Updates from UBC
- August 25: UBC Broadcast: Ensuring a safe start to the 2022/23 academic year
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services
- Upcoming road closures on UBC Vancouver campus: There are a number of road closures on the UBC Vancouver campus in the coming weeks. Review the details on the Facilities website to plan your routes accordingly.
- Watermain work on 16th Avenue in the University Endowment Lands (UEL): Facilities will support this work from September 15-16, 2022 by switching over our campus water feed. During this switchover, there will be minimal disruption to our water supply. Learn more
- Preparing classrooms for September: The Learning Spaces team in Infrastructure Development has been busy preparing classroom spaces for the upcoming Winter Session 2022/23 Term 1, and working with Campus Security to ensure General Teaching Spaces remain unlocked to allow faculty and staff the flexibility to access these rooms. Learn more
- Increasing collaboration with the Catchbox throwable microphone system: The Learning Spaces team recently received a video from the Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) program where students incorporated the Catchbox, a wireless, throwable microphone that supports collaborative and interactive sessions into their presentations this summer. Take a look at the Catchbox in action.
- Faculty and staff housing targeting Passive House certification opens at UBC: Evolve is a new 110-unit faculty and staff rental building in UBC’s Wesbrook Place neighbourhood. Passive House-certified buildings consume up to 90% less heating and cooling energy than conventional buildings. Learn more about this project
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- UBC increases per diem rates as of September 1: UBC annually reviews the per diem rates for travel, taking into consideration changes in cost and comparability with other institutions. As a result of this review and our community’s feedback, UBC’s per diem rates will increase effective Sept 1, 2022. See revised rates
- Improved Supplier Change Request form: The Workday form has been redesigned to make it easier to request an update to a specific supplier detail and add corresponding attachments where necessary. Learn more
- Begin the academic year on track by ensuring your supplier is set up properly: Reminder that Purchase Orders or Outstanding Invoices can’t be issued or paid without a supplier record in Workday. To avoid procurement and payment delays, please submit your supplier set-up and change requests in Workday as soon as possible. Learn more
- Submitting Credit Card Application Requests: A reminder that new credit card requests can only be submitted after the employee’s start date. For a refresher of your responsibility as a cardholder and approver, read the UBC VISA Card Cardholder & Approver Handbook.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Updated COVID-19 Campus Rules: As announced in June of this year, UBC no longer requires students, faculty and staff to wear non-medical masks, but UBC continues to recommend that masks be worn in indoor public spaces. Learn more
- Are you prepared for an emergency: Safety & Risk Service’s Emergency Management team will be setting up a booth to share information about personal emergency preparedness. Learn more
- Sept 6: Find our Emergency Preparedness booth on Imagine UBC @ Main Mall, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
- Sept 7-8: Ride the Quake Cottage, an earthquake simulator @ University Commons outside the Nest, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- New communications toolkit available: Communications & Engagement created a toolkit to help you share information about Emergency Management’s events on Sept 6-8 across campus. Learn more on the VPFO Communications website.
People of the VPFO
Shout outs
At the VPFO, we love celebrating success! Join us every week in recognizing the great work our VPFO team members are doing to support the university.
Facilities
- Daniel Strikaitis, Head, Electrical Projects – Dan is one of the recipients of this year’s President’s Staff Award for Leadership. Your commitment to excellence, operations and inclusivity is appreciated. Read more about how Dan supports VPFO & UBC. We are proud of you, Dan!
Finance & Operational Excellence
- Farhad Deboo, Project Manager – Shout out to Farhad for your excellent work on standardizing processes and your impact on the ISC’s growth. Your willingness to share your learnings and knowledge and unique personable skills make you a great leader. Keep up the good work!
Well done! Want to give someone a shout out in the next edition? Email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca
People in motion
- Sean Zheng has been promoted to Sub-Head in Stores, Municipal Services within Facilities. His diverse work experience and education, along with his technical capabilities and knowledge in continuous improvement, will help him transition seamlessly into his new role.
- August 31 is Director, Facilities Planning, Catherine Alkenbrack’s last day at UBC before heading into retirement. Catherine joined UBC in 1999 and has been an important part of Facilities Planning within Infrastructure Development, Facilities. Teresa Syrnyk will be stepping into her role. Congrats on the promotion, Teresa, and thank you for your service, Catherine!
- Farewell to Sally Scott, Service Centre Representative, and Paul Yo, Procurement Partner. Thank you for your service!
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:
- Auxiliary Service Worker (10 Positions) (JR9288) – 08/31/2022
- Procurement Officer (JR9297) – 09/02/2022
- Manager, Treasury Contracts & Real Estate (JR9294) – 09/02/2022
- Supplier Setup Clerk (JR9296) – 09/02/2022
- Relief Shift Team Leader (CEC) (JR9276) – 09/05/2022
- Manager, Service Center (JR9094) – 09/05/2022
- Financial Proc. Spec 3 (Gr4) (JR9321) – 09/06/2022
- ISC Functional Support Analyst (JR9345) – 09/15/2022
Don’t forget to apply as an internal candidate! Please review the Apply for an Internal Job Posting guide in the Workday Knowledge Base for instructions on how to apply. Reminder to attach a copy of your resume when you apply for a career opportunity in Workday.
Other notable updates
Announcing the recipients of the 2022 President’s Awards for Staff
Congratulations to the 21 staff recipients of the 2022 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.
A special congrats to Daniel Strikaitis, Head, Electrical Projects of Building Operations within Facilities for being awarded the President’s Staff Award for Leadership. Well deserved and thank you for all that you do for UBC!
Read about the staff who are making UBC a great place to teach, learn and work.
EDI: Embracing age diversity in the workplace
Silver-haired, veteran journalist Lisa LaFlamme was recently let go as CTV’s anchor and chief news correspondent amidst accusations of age discrimination. LaFlamme’s exit is an example of the sexism and ageism women continue to face at work.
Teams in the coming years are going to be made up of people from different generations. Recognizing and addressing your personal assumptions pertaining to age is a great start to working against ageism.
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.
- UBC often ranks as one of the most filmed locations in the world. Find out where you can spot our Vancouver campus on the big and small screen! Read more
- Organizational psychologist, Adam Grant argues that it’s better to overcommunicate and sound redundant than to undercommunicate and seem unclear and uncaring — and the VPFO Communications & Engagement team agrees. Read more
Managing your mental health
HR has collected mental health resources to help you manage your ups and downs. To view workshops, webinars and events visit the HR event listing.
Our VPFO HR staff is always available for a confidential conversation. Refer to this service map to connect with the HR Advisor supporting your area.
Access the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) confidential services, through LifeWorks, by calling 1-866-424-0770.