If you are not on a university provided computer, you may need to use the VPN to access the portal. VPN instructions.
Welcome. You made it. You are here. We could not be more excited that you are!
You are joining a community of diverse, talented, and passionate people who share in the vision and mission of CU Boulder. The purpose of onboarding is to move new employees to higher levels of productivity faster. Our campus onboarding philosophy encompasses the entire first year experience of a new employee. Onboarding is a process, not an event.
Before Your First Day
To-Do List
- Begin the I-9
- Activate your IdentiKey
- Send for your Buff OneCard and EcoPass
Instructions
In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 ("IRCA"), the University of Colorado Boulder must verify employment eligibility of each employee within the first three days of employment.
Completing Section #1
Completion of Form I-9 is a shared responsibility of both the employee and the university.
- You will receive an email from Hire Right inviting you to complete Section #1 of the Form I-9.
- Section #1 must be completed by the employee on or before the first day of employment.
- Form I-9 can be completed as soon as, but not before, a job offer has been extended and accepted.
Employees who are working out of state or the country should contact i-9forms@colorado.edu about options for completing the I-9. All federal timelines still apply.
Get Ready to Complete Section #2
- Section #2 must be completed by an I-9 partner, or authorized university representative, within the first three days of employment.
- You will need to provide original, acceptable documents to complete the I-9.
- To complete section two of the I-9, please visit one of our two locations.
Claim and activate your IdentiKey
An IdentiKey consists of a CU Boulder user name and password.
- You will receive an email from the Office of Information Technology (OIT) when you IdentiKey is ready to be claimed.
- You must activate your account in order to set your security questions and password.
- You will need your unique employee ID number to activate your IdentiKey. If you do not know your employee ID number, contact your supervisor or your departmental HR liaison.
- After you claim your Identikey, you will gain access to your email account.
- Email oithelp@colorado.edu or call the Office of Information Technology at 5-HELP (303-735-4357) from any campus phone for assistance.
Your Buff OneCard is your official university identification. Cards are often used for building access, campus cash, campus services, and some events. EcoPasses provide free access to local and regional bus services. You can get both cards at the Buff OneCard Office or have both mailed to you. *We recommend picking up both cards at the C4C due to extensive mailing delays.*
How to get your card:
Email boc@colorado.edu and include the following:
- Your full name
- Employee ID #
- Attach a photo using these guidelines:
- Face forward
- Plain, light background
- No hats or sunglasses
- Buff OneCard office will mail if requested
- Please include your mailing address if you want it mailed
Your First Day to 31 Days
Non-Portal Tasks & Tips
Section 2 of the I-9
Where to Complete I-9 Section #2
Main I-9 Office
Administrative & Research Center (ARC) - Monday through Friday, 9 am - 3 pm*
Human Resources, 3rd Floor
3100 Marine Street
Boulder, CO 80309
Main Campus Location
Regent Administrative Center - Monday through Wednesday, 9 am to 3 pm*
Room 1B28, Basement
2055 Regent Drive
Boulder, CO 80309
What to Bring: The employee should provide acceptable documents to complete the I-9.
*Appointments are not required.
Employees who are working out of the area or out of state should contact CU Boulder HR I-9 Office about options for completing section #2 of the I-9 in their current location. All federal timelines still apply.
How to access:
- Outlook Email via Microsoft 365
- Access your Office 365 online applications with a combination of your IdentiKey@colorado.edu and IdentiKey password. Please note: only IdentiKey@colorado.edu will work for accessing Office 365 applications, not the common preferred email address format of first.last@colorado.edu.
- Zoom
- VPN
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Workspace
- Access your Google online applications with a combination of your IdentiKey@colorado.edu and IdentiKey password. Please note: only IdentiKey@colorado.edu will work for accessing Google applications, not the common preferred email address format of first.last@colorado.edu.
- Tip! When setting up a Google doc, sheet, slide, or form using a CU Boulder account, it will default that individuals it is shared with will need to be logged into to their colorado.edu Google account. This means if you receive a "Request Access" notice when you should have access, you may need to be logged into Google through your CU Boulder account.
- Review the Acceptable Use of CU Boulder's IT Resources policy.
Need IT assistance? Email oithelp@colorado.edu or call 303-735-HELP.
Your offer letter has a few key pieces of information that will help you with onboarding tasks as you get set-up at CU Boulder.
- In the main letter, look for:
- Type of appointment: paragraph two, first sentence.
- Percent of time
- Employee group: University Staff, Classified Staff, Research Faculty
- Type of appointment: paragraph two, first sentence.
- Under Additional Terms & Conditions, look for:
- Overtime Eligibility
MyCUinfo Portal Tasks: My Info & Pay
Log into the MyCUinfo Portal Find drop-down menu on top-center of page Select My Info & Pay
Getting Paid
- Regular faculty and staff in permanent positions are paid monthly. We get paid once a month, on the last business day of the month, unless that day falls on a weekend. Then it is the last business Friday. Exact paydates can be found on the Paychecks page.
- There is a lot of information on your pay advice. Learn how to understand your pay stub on the Paychecks page.
To view your pay advice:
- Log into the MyCUinfo portal.
- Open the top, center CU Resources Home dropdown menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Click on the Paychecks tile. Your four most recent paycheck will display by default. To see past paychecks, use the filter button to select your desired dates and press the Done button.
Direct Deposit
Direct deposit must set-up by the 17th of the month to ensure it is in the system before monthly payroll runs. If there is no direct deposit in the portal when payroll runs, you may receive a paycard. We recommend getting direct deposit set-up in the MyCUinfo portal as soon as possible. If you start with CU after payroll runs for the month, your department HR liaison can let you know when a partial paycheck may be received. In this case, we still recommend setting up Direct Deposit as soon as possible.
- How to set-up Direct Deposit
- Learn more about paycards.
W-4
Set-up your Federal Income Tax withholdings through the MyCUinfo portal. Review the instructions for completing the W-4.
Verify and Update Personal Information
Verify and update personal information in the MyCUInfo portal:
- Log into the portal.
- Open the top center CU Resources Home drop-down menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Choose the My Info tile.
Information You Can Update Yourself:
- Mailing Addresses: Correct home addresses help determine state taxes and up-to-date mailing addresses ensure important documents, such as your W-2, quickly get to you by mail.
- Contact Details: Make sure you can be reached: Add or update your phone numbers and email addresses.
Verify and update personal information in the MyCUInfo portal:
- Log into the portal.
- Ensure you are on the CU Resources (do not go to the Buff Portal if that is an option.)
- Open the top center CU Resources Home drop-down menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Choose the My Info tile.
- Select Name tab.
Preferred Name: If you have a preferred first name, other than your legal first name you can update it here. View the Preferred Name webpage to learn what impacts making this update has.
Voluntary Identification
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to achieving full equal opportunity and affirmative action for all applicants and employees. We are required to collect certain demographic information to meet federal reporting requirements. Learn more about Affirmative Action. You have the ability to voluntarily self-identify in the MyCUinfo portal in the following areas:
- Disability Status
- Veteran Status
- Race and/or Ethnicity
Please note that this information is used for reporting purposes. The race/ethnicity information will be used for compensation analysis under the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. If you designate a disability and would like to seek accommodation, please contact the ADA office. Selecting a disability in the portal will not trigger the accommodation process and you can identify as having a disability without requiring a workplace accommodation.
Verify and update personal information in the MyCUInfo portal:
- Log into the portal.
- Open the top center CU Resources Home drop-down menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Choose the My Info tile.
- Emergency Contacts: In the event of an emergency, make sure your contacts can be reached by adding or updating their information.
Text Alert Preferences: You are opted in automatically. Verify you have a cell phone number on file. If not, change it in the Contact Details tab.
Verify and update personal information in the MyCUInfo portal:
- Log into the portal.
- Ensure you are on the CU Resources (do not go to the Buff Portal if that is an option.)
- Open the top center CU Resources Home drop-down menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Choose the My Info tile.
For more information about campus alerts and alert levels reference the CU Boulder Alerts webpage.
Visit Campus Safety to learn more about preparedness and safety resources.
The university will soon opt all current students and employees with Boulder, Colorado, residential addresses into Everbridge, the emergency alert messaging system used by Boulder Police, Boulder Fire-Rescue, Boulder County Sheriff's Department and Longmont Department of Public Safety.
Leave and Time Tracking
- A large portion of campus uses an application called My Leave for time tracking, but not all departments.
- Verify with your supervisor, a colleague or department HR liaison to verify which system you use.
- If you use My Leave, we provide an introduction. If you do not use My Leave, please use your department resources.
How to Determine Your Leave
- Review your offer letter to determine your position type and leave eligibility. Are you classified staff, university staff, faculty, research faculty? Is your appointment full-time or part-time?
- Visit the leave webpage to find what kind of leave you are eligible for and accrual information based on your position type.
Vacation & Sick Leave Overview
Visit the leave webpage for comprehensive leave information.
Classified Staff
Vacation Leave
Classified employees accrue annual leave based on length of service. Full-time classified employees in years of service one through five accrue 8 hours of vacation/annual leave, for a maximum accrual of 192 hours.
- Annual leave is for an employee’s personal needs and use is subject to the approval of the appointing authority.
- The appointing authority may establish periods when annual leave will not be allowed, or must be taken, based on business necessity.
- Note: Part-time employees who work regular, non-fluctuating schedules earn a pro-rated amount of leave based on their regular work schedules.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees accrue leave at 6.66 hrs./month, for a maximum accrual of 360 hours (45 days).
- Part-time employees will accrue sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
- Leave administration for classified employees is governed by the Colorado State Department of Personnel Rules and Procedures.
University Staff/ Research Faculty/ 12-month Faculty
Vacation Leave
Full-time university staff and faculty on twelve-month appointments are eligible to receive twenty-two (22) working days of paid vacation annually, earned as 14.67 hours per month.
- Part-time university staff and faculty earn vacation on a prorated basis.
- Upon approval by the supervisor, vacation may be taken as earned.
- The maximum number of hours an employee may accrue is forty-four (44) days, except as indicated in Regent Policy.
- University staff employees must complete a monthly leave record (timesheets) to document the amount and type of leave taken.
Sick Leave
Per Regent Policy 11.E. full-time university staff and faculty on twelve-month appointments are eligible to receive fifteen (15) working days (120 hours) of paid sick leave annually, earned as 10 hours per month.
- Part-time employees will accrue sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
- There is no limit on how much sick leave an employee may accrue.
- Sick leave will be earned upon hire date and accrued at the end of each payroll cycle.
Know your overtime eligibility to track time correctly
Check your offer letter to verify if you are eligible for overtime or not.
If you are eligible for overtime (non-exempt), you will track:
- All hours worked
- Exceptions (accrued leave, requested leave, comp time, overtime, ETC.)
If you're not eligible for overtime (exempt), you will track:
- Exceptions only (accrued leave, requested leave, ETC.)
My Leave can be found in the MyCUInfo portal:
- Log into the portal.
- Open the top center CU Resources Home drop-down menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Choose the My Leave tile.
Set-Up Preferences in My Leave as a first time user
Check with your supervisor or department HR liaisons to verify which time tracking system you use. Many departments use a system called My Leave, but not all.
- If you use My Leave, please proceed.
- If you do not use My Leave, please work with your supervisor or department HR liaisons on how to get set-up on your time tracking system.
All employees who use My Leave, including supervisors and approvers, need to set up their preferences in My Leave before they can enter time, request leave or approve timesheets.
Instructions
View the full My Leave Step-by-step guide pages 2 - 4 for instructions with screen shots. View pages 15 - 19: Setting Up a Flexible (9/80) Work Schedule, if applicable.
- The first time you log into My Leave, the My Leave Preferences page appears with a message containing a link to a step-by-step guide. Click OK to close the message. The My Leave Preferences page appears. You can also find the preferences button at the top of the My Leave page.
- Holiday Schedule: From the Holiday Schedule drop-down list, select the correct holiday schedule for the Boulder campus. If you are employed in a position that is not paid holidays (such as a student), select No Holiday Schedule.
- Click Select Email Notifications. The first time you log into my leave, this button appears. You must click this button in order to save the preferences. The email notification options will display default values.
- Select email triggers for which you want to receive notifications, either as an employee or as a supervisor.
- From the Overtime/Comp Time Eligible drop-down list, select an option. If you are in a non-exempt position, select whether you receive compensatory time or paid overtime (CompTime). If you are in an exempt position and not eligible for comp or overtime, select Not Applicable. Students will default to Overtime.
- In the My Leave Start Date box, type your start date. If you are a new employee, enter your hire date as your start date. This directs My Leave when to start tracking time. If you are a rehired employee, the My Leave start date can be changed to your current rehire date.
- Leave the Weekly Schedule drop-down value as Standard Week. 8. From the Week Begin Day drop-down list, select the value as Sunday.
- In the scheduling grid, enter your regular schedule by selecting Work Days and Hours for each. You can set up the weekly schedule to reflect the normal hours you work. Setting up the default schedule lets you add time to My Leave using the Add Time button in My Leave Calendar View for a range of dates. If you are approved to work a flexible schedule, see Setting Up a Flexible Work Schedule on page 15 in the My Leave Step-by-step guide. Note: Hours are entered using military time (24-hour clock).
- If you do not use your work email regularly, you may want to add your personal email in the CC All Emails To box.
- From the email triggers grid, select the activities for which you would like to receive messages, both as an employee and as a supervisor.
- Click Save & Return for your changes or additions to take effect. Preferences can be changed at any time if your job information has changed.
My Leave can be found in the MyCUInfo portal:
- Log into the portal.
- Open the top center CU Resources Home drop-down menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Choose the My Leave tile.
How to Enter Time
- If you are eligible for overtime, view the My Leave Step-by-step guide
- Pages 6 - 8: Entering Time on Your Calendar
- Page 10 - Entering All Time Worked - Non-Exempt Employees and Students
- If you are NOT eligible for overtime, view the My Leave Step-by-step guide
- Pages 6 - 8: Entering Time on Your Calendar
- Page 9: Entering Exception Time - Exempt Employees
My Leave can be found in the MyCUInfo portal:
- Log into the portal.
- Open the top center CU Resources Home drop-down menu, then select My Info and Pay.
- Choose the My Leave tile.
Submitting timesheets at the end of the pay period
- Ask your supervisor or department HR liaison about when timesheets should be submitted.
- My Leave Step-by-step guide pages 11 - 12: Submitting time sheets at the end of the pay period.
Enroll/Waive Benefits
Verify in your offer letter if you are eligible for benefits. Generally, permanent appointments that are 50% or greater are eligible.
Online Benefits Orientation & Resources
Instructions
If you are eligible for benefits, you must choose whether to enroll in or waive your offered benefits within 31 days of your hire date. Some benefits will enroll you automatically if you take no action, so please review all your options. You can easily waive or enroll in your benefits by using the benefits enrollment tool in your employee portal. As a new hire, your elections will remain effective for the remainder of the plan year (July 1– June 30).
- Enroll in or waive your health, vision, dental, and retirement benefits through your MyCUinfo Portal.
- If your hire date is the first of the month, your coverage will begin immediately, regardless of the date you actually enroll. If your hire date is any other day than the first of the month, your coverage will begin the first of the following month.
- Benefits counselors are available by phone 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday: 303-860-4200 or benefits@cu.edu.
MyCUinfo Portal Tasks: Training
Log into the MyCUinfo Portal Find drop-down menu on top-center of page Select Training
- Mandatory Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Training
- Additional Required Training: CU Information Security and Privacy Awareness
- Access Based Training: If you need access to CU systems
- Campus Security Authority Training - If required by position
- New Employee Welcome Experience
- CU Discover: New Employee Webinars
Mandatory Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Training
This training is offered by the CU Boulder Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC). CU Boulder requires all employees (faculty, staff, and student staff) and affiliates to complete the required OIEC training on Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct every three years after initial completion when new to the Boulder campus. Some departments require employees to complete the training more frequently.
Instructions: Select the Boulder campus and after logging in, the course will automatically load in a separate window. The course title is "Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct, CU Boulder and System." After successfully passing the course, it takes approximately 3 business days for the score to be reflected in an employee’s training record.
Direct Course Link: Access the Discrimination and Harassment Mandatory Training
CU: Information Security and Privacy Awareness
This 30-minute course will provide an overview of information security principles, as they apply to information at the University of Colorado.
This required course is to be taken by all CU employees within 60 days of hire.
Instructions: Select the Boulder campus and after logging in, the course will automatically load in a separate window. Access the CU Information Security and Privacy Awareness course
Access Based Training
Check with your supervisor or department HR liaisons about applications or systems access (e.g. CU-SIS, HCM, CU Finance, CU-Data, Marketplace) you need access to for your role:
- Visit the Request Access page to understand training requirements to request access.
- Common Systems:
- CU Student Integrated Systems (CU-SIS) Access
- Student Integrated Systems (CU-SIS): FERPA training is mandatory for any system access and can be completed through Skillsoft
- Human Capital Management (HCM) Access
- Finance and Marketplace Access
- Travel Card
- Procurement Card
- CU Student Integrated Systems (CU-SIS) Access
Campus Security Authority Training
For those designated as a Campus Security Authority - Designated in the Offer Letter
Campus Security Authority training is required for all campus security authorities, including CU faculty and staff members with significant responsibility for student and campus activities. It focuses on learning the crime-reporting requirements under the Clery Act. The Clery Act requires gathering crime data from a wide variety of campus security authorities (CSA) and publishing it to ensure students know about dangers on campus.
In-Person New Employee Welcome Experience (New-X)
At the New Employee Welcome Experience, participants will:
- Gain knowledge of the history and present-day operations of CU Boulder
- Connect with other new CU Boulder employees
- Begin to build affinity with CU Boulder
Who Should Attend
Due to limited capacity, this program is offered to new, permanent employees.
- Ideally, hires in their first few months of employment, however, the program is designed for hires to attend within their first year at CU Boulder
- Rehires that have been away for three or more years
- Student employees who are hired into permanent staff or faculty positions
- Temporary employees who are hired into permanent staff or faculty positions
What to Expect
The program starts and ends at the Center for Community (C4C). The session includes:
- An overview of CU Boulder and the CU System, including the history of the university and campus leadership
- Visits to the CU Art Museum and Heritage Center
- Lunch provided by our partners at Elevations Credit Union
- Campus historical and operational tour
- Executive leader meet and greet
Participants should be prepared to:
- Walk/travel about 2.25 miles total. If you require an accommodation, please let us know by contacting newatcu@colorado.edu by the close of business one week prior to the session and we will follow up with you to determine an accommodation to meet your needs.
- Be outdoors in the elements for most of the tour.
2023 Sessions
Location: Center for Community (C4C) N301, Flatirons Room
Time: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
- Wednesday, January 25
- Wednesday, February 8
- Wednesday, February 15
- Wednesday, March 8
- Wednesday, March 22
- Wednesday, April 12
- Wednesday, April 26
- Wednesday, May 17
- Wednesday, May 31
- Wednesday, June 14
- Wednesday, June 28
- Wednesday, July 12
- Wednesday, July 26
- Wednesday, August 9
- Wednesday, August 23
- Wednesday, September 6
- Wednesday, September 20
- Wednesday, October 4
- Wednesday, October 18
- Wednesday, November 1
- Wednesday, December 13
Register for the New Employee Welcome Experience
New Employee Welcome Experience - Virtual (New-Xv)
The New Employee Welcome Experience - Virtual (New-Xv) is held via Zoom and uses a mixed media approach to tell CU Boulder’s story.
Who Should Attend
- All new hires are welcome to attend the virtual session, regardless of appointment type
- Rehires that have been away for three or more years
2023 Sessions
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 23
- Thursday, April 27
- Thursday, July 20
- Thursday, November 30
Cost
There is no cost for this course.
The CU Discover webinars are a component of the comprehensive, year-long onboarding program offered to new employees at CU Boulder. By attending the CU Discover webinars, participants will:
- Meet and connect with fellow new employees throughout the first year of employment at CU Boulder
- Learn about what makes working in Higher Ed and at CU Boulder unique
- Explore topics and places on campus that enhance their personal employment experience
Ombuds Office
What’s the Ombuds Office? How can it help me? The Ombuds Office is a unique resource for students, faculty, and staff. We help anyone with a CU Boulder related concern. We are an independent and impartial unit that provides informal assistance confidentially. We help individuals explore options as well as resources available to address conflicts, issues, and concerns. Staff often come to the Ombuds Office for assistance in how to communicate better with colleagues, how to work with a new supervisor, or how to navigate the university system. Come meet members of the Ombuds Office, learn more about their important role, and leave with a better understanding of how Ombuds can help you in your role at CU Boulder.
- Presenter: Kirsi Aulin, Ombuds Director
- Date: Monday, June 12, 2023
- Time: 12:00-1:00 PM
- Location: virtual, you will receive Zoom information after registering
Higher Ed: A Whole Different Animal
What makes higher education different from other types of organizations and industries? What are the different employee “cultures” in an institution of higher education and what do they value? How are decisions made in higher ed? What do we mean by shared governance? Why does it take so long to get things done? These and many other questions about working in an institution of higher education will be answered in this CU Discover program.
Presenter: Merna Jacobsen, PhD.: Associate Vice Chancellor & Deputy Chief HR Officer, and Director of Organization and Employee Development, Department of Human Resources.
Dates:
- TBD
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual, you will receive zoom information after registering.
Register for Higher Ed: A Different Animal
Organization & Employee Development (OED) provides training and facilitation for individuals and intact teams throughout the Boulder campus. Our courses range from leadership development to workplace skills, and are designed to build skills and knowledge in workplace trends and needs. Our Organization Development Specialists provide a range of services including strategic planning, problem-solving, retreat design and facilitation, team development, and conflict resolution.
Merna Jacobsen, PhD.: Associate Vice Chancellor & Deputy Chief HR Officer, and Director of Organization and Employee Development, Department of Human Resources.
Transportation
Bus/Transit
CU Boulder provides passes for qualifying employees. The passes provide access to all Local, Limited, Express and Regional bus service, in all fare zones, including the SkyRide bus service to DIA*. (*Not valid on special services, including but not limited to Access‑a‑Ride, BroncosRide, BuffRide, RockiesRide, RunRide, Saturday Shopper, and SeniorRide.) Tip: Plan your trip either using the Transit App or by using RTD's trip planner.
Visit the Parking and Transportation Webpage for details on eligibility and other transit related resources
Bicycle
Boulder BCycle's fully electric fleet provides bike sharing options for CU Boulder Employees. The half-price annual pass will get you unlimited rides. With more than 300 bikes throughout Boulder and many stations on campus, you can easily find a bike using their convenient app.
Boulder is one of the most bike friendly cities in the nation, and CU has a bike program to match. Make sure to register your bike at one of the CU bike stations, which provides access to various bike services on campus. Services include maintenance, DIY classes, lock cutting, and more.
CU Vanpool
Vanpool-CU employees can vanpool for either $20* or $50 a month, which includes all fees (maintenance, gas, and parking). Starting a van requires at least five vanpoolers with similar work schedules and commute routes. *Frontline service employees.
Other Transportation Perks
Carpool – Way to Go offers a carpool ride matching service to help you save money on gas, parking, and vehicle wear and tear. Visit the Way to Go website to access a network of users, incentives, prizes, and a trip tracker.
Carshare -- Colorado CarShare and Zipcar work with CU Boulder to provide car sharing at reduced rates for students, faculty, and staff.
CU NightRide -- CU NightRide is CU Boulder’s student-operated safe-ride service that allows you to request free, evening transportation to and from any location within Boulder city limits. Whether you need to travel across campus or to a neighborhood off-campus, CU NightRide student drivers can get you there. CU NightRide is available to current CU Boulder students, faculty, and staff.