News

VPFO Update Newsletter

Weekly portfolio updates for the VPFO team

Each week, the VPFO shares operational information from its departments in the form of a newsletter to all VPFO staff. This is an archive of past VPFO Update newsletters. Content submissions and/or questions can be sent to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.

2026 Newsletters

Summer (May – August)

August 4: Summer Term 2 exam schedules now available | Retroactive pay updates for employees | Stay safe in the heat
July 27: Update on the search for an Associate Vice President, Finance | Upcoming Workday maintenance
July 20: Save the date for the UBC Staff and Faculty BBQ | Lower Mall Precinct construction begins | Helpful UBC AI resources
July 13: VPFO website disruptions | Metro Vancouver returns to Stage 2 water restrictions | How to prepare for a fire emergency
July 6: Douglas T. Kenny Building upgrades | Transition of UBC’s primary insurance program | Protect your lungs during wildfire season
June 29: Message from Yale | Metro Vancouver water remains safe to drink | PAAs have updated to June 11
June 22: Road closures on June 28 | 2025 Community Safety Report now available | Tips to stay cool in a heat wave
June 15: UBC’s approach to community safety and emergency planning for the summer soccer games | Stage 3 water restrictions
June 8: Temporary leadership change in Facilities | Fiscal year-end support evaluation | Stay cool in these UBC buildings
May 25: Preparing UBC for the global soccer tournament | Road closure updates | UBC Security Forum recap
May 19: UBC recognized at Canadian Society for Landscape Architect 2026 Awards of Excellence | Refreshed Adaptive reports
May 11: Performance Review Cycle have started | May is Internal Audit Month | West Mall Closures May 4 – Oct 31
May 4: BC Emergency Alert system testing | Metro Vancouver’s Stage 2 water restrictions | Defining process ownership in Facilities

Winter Term 2 (January – April)

April 27: Realigning key functions and supporting priorities within VPFO | Jack Bell Building on track to LEED Gold
April 20: Refreshed VPFO and Communications & Engagement websites | Facilities wins ASHRAE award
April 13: Coexisting with wildlife on campus | Nicole Liddell joins VPFO | Register for Faculty & Staff Sports Day
April 7: Join the Clean up the Campus event for Earth Day | Board of Governors approves balanced operating budget for 2026/7
March 30: A message from Frank: Interim reporting structure in the VPFO | Cross-department collaboration | Exam schedule is out
March 23: Campus Security renews identity as UBC Community Safety | Procurement reminds for year-end
March 16: Road Closure on Lower Mall changes to Phase 2 | Year-end reminders | The Centre updates
March 9: Pink Shirt Day recap: Kindness comes full circle | UBC Staff nominations open
March 2: Vote for UBC Facilities in the Spotless Spaces Competition | Tax slips are now available
February 23: Search for a new Associate Vice-President, Finance | Procurement reminders for year-end
February 17: Pink Shirt Day | UBC Inclusive Washroom Design Guidelines | Year End Timelines & Procedures call-in session
February 9: Help shape the future of emergency preparedness | Update on UBC and UBCIM Responsible Investing
February 2: Pink Shirt Day is back on February 25 | Updated snow and ice removal map | Budget updates
January 26: Road closures for the Lower Mall Precinct begin soon | Using UBC’s purchasing power for good
January 19: Did you get the UBC Alert test? | Digital signage transition updates | Tax slips expected by March 2
January 12: UBC Alert testing this month | Upcoming road closures for the Lower Mall Precinct Phase 1 construction
January 5: Welcome back and Happy New Year | Digital signage system transition | Finance and tax reminds for 2026

2025 Newsletters

Winter Term 1 (September – December)

December 22: VPFO 2025 Wrapped | 2025 highlights and holidays around the VPFO
December 15: Interim leadership announcement for VPFO HR | A look back on communications in 2025
December 8: Warm holiday wishes from Frank | Re-register for The Centre | Payroll deadline for December | Holiday safety tips
December 1: New leadership roles in the VPFO | Vacation carryover and sick time reminders
November 24: Group fitness classes cancelled for December | Safety & Risk Services in action!
November 17: See something? Do something – International Fraud Awareness Week | Snow and Ice Operational Plan
November 10: Preparing for extreme weather at UBC | Statement of Financial Information now available
November 3: “Payroll Pirates” phishing campaign impacting UBC accounts | Upgrading accessibility at Allard Hall
October 27: A message from Frank: Leadership change in the VP Finance & Operations
October 20: A message from Frank: Tour of new Gateway Health Building | Complete the Equity Census by Oct. 31
October 14: Plan your vacation early | ISC’s Cross-Functional Product Support team joins the Service Desk team
October 6: Get Ready to ShakeOut on Oct. 16 | UBC Alert Test | USB Lighting Renewal | Cybersecurity Awareness Month
September 29: Custodial Services leading the way | Disruptions to university cheque mailing due to Canada Post strike
September 22: President’s Service Awards for Excellence | UBC Symposium is back this October | Beaty Biodiversity expansion
September 15: Don’t feed the clog monster | Safety Awareness Week | Finance Newsletter archive | Gateway Building progress update
September 8: Message from Frank: Strengthening Transformation & Strategy to enable a more sustainable future for UBC
September 2: Come by our booths at Safety Awareness Week | Hennings Building Roof Renewal is underway

Summer (May – August)

August 25: Are you prepared for an emergency? Emergency Preparedness Calendar now available | Help reduce traffic for Move-In Day
August 18: Reminders for student move-in day | UBC Hydrogen Energy District featued in SAB Magazine
August 11: Staying cool at UBC during the heat | ANSO renewal begins January 2026 | Annual Financial Statements now available
August 5: Welcoming new members to our Transformation & Strategy team | SRS and Campus Security backend website update complete
July 28: Requesting updates/changes to VPFO owned websites | Locker usage at the Centre | Finance Portal navigation updates
July 21: UBC President’s first tour of Facilities | Swiss Franc now accepted for supplier processes in Workday
July 14: Mark your calendars for this year’s UBC Staff and Faculty BBQ
July 7: Updates to the Centre for Occupational Health, Safety & Wellbeing | Saying goodbye to @UBCFixMySpace
June 30: Do you know how to stay safe during extreme heat? | UBC Secuity Forum recap video | Raccoon rescue on campus
June 23: UBC Security Forum was a success | UBC boosts faculty and staff emergency preparedness
June 16: VPFO websites backend update underway | UBC wins ASHRAE award | Spotlight on accessibility with Julie Sawchuk
June 9: That’s a wrap on VPFO Day 2025 – view video recordings and photos from the events
June 2: Conversations to shape our future | Are you earthquake ready? | Period End Deadlines available for June, July, and August
May 26: President Bacon and Frank Laezza tour the offices of Safety & Risk Services | 2025-26 Universal Schedule now available
May 20: Welcome remarks from Dr. Bacon for VPFO Day | HSBC to RBC transition project now officially concluded
May 13: Thank you for joining the conversation at VPFO Day on May 12 | VPFO teams representing at Sports Day 2025
May 6: Break the ice and get to know your teams with Tic Tac VPFO | Emergency Preparedness Week is May 4-10

Winter Term 2 (January – April)

April 28: Working together to keep campus beautiful for Earth Day 2025 | Learn about the VPFO hierarchy terminology
April 22: USB Lighting Renewal starting in late April | New customer utility portal coming this summer
April 14: Enhancing seismic resilience at UBC | Energizing the future: SHED project wins 2025 SAB award
April 7: VPFO Visual Identity Guidelines are available | Update on UBC and UBCIM Responsible Investing Commitments
March 31: UBC Board of Governors approves balanced budget for 2025/26 | Learn about the latest information Security Standards
March 24: Shaping the future of biosafety | Supporting Canadian suppliers | Changes to cash deposits and supplier cheque distributions
March 17: Message from Frank: Building the Future of Finance at UBC | How the VPFO keeps UBC waters flowing
March 10: Celebrating kindness at VPFO at Pink Shirt Day 2025 | New Facilities service delivery model
March 3: Add to the Kindness Board | Closing the Front counter reception of TEF3 | Shifting our UBC Travel Program services
February 24: Message from Frank: Strengthening UBC’s long-term financial planning
February 18: Building Operations and Energy & Water Services websites have moved | Tax slips for faculty and staff expected by Feb. 28
February 10: Security supporting a safe and successful Invictus Games | Protecting you and UBC through smarter expense management
February 3: Naloxone kits are now on campus | UBC successfully transitioned all bank accounts to RBC | Data Privacy Week
January 27: New Scaffolding Policy I-C-02 | UBC joins national CASPAR initiative for sustainable procurement
January 20: PrISM presents: What does ‘Public Data’ really mean? | HSBC Global Disbursements transitions to RBC International Pay
January 13: New Find a Space tool is live | Transition of Workday Student to the ISC | Indigenous Business series: Cedar Feast House
January 6: UBC Finance website and portal now live | New newsletter look and feel | Indigenous Business series: Chase Office Interiors