VPFO Team Newsletter: January-February 2019

 

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VPFO Acronym
TEAM NEWSLETTER
JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2019
VP Finance & Operations Portfolio

WELCOME TO WINTER TERM!

The snow has come to remind us that winter really does happen here in Vancouver. Read about our campus snow team and how they work to keep the campus safe for students, faculty, and staff. Also note the Quick Update on what will happen at UBC in the event of an extreme weather alert.

As we ease into the final approach to year end, the finance departments have assembled a one-stop year end dates list for your reference. As well, our T4s are coming soon and, if you’re not getting yours online already, now is a great time to log into the self-service portal and make your process a lot quicker this year.

Also, don’t miss the save the date for Pink Shirt Day 2019. Building Operations is hosting the VPFO portfolio on February 27.

Read on to learn more about the recent innovative and award-winning work done by your VPFO portfolio.

VPFO DATES
IMPORTANT YEAR END FINANCE DATES NOW IN ONE LOCATION
JANUARY – APRIL
The UBC Finance website now offers an Important Dates section. Find dates and deadlines for procurement, credit card programs, financial reporting, etc. READ MORE >
VPFO LEADERSHIP OFFICE RETURNS TO KOERNER LIBRARY
VPFO United Way
FEBRUARY 11
After several months of renovation, the Finance Leadership team has moved out of their swing space location – West Mall Annex – and back to Level 6, Walter C. Koerner Library. READ MORE >
GET READY FOR CONGRESS 2019
VPFO United Way
JUNE 1-7
The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is one of the largest interdisciplinary conferences in the world. READ MORE >
SAVE THE DATE: PINK SHIRT DAY
VPFO United Way
FEBRUARY 27
The VPFO is opening a conversation about respect in the workplace. To kick off, Building Operations is hosting Pink Shirt Day for the entire portfolio at the University Services Building. Mark the date and watch for more information.
TOP STORIES
WINTER IS COMING
While you may have only now pulled your snow shovel out of storage, Building Operations and Facilities Management staff at UBC been planning since last summer for any winter weather event that could strike our campuses.
READ MORE
NOTHING COMMON ABOUT IT
The Commons building at UBC Okanagan is a significant addition to the campus environment and will be an influential part of the student, faculty, staff, and visitor’s campus experience .
READ MORE
FROM A TEACHING PERSPECTIVE: UPGRADED LASR 102
Sherry McKay, Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), shares her experience teaching in the recently renovated Frederic Lasserre 102 classroom.
READ MORE
QUICK UPDATES
PREPARING FOR EXTREME WEATHER AT UBC
It’s been a very mild winter, but a quick reminder about what will happen at UBC in the event of an extreme weather alert. READ MORE >
HELP UBC SAVE ENERGY: TAKE THE COOL CAMPUS CHALLENGE PLEDGE
UBC is participating in the BC Cool Campus Challenge. We all have a part to play. Take the pledge and help save energy on campus and at home. READ MORE >
UPDATE FOR FINANCIAL STAFF: T2202A FORMS
UBC uses the T2202A form to certify a student’s eligibility for tuition, education, and textbook amounts. For the 2019 tax year the Canada Revenue Agency is implementing changes to this form. READ MORE >
2019 UBC PRESIDENT’S AWARDS FOR STAFF: NOMINATIONS
Nominate UBC staff who make outstanding contributions to the UBC community for the President’s Service Award for Excellence or President’s Staff Awards (Vancouver campus).
READ MORE >
REMINDER TO ALL T4A AND T5 RECIPIENTS
All T4A and T5 statements at UBC are now issued on an annual basis. All T4As and T5s for the 2018 tax year will be issued and mailed by the end of February 2019. READ MORE >
SCHEDULED DISRUPTIONS TO RMS SAFETY TRAINING PRACTICAL SESSIONS
Due to scheduled renovations of our teaching laboratory, practical training sessions of the RMS Biosafety, Chemsafety, and Radiation Safety training programs may be interrupted starting February 2019. READ MORE >
NOVEMBER COMMUNICATIONS BRAND SESSION AND WORKSHOP
Websites and GatherContent were two hot topics discussed at the VPFO brand session in November 2018. This semi-annual session is a great opportunity to connect and share ideas with peers across the VPFO portfolio. READ MORE >
IMPROVING UBC’S VENDOR INFORMATION
Financial Operations is reviewing our vendor data and working with vendors to confirm contact details and register with our Electronic Funds Transfer payment program. READ MORE >
FINANCIAL OPERATIONS TO OPEN SATELLITE OFFICE AT WESBROOK
Financial Operations is outfitting a second location in Wesbrook Village that will accommodate our expanding Accounts Payable team. Approximately 40 staff will be based at the new location this April. READ MORE >
UBC CONTINUES EFFORTS TO IMPROVE DISASTER RESILIENCE ON VANCOUVER CAMPUS
A team of UBC staff, leading earthquake faculty experts, and engineering consultants has produced a study examining how to protect lives, research programs, infrastructure and assets in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. READ MORE >
PEOPLE OF THE VPFO

GET TO KNOW: NATALIE INGRAM, ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR, CORM

Natalie brings her personal vision to work and shares her creativity and knowledge to help people think about the world just a little bit differently.

READ MORE
“It’s much more rewarding to try something new and risk doing it imperfectly than it is to hold off because you might not be any good at it”

GET TO KNOW: PAUL KWON, BUSINESS SUPPORT ANALYST WITH FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

Paul loves to laugh. Whether hanging out at lunch with friends or his newborn daughter — Paul is always ready to find the fun and be there for his co-workers, friends, and family.

READ MORE
“I would love to see UBC successfully implement the IRP. We’ve got some of our best people involved in seeing this through”
MANON HARVEY APPOINTED DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED PLANNING AND CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER AT UBC OKANAGAN
Manon brings more than two decades of experience and leadership at the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), where she ensured the integrity of all aspects of the organization’s financial dealings and the $7 billion entrusted to the CFI by the Government of Canada. READ MORE >
JENNIFER SANGUINETTI APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Jennifer joined UBC in 2014 as the Director, Project Services and since November 2017 has been Acting Managing Director, Infrastructure Development. READ MORE >
JIM ONDERWATER JOINS UBC AS SENIOR PROCUREMENT OFFICER
Jim joins us from Rossdown Farms, where he served as the Manager of Supply Chain and Purchasing, a role in which he led a number of strategic initiatives including achieving over 10% cost savings through a reduction in vendor quantity and inventory. READ MORE >
KAREN OYHENART JOINS UBC HR AS DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES FOR THE VPFO
Joining UBC on January 9 from Open Text and Telus, Karen will be the embedded lead for the strategic planning, coordination, and implementation of human resources for the VPFO portfolio. READ MORE >

WANT TO BE FEATURED AS ONE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE VPFO?

We’re looking for newsworthy items about our people:

Check out our submission guidelines for help.

WE HAVE NEW BRIGHT IDEAS!

We’re sharing all of the new Ideas to help spark your own Bright Idea or share your ideas on how to build on the submissions. Some of these ideas will be selected by VPFO leadership for further investigation:

 

LET’S CREATE A PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PROPERLY DISPOSING OF BEVERAGES TO HELP AVOID INJURIES AND DAMAGE

READ MORE

A Bright Idea to create materials to remind students, faculty, and staff to properly dispose of beverages when they’re packing up. Soft drinks and hot drinks that are left in classes/theatre/offices can spill, damaging floors, which leads to expensive cleaning and repairs.

 

LETS DESIGN OUR SEATING IN PUBLIC SPACES TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO THE WALLS

READ MORE

A Bright Idea to improve public spaces and decrease maintenance costs in cleaning, drywall repair, or painting by looking at how seating relates to the rest of the elements it interacts with (desks, walls, etc.).

LET’S MENTOR STUDENTS AND BENEFIT FROM THE LABOUR THEY CAN PROVIDE TO CAMPUS OPERATIONS

READ MORE

A Bright Idea to improve student learning by offering a unique (and eclectic) university experience by engaging students to become part of teams that support the university’s operations and initiatives.

 

LET’S CREATE A COMMON DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE OF LADDERS ACROSS CAMPUS

READ MORE

A bright Idea to create a common location to store a set of ladders in each of our buildings to provide a cost-effective solution for less driving and more time on the job site helping campus users.

Submit your Bright Idea for consideration at vpfo.ubc.ca/brightideas

SEE HOW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HELPS THE
VPFO CREATE A SAFE AND FLOURISHING UBC

READ MORE

Environmental Protection supports the mission of the VPFO and the UBC campus as a whole by providing technical and regulatory expertise to faculty and staff on how to best manage their activities to ensure compliance with environmental laws and stewardship goals.

 

WHO IS THE VPFO?
The VPFO portfolio includes:

 

Have a story that would be of
interest to your colleagues in
the VPFO?

We’re looking for newsworthy stories like notable team achievements, project milestones, and notable events. Check out our submission guidelines for help.
SUBMIT YOUR STORY
VP Finance & Operations
West Mall Annex
1933 West Mall
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2

Produced by VPFO Communications.
The VPFO monthly newsletter is sent to staff employed in the VP Finance & Operations Portfolio and to partners at the University of British Columbia to communicate up-to-date VPFO portfolio news and information.