News Archives

Spam and phishing attempts are on the rise

Phishing attack graphicUBC Okanagan is currently seeing a noticeable increase in the frequency of phishing and malware messages targeting UBC email addresses.

Phishing and malware emails usually contain elements of the following:

  • They threaten to shut down your email account due to quota limits
  • Claims that there have been changes to your payroll or payroll schedule
  • Messages claiming that an invoice has not been paid, which have Microsoft Word or Excel files attached
  • Unsolicited messages from a UBC service that require you to take an action such as clicking a link and filling in your account information
  • Unsolicited messages containing attachments or links coming from UBC or non-UBC email addresses

If you receive an email that you think is a phishing and malware message, do not click on any links until you can confirm the legitimacy of the email and its sender. This is especially true if the message relates to resetting a password.

If you think a message is malicious then forward it to security@ubc.ca as soon as possible.

You can always find bulletins about the latest email attacks on the IT, Media and Classroom Services homepage’s News and & Updates section (it.ok.ubc.ca).

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CONCAP Centre open house organized for Jan. 23

CONCAP Centre  Open House

The CONCAP Centre is the place to connect and capture the ideas and innovations that support UBC’s STAR Initiative.

It is the hub of concept development collaboration and digital media production hosted at the UBC Okanagan library and supported by IT, Media and Classroom Services. It is located in the back right corner of the Library.

Discover its possibilities at the official ConCap Centre Open House on Monday, January 23.

To RSVP or find out more, email ubcstudios.ok@ubc.ca

CONCAP Centre areas

LIB 125: Video Conference and Collaboration Space

This specially designed user-friendly video conference and meeting space is perfect for connecting with stakeholders, collaborators and resource specialists on premise or across the globe. This space hosts 7 to 12 people.

LIB 123: Automated Video and Sound Studio

This easy to operate, intimate video and sound recording studio can be used in a variety of ways to capture your message with clarity and professionalism.

It’s designed for the creation of video and voiceover media related to research and development, promotion, storytelling, teaching and learning support.

This space hosts 1 to 2 people.

Digital Media Suites MAC computer centre

These MAC stations are equipped with production software for video, motion graphics, images, web, graphic design and digital book development. The programs included iMovie, Final Cut X and Adobe Creative Suite 6, which includes: Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Dreamweaver and InDesign.

This space has 6 MAC stations.

UBC Studios Okanagan Campus staff are available to help with creative development, training and support throughout your production process. To find out more information on the possibilities, contact the Studio at 250 807 8416

For any other technical support, please contact the IT Help Desk at 250 807 9000.

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Workshops at a glance: April 6

Here are some professional development opportunities for faculty and staff at UBC Okanagan over the next few weeks:

UBC IT Talks: Leading change in a digital world

On April 29 join a distinguished panel of speakers from UBC, Gartner, and CopperLeaf Technologies for a panel discussion on working effectively to manage change in today’s digital world.

Hear stories of successful change management tactics and discover new strategies for influencing rapid, profound, and sustainable change.

To register or find out more, visit: it.ubc.ca/ubc-it-events

Epigenetics focus of UBC workshop Apr. 27 to 29

The UBC Centennial Emerging Research Workshop on Epigenetics will be held on April 27 to 29. This workshop at UBC’s Vancouver campus aims to bring together researchers across UBC in this relatively new but already complex area to better understand and raise the profile of epigenetics research at UBC. The workshop will also be webcast to UBC students, faculty and staff.

To find out more visit: research.ubc.ca/workshop/bridging-genes-environment

Faculty Pension Plan seminars organized for Apr. 25

Understanding your retirement income options and the performance of the Faculty Pension Plan investment funds will be the topic of discussion at two seminars on April 25.

One-on-one consultations are also available for the retirement income session. The registration deadline for both seminars is Friday, April 15.

Integrated Stormwater Management Plan open house

The Sustainability Office is developing an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan to responsibly manage the stormwater that falls at UBC Okanagan.

To find out more, visit: sustain.ok.ubc.ca/stormwater

More workshops

April 8
Grade Centre Drop-In Session
April 12 and 19
Mindfulness Practice
April 12
Grade Centre Drop-In Session
April 14
Grade Centre Drop-In Session
April 18
Teaching Portfolios
April 19
Grade Centre Drop-In Session
April 21
Grade Centre Drop-In Session
April 21
MD Admissions Info Session
April 28
RISe Drop-in Session

 

For a full listing of workshops, visit the Okanagan campus events calendar.

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Workshops at a glance: December 16

Here are some professional development opportunities for faculty and staff at UBC Okanagan over the next few weeks:

Media Centre Studio launches weekly video production workshop series

Starting January 7, Media Centre Studio will be holding a new series of weekly drop-in sessions that focus on video production.

To find out more, visit: news.ok.ubc.ca/exchange/2015/12/10/media-centre-studio-launches-weekly-video-production-workshop-series

More workshops

December 16
Just in Time Course Design
December 16
Grade Centre Drop-in Session
December 16
Bringing Focus and SO Much More to Your Classes
December 17, 22, 24, 29 and 31
Drop-in Advising
December 17
Grade Centre Drop-in Session
December 21
Grade Centre Drop-in Session
December 22 and January 5
Tuesday Mindfulness Sessions
January 5
Adjunct Faculty and Sessional Instructor Orientation Session
January 5
Credentialing for Teaching Assistants
January 5 and 7
Drop-in Advising

For a full listing of workshops, visit the Okanagan campus events calendar.

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Media Centre Studio launches weekly video production workshop series

Starting January 7, Media Centre Studio will be holding a new series of weekly drop-in sessions that focus on video production.

The series runs each Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in the Innovation Lab (room ADM013) and will focus on a new topic every week. Each session will contain 30 minutes of training and 30 minutes of Q&A or lab assistance.

The sessions are open to all students, faculty and staff.  The First two weeks of training will be camera basic and camera advanced.  Future topics include lighting, audio and editing.

To find out more contact Sam Charles, senior media production specialist, at sam.charles@ubc.ca.

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Workshops at a glance: November 18

Here are some professional development opportunities for faculty and staff at UBC Okanagan over the next few weeks:

Workshop: Understanding HRMS workflow

Finance is offering its expertise to help guide initiators and approvers through the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) workflow and electronic approvals process.

On November 19, learn more about how rules are administered to position management, eRecruit and ePAF in HRMS.

To find out more, visit: http://01.cms.ubc.ca/Page29861.aspx?PageMode=Hybrid

UBC Survey Tool info session

UBC Survey Tool is a Canadian-hosted survey solution through the vendor, FluidSurvey by SurveyMonkey. It complies with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All data is stored and backed up in Canada. This survey tool solution allows users to quickly and easily build their own surveys, with advanced features such as logic and branching, bulk translation tools, and even offline capabilities.

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Time: 12pm to 1pm

To find out more, visit: https://it.ubc.ca/services/teaching-learning-tools/survey-tool

More workshops

November 18, 19 and 23
Graduate Scholarships and Awards Q&A Drop-in Session
November 19
Unlocking vital skills for the Canadian workplace
November 19
Intercultural Understanding for Faculty and Staff
November 19
ORCID: Essential Identifier for Researchers
November 24 and December 1
Tuesday Mindfulness Sessions
November 24
Setting up Academic Profiles
November 25
Experiential Learning Community of Practice
November 25
Photoshop Workshop
November 26
RISe Drop-in Session
November 27
Social Media Community of Practice
December 2
Strategies for Keeping Up to Date on Current Research
December 2
Grade Centre Drop-in Session
December 2
TA Bootcamp
December 3
Grade Centre Drop-in Session

For a full listing of workshops, visit the Okanagan campus events calendar.

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buyIT: New IT purchasing portal to launch this month

buyIT logobuyIT is the new purchasing portal created by IT, Media and Classroom Services that allows you to browse and purchase popular UBC-supported computers, software and accessories.

It will help you budget more effectively, streamline the purchasing process and is open 24 hours a day.

Join IT, Media and Classroom Services on Friday, November 27, or Tuesday, December 1, for buyIT information sessions in the IT Innovation Lab, room ADM013. The sessions will take place at 9, 10 and 11 a.m.

To find out more about buyIT, contact Zoe Armer, manager of business services, at zoe.armer@ubc.ca or 250-807-8290.

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Group plans campus cake to celebrate UBC Okanagan’s anniversary

Members of the cake committee examine the model created for the campus master plan consultations last winter. The committee (from left): WRAP Coordinator Tracey Hawthorn, HR Advisor Tena McKenzie, engineering student Jannat Bachhal and WRAP Assistant Deb Oakley hopes to build a cake resembling the current campus.

Members of the cake committee examine the model created for the campus master plan consultations last winter. The committee (from left): WRAP Coordinator Tracey Hawthorn, HR Advisor Tena McKenzie, engineering student Jannat Bachhal and WRAP Assistant Deb Oakley hopes to build a cake resembling the current campus.

Tracey Hawthorn admits she’s no cake boss as she leads the volunteer committee

It’s going to be a busy year at UBC as the university celebrates its 100th anniversary and the Okanagan campus marks its tenth year of operation.

And what’s a celebration without a cake? That’s why a group of volunteers at UBC’s Okanagan campus is busy planning to create an anniversary cake to share with the campus community at the annual Welcome Back BBQ and Fair on September 3.

“It’s going to be somewhat experimental,” says Tracey Hawthorn, a self-confessed recreational-baker. “This cake is well outside my comfort zone, but we have a great committee. I have a group of people who just want to help, love to bake, and some have wonderful cake-decorating skills.”

It’s a baker’s dozen for the committee, 13 enthusiastic UBC employees and students who have brought a variety of skills to the team. Hawthorn is a planner and organizer. Rosemary Jean Thompson, leading the design team, makes professional cakes as a hobby and is a whiz with fondant. Aramark Chef Mathew Morazain is helping with the recipes and overseeing the baking procedure. Nutritionist Sally Willis-Stewart is keeping an eye on sugar levels, and engineering student Jannat Bachhal worked with the design committee to create a computerized 3D model of the campus. The goal is to make the cake resemble the model.

Hawthorn explains that one way to mark UBC’s past is to also connect with its future — so the cake is going to resemble the Okanagan campus as it stands today but will be unveiled with the campus model showing the future build out. They are working with a model created for the campus master plan and, with a lot of luck, will create a cake similar to that model.

“We are also conscious of people’s dietary needs so there will be a vanilla cake and gluten free chocolate cake, and our buildings will be made with Rice Krispie squares,” says Hawthorn. “You can’t have cake without ice cream” and this will be served with the cake.

Making a cake to feed more than 250 people is a tall order; making a 4’ x 6’ feet cake that looks like a university campus, is even more challenging. But Hawthorn is confident, with her hard-working committee, the cake will be a masterpiece.

“It truly is a collaborative effort,” she says. “And it’s something we want to share with students, faculty, and staff.”

The cake is sponsored by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s office and will be served at the Welcome Back BBQ on September 3.

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Summer schedule for IT Service Desk released

Effective June 8, the IT Service Desk will start operating on summer hours — 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The service desk hours will return to normal (7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) beginning August 24.

To find out more, visit: helpdesk.ok.ubc.ca

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UBC video producer to represent Canada at 2015 Summer Universiade

Sam Charles, senior media production specialist

Sam Charles, senior media production specialist

Sam Charles, senior media production specialist with the Media Centre Studio, has been chosen as a videographer for Team Canada at the 2015 Summer Universiade games in Gwangju, Korea.

Staged every two years in a different world-class city, the Universiade is an international multi-sport event organized for university athletes organized by the International University Sports Federation.

It showcases numerous summer sports and is second only to the Olympics in terms of athlete participation in a major sporting event. The twelve-day series will feature more than 9,000 student athletes from over 170 countries.

Charles covered the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics for Shaw TV while creating a manual for Olympic journalists as part of a Jack Webster Foundation Fellowship.

“I was very fortunate to cover the 2006 Winter Olympic in Italy which was an incredible experience — witnessing a large-scale event like that from the outside,” says Charles. “Now as a member of the Team Canada mission staff, I will get to experience and tell the Universiade story from an insider’s perspective.”

Apart from his day-to-day role producing stories for ubco.tv, he is also the play-by-play voice for the UBC Okanagan Heat’s Friday night Game of the Week on canadawest.tv.

“I’ve always enjoyed giving back to amateur sports, especially university sports,” says Charles. “I did play-by-play for York University, UBC’s Vancouver campus, Simon Fraser University and the University of Waterloo prior to my play-by-play duties at UBC Okanagan.”

As videographer, Charles will be responsible for capturing the event and creating a presence through social media for Team Canada.

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