Announcements & Deadlines

̽��Ƶ, CSU join forces to share research facilities

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:44:56 +0000

̽��Ƶ, CSU join forces to share research facilities Megan M Rogers Mon, 04/06/2026 - 12:44

The strategic partnership enables ̽��Ƶ and Colorado State University to pursue new funding opportunities together and enhances the collective economic impact of research in the state.

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̽��Ƶ providing free upgrade to Transit Royale app

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:24:06 +0000

̽��Ƶ providing free upgrade to Transit Royale app Megan M Rogers Mon, 04/06/2026 - 12:24

̽��Ƶ students, faculty and staff now have access to Transit Royale, the premium version of the Transit app, at no cost through a partnership between Transportation Services and the Environmental Center (E-Center).

Transit is ̽��Ƶ’s recommended mobile app for tracking Buff Buses and navigating transit options across Boulder and beyond. With this new agreement, the campus community receives a free upgrade to Transit Royale, unlocking additional features that make it easier to get around.

What is Transit?

The Transit app is a free mobile application that provides real-time information to help riders plan trips and track buses, as well as other local transportation options like RTD and BCycle. At ̽��Ƶ, Transit is widely used to:

Track Buff Buses in real time
View live arrival times and route maps
Plan trips across campus and the Boulder area
Receive service alerts and updates

What does Transit Royale add?

Transit Royale is the premium version of the app, now available at no cost to the ̽��Ƶ community. It unlocks additional tools, including:

Full regional transit access beyond the Buff Bus system
Unlimited schedules for future trip planning
Expanded trip planning with more route options
Personalized themes, icons and avatars
Optional leaderboards and achievements through Transit’s GO feature
Early access to new features as they are released

Supporting sustainable transportation

Providing free access to Transit Royale supports ̽��Ƶ’s efforts to make transportation more accessible, reliable and sustainable. Real-time tracking and expanded trip-planning tools help reduce uncertainty and make it easier to choose transit.

How to get started

Download the Transit app from the App Store or Google Play, or update to the latest version. When opened on campus, the Transit Royale upgrade will be applied automatically—no payment or code required.

To learn more, visit the Transit App page.

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Call for nominations: 2026–27 Distinguished Research Lectureship

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:44:56 +0000

Call for nominations: 2026–27 Distinguished Research Lectureship Megan M Rogers Mon, 04/06/2026 - 08:44

The Distinguished Research Lectureship is among the highest honors bestowed by the faculty upon a ̽��Ƶ colleague. Nominations are due May 18.

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̽��Ƶ aligns with city drought guidance, emphasizes water stewardship across campus

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:16:25 +0000

̽��Ƶ aligns with city drought guidance, emphasizes water stewardship across campus Megan M Rogers Fri, 04/03/2026 - 06:16

The city of Boulder has entered a drought watch and is asking the community to take voluntary steps to reduce water use. As record hot and dry weather persists across the Front Range, ̽��Ƶ supports these efforts to help preserve water this spring.

The campus is working diligently to conserve water where possible while also maintaining green spaces that provide important health, recreation and community benefits.

Where campus irrigation comes from

A vast majority of ̽��Ƶ’s irrigation uses ditch water—non-potable, raw water—that is not part of the city of Boulder’s water supply. These water rights were granted to the university when the university was founded. While not subject to the city’s current drought guidance, the university is committed to using all water resources responsibly—applying water efficiently, minimizing waste and prioritizing long-term sustainability and stewardship of this state resource.

“Regardless of the source of our campus irrigation, we approach all water use with care, focusing on efficiency, minimizing waste and making decisions that reflect long-term sustainability and stewardship,” said Jonathan Akins, campus civil engineer with Planning, Design and Construction.

The university does have a limited area of campus where irrigation is supplied by the city, and is delaying the use of potable (treated drinking) water for irrigation of lawns and turf in those areas until May 1 in line with city recommendations.

Smart irrigation and water stewardship

̽��Ƶ has invested significantly in systems and practices that support efficient water use across campus, including:

Advanced irrigation controls that adjust watering based on weather conditions
Soil moisture monitoring to prevent overwatering
Nighttime irrigation schedules to reduce evaporation
Ongoing system checks to identify and fix leaks or inefficiencies

The Outdoor Services team at ̽��Ƶ uses all of these tools to make informed decisions about when to irrigate areas of campus, and for how long.

“We evaluate these systems and the conditions on the ground daily, adjusting campus irrigation in real time,” said Ryan Heiland, assistant director of Outdoor Services. “The goal is to be as efficient as possible, using only the water that’s needed to maintain healthy landscapes that support accessibility and community use.”

Campus irrigation typically occurs between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. However, community members may still see sprinklers operating in some areas during daytime hours when Outdoor Services is able to conduct system maintenance, safety checks or to ensure irrigation systems are functioning efficiently and not wasting water.

̽��Ƶ will continue to monitor conditions and coordinate with city partners as drought conditions evolve—working to conserve water while maintaining a safe, sustainable and vibrant campus environment.

What you can do

While there are currently no mandatory restrictions, early action can help avoid the need for stricter water use measures. ̽��Ƶ encourages students, faculty and staff to support water conservation efforts by:

Prioritizing water for trees and essential plants
Using water efficiently indoors and fixing leaks
Being mindful of everyday water use

Find more tips on the city of Boulder’s water conservation webpage

The university supports voluntary conservation measures while continuing responsible water management across campus.

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̽��Ƶ, Techstars announce partnership to accelerate Colorado entrepreneurism

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:31:20 +0000

̽��Ƶ, Techstars announce partnership to accelerate Colorado entrepreneurism Megan M Rogers Thu, 04/02/2026 - 11:31

̽��Ƶ and Techstars, the global startup accelerator and investor, have announced a strategic partnership to expand opportunities for founders and strengthen Colorado's innovation economy.

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22 faculty recognized as exceptional mentors

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:20:29 +0000

22 faculty recognized as exceptional mentors Megan M Rogers Thu, 04/02/2026 - 11:20

The Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award recognizes the work that faculty mentors do to improve the graduate student experience.

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ChatGPT Edu access goes live for faculty and staff

Megan M Rogers — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:45:57 +0000

ChatGPT Edu access goes live for faculty and staff Megan M Rogers Wed, 04/01/2026 - 07:45

After completing a required online training, eligible faculty and staff can access ChatGPT Edu. Learn about eligibility, security, approved data levels and much more.

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Study: Geothermal energy is feasible for future ̽��Ƶ campus use

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:02:15 +0000

Study: Geothermal energy is feasible for future ̽��Ƶ campus use Megan M Rogers Mon, 03/30/2026 - 11:02

̽��Ƶ and the Colorado Energy Office on Monday, March 30, released two state-funded feasibility studies evaluating whether geothermal energy could help reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions over the long term.

The studies evaluated both shallow geothermal systems, which are well known and commonly used for campus heating, and cutting-edge deep geothermal systems that could provide heat or electricity. Findings show geothermal systems of both types are technically feasible on campus and could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, though implementation would require major infrastructure changes and long-term investment.

The work provides ̽��Ƶ with valuable technical data and planning insight as the university advances its Climate Action Plan and broader decarbonization strategy, which includes cutting campus carbon emissions 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality no later than 2050.

“Evaluating frontier technologies like deep geothermal is an important step as we work toward our Climate Action Plan goals and explore pathways to reduce emissions across campus,” said Andrew Mayock, vice chancellor for sustainability.

“Our campus also serves as a living laboratory where research and campus operations come together to test and evaluate innovative energy solutions that can inform sustainability efforts well beyond ̽��Ƶ. Moreover, this state-supported study is a great example of the continued leadership of the state of Colorado and highlights the importance of partnership."

Study resources

Incentive tracker—project information on the grants and links to final reports
Electricity generation scoping study—deep geothermal
Community district heating design study—geo-exchange

Deep geothermal systems can extend more than 20,000 feet underground, far deeper than shallow systems that typically operate less than 1,000 feet deep. While less widely deployed, deep geothermal systems could offer an opportunity to test emerging clean-energy technologies at scale.

No construction or implementation decisions are being made at this time. Instead, the studies are intended to serve as planning resources to inform future energy and infrastructure decisions as campus strategies, funding opportunities, partnerships and governance approvals continue to evolve.

That broader work is already underway. Last summer, ̽��Ƶ selected an engineering partner to begin designing a campuswide decarbonization plan focused on transitioning heating systems away from steam and toward low-temperature hot-water systems powered by carbon-free energy sources.

“Colorado continues to lead the way in harnessing the heat beneath our feet to create a cleaner, more affordable energy future,” said Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor. “By investing in these feasibility studies at ̽��Ƶ, we are not just helping generate data and technical insight—we are empowering our institutions to serve as blueprints for decarbonization. These projects are a vital step toward reducing emissions, improving our air quality, and proving that clean energy solutions can protect our state for future generations.”

The studies were funded by the Colorado Energy Office Community District Heating/Thermal Energy Network (Agreement GAE 25-2370) and Geothermal Electricity Generation (Agreement GAE 25-2398) grants awarded to ̽��Ƶ in November 2024. The grants supported 59% of the study costs.

The results of a study involving future use of geothermal energy by the ̽��Ƶ campus will help inform the university's decarbonization plan, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by no later than 2050.

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Regents honor William King, Alice Mortenson with honorary degrees

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:29:21 +0000

Regents honor William King, Alice Mortenson with honorary degrees Megan M Rogers Mon, 03/30/2026 - 08:29

The University of Colorado Board of Regents has announced its selection of recipients of honorary degrees, distinguished service awards and university medals for 2026, including two ̽��Ƶ affiliates.

Given since 1882, the regent awards include:

Honorary degrees, which recognize outstanding achievement in one or more of the following areas: intellectual contributions, university service, philanthropy and/or public service.
Distinguished service awards, which recognize those persons whose achievements and contributions are particularly associated with the state and/or nation.
University medals, which recognize those persons whose achievements and contributions are particularly associated with the university.

The 2026 ̽��Ƶ awardees are William King, the second tenured African American professor at ̽��Ƶ, and Alice Mortenson, a renowned philanthropist and community leader who co-founded the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience.

William King, honorary degree

King, professor emeritus at ̽��Ƶ, is a distinguished scholar, educator and community leader. He was the second tenured African American professor at ̽��Ƶ and the university’s longest-serving Black professor (1972–2012) in history, known for pioneering contributions to Black studies, transformative teaching and dedication to social justice.

During his 40-year career, King played a pivotal role in establishing ̽��Ƶ’s Black studies curriculum, which later evolved into the Department of Ethnic Studies. He designed and taught numerous groundbreaking courses, including Black Religious Life in America and The Civil Rights Movement, inspiring generations of students. A founding member of the National Council for Black Studies, King also served as its chairman and historian, shaping the discipline nationally.

An accomplished author, King has published books, scholarly articles and essays that explore African American history, science and public policy. His widely cited work has enriched academic discourse.

Beyond academia, King has served as chairman of the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver and contributed to organizations such as the Black American West Museum and Colorado Historic Preservation Review Board.

Alice Mortenson, honorary degree

Mortenson is a renowned philanthropist and community leader who has made exceptional contributions to education, public service and global development. Her enduring legacy of advocacy, collaboration and generosity has left a profound impact on ̽��Ƶ and communities worldwide.

Mortenson—alongside her late husband, M.A. “Mort” Mortenson Jr.—co-founded the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience at ̽��Ƶ in 2009. The center has impacted over five million lives globally through innovative solutions addressing water, sanitation and resilience challenges.

The center and its affiliates are involved in such international research programs as the Sustainable WASH Systems partnership, Bill Gates’ Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, and the Drought Resilience Impact Platform. Graduate students participating in field practicums benefit from partnerships developed in over 80 countries.

Beyond ̽��Ƶ, Mortenson has made significant contributions to education and community development. She and Mort co-founded the Mortenson Family Foundation, which focuses on expanding opportunities for children and families, sustaining environmental systems and strengthening developing communities.

She established the Alice D. Mortenson/Petrovich Chair in Russian History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations, including Macalester College, Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.

The CU Board of Regents announced its selection of recipients of honorary degrees, distinguished service awards and university medals for 2026. William King was the second tenured African American professor at ̽��Ƶ. Alice Mortenson, who co-founded the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience, is a renowned philanthropist and community leader.

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Nominate by April 3 for the Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:26:26 +0000

Nominate by April 3 for the Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award Megan M Rogers Fri, 03/27/2026 - 07:26

The award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates outstanding teaching with technology and a strong commitment to advancing the Center for Teaching and Learning's mission. Nominations from peers and students are invited, and the recipient will receive a $500 professional development award.

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Announcements & Deadlines

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Study: Geothermal energy is feasible for future ̽��Ƶ campus use