Reminder to Use Staff Professional Development Funds for 2019-20
As we approach the March 31 fiscal year-end, we encourage staff to use available professional development funding. Staff access to a particular PD Fund is based on UBC employee group affiliation.
Please note there is limited funding available for the remainder of 2019-20 fiscal year for some employee groups.
Staff are welcome to submit claims to their applicable PD Fund on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual funding pool is exhausted or by the end of the fiscal year, whichever comes first.
Prior to making a PD Fund related purchase or submitting a claim for reimbursement, individuals should check their PD Fund webpage for updates on their remaining funding pool balance (where applicable).
Notes about PD Funds for Fiscal 2019-20
- We anticipate that the M&P PD Fund (AAPS) and the CUPE 2950 PD Fund will exhaust before the end of the current fiscal year.
- The TRA PD Fund for non-union technicians and research assistants has exhausted and is no longer accepting PD expense claims for the current funding year.
- It’s expected that the other staff PD funds will be able to accommodate funding requests until the March 31 year-end.
- When an employee group’s funding pool balance exhausts prior to March 31, all individual balances expire at that time and no further PD claims will be accepted for reimbursement in the current funding year.
These PD funding pools are designed to support UBC employees with staff appointments to pursue professional development opportunities that will enhance their skills, knowledge and ongoing career growth at UBC.
Information and updates related to both faculty and staff professional development funds are available on the HR PD Funding webpage for all campuses.
UBC Staff Pension Plan Fair: Thursday, June 20, 2019
This year’s UBC Staff Pension Fair takes place on Thursday, June 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre on the Vancouver campus. This is a drop-in event; no RSVP is required.
The Pension Fair is a great opportunity for members to learn more about their pension plan and increase their pension knowledge. We are also pleased to have the following groups in attendance:
- UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits
- UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program
- UBC Investment Management Trust (IMANT) Inc.
- CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons)
- BC Federation of Retired Union Members (FORUM) (new in 2019!)
Visit the SPP Pension Fair event website for more details.
UBC Staff Pension Plan: 2018 Annual Report
The Staff Pension Plan 2018 Annual Report is now available online.
The report includes a Message from the Chair and Executive Director, highlights for the Plan, membership and administration statistics, a review of the Plan’s funds and investment performance and information about how to access your pension information online. View the 2018 Annual Report.
Register now for Faculty & Staff Sports Day (May 3, 2019)
Gather your colleagues and join one of the largest university-wide events for faculty and staff. Sports Day is an annual event where teams from departments across the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses compete in a variety of fun, recreational challenges that can only be accomplished through teamwork and collaboration. This event is free for faculty and staff, and all abilities are welcome.
This year’s Sports Day is on May 3. Registration is now open:
Reminder to Use Staff Professional Development Funds for 2018/19
As we approach the March 31 fiscal year-end, we encourage staff to use their professional development funds. Professional development funds are designed to support staff in pursuing professional development opportunities that will enhance their skills, knowledge and ongoing career growth at UBC.
Staff are welcome to make claims to their employee group based PD Fund on a first-come, first-served basis until the budgeted funding pool is exhausted or by the end of the fiscal year, whichever comes first.
Prior to submitting a claim, staff should review their current eligibility status and available personal balance through Faculty & Staff Self Service (select “Staff PD” tab to view) and check their respective HR PD Funding webpage for submission guidelines and updates on the overall fund balance.
Notes about PD funds (Fiscal 2018/19)
- We anticipate that the M&P PD Fund (AAPS) and the BCGEU Okanagan PD Fund will be exhausted before the end of the current fiscal year.
- The TRA PD Fund for non-union technicians and research assistants is closed and no longer accepting PD expense claims for the current funding year.
- It is expected that the other staff PD funds will be able to accommodate funding requests until the March 31 year-end.
- If an employee group’s funding pool balance reaches zero prior to March 31, all individual balances will expire at that time and no further PD claims will be accepted for reimbursement in the current funding year.
Information and updates related to both faculty and staff professional development funds are available on the HR PD Funding webpage.
Questions? Please contact pd.funds@ubc.ca.
Staff Pension Plan Election
The UBC Staff Pension Plan (SPP) Election for two Pension Board members is now under way. Your vote is important in determining who will sit on the pension board and represent the interests of Plan members.
Election packages were mailed to Plan members on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Follow the link below for candidate information and to vote online:
https://facultystaff.students.ubc.ca/2018-staff-pension-plan-election
Voting closes at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 19, 2018. The results of the election will be posted on the SPP website on Monday, December 3, 2018.
UBC Elections has been tasked with the duty of conducting the election on behalf of the Plan. If you have any questions regarding this election, please email elections.information@ubc.ca or call 604.827.0003.
UBC Staff Pension Plan: 2017 Annual Report
The Staff Pension Plan 2017 Annual Report is available online.
The report includes a Message from the Chair and Executive Director, highlights for the Plan, membership and administration statistics, a review of the Plan’s funds and investment performance, FAQs, and information about how to access your pension information online. View the 2017 Annual Report.
2017 President’s Staff Awards (Vancouver campus)
We are pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the President’s Staff Awards at the Vancouver campus. These awards recognize the personal achievements and contributions that our staff make to UBC, and to the vision and goals of the University.
This year’s President’s Staff Awards recipients are:
Leadership
- Jennifer Chin, Associate Director, Enrolment Services
- Gerry McGeough, Director, Planning and Design, Campus & Community Planning
Creativity & Innovation
- Natasha Boskic, Senior Manager, Instructional Design, Faculty of Education
- Glenn Jolly, Technician and Electronics Shop Supervisor, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Enhancing the UBC Experience
- Chris McGill, Research Manager, UBC Animal Welfare Program/Program Coordinator, Applied Biology Program, Faculty of Land & Food Systems
- Cherrylyn Navarrete and Sally Vargas, Service Workers, St. John’s College
Community Engagement
- Debra Harris, Divisional Assistant, Accounting/Law & Business Communications Group, Sauder School of Business
Emerging Leadership
- Marlene Chow, Director of Academic Programs, Administration and Facilities, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Advancing Diversity & Inclusion
- Debbie Harvie, Managing Director, University Community Services
Please visit http://focusonpeople.ubc.ca/2017/08/28/2017-presidents-staff-awards-vancouver-campus/ to read all about the accomplishments of these recipients.
UBC a Top Employer for Young People in 2017
UBC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People in 2017, the only post-secondary institution to receive this designation. This special designation recognizes the employers that offer the nation’s best workplaces and programs for young people starting their careers.
This is the fifth consecutive year that UBC has received this award. Some of the services that UBC offers to support young employees:
- a Postdoctoral Fellows Office, which acts as a resource centre to help postdocs expand their professional skills; and
- employees can take advantage of a variety of learning and development programs, including Coaching@UBC, career and personal development workshops, and an academic leadership development program for faculty.
Young employees and employees who are new to the workplace can take part in many UBC programs and initiatives to help them to grow in their careers. UBC employees can access career navigation services, professional development funding and tuition waivers. As part of the university community, faculty and staff can take part in our workplace wellbeing initiatives, and access the athletics and recreation facilities at our Vancouver and Okanagan campuses as well as UBC’s many attractions.
New PD Fund Available for CUPE 116 Staff
UBC staff in the CUPE 116 employee group can now apply for up to $500/fiscal year from the CUPE 116 Professional & Skills Development Fund (subject to eligibility). This fund can assist you to pay for learning activities that will help you grow and develop in your current role and advance your career at UBC.
For the complete funding guidelines and reimbursement instructions, visit: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/learning-development/funding/cupe-116
For information on all staff and faculty professional development funding at UBC, visit http://www.hr.ubc.ca/learning-development/funding/.
Eligibility
- The $500/year funding amount will be pro-rated if you work fewer than 20 hours per week.
- Note that UBC Aquatic Centre employees are not eligible for this funding program.
- Full details at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/learning-development/funding/cupe-116.
Some Possible Learning Opportunities
- Participate in a HR MOST workshop on customer service excellence or leadership;
- Work towards a certificate or diploma at VCC, Langara, BCIT or elsewhere;
- Purchase a resource book related to a new skill development area;
- Attend a conference to stay current in your field of work; or
- Many more opportunities are available.
If you have questions about a course or about your eligibility, please contact the HR PD Funding Coordinators at pd.funds@ubc.ca , 604-822-6314, or in person at the Human Resources Service Centre on the 6th floor of TEF 3 (map). You can also confirm your eligibility on the UBC Self-Service Portal and click the “Staff PD” tab.
Applications to this funding program will be accepted and processed by Human Resources on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to overall budget availability.
Other Ways to Learn at UBC
- Online Learning : Learn technology, creative and workplace business skills at your own pace with lynda.com. UBC provides you with free and unlimited access to Lynda.com’s vast library of high-quality and engaging video tutorials. Use your CWL to login for free through www.lynda.ubc.ca.
- Tuition Fee Waiver Benefit: This UBC staff benefit provides tuition assistance for eligible CUPE 116 staff and can be applied to UBC undergraduate credit courses, as well as many UBC continuing studies non-credit courses. If you are eligible to use this benefit, you can take UBC courses for both personal and career development purposes. In some instances, you can transfer this benefit to your spouse or children.
- Career Navigation: If you are looking for assistance to develop your own career development plan or want enhanced support to navigate your career at UBC, Human Resources offers resources and assistance.
- Coaching: Coaching@UBC offers free 1-on-1 coaching for you. You can work with a coach for up to six sessions to focus and move forward on a personal or professional goal through the exploration of ideas with a coach as your confidential and unbiased thinking partner.