If you are working from home, please remember that UBCO IT is working hard to support you. Wait times for calls and routine tickets are likely to be quite high. Systems are also under stress with the increased usage/workload. Please remember to:

• Create tickets if possible (instead of email, phone calls, or walk-ups to the Service Desk).
• Remember to review working from home how-tos at: it.ubc.ca/telecommute
• Monitor IT bulletins for breaking news and outages at: news.ok.ubc.ca/it
• Monitor the UBC IT twitter channel at: twitter.com/UBCIToutages

Hear from a panel of three leading female CIO from BC’s post-secondary institutions about their leadership journey at Follow the Leader: Lessons from Female CIOs in Higher Education on March 8.

Presented by UBC Information Technology, learn how these three female leaders used their influence as senior executives, and the advice they would give to young professionals pursuing their own career path to leadership

Panel Moderator

• Dianne LaPierre, co-president, Vancouver Women In Technology, and senior vice-president and chief information officer of Raymond James Ltd

Guest Panelists

• Jennifer Burns, associate vice-president, technology and chief information officer for the University of British Columbia
• Sally Felkai, chief information officer for Emily Carr University of Art + Design
• Wency Lum, chief information officer for the University of Victoria

Event Details

Date: Friday, March 8, 2019
Time: 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Location: This event will be live streamed is available for those that are not be able to attend in person. If you will be in Vancouver and want to register for the live event, visit: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kRkjhWOfIFnsC9

For more information on the event, visit: https://it.ubc.ca/follow-leader-lessons-female-cios-higher-education

On Monday, December 10, UBC Cybersecurity will be enabling Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) for supported desktops and laptops at the Okanagan campus.

This solution is part of the ongoing effort to prevent malware on the UBC network and provides an extra layer of protection as a complement to UBC’s current malware protection (Sophos Anti-Virus). It will work to detect, contain and remove advanced malware.

In June, the Cybersecurity team deployed AMP in test mode only and you may have noticed a new icon  in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).

If you have any questions or comments about the Advanced Malware Protection system at UBC, please contact the UBC IT Service Centre at 22008 or help@it.ubc.ca.

Top row from left: Trevor Odlum, Chase Tompkins, Troy Campbell, Paul Crang, Andy Fehr and Paul Clancy. Bottom row from left: Deborah Buszard, Marlis Wecels, Barbara Sobol and Adrienne Vedan.

At last week’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Town Hall, a number of employees were recognized for exemplary service to the university at the annual Staff Awards of Excellence.

Congratulations to all the winners, and the significant impacts they have made to UBC Okanagan.

Enhancing the UBC Experience

Troy Campbell, Acting Associate Director for Campus Security, won the Enhancing the UBC Experience award. Campbell was recognized for bringing fresh ideas into the security office including the UBC Safe mobile app, the security bike patrol, and several workshops and seminars to help train students and staff in First Aid, self-defence and crisis management.

Campus Leadership

Undergraduate Services Librarian Barbara Sobol was presented with the Campus Leadership Award. Sobol has coordinated a series of library information and skill training sessions and she led a pilot project where student employees in the library developed programming to support and promote engagement with students on campus. Most recently, Sobol led the library’s first floor renovations and changes.

Marlis Wecels, administrative manager of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences’ Interprofessional Clinic also won a Campus Leadership Award. Wecels was recognized for her compassion, professionalism, support, productivity and excellence as “the consummate administrative manager.” She was recognized for exhibiting exceptional leadership, organizational skills, initiative and creativity, and a capacity to foster growth and development in the department.

Okanagan Spirit

The Okanagan Spirit Award was presented to IT, Media & Classroom Services’ Helpdesk team. The Helpdesk team was applauded for their outstanding commitment to customer service while helping to resolve technical issues. The Helpdesk team were also recognized for being proactive when resolving issues and accommodating requests, and having exemplary problem-solving skills. The Helpdesk team consists of: Andy Fehr, Jill MacKenzie, Paul Clancy, Paul Crang, Perry Jones, Trevor Odlum, Mark Panich, Geoffrey Pouliot and Chase Tompkins.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Award

Director of Aboriginal Programs and Services Adrienne Vedan was presented with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Award. Vedan is known as someone who always goes above and beyond her job description and attends to all duties with her “joyful attention.”

When presenting the award, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Deborah Buszard said: “UBC Okanagan was founded in partnership with the Syilx Okanagan Nation and we have made important commitments to local First Nation Bands, Friendship Centres, Metis and Urban Aboriginal organizations. Many of these commitments are upheld and enhanced by Adrienne’s hard work to maintain good relations and to serve the needs of Indigenous communities in the Okanagan and afar.”

To help schedule computer lab software updates for the September 2018 academic term, IT, Media & Classroom Services is implementing cut-off dates for Lab Software Installation Submittals.

The deadline for September requests is July 1. Requests received past this date will be dealt with on a best-effort basis. All cut-off dates can be found on the Computer Lab Software Requests page. Use this page when submitting tickets for software installs required for next year’s classes.

IT, Media & Classroom Services is also looking for feedback on future hardware requirements in all Tier One Computer Labs. Any feedback can be sent to Support Analyst Sky Mooney (sky.mooney@ubc.ca).

IT, Media and Classroom Services is hosting important information and training sessions regarding the upcoming WiFi Certificate Renewal.

Bring your laptop and mobile devices to ADM 013 on May 7 and 9 for instructions on how to update your devices to ensure uninterrupted access, and take in an information session that explains what changes are being made and why you should use UBC Secure WiFi.

Four sessions have been scheduled across two days:

• Monday, May 7, 10 to 11 a.m. or 3 to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 9, 10 to 11 a.m. or 3 to 4 p.m.

Note: Android devices can’t be updated until May 9; all other devices can be updated prior to May 9.

If you are unable to attend any of these sessions, please contact the IT Help Desk, or update your devices with the AutoConnect tool at: https://it.ubc.ca/autoconnect

Faculty and staff recognized at this year’s Long Service Awards included (from left): Dixon Sookraj, Rose Cresswell, Robert Lalonde, Blythe Nilson, Mike Gesi and Robert Campbell.

Each year UBC Okanagan celebrates the many years of dedicated service from faculty and staff. This year, 12 people reached milestones of working at UBC or Okanagan University College for 25, 30 and 40 years.

Those who received recognition for 25 years of service this year are:

• Martin Blum, associate professor of English
• Robert Campbell, associate professor in the Faculty of Education
• Paramjit Gill, associate professor of statistics
• Christopher Gordon, associate professor of French
• Marvin Krank, professor of psychology
• Robert Lalonde, associate professor of biology
• Dixon Sookraj, associate professor in the School of Social Work
• Diane Stoliker, library technician
• Bonnie Taylor, administrator in the AVP Students office

Both Security Manager Mike Gesi and Associate Professor of Biology Blythe Nilson were recognized for 30 years of service. And Library Technician Rose Cresswell was recognized for reaching the milestone of 40 years.

The reception was hosted by Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Deborah Buszard and each recipient was presented with a small gift and a certificate of appreciation.

The post Faculty and staff recognized for their contributions at 2018 Long Service Awards appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

On March 23, 2018, UBC Cybersecurity will be implementing network security upgrades at UBC’s Okanagan campus for all wired connections and the ubcsecure wireless network.

This upgrade will add a layer of protection to prevent unintentional visits to known high-risk websites through the internet. After the upgrade, if you’re on a UBC network and accidentally click on a link to a high-risk website, your browser will redirect you to a block page.

For example, if you receive a phishing email with a link to a fraudulent website and accidentally click on it, you will see the block page.

Please note: This process is automatic and the university is not acting as a censor. This service will not track individual user website activity. For more information and an FAQ about this new security upgrade, visit: privacymatters.ubc.ca/OK-network-upgrades

UBC Studios and the IT Helpdesk would like all employees to know that they are changing business hours.

UBC Studios‘ new Digital Media Design Lab in ADM 012 is now open and operates Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. The Studios’ equipment loan desk in ADM 011 operates during the same hours.

And the IT Helpdesk, located in ADM 024B, will be changing its hours starting February 19. It will now be closing at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m.

This year’s Helpdesk summer schedule begins on June 4 and runs until August 27. The hours during the period will be Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The post UBC Studios and IT Helpdesk changing hours appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

From the Toronto Blue Jays winning their first World Series, to Dr. Roberta Bondar became the first Canadian woman in space, to the world first SMS/text message — 1992 was a year of firsts.

1992 was also the first year that 11 individuals — who were recognized last week at the university’s annual Long Service Recognition Reception — started as employees at what was known as Okanagan University College.

“This region has a great history in post-secondary education. We can trace the history of both UBC Okanagan and today’s Okanagan College to the creation of Okanagan Regional College more than 50 years ago, said Pauline Brandes, director of Human Resources.

“This year’s honourees have been part of building a remarkable college and university system for this province — and one that serves the Okanagan in extraordinary ways.”

Those honoured at this year’s reception included:

• Linda Allan, associate professor of psychology
• Robert Belton, associate professor of art history
• Joan Bottorff, professor of nursing
• Carol Boyd, facility coordinator for Athletics and Recreation
• Kim Filice, program assistant for the Southern Medical Program
• Donovan Hare, associate professor of mathematics
• Nina Langton, associate professor of Japanese
• Mary Ann Murphy, associate professor with a cross-appointment in sociology and social work
• Jim Robinson, associate professor of philosophy
• Fred Vogt, deputy registrar
• Greg Wetterstrand, associate professor of education

Deborah Buszard, deputy vice-chancellor and principal of UBC Okanagan, and Lisa Castle, vice-president of Human Resources, were also at the event to celebrate the honourees.

To see more photos of the event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1894716313887313.1073741906.133596536665975&type=1&l=9478665257

The post 11 recognized for more than 25 years of dedicated service appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.