We are calling upon our campus partners as our community navigates this most recent event to help:
- If you haven't already done so, take a moment to reach out to your employees or collagues to check in. It can be as simple as asking how they are doing.
- If you have an employee impacted by the Marshall Fire disaster, please be mindful not to overwhelm them with too many points of contact. We recommend working with your department HR professional to establish a coordinated contact effort.
- We ask supervisors to be flexible with employees during this time. Flexibility may be needed not only by those directly impacted, but also those helping to support family and friends who experienced loss during the Marshall Fire disaster.
Leave
As was communicated, Chancellor DiStefano is providing additional emergency leave and workplace flexibility for individuals directly impacted by the Marshall Fires disaster. Individuals impacted by the Marshall Fire disaster should review the Leave Options in Event of a Natural Disaster or Local Emergency Page.
Many employees are asking how to donate leave to the Leave Sharing Program or directly to a colleague. The leave sharing fund is currently healthy and no additional donations are needed at this time. Direct donation to an individual is not an available option.
Emergency Fund
CU Boulder community members impacted may apply for emergency funds via the Student Emergency Fund and Staff & Faculty Emergency Fund.
Funds were created to provide support for CU Boulder students, staff, researchers, and faculty who are experiencing an emergency situation that creates a financial hardship. Emergency funding is provided in the form of a one-time grant which does not need to be repaid.
Support & Wellbeing
It is perfectly normal to experience a heightened sense of worry and alertness. Individuals finding that worries are detrimental to basic functioning or those that are needing to process the traumatic event, should consider reaching out to a close friend, trusted community leader or professional counselor.
The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) offers counseling and consulting services to employees, both in-person and via telehealth. Services are free to CU Boulder employees.
FSAP has also created a list of 9 tips for helping those who lost their homes in the Marshall Fire.
For Those That Want to Help
For those that would like to volunteer, officials recommend visiting the Colorado Responds website.