Updates from UBC
- May 30: UBC Announcement: UBC Vancouver – Call for proposals for the 2022 Winter Session Work Learn program
- May 27: President’s Blog: Statement on the one-year anniversary of the announcement of 215 unmarked graves found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential Schoo
Updates from VPFO
- Great seeing you at the VPFO Town Hall: Thank you for joining us at the VPFO Town Hall on May 26. The resources from the town hall, including recording, slides, agenda and helpful links, are now available on the VPFO website.
- VPFO’s new Strategic Plan: Our new strategic plan will guide us in our decision-making and give us a solid framework to navigate this transition and grow together. Learn about our Strategic Plan, including our vision, purpose, values, and strategic directions, on the VPFO website.
- Preparing for transition in the VPFO: Starting on June 1, Karamjeet Heer will be serving as the Interim Vice-President, Finance, and John Metras will be the Interim Vice-President, Operations, until the search for a new Vice-President is complete. Learn more about the transition and what it means to the VPFO
For the latest updates for faculty and staff, visit UBC Today.
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
- tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ (The Houses of the Ones Belonging to the Saltwater): With the recent occupancy of our newest residence community, tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ at UBC, learn how to pronounce the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-language residence and house names on the Student Housing & Community Services website.
- Planon Release 4.1 go live today (May 30): Energy & Water Services can now use Planon to maintain and manage their urban and building assets via preventative maintenance plans and orders created in Planon. For more information, including new features, visit the Facilities website.
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- A successful Lean Six Sigma Graduation Ceremony: Last week, Operational Excellence hosted its first ceremony event for Yellow Belt graduates, to recognize their hard work and dedication in driving continuous improvement at UBC. The next event will take place in the fall. Stay tuned for event photos!
- April Interest Rates: The April interest rates are now updated and available on the UBC Finance website.
- Claiming Unidentified Wire Transfers and Direct Deposit: Please check through the list of unidentified wire transfers and direct deposits (updated as of May 26) to see if any payments belong to your department.
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- Changes in the VPFO HR team: VPFO HR is pleased to announce a number of exciting changes within the team. A service map is available to help you better understand the roles and assigned departments of our team members. Learn more
- Communication Policies & Protocols: UBC has various guidelines, policies, and protocols that relate to communications and how we represent the university. Get familiar with them so that you can represent UBC in your role. Learn more on the VPFO Communications 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.
- Facilities welcomes Alaina Beach, Oisin Linnane, Sam Cooney, and Liam Velonic as Labourer 2 (Seasonal), and Mark Roberts as Trades 3 – Electrician.
- Caroline Facioli Urnau joins Financial Operations as Accounts Payable Team Lead today.
- Katherine Allan joins Safety & Risk Services as Occupational Health and Safety Associate today.
- VPFO HR is pleased to announce the promotion of Gregor MacDonald to HR Advisor and the joining of Carlea Cardero as HR Advisor. Read more about the changes within the HR team.
- Ernesto Castano is joining Financial Operations as the Associate Director, Procurement on June 1.
- Entela Ifti is starting in her new position as Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis, effective June 1.
- Joan Mar will step into her new role as Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, starting June 16.
- Tomorrow is Morie Der’s last day at UBC before heading into retirement. Morie joined UBC in 2013 and has been the Senior Procurement Officer with Financial Operations for almost 8 years. Thank you for your service and congratulations on your retirement, Morie!
- Francis Lepage’s last day at UBC is on Friday, June 3. He’ll be taking up an opportunity in Squamish. Thank you for your contribution, Francis — and we hope you enjoy Squamish! Sean Lynch will be stepping in as Acting Director for Custodial Services, starting next week. Congrats, Sean!
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:
- Workday Functional Finance Analyst (JR7786) – 2022-06-01
- Head Utility Worker (JR7918) – 2022-06-01
- Waste Site Supervisor (JR7890) – 2022-06-01
- Manager, PIA Operations & Engagement (JR7682) – 2022-06-03
- Reuse Initiative Coordinator (JR7927) – 2022-06-06
- Buyer (JR7857) – 2022-06-07-2022
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.
Other notable updates
Inclusion, Exclusion, Segregation, and Integration: What are they and how are they different?
In this week’s VPFO EDI article, learn about:
- the Tulsa race massacre that took place on the evening of May 31, 1921, killing hundreds of residents, burning more than 1,250 homes, and erasing years of Black success;
- how the Civil Rights Movement abolished institutional racial segregation and integrated schools and other aspects of everyday life;
- the differences between the terms: Inclusion, Exclusion, Segregation, and Integration.
Free, self-paced Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Training
We each have an active role to play in working against oppression and towards equality, and finding ways to elevate historically and systemically marginalized groups. Education is key to effectively defeating racism and injustice.
To help, your EDI committee has produced a series of self-paced, free VFPO EDI canvas courses, available on UBC Workplace Learning (WPL).
Let’s work together to stop the spread of COVID-19
Dr. Sabrina Wong from UBC Nursing is recruiting people to participate in a study to learn whether people can correctly interpret the results of the Roche SD biosensor (SARS-CoV-2 self test nasal) using the manufacturer’s instructions. The survey will take about 20 minutes. You can participate in-person or via Zoom.
Are you a parent of a 14-15 year old? We are also looking for your children, aged 14-15 years old to also fill out the rapid antigen test survey.
Here is a link (https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_blM7z9ERJvAuX7U) where you can sign up!
As a token of our appreciation, participants will receive a $10 gift card that can be used at any UBC food services place (https://food.ubc.ca/feedme) and/or a 5- pack of SARS-CoV-2 self test nasal rapid antigen tests (ages 16+).
Please pass on this study information to any friends or colleagues who live/work/play @UBC.
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Sabrina Wong, 604-827-5584 (sabrina.wong@ubc.ca)
- For more information contact: Veena Mudaliar (veena.mudaliar@alumni.ubc.ca)
AccessAbility Week: May 29 – June 4
National AccessAbility Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and promote efforts to increase accessibility and inclusion in Canada.
Find accessibility resources available for faculty and staff
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.
- While it’s important to share your point of view in meetings, it’s critical to know when and how. The author of this Harvard Business Review article offers practical tips for sharing the floor so that you can get your message across more effectively.
- Shocking news — 10,000 steps a day didn’t come from science, and no one is exactly sure where it comes from. So exactly how many steps a day do we really need to take? Find out in this New York Times article.
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. Refer to this service map to connect with the HR Advisor supporting your area.
- June 7: Staff Pension Plan Update
- June 7: Navigating Race-Based Trauma and Grief (IBPOC/BIPOC only)
- June 21: Healing Not Harm: Practicing Community Care & Pod-Mapping
- June 22 (Part 1), June 29 (Part 2), June 30 (Part 3): The Working Mind Virtual: Mental Health Training for Managers
- 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.
Faculty and staff now have a dedicated phone line to access the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) confidential services, through LifeWorks, by calling 1-866-424-0770.