UBC Human Resources

UBC named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers 2012

Breeonne Baxter — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:34:32 +0000

UBC is one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2012, for the fifth consecutive year.

Some of the reasons why University of British Columbia was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers 2012:

the University maintains offices for Equity and Access and Diversity, to encourage dialogue and promote on-campus awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion
recently introduced “equity briefings” for search committees and is currently expanding equity training as well as engaging in a review of employment systems to identify barriers to employment or advancement within the University
also appointed a Director of Intercultural Understanding, whose role is to increase cross-cultural understanding and manage related campus-wide initiatives
is developing a pilot program in partnership with the “Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing” and the “Open Door” group to recruit individuals with disabilities
manages a campus-wide “Positive Space” campaign to increase awareness of LGBT issues and offers educational workshops for faculty, staff, and students on the impact of homophobia and heterosexism
created an Aboriginal strategic plan in 2008 to enhance recruitment, support, and advancement initiatives for Aboriginal faculty and staff — the plan also includes curriculum programming to ensure Aboriginal issues and perspectives are represented within a

For more information on UBC’s people practices, please visit Focus on People.

Faculty Pension Plan Q4/11 Newsletter

Kathy Pang — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:45:28 +0000

UBC Faculty Pension Plan members will have received their Q4/11 newsletter and statement packages starting in the second week of February.

In this issue of the Pension News:

Investment Market Review of 2011
Market Commentary
Update on the FPP GICs
FPP Pension Forum
RRSP Information for 2012
Fund Performance and Composition
And more…

View the Pension News Fourth Quarter 2011 newsletter.

SPP 101 Info Session: Feb 23, 2012

Kathy Pang — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:24:59 +0000

Are you a new UBC staff employee or a newly enrolled member of the Staff Pension Plan (SPP)? There is an SPP 101 Info Session on Thursday, February 23 from 12 pm to 1 pm for those who wish to learn more about the Plan. The presentation will cover the following topics and will provide plenty of time to ask questions.

Eligibility – Am I eligible to join the Plan?
Compulsory Enrollment – When will I be automatically enrolled?
Required Contributions – What am I contributing? How often do I contribute?
Pension Formula – How is my monthly pension determined at retirement?
Retirement Options – What pension options are available to me at retirement?
What if I leave UBC before retirement? – What happens to my plan benefit if I leave UBC? What are my options?

Register by noon on February 22: Please send us an e-mail at the SPP Feedback page.

Safety on Campus

Breeonne Baxter — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:49:45 +0000

Last week, Campus Security and the RCMP issued a security alert after a student was attacked on University Boulevard. While such incidents do not happen often on campus, it is best to be aware of your surroundings, and to be aware of UBC’s safety resources:

Use AMS Safewalk (604.822.5355) to request accompaniment while walking on campus.
Use any of the three Community Shuttles on campus. Times and routes can be found at the TREK web site.
Know the location of the UBC Blue Phones. They connect directly to Campus Security.
Know your location on campus and be able to describe where you are if you need to call for help.
When entering or exiting a locked building, ensure that the door is secured before proceeding.
In the event of an emergency, call 911. If you see suspicious circumstances call Campus Security at 604.822.2222.

Visit the Campus Security website for full information on safety resources on campus.

Workplace Experiences Survey Town Halls

Breeonne Baxter — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:44:38 +0000

UBC a BC Top Employer in 2012

Breeonne Baxter — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:42:47 +0000

UBC has been named one of BC’s Top Employers in 2012, for the sixth consecutive year.

“UBC recognizes the dedication and energy that all of our faculty, staff, and student employees bring to support the University community, said Lisa Castle, Associate Vice-President, Human Resources. “In such a large and diverse workplace, we are proud to say that all employees work together to provide an environment for outstanding learning, research and academic achievement at UBC, as part of our Place and Promise plan.”

UBC was recognized for:

Maternity leave salary top-up, and access to on-campus subsidized daycare.
Tuition support and scholarships for the children of faculty and staff.
Helping employees balance their working and personal lives through a variety of alternative work arrangements.
Supporting employee development through tuition waivers and in-person and online training options; and

UBC has nearly 23,000 faculty, staff and student employees at our campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, as well as the distributed medical program, hospital, farm, forest and other locations. We are the largest employer of students in the province of British Columbia, with over 8,000 student employees.

For more information on our people practices, please visit Focus on People.

Save the Date for Faculty & Staff Sports Day, May 4

Breeonne Baxter — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:19:42 +0000

Save the date for the 2^nd Annual Faculty & Staff Sports Day! Join your colleagues in fun activities, between 11:30am to 1:30pm, as teams compete in a variety of mental and physical challenges.

No matter your skill level, there’s an activity designed for everyone. Registration for this event will open on Feb. 26.

Learn more at http://www.rec.ubc.ca/sportsday/

Download the Faculty and Staff Sports Day Promo Postcard

Breakfast with President Stephen Toope

Breeonne Baxter — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:15:13 +0000

UBC Ceremonies is seeking names of those UBC Staff, Faculty and Students who wish to attend Breakfast with the President. This event offers small groups of UBC students, faculty and staff the opportunity to interact with the President as well as their peers at UBC. Attendance is limited to 28 guests for each breakfast (which are held several times every year). If you wish to attend a Breakfast with the President event, complete a student, faculty or staff request form. Ceremonies & Events will contact you if a space becomes available.

Healthy UBC Courses in February

Breeonne Baxter — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:18:36 +0000

Feb. 14, 2012: Clear the Clutter: Learn strategies to unclutter your surroundings and make more time for the things you love!
Feb. 24, 2012: Anxiety and the University: Join Dr. Lynn Miller for an informative discussion on anxiety and how to recognize and deal with it at work and at home.
Feb. 29, 2012: Bullies and Doormats: Negotiating Respectful Interpersonal Boundaries: Find out how to set time, task and role boundaries to create successful relationships with ourselves and others.
Begins Feb. 27, 2012: Mental Health First Aid Training: Improve mental health literacy by developing skills and knowledge to help family, friends and colleagues. This four-session course (three hours per session) gives you formal

2012 President’s Service Awards For Excellence Nominations

Breeonne Baxter — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:20:59 +0000

Do you have outstanding colleagues with 10 years or more UBC service? Nominate them for the top award for UBC Staff, the President’s Service Award for Excellence. The nomination deadline is Feb. 28, 2011.

The President’s Service Award for Excellence is the top award presented to UBC Staff in recognition of excellence in personal achievements and contributions to UBC and to the vision and goals of the University.

Go to the President’s Service Awards For Excellence page for full details and nomination papers.