2025

Health & Wellness Summer Offerings

Eryn Van Poole — Tue, 20 May 2025 19:43:09 +0000

Health & Wellness Summer Offerings Eryn Van Poole Tue, 05/20/2025 - 13:43

Check out summer wellness workshops

WorkWell is offering free wellness workshops for faculty and staff this summer—covering everything from home improvement to effective family communication and more. Take advantage of these learning opportunities.

Attend the Summer Mindfulness Series

Join WorkWell this summer to integrate regular mindfulness practice into your routine! No matter where you are working, Summer Mindfulness Series sessions are available via Zoom on a drop-in basis. Each session can build upon each other or be taken independently.

Free WorkWell yoga classes

Register for free yoga classes at the Rec Center this summer. The all-levels class allows participants to go at their own pace. Participants are welcome to borrow a mat or use their own. Registration is required for each class, and Rec Center membership is not required.

Campus departments: Apply for a table at the Be Involved Fair

Campus departments and programs are invited to apply for a table at the Be Involved Fair, by April 10 for a signature Fall Welcome event on Wednesday, August 27 from 2-6 p.m. on Farrand Field. Meet thousands of students who are looking for a way to be involved in the coming academic year.

WorkWell is offering free wellness workshops for faculty and staff this summer

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Take your supervisory skills to the next level

Eryn Van Poole — Tue, 20 May 2025 19:28:06 +0000

Take your supervisory skills to the next level Eryn Van Poole Tue, 05/20/2025 - 13:28

Supervisors at any level are encouraged to take these trainings led by the Organization and Employee Development team.

Contact Perri Longley with questions.

Supervisors at any level are encouraged to take these trainings led by the Organization and Employee Development team.

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Mark your calendars for Walk & Bike Month

Eryn Van Poole — Tue, 20 May 2025 19:00:31 +0000

Mark your calendars for Walk & Bike Month Eryn Van Poole Tue, 05/20/2025 - 13:00

June is just around the corner, and it's a whole month to celebrate the joys of getting outside and enjoying our great city. Come celebrate with us at these events and check out the Community Cycles blog post for more fun:

June 1: B360 & B180 Circle Boulder by Bike
June 11: Boulder Bike Show and free Fix a Flat Workshop
June 18: Free Bike Maintenance 101 and BTC 120 Years Celebration
June 25: Bike to Work Day - plan your bike station route and pledge to ride
June 28: Bike MS and Community Cycles Membership Party

Visit our station at the CU Rec Center on Bike to Work Day for free food and prizes! Stop by to make your own smoothie with our blender bikes and the magic of pedaling.

The hype for bikes also doesn't need to end in June. Check out the Triple Bypass in July, B Strong Ride in August, and the Buffalo Bicycle Classic in September to keep your biking skills sharp!

June is just around the corner, and it's a whole month to celebrate the joys of getting outside and enjoying our great city.

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New Parking Lot Availability Tool and $5 Discounted Daily parking permits for staff and faculty

Eryn Van Poole — Mon, 19 May 2025 22:44:28 +0000

New Parking Lot Availability Tool and $5 Discounted Daily parking permits for staff and faculty Eryn Van Poole Mon, 05/19/2025 - 16:44

Parking Services is beta testing a new parking lot availability tool to help you find available spots in our most popular visitor lots. This mobile-friendly website provides real-time updates on lot availability, ensuring quick and convenient access to parking when you need it. If you use this tool, please provide feedback via the Feedback Form.

Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) is excited to announce that they will be continuing their popular discounted daily parking indefinitely.

Intended for faculty and staff who only need occasional parking on campus, this program allows users to purchase daily spaces in various available lots in advance for a discounted rate of $5 per day. Purchases can be completed via the CU Boulder Parking Services portal. Additionally, step-by-step instructions are available on the Faculty/Staff Parking page.

A few important things to remember:

You must be logged into the CU Boulder Parking Services portal to purchase your day permit.
This rate applies to specific lots and is dependent on space availability. Always check the parking portal for availability prior to parking in a specific lot.
Permits are available for purchase to accounts in good standing, meaning accounts with a $0 balance due. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact Parking Services directly to request an exemption.

We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues, and if this benefit has helped you, share that feedback with PTS. Positive feedback is always appreciated and is shared in discussions on continuing this program for future semesters.

New Parking Lot Availability Tool and $5 Discounted Daily parking permits for staff and faculty

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Transportation Summer Highlights

Eryn Van Poole — Mon, 19 May 2025 22:40:12 +0000

Transportation Summer Highlights Eryn Van Poole Mon, 05/19/2025 - 16:40

With the spring semester wrapped up, it’s time to kick your commute into high gear! Check out these stories to make the most of transportation this season.

Get to airport with the RTD AB2 route

If you live by 28th Street, use the AB2 route instead of the AB1 to get ahead of the airport crowd this semester. Check out the RTD schedule and see if the AB2 can elevate your travel commute for break.

Drive in style: EV car share by CASE

Colorado CarShare is now offering EV car share options in the parking lot next to the Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE). Don’t forget to also check out the EVs at C4C and Williams Village. Make sure to sign up with your colorado.edu email and use the promo code CUECENTER for students and CU25CREDIT for staff to earn driving credit. Learn how to sign up and save on the Colorado CarShare Students and University website.

Subscribe to the Be Mobile Newsletter

Found these tips helpful? Join the Be Mobile Newsletter email list to read about similar topics that may benefit your commute, including new services, community events, safety upgrades, construction impacts and more.

With the spring semester wrapped up, it’s time to kick your commute into high gear! Check out these stories to make the most of transportation this season.

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Your complete guide to eating on campus this summer

Eryn Van Poole — Mon, 19 May 2025 22:36:50 +0000

Your complete guide to eating on campus this summer Eryn Van Poole Mon, 05/19/2025 - 16:36

Campus Dining & Hospitality makes it easy for students, faculty, staff and visitors to find nutritious options with convenient locations across campus. Here’s where staff can find food this summer.

Here is where staff can find food this summer.

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Staff Council Committee Accomplishments

Eryn Van Poole — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:17:51 +0000

Staff Council Committee Accomplishments Eryn Van Poole Mon, 05/19/2025 - 15:17

Boulder Campus Staff Council recognizes all staff members who reached a career milestone in the 2024 - 2025 academic year. You are an integral part of the CU Boulder campus, and we sincerely thank you for your service and dedication. Read more about the staff career milestones.

We'd also like to recognize the four awardees of the Chancellor's 2024 Employee of the Year award: Miki Brooks, Janelle Henderson, Sally Lowell, and Jeanne McDonald and University of Colorado Staff Council (UCSC) 2025 Staff Excellence Awardees: Kai Amey and Estrella Lastre. This year's winners represent incredible dedication to the students, faculty, and staff of the CU Boulder campus.

Awards and Staff Recognition (ASR) Committee

We honored a total of 767 CU Boulder university staff, classified staff, and profession research assistants and research associate members for their years of service: 318 for five years; 205 for ten years; 83 for fifteen years and they received a $25.00 gift card; 67 for twenty years and they received a $50.00 gift card; 53 twenty-five years and they received a $75.00 gift card; 29 for thirty years and they received $100.00 gift card; 7 for thirty-five years and they received a $150.00 gift card; 2 for forty years and they received a $150.00 gift card.
We honored the four Chancellor’s Employees of the Year and the two University of Colorado Staff Council Staff Excellence Award winners with a gift bag made up of Staff Council swag and purchased items from the bookstore.
ASR planned and launched the successful revival of the Brightest Buffs recognition program in spring 2025! This refreshed initiative was brought to life to honor the creativity, dedication, and innovation of our incredible staff community. So far, we've launched a brand-new website featuring a recognition form and an optional public spotlight for honorees, giving them the opportunity to share their stories with the broader campus community. Recipients are also awarded a CU gold star pin as a token of appreciation. Thanks to campus-wide collaboration and enthusiasm, Brightest Buffs is already creating a meaningful platform to celebrate the people who make CU Boulder thrive.

Belonging, Equity, Accessibility and Mattering (BEAM) Committee

BEAM has purchased a Little Free Library (LFL), the first to be established on the CU Boulder campus. The nearest LFL is on the hill, in downtown Boulder, and east of 28th Street, so it will fill a much needed void in the area. The long-term plan is for the LFL to float between major hubs on campus indoors, like the C4C, the UMC, Williams Village, etc. to allow all staff, students, researchers, and faculty to visit easily. BEAM is planning a ribbon-cutting for the LFL's first location and hope to fill it with books that celebrate and affirm the LGBTQIA+, transgender, intersex and non-binary community for the inaugural opening.
BEAM presented a resolution to the full Staff Council on April 16, 2025 called "Reaffirm and Commit Support for a Positive Work Environment for the Transgender, Intersex, and Non-Binary Community" co-authored by Kathleen Stutzman and Rose Smith. This resolution was adopted by Staff Council and will be presented to leadership on campus. This resolution affirmed the positive steps that have already been established on campus to support a positive work environment for the transgender, intersex and non-binary community over the past few years, and provided an outline of recommendations to the administration to improve morale and safety for this community.
In collaboration with UCSC and Dr. Kelsey Draper of Infrastructure and Resilience, BEAM is co-sponsoring the screening of This Is [Not] Who We Are on campus during the month of June 2025. This movie is directed and produced by Dr. Beret Strong and Katrina Miller and explores the lived experiences and discrimination of Boulder's Black citizens both historically and in contemporary times.
The Many Voices: Co-Creating CU Boulder summit on April 21st, was sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Office of Leadership Support and Programming, and all four of CU's shared governance organizations. Staff Council tri-chairs, as well as the BEAM committee members attended planning meetings throughout the past year, and helped to solidify the goals and content of the summit. Dr. Adrianna Kezar (Director of the Pullias Center of Higher Education at the University of Southern California and Dean’s Professor of Leadership and Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education at USC) and Dr. Ángel de Jesus González (Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Fresno State University) facilitated the day long event, focusing on the Shared Equity Leadership model. This model has been adopted by the campus as a collaborative approach to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, by emphasizing shared decision-making, representation and continuous learning.

Blood Drive and Community Service Committee

The Blood Drive and Community Service Committee, along with long-time partner Vitalant, hosted blood drives in October, December, February, and April. Between these four drives, over 742 units of blood were collected to be used by those in need in the community. Each unit of blood donated has the possibility of saving three lives, meaning that the cumulative effort could save 2,226 lives.

This effort involved recruiting students, staff, faculty, and community to commit to helping be a positive force in the community.

The committee also partnered with Meals on Wheels Boulder to create Valentine’s Day cards.

The committee is focused on continuing to host successful Blood Drives on campus and expanding community service opportunities that directly impact our community and support the staff on our campus.

Communications Committee

Partnered with 20+ campus organizations to send out three newsletters during the academic year to over 6,000 staff and research faculty.
1. Received 613 individual responses from four newsletter surveys relating to Wellness Barriers, Why Stay/What to Change at CU, Prescription Challenges, and Staff Council Priorities/Future Goals.
Collaborated with the ASR committee to launch the Brightest Buffs Program.

Experience & Elections (ExEl) Committee

The committee updated the Elections Code to make it clearer and to reflect current practices. The proposed changes were voted on and adopted in April 2025.
The committee successfully proposed a name and scope change from the Elections Committee to the Experience and Elections Committee to include new responsibilities around onboarding and supporting Staff Council Representatives.
The committee facilitated successful voting processes for new Staff Council Representatives and Officers for the 2025-2026 year.

Front Line Staff Committee

This year, Front Line Staff was voted in as a full standing committee! This not only has allowed the committee to be more secure in our future, but has reaffirmed Staff Council's commitment to supporting, uplifting, and celebrating our frontline staff across campus. This year, we welcomed our very first frontline staff council member. We hosted two lively roundtable discussions with frontline staff in multiple languages and heard critical feedback from them about their jobs around campus. This year, we started outlining a white paper to bring frontline staff concerns to campus leadership. We continue to champion language access for all frontline workers on campus. We have repeatedly connected with supervisors on campus on how to support frontline staff. This has been a great year, and we can't wait for what next year has in store!

Outreach & Events Committee

The Outreach & Events Committee hosted Staff Council’s annual Staff Appreciation Breakfast and food drive on December 12, 2024. As with previous years, the event was well attended with over 1,100 staff attending this year. Campus leadership once again did an outstanding job volunteering in their serving roles and Chip the mascot even came by to say hello. The generosity of staff with food donations supported several food pantries in the area with welcome donations before the holiday season. This event is continually one of Staff Council’s most successful offerings and it is a highlight of our year.

We also collaborated with campus partners to host an all day event for all CU employees to bring their kids to work for a day of discovery and fun! We are proud of how many campus units joined us in offering activities for little buffs in addition to the Kickoff Party hosted by our committee. Almost 200 little buffs showed up with their parents to the kickoff party and enjoyed ice skating, snacks, games, activities and pictures with Chip and his Dad, Chip Sr.

Payroll, Benefits, Retirement & Legislative (PBRL) Committee

Raised awareness with HR about issues related to the uneven process for performance management across campus, created a survey regarding staff and the performance management system to be shared with campus in the May newsletter. HR shared concerns and committed to continuing to work on improvements to this process for staff.
Partnered with CU Boulder MyLeave Replacement Initiative to discuss payroll in arrears as they move into the Design phase.
Spoke with Jess Doty at health and wellness to better understand current benefits & perks landscape to see what is available for staff and if changes should be made.
Met with Kelly Reel about salary transparency and checked where the compensation framework initiative project is at.
Continued to staying informed on the HR Blueprint project and kept in touch with HR regarding how it's being developed.

NEW! Research Faculty Special Committee

In the May Staff Council meeting, a special committee to serve interests of Professional Research Assistants, Senior Professional Research Assistants, Research Associates, and Senior Research Associates was ratified by a majority vote.

The committee will assemble through the 2025-2026 academic year with the goals of:

Enhancing outreach and education efforts about Staff Council with Research Faculty, particularly through translating Staff Council and standing committee efforts for Research Faculty constituents.
Providing understanding and perspective on CU Boulder policies, procedures, and funding of Research Faculty for Staff Council members.
Promoting and advocating for equitable and proportional representation of Research Faculty as elected or appointed representatives on Staff Council.
Supporting the implementation and evaluating the effectiveness of the Research Faculty special committee.

Be on the lookout for future communications and contact ginnie.hershbarger@colorado.edu or kate.cochran@colorado.edu for more information, with questions, and if you are interested in joining the committee.

We'd like to take a moment to share the accomplishments of our committees within Staff Council from this past year.

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Staff Council election results: Meet your new 2025 representatives

Eryn Van Poole — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:50:05 +0000

Staff Council election results: Meet your new 2025 representatives Eryn Van Poole Mon, 05/19/2025 - 14:50

Staff Council is excited to announce the winners of the 2025 - 2026 CU Boulder Staff Council elections, as well as announce our new officers. We are deeply grateful to all the candidates willing to take the time and make the effort to be involved!

If you were not elected, or were unable to run but are still interested in volunteering your time with Staff Council, we encourage you to contact Staff Council directly. Any CU Staff, Research Associate, or Professional Research Assistant employee can participate and can benefit from networking opportunities, event volunteering, and professional development through committee work. No prior experience or specific time commitments are required.

Elected Representatives

The following representatives were elected by popular vote during our election cycle by you, the CU Boulder Staff, Research Associates, and Professional Research Assistants. In the event that the top elected candidate is unwilling or unable to fulfill their duties, a runner-up (if available) is named in their place.

Area-specific

These are staff members elected by popular vote to represent a specific "area" of campus. If you are unsure what area your position is covered by, visit our Area Breakdowns page or our Representatives page.

Area 1, Sara Abdulla
Area 2, Claudia Numan
Area 3, John Carlson
Area 4, Rob Blacker
Area 5, Vanessa Dunn
Area 6, Vacant
Area 7, Sarah Safadi
Area 8, Tom Klenow
Area 9, Jessica Sandoval
Research Faculty: Kate Cochran

Elected At-Large

Elected At-Large are staff members elected by popular vote to serve the entire CU Boulder system, rather than a specific area.

Crystal Cyr
John Tran
Chris Marelli
Claudia Acosta Lopez

Appointed Representatives (At-Large)

These are staff members appointed by the Staff Council Elections committee to serve as representatives for a 1-year term. Appointed representatives include former elected representatives as well as those who were runners-up in their elections for specific areas.

Alisha Stewart
Brian DeWolf
Gena Welk
Jacob Henry
Megan Henning
Nicole Morris

Officers

Officers are nominated and elected by CU Boulder Staff Council representatives after the general elections are complete. The majority of these positions are 1-year terms.

Tri-Chairs

Leah McDaniel Parvez, 2 Year Term
Jessica Sandoval, 1 Year Term
Crystal Cyr, 1 Year Term

Co Vice-Chairs

Ginnie Hershbarger
Megan Varra

Treasurer

Yasmine Ortuno

Secretary

Cameron Brooks

University of Colorado Staff Council Elected Delegates

Alisha Stewart
Alternate: Natalia Johnston

Staff Council is excited to announce the winners of the 2025 - 2026 CU Boulder Staff Council elections, as well as announce our new officers.

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Letter from our Chairs - May 2025

Eryn Van Poole — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:37:23 +0000

Letter from our Chairs - May 2025 Eryn Van Poole Mon, 05/19/2025 - 14:37

Greetings, all.
As we close out another academic year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible progress and resilience shown by our CU Boulder community. It has been a year of significant change—some anticipated, some unexpected—and through it all, our campus has responded with steady determination and a deep commitment to one another.

We are incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together. Staff members and research faculty across every department and unit have worked tirelessly to support our community. Your dedication and commitment have been essential to sustaining and enhancing CU Boulder as a place where all can thrive. Thank you for your continued hard work, creativity, and commitment to making CU Boulder a better place for everyone.

In alignment with the Staff Council mission to advocate for the rights of staff and research faculty to improve morale and promote diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and respect in conducting organizational business and initiatives, Staff Council recently adopted a resolution that Reaffirms and Commits Support for a Positive Work Environment for the Transgender, Intersex, and Non-Binary Community. This resolution outlines specific actions CU Boulder can take to demonstrate a genuine and ongoing commitment to equity and belonging for transgender, intersex, and non-binary staff members. These actions reflect our shared values and the importance of ensuring that every member of our campus feels respected, safe, and valued.

Staff Council representatives will be meeting with campus leadership to discuss the resolution further, and strategize next steps for moving key actions into motion in the months ahead. We are excited about the potential for real, meaningful change and grateful to everyone who contributed their voices and advocacy to this effort.

Looking ahead, we are filled with optimism. Staff Council has built strong momentum this year, and we are confident that this energy and spirit of collaboration will carry forward into the next cycle. We will continue advocating for staff interests and advancing initiatives that contribute to a more inclusive, supportive, and empowering workplace.

Thank you again for all you do. Here's to a year of progress—and to the promise of what lies ahead.

Crystal, Jessica, and Mike

We want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible progress and resilience shown by our CU Boulder community.

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CU Boulder Staff Council Hosts April Campus Blood Drive

Eryn Van Poole — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:52:25 +0000

CU Boulder Staff Council Hosts April Campus Blood Drive Eryn Van Poole Thu, 03/20/2025 - 10:52

Giving blood this spring is a simple yet powerful way to make a difference. CU Boulder Staff Council, in partnership with Vitalant, is excited to announce the April Blood Drive! Every donation can save up to three lives, directly impacting individuals facing medical emergencies, surgeries, or chronic illnesses. By rolling up your sleeve this April, you become a beacon of hope for those in need.

📍 Where: Student Recreation Center, Ice Rink Overlook

📅 When:

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Last appointment at 2:15 PM)
- Schedule an Appointment
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Last appointment at 2:15 PM)
- Schedule an Appointment
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Last appointment at 2:15 PM)
- Schedule an Appointment

💡 Why Donate?
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Hospitals and medical facilities depend on voluntary donors to maintain a steady blood supply for life-saving treatments. Your donation ensures that those in critical need receive the care they deserve.

🔹 Our Goal:
We are striving to collect 60 units per day, and with your help, we can surpass this goal and make a lasting impact in our community.

🔹 How to Prepare:

Review eligibility criteria: Donor Eligibility
Eat a nutritious meal and stay hydrated before your donation
Bring a valid photo ID
Get a good night's sleep before your appointment

At CU Boulder, everyone can make a difference. If you're unable to donate, you can still support the cause by volunteering at the event. For more information on getting involved, please contact Staff Council.

This April, join us for the CU Boulder Staff Council Blood Drive and help bring hope to those in need. Together, we can make a meaningful impact—one donation at a time.

Giving blood this spring is a simple yet powerful way to make a difference. CU Boulder Staff Council, in partnership with Vitalant, is excited to announce the April Blood Drive!

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