January 28, 2013 Faculty-Staff CU-Boulder Today

In this Issue

First look: 5 questions about the implementation of a no smoking policy

Earlier this semester, the Chancellor’s Executive Committee approved a non-smoking policy for the CU-Boulder campus. The policy, which will take effect Feb. 1, mandates a no smoking campus beginning Aug. 19, 2013. The decision was made in the best interests of promoting a safe and healthy campus, and represents years of policy research, campus surveys and studies of best practices in American higher education. In the first phase of the policy’s implementation, the campus will focus on policy awareness and resources for those who wish to quit smoking. In the spirit of that effort, I wanted to include the following Q&A to address some of the basic issues involved in implementing this important new policy.

Staff Council Update: You can help save a life

Schedule your appointment to donate blood on the CU-Boulder campus. All blood types are needed and we welcome new blood donors to join the Bonfils family. Appointments can be booked online or on the phone. On campus appointments available Feb. 12-13 and Feb. 19-20.

CIRES-led study discovers high levels of air-cleansing compound over ocean

Researchers have detected the presence of a pollutant-destroying compound iodine monoxide in surprisingly high levels high above the tropical ocean, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.

Community Notes

Protecting student data - now and always

Safeguarding data protected by FERPA isn’t just a 9-to-5 responsibility or solely the duty of those who teach. To the extent that you have access to systems that contain student information and job responsibilities that occasionally extend beyond the office, protecting FERPA data is a 24x7x365 duty. Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of protecting student data entrusted to the university. (edit - corrected link.)

Student Employee of the Year nominations

The Student Employment Office is accepting nominations for Student Employee of the Year. Work-study, hourly, and salaried student employees are eligible. First place will receive a $75 gift certificate courtesy of the CU Bookstore and will be nominated for the Western Association of Student Employment Administrators Award. Second place will receive a $50 gift certificate. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2013. National Student Employment Week is Apr. 7-13, 2013.

Program For Writing and Rhetoric 4th Annual Undergraduate Diversity Conference

The 4th Annual Undergraduate Diversity Conference offers undergraduates the opportunity to present their writing on diversity issues. The event includes a lively opening orcestrated by charismatic singer and dancer, Nii Armah session with the CU Dialogues Project and Pilar Prostko thus addressing Diversity issues experientially by including conversations with immigrant workers on our campus. Feb. 21, 8 - 12:30 p.m. in the British and Irish Studies Room, 5th floor, Norlin Library.

Website: http://www.colorado.edu/PWR/diversityconference.html

2012 RTD Eco Pass Stickers expire Jan. 31, 2013

The 2012 Eco Pass stickers will expire at midnight on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. All faculty/staff members who have not received their new 2013 Eco Pass smart cards, please contact Tracy Humphrey at 303-735-2705 or Tracy.Humphrey@colorado.edu.

Website: http://www.colorado.edu/pts/content/rtd-smart-cards-replace-facultystaff-2013-ec...

Contact: Tracy Humphrey

Join us for a noontime walk

CU Walks invites you to take a free, safe, convenient and social 1.5 mile (30 minute) walk on campus. We start at 12 noon Monday-Friday from the west side of Carlson Gym, near the Rec Center.

Website: http://www.colorado.edu/cuwalks

Free Avalanche Awareness Course

Avalanche, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The CU Backcountry Club is hosting a Friends of Berthoud Pass avalanche awareness presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at HUMN1B50 on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. This event is free and open to the public so bring your friends and come learn or brush up your avalanche awareness skills, they can never be too sharp!

Contact: CU Backcountry Club

LASP Public Lecture, Feb. 6

From the Explorer 1 mission to the latest modern satellite observations, space physics research has had profound societal relevance. The next Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics public lecture will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). LASP Director Dr. Dan Baker will present "Space Physics Exploration: Basic Research with a High Public Purpose," discussing the evolving understanding of space physics and how it profoundly affects daily life on Earth. The event will be held in the LASP LSTB Auditorium 299 at 1234 Innovation Drive.

2012 W-2 forms (Wage and Tax Statements) to be mailed by Jan. 29

As of Jan. 28, 2013, electronic versions of these forms are available through the online CU Resources applications. PBS started mailing all of the W-2’s on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 and will continue to mail the remaining by Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Address changes made after Jan. 15 have not been included for the 2012 W-2 mailing.