I&R Employee Newsletter - September 2025

This spring, thanks to the University Libraries’ One Seed program, our East Campus horticulture team received seeds for the historic Cockerell sunflower—originally cultivated by a Boulder biology teacher over a century ago. Alex Hughes, one of our talented staff members, (read more about Alex in our Employee Spotlight below) took on the challenge of growing showcase sunflowers, and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Towering over 11 feet tall and still growing, these golden giants are now brightening the south side of ARCE. Stop by to see them in person and celebrate a beautiful blend of local heritage and green-thumb dedication!

Do you need a professional photo to include on your��Handshake���ǰ���LinkedIn��profile? Stop by Career Services to use our free photo booth! Available to all ̽����Ƶ students, staff and alumni. The Career Services photo booth is located in the lobby of Career Services, C4C room S440. It’s open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No appointment is needed to use the photo booth. Learn more.

RTD’s proposed changes took place effective Aug. 31. Take a look at the new schedules on the . New changes include:

• Boulder Junction at Depot Square Station will reopen with the AB2 and FF4 bus routes, connecting Boulder to Denver International Airport and downtown Denver respectively.
• Weekday AB2 trips will now depart from Boulder Junction Depot Square Station instead of Downtown Boulder Station.
• The FF2 and FF4 will have more trips during peak hours.
  ��

With the reopening of Boulder Junction Depot Square Station, now serves Pearl Parkway, Junction Place/32nd Street, and Walnut Street. ��It still runs every 15 minutes during peak hours and connects ̽����Ƶ, University Hill, downtown Boulder and the 29th Street Mall. The city of Boulder is adding seven battery electric buses this fall to reach a fully electrified fleet by 2030.��

Later this month, ̽����Ƶ will launch Buff Ride, an app-based transit option replacing the Marine Street Express. Riders will be able to request a ride to one of eight designated stops, including the Distribution Center, CU Surplus Store and the CINC building. Stay tuned for launch details.

Buff Bus service got a makeover! The Will Vill, Will Vill Limited and Bear Creek loops are now one clockwise route: Route W: Williams Village. This design uses mostly right-hand turns to improve travel time and reliability. Both Darley and Bear Creek stops in Williams Village are still served. Our routes like the Stampede and East Campus Express remain unchanged. See fall 2025 routes and schedules.

Take piano lessons with a graduate piano instructor this semester! These lessons are for adult students, staff, faculty or dependents at all levels of experience.The instructors are graduate piano majors with extensive experience. You must have a piano or keyboard to practice. Contact Alejandro Cremaschi at alejandro.cremaschi@colorado.edu if you are interested.

At our Aug. Facilities Management safety committee meeting, we talked about how important it is to communicate with each other. It starts with getting to know your team and making new members feel welcome. We also agreed that asking for help is key to staying safe. No task is more important than your safety, so don’t hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or teammates when you need support. Finally, being accountable to yourself and making smart decisions helps keep everyone safe, not just at work, but also at home with your family and friends.

We encourage all Facilities Management staff to become familiar with , ̽����Ƶ’s official webpage for campus emergency information. This site provides real-time updates on situations affecting campus including weather-related closures, safety alerts, building impacts during emergencies, and other critical incidents affecting campus operations. It’s a reliable resource to stay informed and get information directly from our emergency operations team, especially during rapidly changing situations.

If you have a @colorado.edu email address, you’ll automatically get emergency and safety alerts by email. To also receive text messages on your mobile device, log in to the and and select "My Info and Pay" then select “Text Alert Preferences” and add your mobile number under “Emergency Text Alert Mobile.” Make sure the phone type is set to cellular.��

The FM safety committee meets the third Tuesday of every month to discuss general safety concerns, review safety reports and on-the-job injuries and recommend training needs and resources. If you are interested in attending a meeting or bringing an issue or idea that is safety-related, please reach out to your area representative on the or contact our Safety Specialist Don Fitzpatrick.
��

Ever wonder about the stories behind CU’s trees? Join arborist Vince Aquino and his Outdoor Services team for a Tree Tour on Thursday, Sept. 25, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Sponsored by IROCC and Facilities Management, this community event is all about fresh air, fun facts, snacks, and connection! We’ll meet at GROC at 3:30 p.m. and walk from there. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

While the leaves are turning and the season is changing, the need for blood donations remains constant. ̽����Ƶ Staff Council, in collaboration with longtime partner Vitalant, will host a Sept. blood drive—open to faculty, staff and students. Learn more and schedule your appointment.

Starting Sept. 15, ̽����Ƶ will begin using Microsoft’s multi-factor authentication (MFA) system to better protect your account. It works a lot like Duo, which you already use to log in to the MyCUInfo portal—it’s an extra security step to confirm it’s really you. If you use campus tools like email or Microsoft Teams, you’ll need to set up Microsoft MFA. Eventually, Microsoft MFA will replace our current Duo MFA. The initial setup process takes about 15 minutes. We recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your CU FacMan cell phone, if you have one. You can also use the app on a personal cell device. Note: Alumni and retirees already have the MFA policy applied to their accounts, they don’t need to do anything more at this time. Here are the step by step instructions for all CU staff:

How to set up Microsoft MFA:

1. Connect to campus: Make sure you’re on campus Wi-Fi or connected to the campus VPN.
2. Save your work: Close any open Microsoft files before starting.
3. : This tool helps you check and update your MFA settings.
4. Reauthenticate: You’ll be asked to log in again using MFA for Microsoft services. You’ll usually only need to do this once per device or browser session.
5. Fix issues if needed: If your MFA isn’t working, you can to add or remove methods. CU recommends using the .
6. Finish setup: Once everything looks good, click the enrollment link to turn on the new protection.

Questions? Contact fmdesktop@colorado.edu.��

Only use university-approved AI tools, and never enter sensitive or restricted information into AI platforms. , designed for ̽����Ƶ faculty and staff with little or no prior experience. It’s a great way to learn how to start using AI tools and concepts in your daily work. The course will take one to two hours to complete and those who complete the course can be awarded a ̽����Ƶ-issued digital recognition badge.

I just wanted to say how great Vlad Avelar was in helping me and how much I appreciate what you and your team do for the university. I had to clear out my office in the stadium to meet a fast-approaching deadline, but the building's AC was broken, and I soon started overheating. Thankfully, I encountered Vlad by chance. He was so kind and quickly brought me a fan, so I didn't pass out from the heat. I can't imagine what would have happened without his help. When I emailed him to thank him and told him I hadn't been able to take all the remaining items back to my car, he offered to help me move them. He showed up right on time and was such a big help, so I got everything moved out that day. I truly am so grateful for his assistance! From my conversations with him, I realized just how much you and your team do for the university. Without Facility Management, the university wouldn't be able to function. You all truly are the foundation of the university! I am so thankful for your hard work.

I would like to recognize Travor Smith for his outstanding support during our department's recent office move. Travor went above and beyond by assisting with physically demanding tasks, helping to coordinate logistics, and consistently offering to take on responsibilities to ease the workload. As the office manager responsible for organizing the move, I was incredibly grateful for Travor's willingness to step in wherever needed. His positive attitude and proactive approach made a significant difference, helping to reduce stress and foster a true sense of teamwork throughout the process. Travor's contributions exemplify collaboration, initiative, and a strong commitment to supporting his colleagues. He is truly deserving of this recognition.

New Hires

• Johnathan Paige, Transportation Services, Campus Bus Driver - CDL
• Rafal Kijak,Transportation Services, Campus Bus Driver - CDL

Promotions/Transfers

• Frank Galindo, Distribution Services, Surplus Supervisor/Tech IV (formerly Tech III)
• Jason Cunningham, Transportation Services,Transit Coordinator (formerly Campus Bus Driver - CDL)
• Jesus Puentes, Facilities Maintenance Operations, HVAC Shop Supervisor (formerly Interim HVAC Supervisor)
• Victor Gomez, Facilities Maintenance Operations, PMT II (formerly PMT I)
• Josh Radoff, Infrastructure and Resilience, Director of Campus Climate Action, Sustainability and Resilience (this is an additional appointment - Josh is currently Assc. Teaching Professor, Masters of the Environment)
• Nyima Dolma, CBS, Custodial Supervisor (formerly Custodian)
• Joan Jenkins, EH&S, Environmental Health & Safety Specialist (formerly Hazardous Materials Specialist)
• Mckenzie Statham, EH&S, Sr. Radiation Safety Specialist (formerly Radiation Safety Specialist)
• Meg Hohnholt, PD&C, Asst Director, Design & Construction (formerly Engineering/Architecture Director/CU Denver)

Moving On

• David Aud, Distribution Services, Materials Handler II (retired)
• Keane��Ray, PD&C, Project Management Team Lead