Published: Nov. 10, 2022

11-10-22 Staff Update

In this message:

Staff Info

  • TONIGHT  Climate Justice Panel: Healing and Action  Discussion & Dinner  11/10
  • America Recycles Day 11/16 - Free Reusables Kit and Paid Work Shifts!
  • Help post Compost educational signs in campus restrooms
  • Last zero waste football game of the season - Fall Break Saturday 11/26

Opportunities for Engagement

Free Masks available in UMC
 

And other Resources for student staff such as schedule of pay days, paid sick time info, staff contact list, and more.

Read on for details…

 

Staff Info

Climate Justice Panel:  Healing and Action
Tonight, Thursday, November 10th
5 - 8 pm  CASE E422
Dinner included

Join the E-Center's Climate Justice Team to learn more about healing in our lives through self-care, community building, and its importance in climate justice.  Naropa Professor Ian Sanderson, CU Professor Natlie Avalos, and community leader Adrian Paola Palacios Luna - with their combined knowledge of Indigenous and cultural practices - will create a space for mutual knowledge exchange.  By exploring the impact of colonization, generational trauma, and COVID on our lives, we will begin to understand how we can move forward and build community resilience.   The discussion will be interactive and followed by an art activity led by Adriana Paola Palacios Luna.  Join for dinner from 5 - 5:30, and the discussion will start at 5:30 pm.

 

America Recycles Day Free Reusables Kit
Next Wednesday, November 16th  9am - 4 pm
Hellems Lawn
Take a zero waste quiz at the Zero Waste Outreach table, and follow CUZeroWaste on Instagram to get a Reusable Items kit to help you reduce waste in your daily life -- sealable glass leftovers container, mason jar, bamboo utensils and reusable shopping bag.  Stop by for your kit! 

There may also still be paid shifts available to help distribute and correct quizes, and hand out reusable kits. Sign up to work

Help post Compost educational signs in campus restrooms
The Environmental Center is educating the campus about contamination problems in CU compost bins.  We still need to hang up compost contamination signs in over 100 campus buildings’ bathrooms. If you’re interested in putting in some leg work (and being paid for it) sign up for a building here (the yellow ones are high priority)  or email cure@colorado.edu.

One more chance to Join the Zero Waste Football Crew
Fall Break, Saturday November 26th, time to be announced

Special pay rate of $18 - $20 for your zero waste work on Saturday, November 26th.  Staff also get a free wristband to attend the game.

Zero Waste crews staffed by the Environmental Center make zero waste possible at CU Football home games.  Last year we composted and recycled 120,000 pounds of waste at football games!  Through the effort of over 60 student staff we were able to divert 88% of the entire season's waste from the landfill.  Keeping game and fan waste from the landill depends on lots of hands!  Email Robin.Poley@colorado.edu to sign up to work!

 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities for Engagement

Right Here Right Now Global Climate Summit at CU Boulder
December 1 - 4, 2022
In-person attendance now available

From rising sea levels, extreme weather events, wildfires and droughts, to food insecurity, health impacts, mass migrations and increasing global conflict, there is no denying climate change is a humanitarian crisis.  As a leader in climate, environmental and energy research, the University of Colorado Boulder is proud to co-host with United Nations Human Rights.  CU will gather some of the world's foremost human rights, scientific, political, educational, cultural, and industry leaders to commit to specific poutcomes that will address the adverse effects of climate change on human rights.

Register now for in-person or virtual attendance , read about keynote speakers and watch for volunteer and student engagement opportunties through the Environmental Center.

Take the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility
Get a Green Cord to wear at graduation!

"I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and to try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."

Graduating seniors at CU Boulder can take the pledge and get an optional green cord to wear at graduation to show your commitment to environmental and social responsibility in your future career.  E-Center staff get a free green cord!!  Take the pledge here.

 

Follow the Environmental Center on Social Media!

Instagram @EcenterCU
Twitter @EcenterCU
Facebook @CUBoulderEcenter
LinkedIn  CU Environmental Center
...and also like our friends at the Environmental Studies department Instagram @cu_envs

 

Free masks at UMC Reception Desk

Now is not the time to get sick or spread germs, with Fall Break approaching and class commitments increasing.  Did you know you can pick up a free KN95 or surgical mask in the University Memorial Center?  Stop by the UMC Reception Desk on the 2nd floor - just inside the south terrace doors, near the 2nd floor elevator stop.

 

More Environmental Center events listed on our online calendar.

 

Resources

Pay Dates for the Fall 2022 semester

Two-Week Work Period Time sheet Complete and Submit Deadline Friday Pay Day (2 weeks after work period ends)
Aug 7 - Aug 20 Monday, Aug 22 September 2
Aug 21 - Sept 3 Monday, Sept 5 September 16
Sept 4 - Sept 17 Monday, Sept 19 September 30
Sept 18 - Oct 1 Monday, Oct 3 October 14
Oct 2 - Oct 15 Monday, Oct 17 October 28
Oct 16 - Oct 29 Monday, Oct 31 November 11
Oct 30 - Nov 12 Monday, Nov 14 November 25
Nov 13 - Nov 26 Monday, Nov 28 December 9
Nov 27 - Dec 10 ** Monday, Dec 12 December 23
Dec 11 - Dec 24 
** Last Day graduating seniors can work is Thursday Dec 8		 Monday, Dec 26 January 6, 2023

 

E-Center Staff Contact List
Online list of all E-Center student and professional staff contact info

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wRHxnmVzLTUq9yyy8dgbQq6i6zxBmaH0HXOqqDcBmZ0/edit#gid=0
 

Follow Environmental Center social media channels!

  • Connect on LinkedIn  www.linkedin.com/company/cu-environmental-center/
  • Redditor?   Upvote Anabel as she shares resources and engages in dialogue, and helps bring sustainability to the CU subreddit.  Search for posts @ justasustainablebuff
  • Tweet us
    • @ EcenterCU
    • @CUGreenStampede
  • Follow us on Instagram
    • @EcenterCU
    • @cuzerowaste
    • @ecosocialjustice
    • @shouldertoshoulder
  • Facebook like us
    • @CUBoulderECenter
    • @envjustice.cu
  • View us on Vimeo, https://vimeo.com/cuecenter

     

Sick leave - Paid time off for CU student staff
All CU student employees accrue paid sick leave to help when you have to miss a work shift (for any work since Jan 1, 2021).

  • Always reach out to your supervisor with advance notification of any work you have to miss.
  • For every 30 hours you work (beginning Jan 1, 2021), you accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave (.034 hr leave for every 1 hour worked). 
  • Sick leave balances can be viewed on a tile in the MyCUinfo portal, under CU Resources, My Info and Pay.  
  • Hours worked across all jobs at CU are eligible for leave that can be taken at any CU job. 
  • Sick leave may be used for physical illness, mental illness, health condition, medical treatment or diagnosis, preventative medical care, or non-work injury, or to care for a family member.  It can also be used when an employee or family member has been the victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or harassment and needs to be absent from work.  There are some other instances when sick leave can be used, which can be viewed here.
  • You can only request as much paid time as you have accrued - any time off beyond your sick leave balance will be unpaid.  
  • To request paid sick leave for an Environmental Center shift that you have to miss, select "Sick (part time) Paid Time Off" from the Program drop-down list in your Quickbooks Time/TSheets timesheet, then enter the amount of time you want to take (within your balance available).  For sick time to be used at other CU jobs, check with your supervisor or departmental payroll administrator at that job to find out how to request sick time off.  Note that the sick leave balance in TSheets is an estimate and may not accurately reflect your balance if you work other CU jobs.
  • Questions?  Reach out to dana.kelly@colorado.edu

 

Work-Study:  What is it?  Are you Eligible?
Work-Study is need-based financial aid that allows students to earn money for college expenses by working a part-time job.   Work-study jobs are funded by the federal and state government and include both on and off-campus positions.  Work-study is a program that benefits both the employee and employer:  Students earn a pay check, as with any job, but a majority of the wages are paid by financial aid funds rather than the employing department.  When students with work-study awards work with the Environmental Center, our staffing budget goes further and we can hire more students!

Are you eligible for a work-study award?  First you have to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).   CU Boulder receives a limited amount of work-study funding from federal and state sources each year. Not all eligible students receive a work-study award.  If you think you might be eligible, please check with the Student Employment office to find out more! 
 

Ergonomic Recommendations for Healthy Work Habits
When you work on a computer for hours at a time, proper office ergonomics — including correct chair height, adequate equipment spacing and good desk posture -- can help you and your neck, shoulders, wrists, and back stay comfortable and healthy over the long term.

The goal is for your shoulders, neck, back, arms and wrists to be relaxed and not stressed, reaching, or at angles.

  • The top of your display monitor should be straight in front of you or *slightly* below eye level
    • Use a laptop stand or books, box, etc on a table, to prop display up to correct level
  • Use remote keyboard and trackpad/mouse, preferably on your lap,  so that you are not reaching up onto a table or out in front of you, or bending your wrists to type/ point
  • When sitting
    • feet should be flat on the floor or on a footrest
    • back should be straight and supported by the back of your chair
  • Vary positions throughout the day.  Stand sometimes, sit sometimes.
  • Take lots of breaks.  Get up and walk around.  
  • Give your eyes a break too: Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds and focus on something 20 feet away.

More info and visuals available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/office-ergonomics/art-20046169
 

Food Resources

Campus Financial Aid & Payment Assistance

 

Campus Technology

Health & Well-Being

  • And, anyone on the E-Center staff can provide you with information and resources if you or your family/friends/roommates etc. are struggling or sick and need help. We are here for you!  Email staff individually or at ecenter@colorado.edu.
     

University of Colorado COVID Updates and resources
www.colorado.edu/covid-19
 

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
www.aashe.org/
Explore AASHE resources and programs to find materials to support campus sustainability leadership, and ways you can develop and prepare yourself for entering the workforce.
 

Environmental Center Student Staff Handbook
A summary of best work practices and expectations for student staff
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zijwkEkzw7rcEEGCS-scYGOnqRU_X0gWlvh4rkBgeIM/edit?usp=sharing
 

Environmental Center Job Postings
www.colorado.edu/ecenter/jobs
 

Environmental Center New Hire Information
www.colorado.edu/ecenter/newhireinformation
Info for new student hires at the Environmental Center, including new hire forms, instructions for Direct Deposit, timesheets, required trainings, and more

Past E-Center staff weekly updates
www.colorado.edu/ecenter/student-staff-resources