Updates from UBC
- February 18: President’s Update: 2022: Pink Shirt Day
- February 16: UBC Bulletin: Moving staff to midpoint of salary range (midpoint progression increase)
Updates on UBC’s response to COVID-19 are at covid19.ubc.ca.
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services
- Inside the new UBC Arts Student Centre: UBC Arts Student Centre officially opened its doors in Nov 2021. The multi-purpose facility supports the learning, social, collaboration and innovation space needs of a diverse Faculty of Arts population. Visit the Facilities website for photos, videos and features of this exciting project.
- Heat recovery chiller and coils successfully commissioned: Installed in Chemistry D Block, Centre Wing, and Chemistry E Block North Wing, the heat recovery chiller and coils will be saving the university a significant amount of thermal energy and energy costs annually. Learn more
- New Biomass Boiler going through commissioning at the Bioenergy Research Demonstration Facility (BRDF): As the new boiler’s combustion is fine-tuned, you may notice some grey smoke, accompanied by a campfire scent. Learn more about this project
- Utility Management Systems (UMS): The billing software for electricity, water, natural gas, thermal energy (steam) and hot water, has reached beyond its expected life. A business case is in progress and a Request for Proposal (RFP) is expected to go out in fall 2020. Learn more
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- T4/T4A tax slips and T2200S forms will soon be available for faculty and staff: Further information on how employees can access their tax slips and forms will be shared via an announcement on the Finance website this week and through UBC Today next week. Learn more
- You’re invited to the 2021/2022 Year End Timelines and Procedures Call-In Session: A call-in session is being held on Feb 28 for the community to provide an overview of the year end timelines and procedures for 2021/2022. Learn more and register
- January Financial Operations service delivery dashboards: The January dashboards are now available to view on the UBC Finance website.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Updates to Rapid Antigen tests: Due to the unusually cold temperatures this week, UBC cardholders can pick up Rapid test kits in the Ponderosa Ballroom instead of outside at University Commons. Rapid Antigen tests are available for all UBC students, faculty, and staff on campus with a presentation of a UBC ID. Visit the SRS website for the latest information.
- Providing Rapid Antigen Test kits and medical masks for students, faculty and staff: In the first week of launch, approximately 2,800 Rapid Antigen tests and 1,000 packs of 10 medical masks were handed out to students, faculty, and staff.
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.
- Shimoida Toshio joined as Business Analyst, Data & Reporting on February 14.
- Wong Ka Lai joined as Financial Analyst on February 14.
- Polina Sefin joins as Service Centre Coordinator within Customer Services & Informatics, Facilities on February 22.
- Yedla Srinivasa joins as Data Developer, ETL on February 22.
- Steve Carey has been promoted to Facilities Manager for Blue zone within Customer Services & Informatics. His first day in this role will be March 28, 2022.
- Conor Hourigan has been promoted to Subhead Millwright in Building Operations.
- Farewell to Selma D’Silva, Julvina Victoria, and Pravin Khan from the Payroll team and Kyle Reese from Project Services, Infrastructure Development. Thank you for your contribution to UBC!
- Karen Koyama has retired. She is currently on vacation and her projects have been transferred to other Project Managers within Project Services, Infrastructure Development. Her official last day at UBC is March 31. Congratulations on your retirement, Karen!
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:
- Labourer 3 (Streets and Operations Support) (JR6376) – closing Feb 23
- Tool Crib/Store Operator (JR6344) – closing Feb 23
- Manager, Payroll Operations & Control (JR6152) – closing Feb 24
- Payroll Operations Support Specialist (JR6272) – closing Feb 25
- Financial Analyst (JR6320) – closing Feb 25
- Safety Associate – Research Compliance and Occupational Hygiene (JR6450) – closing Feb 27
- Lead Advisor, Privacy and Information Security Risk (JR6451) – Mar 3
- Supplier Setup Clerk (JR6424) – closing Mar 3
- Labourer 2 (JR6416) – closing Mar 3
- Finance Functional Analyst (JR6293) – closing Mar 6
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
Lift Each Other Up and celebrate Pink Shirt Day on February 23
Join us tomorrow virtually or on campus in celebrating our diversity as we Lift Each Other Up to have greater acceptance, respect, and inclusion.
Wear a pink shirt, and join in on Zoom to hear an update on where the VPFO is going with Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
- Date: February 23, 2022
- Time: 2:00pm – 2:30pm
- On campus: Join us live at the University Services Building (USB) atrium for a safely catered event
- Online: The event will be streamed live via Zoom. Download Zoom backgrounds
Learn more about Pink Shirt Day
2021 WES results and action plan guide now available
Over 6,300 faculty and staff participated in the Workplace Experiences Survey (WES) last November. This survey is the primary opportunity for all faculty and staff to share feedback on their experiences of working at UBC. The results offer insights into the progress to make UBC a more diverse, inclusive, safe, and vibrant workplace.
UBC overall results
These results are now available online for faculty and staff to view (CWL required). The presentation includes results across various engagement themes and the drivers of engagement for faculty and staff.
Don’t have time to review the results? A one-page infographic featuring highlights is also available.
Improve your relationship with food: NourishU this March
March is Nutrition Month! Feeling frustrated, anxious, or overwhelmed around food decisions? Need strategies and supports to enhance your relationship with food?
Join Nourish U — a 31-day nutrition journey to transform your relationship with food. All UBC community members are welcome.
The journey starts on March 1! Register now and complete all 31 days to be eligible for the weekly prizes to win the grand prize: an air fryer!
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.
- Interruptions are a fact of life — but do they have to be unpleasant? A recent study found that 31% of workplace interruptions are actually experienced positively, and offers six strategies to help anyone become a better (that is, less annoying) interrupter. Read more
- Have you heard of Wordle? Over 300,000 people play this word game daily. Learn all about this game, including its rules and origin, as well as tips and tricks. Read more
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 23 & 28: Mindful Movement with Melissa Nkomo
- 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.