fair – Preventive Health. For more information about the Travelling Health Fair, visit the UBC HR website.
- February 16: Travelling Health Fair – A Healthy Mind
- February 17: QPR Suicide Intervention Training
- February 18: Travelling Health Fair – Insomnia and Healthy Sleep Habits
- Self-guided: Wellbeing in the Workplace
- Self-guided: Preventing Burnout: Managing stress, emotions and our tendency to give
To view more workshops, webinars and events visit the HR event listing.
As many of us prepare to return to campus again, some will experience excitement, while others may have concerns and feel some anxiety. Learn more about the mental health resources available for UBC staff & faculty.