The Facilities Management team has some great tips and instructions on avoiding technical difficulties when entering a Facilities work order. Please visit the Facilities Management Website for further information.
Science building chiller being replaced
A significant portion of the Science building is currently without air conditioning, and will be for the next few weeks. Upon investigating reports of high room temperatures from occupants in the building last week, Facilities Management confirmed that the building’s chiller has failed and needs to be replaced immediately.
A replacement has been located; however, the equipment has to be shipped in and installation may take four to six weeks. Every effort is being made to complete the replacement as quickly as possible.
Updates on the status of the replacement will be provided on the Facilities Management website as information is available.
Best Service Pros contracted for cleaning
The Best Service Pros team will provide cleaning services for all academic and residence buildings on the Okanagan campus starting June 1
Best Service Pros has been awarded a three-year contract for cleaning services for all academic and residential buildings on campus, starting June 1.
Al King, manager of maintenance and grounds with Facilities Management, notes that the company is focused on being a “green” janitorial service provider and is keen to help the campus build on the success of reduce, reuse and recycling initiatives.
Best holds Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) for Green Buildings certification and is Carbon Neutral Certified by Offsetters. One of Western Canada’s leading custodial companies, Best serves the needs of many high-traffic client sites, including Simon Fraser University, Capilano University, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and Kelowna’s Orchard Park Mall.
Summer student required for a Laboratory Energy Use Project
Health, Safety and Environment is looking for a summer student to complete a Laboratory Energy Use Project. If you know anyone who might be interested in applying please share the link below with them. The posting closes midnight, Tuesday, May 21, 2013.
http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/hse/about/jobpostings.html
This position is also on the Career Connect website: http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/students/careers/welcome.html
Public Water Notice
May 6 to 9, 2013 on UBC’s Okanagan campus
From May 6 to 9, 2013, Facilities Management will perform flushing of the UBC water main lines for maintenance.
During the flush, there is the potential for increased turbidity. Water may appear more coloured or have more sediment than usual. Be cautious using water at this time; especially for food and beverages. Should water be more coloured or turbid run the tap until the water is clear.
The Water Quality Advisory issued by the Glenmore Ellison Improvement District (GEID) remains in effect.
Drinking water is still available from filtered water kiosks in every major building on campus.
For more information about campus water quality, visit:
http://riskmanagement.ok.ubc.ca/health/waterqual.html
Changes coming to Okanagan campus financial services
As announced in December, we engaged with MMK Consulting Ltd. on a comprehensive assessment of how financial services meet the needs of the Okanagan Campus.
Under the direction of Michael Shakespeare, Associate-Vice President (AVP), Administration and Finance, the objective of the review was to examine the current organization of the financial management function on the Okanagan campus and to recommend a structure that best matched current and emerging needs.
Thank you to the more than 40 participants across campus who took the time to provide their perspective and input, helping shape MMK Consulting Ltd.’s recommendations. We will begin implementing these recommendations throughout the spring as we work towards establishing an integrated-distributed financial services model on the Okanagan campus.
The integrated-distributed model will focus on continuing to empower faculty and departments to determine the support they require, working with financial officers on a day-to-day basis, while the services required to provide the support is centrally coordinated and managed by Administration and Finance.
The primary benefits of an integrated-distributed model are:
- Recruitment and assignment of qualified staff
- Continuous training and development
- Financial services staff mobility and career opportunities
- Improved financial controls
- Consistently applied best practices
The organizational changes are primarily related to reporting paths, but in some cases will involve physical moves to consolidate financial services teams or adjustments to job descriptions and responsibilities, including:
- Two financial director-level positions, reporting to the AVP, Administration and Finance
- A five- to seven-person customer-focused financial planning and operations services team to increase the level of financial support across campus. This team will include current financial services staff, with each individual assigned to serve a portfolio of faculties and/or departments
- Aligning of supply management, accounts payable and payroll processing under a new Payment & Procurement Services team, functioning on a system-wide basis but with local Okanagan presence and leadership
This new model, which has agreement in principle on direction from the Okanagan Executive Committee and the Deans, will improve strategic financial planning capabilities across campus.
All employees directly impacted have been made aware of the impending changes and they will be involved in the process as we take the next few months to establish the new organization, tailor the recommendations, complete a comprehensive implementation plan, and recruit additional staff to round out the finance team complement.
Changes, including how to work with this new integrated team, will be announced as they’re implemented.
The recommendations are fully detailed in the MMK Consulting report, available on the AVP Administration and Finance website.
To read the full report, click here.
Campus Security moving April 3
On Wednesday, April 3, the Campus Security office housed in the yellow portable trailer outside the Administration building on Alumni Ave. will move to the ground floor of the Library building (LIB 016, access near the loading bay on Alumni Ave.).
On April 3, administration for Security and Salto access will be temporarily unavailable, returning to normal service on April 4. During this time, any security-related matters should be directed to the Security Dispatch Office ADM 104 (near the UBC Bookstore), or call the non-emergency Security number, 250-807-9236.
This move is part of a larger space-intensification initiative for the Okanagan campus. Also on April 3, Supply Management will move from the Library building to the Administration building (ADM 103H).
Later in April, the yellow portable will move to the Facilities storage compound at the south end of Alumni Ave.
Introducing enhanced project management
Facilities Management is taking a new approach to project management on UBC’s Okanagan campus. Recovering costs through a nominal fee (based on a project’s cost) will support a more robust project management service.
Over the past year Facilities Management has managed 42 projects worth more than $4 million. This involves moving projects from planning to completion. Anticipating a continued high need for professional project management on the Okanagan campus, Facilities Management is moving to a new, more structured project management service based on cost-recovery of five per cent of a project’s budget.
A search will begin immediately for a full-time project manager.
As of April 1, 2013, the project management fee will apply to new projects managed by Facilities Management with a value of $25,000 or greater (previous commitments made by written quote will be honoured).
To find out more, visit the Facilities Management website.
Confined Space Seminar – April 2, 2013
UBC Okanagan in partnership with Acklands Grainger, WorkSafeBC, and the City of Kelowna is proud to bring the Confined Space Seminar to the Okanagan.
Date: April 2, 2013
Time: 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: The University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus
Important – Parking information and map of campus: http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/parking/welcome.html
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This seminar is targeted at individuals that are responsible for confined space safety, which may inlcude supervisors that oversee confined space programs, workers and contractors that may access confined spaces and related suppliers.
Registration information can be found here.
Water Main Flushing on UBC’s Okanagan Campus
Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District (GEID) has scheduled their Spring 2013 water main flushing to begin later this week, starting in the “UBCO Zone”. This zone comprises of UBC’s Okanagan campus, the Airport, the Airport Industrial Park, Yaletown Condos and Glenmore Rd. North and parts of Curtis Rd.
The flushing dates are Thursday and Friday, March 7th & 8th, 2013.
Thursday, March 7th – flushing will primarily affect the UBC Okanagan campus, Glenmore Rd North (Yaletown) and the north end of Curtis.
Friday, March 8th – flushing will continue through the Airport Industrial Park and the Airport.
Flushing occurs between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm. You may wish to avoid doing laundry during these times. You may also experience variations in the water pressure and some discoloration in the water. If you experience discoloration, run the cold water tap until the water runs clear. Please check your water for clarity prior to using.
GEID’s website is updated late each day during the Flushing Program – http://glenmoreellison.com/news/flushing/