UBCO Finance and Operations News

UBC taking action to avoid future flood risks

This September, UBC will conduct some work on the forebay north of the stormwater retention pond behind EME. This will include removing some of the vegetation and adding infrastructure to support a more frequent maintenance cycle in this area.

As the effects of climate change become more intense, the campus is more prone to flash floods. Moving to an annual maintenance cycle for the forebay will prevent buildup of vegetation and sediment that increases this risk.

UBC will work with a team of environmental consultants to conduct the work and protect the many birds, reptiles and amphibians that live in and around the pond while the work takes place. Once completed, this work will reduce the risk of harmful encounters with wildlife during future maintenance cycles, while still allowing wildlife—as well as the campus community—to enjoy the habitat offered by the stormwater retention pond.

While the project takes place, the trail between the pond and the forebay will be closed. Community members may see equipment in the area as well as on the walking path between the Gathering Circle and Portable V.

Planning for our changing climate

This work is part of a larger project aimed at making the campus more resilient to the hazards of a changing climate. In 2022, a group that included representatives from Campus Operations and Risk Management, Campus Planning, IT Services, Student Housing and Community Services, the VP Research and Innovation office, and faculty representatives undertook a study to identify the top risks associated with climate change.

That study resulted in a comprehensive list of potential risks to teaching and research continuity, including wildfire and flooding. Now, UBC is developing a resiliency plan to proactively mitigate those risks, starting with the most significant risks.

Though the development of the resiliency plan is still underway, some key projects have already been identified that will have a high impact. The forebay project will reduce the impact of potential flash floods by proactively improving the infrastructure in one of the campus’s most flood-prone areas, and is one of many projects the campus hopes to undertake to improve our resiliency in a warming world.

Aaron Mogerman appointed Director of Infrastructure Development at UBC Okanagan

We are pleased to share the exciting news that Aaron Mogerman has been appointed as Director of Infrastructure Development at UBC Okanagan effective May 6, 2024.  Aaron is returning to this role after taking some time to pursue other professional opportunities over the last couple of years.  With over a decade of experience at UBC and more than 20 years in his professional career his expertise is will be a great asset to our team.

Aaron will be leading and managing the Infrastructure Development team for of the campus. This includes overseeing the planning, design, construction, renewal and renovation of all campus facilities and physical infrastructure, encompassing administrative and academic institutional facilities, Student Housing and Athletics.

Working closely with the entire UBC Okanagan’s internal community and many external partners, Aaron and his team are dedicated to creating exceptional spaces for teaching, learning, living, conducting cutting-edge research and fostering a thriving campus community. He will also support the UBC Okanagan campus’ Capital Plan, aligned with the broader UBC Plan developed by UBC Infrastructure Development.

As part of our local operations leadership team, Aaron will collaborate closely with Ben Johnson, Director of Campus Planning, Shelley Kayfish, Director of Campus Operations and Risk Management, and many colleagues from UBC Vancouver and UBC Properties Trust. Together, we are confident that they will continue to address the current and future needs of the campus community effectively.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome back to Aaron as he returns to this important role. We look forward to the valuable contributions and positive impact he will make at UBCO.

 

Robert Einarson  B.Comm. (Hons), CPA, CA, CIA (he/him/his)
Associate Vice-President | Finance and Operations
The University of British Columbia | Okanagan Campus
Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory
Phone 250 807 8559 | Mobile 250 317 9708

and

John Metras P.Eng., MBA (he/him/his)
Associate Vice-President | Facilities | VP Finance & Operations (VPFO) Portfolio
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Territory
Phone 604 822 4311 | Mobile 604 908 9468

 

 

Masks and test kits available for UBCO community

Cloth masks, surgical masks and COVID-19 test kits are available for UBCO faculty, staff and students at no cost as long as supplies remain available. Masks and/or test kits can be picked up from the following locations:

  • The Health, Safety and Environment office in LIB016
  • The Campus Security dispatch office in ADM104A
  • Students can also pick up masks and test kits from the Student Connect desk in the second-floor foyer of UNC.

Staff or faculty who would like to place bulk orders for their department or unit can do so by emailing operations.ok@ubc.ca.

Campus Operations and Risk Management is Relocating

Effective Sept 28, 2022, the office of Campus Operations and Risk Management is relocating from the Campus Administration Building (ADM106). The team will operate remotely on a temporary basis, with no changes to service levels during this interim period.

Campus Operations will relocate to the University House effective Oct 4, 2022, along with the Construction Management Office, the Energy department, and some of the Facilities Management team.

Contact information

To schedule an appointment with the Director, please contact Holly Gaboury. For event enquiries, Safe Event applications, and mask deliveries, please continue to contact ready.ok@ubc.ca. For other enquiries please see contact information below.

Shelley Kayfish, Director
Ph. 250-807-8621
E. shelley.kayfish@ubc.ca

Natalie Ingram, Administration and Communications Coordinator
Ph. 250-807-8624
E. natalie.ingram@ubc.ca

Holly Gaboury, Administrative Assistant to the Director
Ph. 250-807-8632
E. holly.gaboury@ubc.ca

Ben Johnson appointed UBCO’s Director, Campus Planning

We are very pleased to announce that an outstanding candidate for the position of Director, Campus Planning (UBCO) has been found. Ben Johnson will take on this important role for the Okanagan campus and joins the university with 20 years of planning experience at the City of Penticton and the City of Vancouver.

Ben holds a Master of Arts in Planning from UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning as well as a Bachelor’s degree (Honors) in Geography from McGill. He most recently led the Official Community Planning process for the City of Penticton and, during 17 years at the City of Vancouver, worked in a number of areas including Central Area Planning, Housing, Parks, and as a Senior Planner in the Major Projects department.

The Director, Campus Planning is a key position for UBC Okanagan as we continue to support its development based on the Campus Master Plan. With continued growth in our student population, teaching and research programs, as well as UBC’s important sustainability and environmental commitments, under Ben’s leadership the Campus Planning department will provide critically important expertise and guidance as we move forward with UBC’s Strategic Plan: Shaping UBC’s Next Century and UBCO’s Outlook 2040 vision.

Ben will bring his experience and knowledge to bear on a number of challenging projects over the next number of years including the Okanagan’s Climate Action Plan, planning for connections to UBC’s downtown Kelowna site, and supporting necessary evolutions in transportation to and from the Okanagan campus. He is an excellent fit for these and many other important initiatives envisioned for UBC Okanagan in coming years.

Ben will report to the AVP Finance and Operations on the Okanagan campus and the AVP Campus & Community Planning in Vancouver. He will be starting with UBC on December 16.

Please join us in welcoming Ben to UBC.

Sincerely,

Rob Einarson
Associate Vice-President, Finance and Operations
UBC Okanagan

Michael White
Associate Vice-President, Campus & Community Planning
UBC Vancouver

Aaron Mogerman appointed UBCO’s Director, Infrastructure Development

After a comprehensive search process, an outstanding candidate for the position of Director, Infrastructure Development (UBCO) has been found right here in our UBC family. Aaron Mogerman will be moving from UBC Vancouver to take on this exciting new role in the Okanagan.

Aaron has been a very important part of the Infrastructure Development team at UBC in Vancouver. Most recently he was the Director of Project Services. He has more than 20 years’ experience in construction project management, and prior to joining UBC held senior project management positions in the public and private sector. His experience includes large-scale institutional, industrial, commercial and residential projects throughout British Columbia.

Aaron holds a Master of Applied Science degree in Civil Engineering from UBC, specializing in Construction and Project Management. He is a member of the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC, and a Canadian Construction Association Gold Seal Certified Project Manager.

The Director, Infrastructure Development, is an important new position for our campus. While our COVID-19 response has, for now, changed some of UBCO’s previous plans, we continue to make critical preparations for the future – as outlined in UBC’s Strategic Plan: Shaping UBC’s Next Century, UBCO’s Outlook 2040 vision, and the Campus Master Plan.

Aaron’s experience and knowledge, his passion for planning complex development with innovative approaches, and his keen understanding of how UBC works, are an excellent fit for the many important initiatives envisioned for UBC Okanagan in coming years.

Aaron will report to the AVP Finance and Operations on the Okanagan campus and Managing Director of Infrastructure Development in Vancouver. He will be relocating to Kelowna over the next few weeks and will be full time starting September 14.

When you have the opportunity, please join us in welcoming Aaron as he joins our campus team.

Sincerely,

Rob Einarson
Associate Vice-President, Finance and Operations
UBC Okanagan

Jennifer Sanguinetti
Managing Director, Infrastructure Development
UBC Vancouver

Update on Plans for Campus Planning, Infrastructure Development and Campus Operations and Risk Management on the UBCO Campus

Over the last couple of years a great deal of important foundational work as been done for space/facilities planning as well as project services at UBCO.  Much of the recent growth on campus is due to heavy lifting by many of these people — recognizing that not that long ago these teams didn’t even exist. Recently, the level of planning, development activity and projects on the Okanagan campus has been a challenge to support and is regularly exceeding capacity. Because of this current reality and our expected future needs, campus leadership has approved the creation of an Infrastructure Development function for UBCO to help maximize our ability to support future growth through realigning ourselves. This will involve a new UBCO Director of Infrastructure position as well a realignment of some existing positions in the Okanagan in order to provide better support for our staff and improved alignment across UBC system-wide.

Campus Planning will continue to focus on the long-term campus vision as well as plans, policies, standards and guidelines for the physical campus, including sustainability programs, and work closely with other departments to ensure new projects are developed in accordance with approved campus plans, policies, standards and guidelines. Campus Planning will also engage with external stakeholders around future plans for the campus and the broader community. To provide capacity for the critical work of developing new buildings and other facilities for the campus, the Facilities Planning group, which includes space planning inside of our buildings, will move into a new Infrastructure Development portfolio.

Campus Operations & Risk Management will retain all of its functions with the exception of Project Services. The Project Services team will also join the Infrastructure Development portfolio in an effort to provide additional capacity to the CORM team, which will continue to focus on operational excellence in safety, security, building and land maintenance, and building and energy optimization. This change will allow Project Services to focus on complex projects that require expertise in professional project management, contract management, and consultancies, while the CORM team will increase the efficiencies associated with the delivery of smaller renovation projects through the creation of a new Construction Management Office.

Infrastructure Development will be responsible for project planning, development, renewal and renovation of campus facilities. The creation of the new portfolio is intended to position UBCO for the future and build on the strengths that we already have by providing some additional capacity and focus, with the understanding that success will require continued strong and daily interactions between all three UBCO departments.

The end goal is to strengthen the planning, delivery and operation of current and future campus growth and facilities to meet our strategic plans. UBCO Infrastructure Development will report in to AVP Finance and Operations, Okanagan and have a dotted line connection to the Vancouver Infrastructure Development team in a similar fashion to what currently exists for many UBCO administration departments. The search for the replacement Director of Campus Planning and the hiring of the new Director of Infrastructure Development is planned to take place simultaneously in late fall and into winter. Any realignment of existing staff will take place as those leadership positions are filled.

 

UBC outlines spending priorities for 2019/20

The Board of Governors has approved UBC’s 2019/20 budget, setting spending priorities for the year ahead, to advance the university’s strategic plan: Shaping UBC’s Next Century.

Key investment areas include recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff; as well as teaching, learning and research infrastructure and support. Under those broad themes, this year’s budget sees investments in areas such as student mental health, student financial aid, research support, and local and global engagement.

The final budget is the result of a consultation process led by Deborah Buszard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan; Andrew Szeri, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver; and Peter Smailes, Vice-President, Finance and Operations.

The process began in October 2018 and included student leaders, both senates, senior staff, academic heads and directors, associate deans, and deans. Each Faculty and Administrative Unit undertook a budget review and, through that process, was asked to submit its priorities for the year ahead. These requests were then assessed by academic and administrative leadership on each campus against UBC’s strategic plan to determine the strongest areas of alignment with the priorities for 2019/20 and beyond.

For UBC Okanagan, recognizing the continued growth of the campus student body and development of research programs, the focus remains on making investments to position UBCO for the future.

Deborah Buszard explains: “We are making commitments to increase student support, including the Disability Resource Centre, the Equity Office, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office and Aboriginal Graduate Fellowships, as well as significant increases to financial aid.

“As part of our system-wide initiatives we are also making investments in Advanced Research Computing, as well as continuing to support research clusters through the Okanagan Excellence fund and a much needed greenhouse. Recognising the increasing demands on our campus services, we are investing in our administrative services to support the rapidly evolving needs of our students, faculty and staff.”

Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, Provost and Vice-President Academic, UBC Okanagan, adds: “Transformative learning and student success are the focus of our investments this year, including additional funding to support our international students and on-campus employment opportunities for students to promote experiential learning.”

UBC’s $2.2 billion operating budget is funded by provincial grants ($657 million), tuition ($754 million), land proceeds ($33 million), revenue directly earned by faculties ($181 million), and a combination of business, operational, investment revenue and a contribution from philanthropic gifts ($571 million). These revenues support UBC’s faculty teaching and research, services, ancillary operations, and the Excellence fund.

The next two years will see UBC focussing on six key areas within the strategic plan: Strategy 17, Indigenous Engagement; Strategy 1, Great People; Strategy 3, Thriving Communities; Strategy 7, Research Support; Strategy 11, Education Renewal; and Strategy 14, Interdisciplinary Education.

“If you took a look at the proposals that came in to us, they were all worthy of support,” says Andrew Szeri. “Now that we have the new university strategic plan, we were able to use those priorities to focus our funding decisions in a coordinated way, to support what is collectively most important for the institution.”

In addition to reflecting the priorities gleaned through the consultation, the budget must also have the flexibility to respond to existing and emerging issues, both globally and unique to UBC.

One such challenge is the recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff. This is especially important given the high cost of living in Metro Vancouver, and the challenges of employment within the Okanagan for families of UBC’s faculty and staff.

Countering that challenge requires enhancing infrastructure to attract research talent, and continually building on UBC’s commitment to add a further 2,300 student beds at the Vancouver campus, and an additional 440 student beds at the Okanagan campus.

There is also the need to offer salaries that are competitive, within the Public Sector Employers’ Council mandate from the Province of British Columbia. Salaries to attract and retain the high calibre of faculty and staff continue to be the single largest fixed cost, at a total of $1.35 billion. Additional financial pressures include replacement of UBC’s finance, human resource and student administrative systems through the Integrated Renewal Program and deferred maintenance costs for buildings.

Looking ahead, UBC will be paying close attention to the inflation of internal costs and demographic shifts, which show a gradual decline in the numbers of traditional direct-entry domestic students and increasing demands for lifelong learning.

Andrew Szeri continues: “That is a trend that many universities around the world are looking to mitigate. We are exploring how UBC can continue to be the number one choice for top students, both locally and internationally, and how future budgets will need to support that goal.”

Peter Smailes adds: “Budget planning is a big responsibility that we take very seriously. Everyone works diligently to get the balance right of respecting the hard work it takes for students (and their families) to gain admission; with the work of faculty in advancing research and teaching; and the role of staff in innovating service delivery across all areas.”

To learn more, read UBC’s 2019/20 Budget report.

Manon Harvey appointed Director, Integrated Planning and Chief Budget Officer

I am very pleased to announce Ms. Manon Harvey as the Director, Integrated Planning and Chief Budget Officer for UBC’s Okanagan campus effective January 10, 2019. Her experience and background are a great addition to our team and will build upon a strong foundation of work completed over the last number of years.

Manon brings to UBC Okanagan more than two decades of experience and leadership at the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). There, she was responsible for ensuring the integrity of all aspects of the organization’s financial dealings, and for managing the sum of $7 billion that has been entrusted to the CFI by the Government of Canada.

As Vice-President of Finance and Corporate Services, Manon has been responsible for the accuracy and fairness of the CFI’s financial statements and other reporting, and for the accounting system from which they are derived. In addition to finance, her portfolio included human resources, information technology, and administrative services. She was an Officer of the CFI Board of Directors, and served as the Secretary and Treasurer.

Manon maintains professional memberships and associations with a number of organizations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario) and the Ordre des CPA du Québec. For over 10 years, until June 2014, she was both a member of the Board of Directors, as well as the Chair of the Audit Committee, for Hydro Ottawa. More recently, she became an external member of the Departmental Audit Committee (DAC) of the RCMP.

Manon holds a Bachelor of Commerce (summa cum laude) from the University of Ottawa. In addition to Chartered Professional Accountant designations in both Ontario and Quebec, she has a Certificate in Management Information Systems from the Université du Québec en Outaouais and obtained her ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors at McGill University.

I very much look forward to working closely with Manon in helping to enable UBC Okanagan’s exciting plans.

Rob Einarson
Associate Vice-President, Finance and Operations
UBC Okanagan

Access to Upper Campus and other new transportation options this fall

There are many new changes to transportation to, from and around UBC Okanagan coming this fall.

The following updates will help you plan ahead and make the first day of the academic year as smooth as possible.

John Hindle Drive and Upper Campus Way OPEN Sept. 4

The City of Kelowna’s John Hindle Drive extension project is complete and the new access road —  Upper Campus Way — will be open on Sept. 4 for the start of the academic year.

The City of Kelowna has also indicated that the new pedestrian overpass that crosses John Hindle Drive is also nearing completion. It is expected to be open and ready for use by mid-Sept.

Until the overpass is complete, all pedestrians travelling between the Academy Hill neighbourhood and the university are to use the new sidewalk along Academy Way and Upper Campus Way. Crossings at Alumni Avenue will no longer be permitted.

Pedestrians can also utilize one of the new transit routes connecting the Academy Hill neighbourhood to the campus.

University Way CLOSED Sept. 4

After the annual residence move-in process on Sept. 2, University Way between International Mews and the entrance to Parking Lot F will be permanently closed to traffic to create a pedestrian-only space for the campus community.

All motor vehicles are to use John Hindle Drive between Hollywood Road North and Upper Campus Way to travel between Upper and Lower Campus.

Transit and cycling improvements

Beyond these changes, there are a number of improvements to getting to UBC by transit or by bike.

The City of Kelowna and BCTransit are increasing the frequency and number of transit routes that serve campus, including changes to the routes that connect UBC to the Glenmore area and Lake Country. In addition, transit will go on Academy Way through the Academy Hill neighbourhood, which offers an alternative option for pedestrians to get to campus until the pedestrian overpass is complete. These changes come into effect on Sept 2.

Cyclists will also enjoy more access to campus via new and improved routes that will be completed by the City of Kelowna in September. These include a new bike path on John Hindle Drive, the Okanagan Rail Trail, an Academy Way bike lane as well as a number of other improvements.

More bike racks will also be installed around campus for the start of school in anticipation of more cyclists commuting to the university.

To find out more about these changes and how you can navigate to, from and around campus visit the UBC Okanagan Wayfinding Map and Transportation website.