Employment Equity Advisor Pilot Program
The UBC Equity and Inclusion Office is seeking interested faculty members to participate in the next round of training for the Employment Equity Advisor pilot program. Register to join the next full-day training on March 18.
The program is also open to staff members who work closely to support faculty hiring processes.
Employment Equity Advisors provide guidance on the broad application of equitable hiring practices, including restricted, preferential and standard hiring processes, and support the recruitment of members of historically, persistently or systemically marginalized communities, particularly those communities where there is a significant representational gap.
Celebrate Pink Shirt Day on Feb. 28
In the spirit of spreading kindness and advocating for those who need it, UBC invites faculty and staff to participate in Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 28.
Now a global movement, Pink Shirt Day grew from an act of kindness in Nova Scotia when a group of students supported a fellow student being bullied for wearing a pink t-shirt to school.
UBC Human Resources share ways you can get involved, resources for support and learning, a downloadable Zoom background, and more.
Staff Professional Development Fund: Claim by March 1
For the current funding year (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024), staff and research associates are welcome to submit professional development funding claims on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual funding pools are exhausted or by March 1, whichever comes first.
Professional development (PD) funds are intended to support learning activities that will enhance your workplace knowledge or skills and support your career growth at the university.
In Memoriam: Dr. Doug Cochrane
Dr. Doug Cochrane passed away on February 17, 2024.
A pediatric neurosurgeon and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgery, Dr. Cochrane taught in the Division of Neurosurgery for almost three decades alongside his work at BC Children’s Hospital. His contributions to the Faculty of Medicine were recognized with the Distinguished Achievement Award for Service to the University & Community in 2011.
Dr. Cochrane also served in a number of leadership roles in healthcare in the province, including as Board Chair of B.C.’s Interior Health until Feb. 2024, as well as Vice President of BC Medical Affairs and the Provincial Health Services Authority and as the founding Chair of the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council (now Health Quality BC).
Read the tribute to Dr. Cochrane from Interior Health, and a statement from B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix.
The BC, Musqueam and UBC flags were lowered on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in remembrance.
Get active this February with Move UBC
Move UBC is an annual university-wide initiative in February to encourage faculty, staff and the wider university community to reduce time spent being inactive. During Move UBC this month, find out about:
- The benefits of moving more and breaking up sedentary behaviour
- Tips for fitting physical activity into your day
- Events and initiatives
5 ways to move this February
Finding ways to break up sedentary or stationary behaviour throughout the day can help you move more and feel better. Try these five easy ways to get moving during Move UBC:
- Visit UBC Rec on YouTube for a 6-minute guided stretch break. You can also request the UBCV Move U Crew or the UBCO Move U Crew to lead a free, 5-10 minute in-person or online movement break during your meeting.
- UBCO: Join the Faculty and Staff Movement Break Challenge brought to you by Move UBC and UBC Okanagan HR.
- Try a walking or rolling meeting with a friend or colleague. On the Vancouver campus register for a Wellbeing Walk! On the Okanagan campus, check out campus trails.
- Skip the car and take the bus or bike to class or work.
- Grab a friend and join a free fitness class or event on the Move UBC Calendar
Safeguarding Science Webinars
Join Public Safety Canada’s Research Security Centre for a series of safeguarding science webinars. Research support staff, faculty, postdocs and grad students are invited to register for one of ten dates in February 2024.
The webinars aim to assist participants:
- access guidance and tools to strengthen security posture;
- understand best practices to identify and mitigate research security threats;
- pursue and maintain safe research partnerships;
- maintain institutional reputation of a safe research organization; and
- protect valuable research, data or potentially patentable property.