SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE VPFO TOWNHALL ON JULY 15
Peter Smailes, Vice-President Finance & Operations, is hosting a townhall for our portfolio to look back on our experiences over the past year and a half and forward to a brighter fall and beyond. The agenda will include:
Our last 18 months
- COVID-19, working apart and coming together.
Where we are today
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, transformation, and a financial health update.
Our focus this fall
- Strategic renewal, systems renewal, Operational Excellence, and our focus in the Okanagan.
Our return to campus
- The VPFO’s approach, our safety plan, keeping our spaces safe, and your return checklist.
We welcome questions in advance on any of these topics. Please send your questions to vp.finops@ubc.ca and we will try to answer the larger questions at the townhall and your more specific questions through your senior leader following the townhall.
NEW MANDATORY TRAINING FOR WORKING ON CAMPUS
A new Mandatory Training ‘UBC Go Forward COVID-19 Safety Planning Training’ must be completed by all faculty & staff currently working on campus or returning to campus. This course replaces the previous “Preventing COVID-19 Infection in the Workplace” course, and must be completed even if you have taken the previous course. This course consists 1 x 20 min online module followed by a quiz.
This new course provides a general overview of:
- UBC’s Go Forward Plan and how it aligns with the BC Restart Plan
- New approach to Step 3 UBC wide COVID-19 Safety Plans
- Planning for Events and Gatherings
- Alignment with Sector Guidelines
Take the course on the Workplace Learning (WPL) website: https://wpl.ubc.ca/browse/srs/courses/wpl-srs-gfsp
UPDATED INFORMATION ON UBC’S BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND SPACES
The COVID-19 Heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) working group has included updated information regarding building ventilation for UBC buildings, in preparation for increased campus activity for Winter 2021/2022 Term 1.
For details, please visit the Facilities website: https://facilities.ubc.ca/hvac
CAMPUS SECURITY WILL BE ATTENDING TO FIRST AID CALLS
As of July 2, Campus Security is attending to all First Aid calls for faculty, staff, students, and visitors on the UBC Vancouver campus. Campus Security Patrols Officers are now Occupational First Aid Level 2 (OFA2) level certified and will respond and provide initial care and implement any critical interventions up to the scope of their training until paramedics arrive on scene. All life-threatening emergencies should continue to be directed to 911.
As part of becoming an integrated Safety & Risk Services team and elevating the profile for Campus Security, part of that journey includes taking on 24/7 First Aid responsibilities for students, faculty, staff and visitors within our campus boundaries. In January, Campus Security is hoping to begin the process of integrating with the student medical response team to improve the quality of services for a safe campus environment and engaged team members. More details to come later this year.
For First Aid, please contact 604-822-4444
In the event of a medical emergency, first call 911 and then call First Aid.
WORKPLACE LEARNING GOES-LIVE AUGUST 16TH
A reminder that we’re moving safety training tracking online! Starting on August 16th, safety training data will be saved using two systems, Canvas and Workday.
You’ll be able to view your safety training and certifications in your Workday profile, by visiting the careers application, and viewing the certifications page. You’ll also be enrolled in a safety training program in Canvas based on your role.
This means, when you log into Canvas, via UBC’s Workplace Learning website (wpl.ubc.ca) you’ll notice you’ve been enrolled in a safety training program that consists of every in-person safety training course you need to do your work. There’s no action for you though, you will continue to be invited to in-person training the same way you are now.
For more information, visit: wpl.ubc.ca
SEARCHING FOR MATERIALS IN PMFS AND PLANON
PMFS App: For best search results when requesting materials for a work order using the PMFS app (Materials section within the work order), enter the partial words of the item you are looking for separated by spaces into the search bar. Not adding spaces could result in no items being retrieved from your search.
Planon Back Office: For best search results when searching for products using Planon back-office, use partial words of the items you are looking for, separated by % signs, with no spaces:
Correct:
SHIRAZ KHAN JOINS CUSTOMER SERVICES & INFORMATICS AS SERVICE CENTRE COORDINATOR
Shiraz joined UBC in 1995 and has had a variety of experience on campus including Bookstore warehouse, Parking, and Campus Mail. Shiraz then joined Facilities where he was a labourer with the Municipal team for a number of years before transitioning into a temporary role within the Clerical team. During his time with the Clerical team, Shiraz gained valuable experience covering for the Service Centre when needed.
Shiraz is excited to be back with the Customer Services & Informatics team and will started yesterday, July 12, 2021 in the University Services Building (USB).
HAVE MUSEUMS SIDELINED ASIAN HISTORY?
To raise awareness of UBC’s National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism in Canada on June 10 and 11, UBC has created a series of videos where prominent Asian Canadians and allies share their perspectives on anti-Asian racism.
This week, Dr. Viviane Gosselin, Curator of Contemporary Culture at the Museum of Vancouver, discusses the role of museums in shaping the histories of Asian Canadians.
Read more on the VPFO Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion webpage:
MANAGING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
HR has collected mental health resources to help you manage your ups and downs. Our HR representative Arvind Kang (akang03@mail.ubc.ca) and Matt Furgal (matthew.furgal@ubc.ca) is always available for a confidential conversation.
- Self-guided: Self and Community Care: Building skills to manage stress: Learn to integrate relaxation and your personal needs into your daily life in this self-paced webinar.
- Self-guided: Wellbeing in the Workplace: Learn tools and skills to support wellbeing while working within changing environments in this self-paced webinar.
- July 13: Self and Community Care Facilitated Webinar: This 2-part facilitated webinar focuses on increasing mental health literacy for individuals.
- July 19: Strengthening Resilience: Learn about evidence-informed strategies to strengthen resilience, as well as resources that are available to support resilience and wellbeing.
- August 10 (Part 1) & 18 (Part 2): Understanding Mental Health: This session aims to increase mental health literacy while providing tools and skills to respond effectively in a caring and respectful way.
Free group counselling to help navigate change
As more changes come along our way, it can be helpful during this time to get support to navigate through these changes. For some recommended group counselling options from our Employee and Family Assistance Program, visit the HR website:
https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/news/june-06-2021/free-group-counselling-help-navigate-change
WEEKLY EMERGENCY TIP: BEWARE OF AFTERSHOCKS
After an earthquake, expect hundreds if not thousands of smaller earthquakes called aftershocks. They can continue for weeks, if not months after the initial event.
Remember to Drop, Cover and Hold on for each aftershock you experience.
For more information on earthquakes, visit the UBC Emergency preparedness website: https://ready.ubc.ca/take-action/earthquake/
For more information, visit the Government of BC’s website: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/earthquake-damage-and-aftershocks