I&S Employee Newsletter - November 2023 | Infrastructure and Resilience

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I&S Employee Newsletter - November 2023

VC's Corner

Navigating the season together

It’s November! We are heading into winter and the holiday season. For many of us, the holidays and start of winter is an exciting time of year. However, it can also be stressful. I urge all of you to think about your own health and make it a priority, and act with compassion towards colleagues. ��ֱ�� Boulder’s Health and Wellness Services has a lot of resources available, including self-care workshops, wellness training and counseling services. I also encourage you to join the upcoming session with Jess Morris, program director for Wellness and Engagement, on Nov. 20: WorkWell at ��ֱ�� – a wellness session for I&S Staff (more details on this event below).

After the new year, I’m looking forward to seeing all of you at the I&S Employee Appreciation & Annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, January 4 (details on the event and a link to RSVP is below). It’s one of my favorite days of the year; let’s come together to celebrate all we have done in 2023!

Last spring, you were asked to participate in the ��ֱ�� Boulder Faculty and Staff Engagement Survey. I am excited that 357 of our employees responded, which represents 64% of our team. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences working in I&S. The feedback received has largely been positive, with a few areas that need improvement, as expected. We will be discussing these results in upcoming all-hands and team meetings. The I&S leadership team plans to make an Engagement Action Plan based on your input, focusing on enhancing our strengths and addressing areas where we can do better. If you have any questions or feedback about the results or our next steps, please reach out to Terri Willis.

I want to thank you once again for the time you have taken to share your experiences, and assure you that your leadership team is listening and taking steps to continue to make I&S a great place to work.

With gratitude,

Chris Ewing, vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability

News and Notes

Submitting/tracking holiday leave using AiM or MyLeave

The University of ��ֱ�� Boulder is standardizing administrative leave during the holiday season this year, granting three-and-a-half days (prorated for part-time appointments) to reward faculty and staff. This move is intended to thank you for your dedication to student success and to ensure all are able to devote attention to their families, friends and well-being without the need to use vacation (VAC) leave. Some I&S employees work in roles that require them to be on campus during holidays or administrative leave days. Essential staff and staff who work alternative schedules should reach out to their supervisor to use this leave based on the scheduling needs in their unit or department. Find out how to submit holiday leave requests and what leave codes to use.

Please RSVP: I&S Winter Employee Appreciation Luncheon and Annual Awards

We look forward to seeing all of you at the annual I&S Employee Appreciation and Annual Awards Luncheon to celebrate with you and to recognize you for all the work you do for the University.

Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Join us on Main Campus in the Glenn Miller Ballroom in the UMC
I&S staff and student employees only
Bring your Buff OneCard for entry

New this year – so that we have an accurate count of attendees. Supervisors, you are welcome to RSVP on behalf of your entire team, or your team members can RSVP individually.

I&S HR Presents: WorkWell at ��ֱ�� – a wellness session for I&S staff coming Monday, Nov. 20

Join Jess Morris, program director of Wellness and Engagement, on Monday, Nov. 20 to learn more about Health and Wellness Services at ��ֱ�� Boulder. We’ll cover some employee perks, benefits and resources available to all ��ֱ�� staff. This will be a hybrid event; staff can attend in person or via Zoom. Learn more and register here.

New Information Security Awareness training requirement – effective Oct. 2

All ��ֱ�� employees (faculty, staff and student employees) must complete the University’s Information Security Awareness training course within the first 60 days of employment and every two years thereafter. Complete the Information Security Awareness training course soon for a chance to win $100 cash! Regardless of when you last completed the course, you may take it again between Oct. 2 and Nov. 30, 2023 and be automatically entered into the prize drawing.

Changes to campus composting

Regional compost guidelines changed in April. Right now, only food scraps and plant trimmings can be composted. 3 things to know about campus composting.

Reminder: your Buff OneCard is now your bus pass

With holiday travel rapidly approaching, we want to remind everyone that your Buff OneCard is now your bus pass. You can dispose of your old green EcoPass; that card has been phased out. When boarding the bus, just tap your Buff OneCard on the reader, show the driver your ID and find a seat. That’s it!

Join us in saving lives: ��ֱ�� Boulder Staff Council Blood Drive Nov. 14 - 16

Kick off the season of giving with the gift of life on Nov. 14 -16, 2023. ��ֱ�� Boulder Staff Council and Vitalant are providing staff, students, faculty and community members an opportunity to make a significant impact in the Boulder area by donating blood that goes to local area hospitals. Learn more and sign up to donate today.

Our I&S IT group is here to help

I&S client representatives have office hours and other ways to assist you. There are multiple ways to reach the entire I&S IT team:

Facilities Management Client Reps’ email: fmdesktop@colorado.edu
Phone number: 303-492-8075
You can submit a request to (required campus network or VPN)
Walk-up support:
- RL2 room 160 (1st floor bullpen) Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. – noon
- Stadium office 1B12L 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Employee Spotlight

David LaLiberte - East Campus Grounds Manager

How long have you been working at ��ֱ��? I’ve worked at ��ֱ�� for 23 years.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? I enjoy traveling with my family and spending time in the mountains.

What do you love about ��ֱ�� Boulder? ��ֱ�� Boulder is a wonderful community to be a part of.

What is your favorite type of music? I enjoy many types of music but have been listening to bluegrass most recently.

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading "4,000 Days" by Warren Fellows.

Staff Kudos

Danny Gallegos (Access Services) – nominated by Tom Miller

On Monday, 10/23/2023, staffing at Access Services was shorthanded. Danny started his regular shift at 4 a.m. with his intended shift over at 2:30 p.m. In the morning, another technician called in sick, plus the student scheduled to work at the front counter became unavailable. Danny handled the Access Services office alone and did an awesome job working past his scheduled time to 5 p.m. when the doors closed to the public. I appreciate his dedication, going above and beyond to meet the needs of the shop for our campus customers.

John Kline (Fire Systems Shop) – nominated by Noah Huber

John Kline has a full time job. He is the planner/scheduler for the Fire Systems and Conveyance shop. A colleague of ours had to be away for two weeks, but his role on campus couldn't be left unattended. John has the qualifications to perform our colleague's role, and graciously accepted the additional work when asked if he could fill in while our teammate was away. John managed his own work and the additional workload of our colleague, and did it well — for two weeks!

When one of the more unique tasks the role he was filling-in came up, he reached out to the Electric Shop staff for some specialized support; together they took on this more unusual testing without missing a beat. It was great to see such effortless teamwork and how much can be done by motivated and determined staff. John offered himself up to do someone else's work, without a word to seek praise or to declare any hardship. When I checked in with him on how things were going, he unwaveringly responded, "GOOD!" My thanks to John for his example of leadership and for demonstrating “cover and move” in practice when his extended team needed it.

Safety Toolbox

Winter Safety Reminders

Cold weather has arrived so it’s time to chat about winter safety. Here’s our top eight winter safety tips for working on campus as well as our personal safety.

Mind your head. Don’t forget to look up when entering and exiting buildings around campus. Oftentimes there are large icicles hanging from roofs. You may email FMsafety if these become a hazard.
Drive with care. Give yourself extra time when commuting to work. Don’t forget to gas up your car the night before and watch your distance with other vehicles while driving.
Stay warm. If you’re spending any time outside working, wear layers and take breaks. Hydration is just as important in the winter as during the summer!
Make yourself visible. Be careful walking around during the winter months. Wear HVIS vests or carry a flashlight during the early morning or nighttime hours.
Be prepared. Before you leave for a visit to the mountains or on a road trip, make sure your cell phone is charged and pack a blanket, flashlight and first aid supplies.
Mop up. Lookout for puddles of water at building entrances and ask for a “Wet Floor” sign to be posted if needed. Great example of “See Something, Say Something!”
Breathe freely. Be extra cautious if you run a gas-powered generator or heater indoors. There are now battery operated generators which are much safer and more efficient.
Don’t skate over safety. Before you shovel snow, warm up your body with light stretching. Helps your body and mind to get ready! Don’t forget your boots, take those breaks, and walk like our friend the penguin.

Please be careful this winter season, keep these tips in mind, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!

FM Safety Committee

The FM safety committee meets the third Tuesday of every month to discuss general safety concerns, review safety reports, 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.

October Comings and Goings

New Hires

Michelle Nelson, FM Operations, Project Manager
Marco Davila, Utility and Energy Services, Plant Operator
Karla Nunez, CBS, Custodian
David "Jordan" Encinia, FM Operations, Electrician
Ganga Khadka, CBS, Custodian
James Gardner, CBS, Floor Crew General Labor
Andrew Vigil, CBS, Floor Crew General Labor

Promotions/Transfers

Jason Mager, CBS, Solid Waste & Recycling CDL Equip Operator Lead
Elizandro “Eli” Gonzales, Distribution Services, Materials Handler II
Adriana Charbonnet, Outdoor Services, Horticulturist
Patrick Giblin, Outdoor Services, Horticulturist
Alex Hughes, Outdoor Services, Horticulturist
Joshua Hollingshead, Outdoor Services, Native Area Management Specialist
Benjamin Ott, Outdoor Services, Horticulturist
Juvenal Corchado Najera, Outdoor Services, Irrigation Tech/Lead Worker
Jeremy Lutz, Parking Services, Technician II
William Moore, EH&S, Environmental Compliance Specialist

Moving On

James Snyder, CBS, Equipment Operator
Douglas Graniero, Outdoor Services, Grounds & Nursery
Dil Moktan, CBS, Custodian
Jose Uribe, CBS, Custodian
Sebastian van de Boogaard, CBS, Floor Crew General Labor
Kellen Schuebel, CBS, Custodian
Alexander Overbay, Distribution Services, Materials Handler
Eric Charboneau, Utility and Energy Services, Plant Operator – Control Room

Quick Links

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I&S Homepage

VCIS Mission, Vision and Values

Mission
To deliver and maintain a safe, sustainable and resilient infrastructure that enhances the
university’s operations and enables our campus community to meet its mission of education
and research.

Vision
We enhance the university experience through innovative service delivery, customer service,
stewardship of resources and community engagement.

Values
Together we accomplish our goals and objectives guided by our collective core values:

Teamwork: We value working together to create and maintain a culture of mutual respect, trust and optimism for the future, with a goal of shared success and accomplishment.
Engagement and Passion: We want our employees to enjoy their work and will create an environment that channels their energy, strengths and optimism into making a difference every day.
Integrity: We operate in an accountable, professional, ethical and honest manner toward our work, peers and the university community.
Empowerment: We value our employees and provide the resources and tools necessary to successfully support our university constituents. An empowered workforce is diverse, inclusive, engaged and creative.
Customer Focused: We listen to our customers and focus on building relationships through trust, confidence, professionalism and performance.

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