I&S Employee Newsletter - April 2023

Dear Infrastructure and Sustainability team,

On March 22, 2023, COO Pat O’Rourke announced that I have been promoted from interim status to serve as the next vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability. Thank you sincerely for your support during the rigorous interview process and for submitting your honest feedback over the course of the candidate selection process.

I can now look to the future of our department and all the initiatives I will be able to see through to completion. One of my top priorities is to continue the execution of initiatives related to the Campus Master Plan, including a focus on deferred maintenance, establishing our new energy and sustainability goals for the campus and simultaneously promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our built environment and across our division. I would like to lead I&S through the future of a rapidly changing environment in technology, sustainability, funding alternatives, new construction and modernization of our campus and so much more. This will require an organization that is curious, creative, resourceful and tenacious. 

As interim vice chancellor over the last 10 months, we have worked on our division DEI Action Plan, capital construction and renovations, transportation upgrades and numerous sustainability initiatives that you will be hearing more about in the coming months. In addition, we continue to work toward the upcoming changeover of our work management system (FAMIS to AssetWorks).

I am excited to lead you forward and my door is always open for feedback. I am honored to serve in this role and will continue to lead and advocate for you.

With gratitude for all you do,

Chris Ewing, vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability

CU Boulder’s 2022-2023 Climate Action Plan (CAP) is the university’s roadmap towards decarbonization and advancing just, equitable climate solutions. Provide feedback on the first draft of the CAP on April 20 from 1-4 p.m. at UMC 235 as part of the Campus Sustainability Summit. 

We are seeking 20-50 CU affiliates who ride the bus regularly to help us test the transition of your EcoPass onto the Buff OneCard. CU will be transitioning to a OneCard system this year, making your current EcoPass card obsolete, but we need to test it first. If you want to help, please fill out this Google form. 

Save the date for our annual Open Enrollment period for CU health plans. Eligible employees will be able to enroll, update or change their healthcare plans for the 2023-24 plan year from April 17 through May 5.

ISIEC Financial Literacy Series: Open Enrollment

With CU’s Open Enrollment dates approaching, now is a good time to review your insurance benefits and ensure they’re meeting the needs of you and your loved ones.

The I&S Inclusive Excellence Committee (ISIEC), partnering with Employee Services, invites you to attend an informational session on April 28. The in-person offerings will be from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 p.m. Sessions will be presented in English, Lao, Spanish, Tibetan, Nepalese, and Mandarin; they will be held in the CASE Building.

A Zoom session will be held from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. for those wanting to attend remotely.

The University of Colorado provides many benefits, resources, perks and discounts as part of its commitment to CU faculty and staff. Check out CU Advantage, a new website that brings together perks large and small in a quick, searchable format.

Join us in celebrating the graduating class of 2023 by volunteering to help students and their families and guests during our in-person commencement events. Commencement volunteers are critical to ensuring this campus tradition is enjoyable, celebratory and smooth for everyone who will be visiting campus. Campus is recruiting volunteers for various roles between Thursday, May 11, and Saturday, May 13. Sign up today!

Check your leave balances and make plans to use any hours of vacation time over the maximum allowable accrual time before the July 1 leave sweep deadline. As always, vacation leave requests are subject to the approval of your supervisor; don’t wait until June to put in your leave requests. If you have any questions regarding leave, please contact your supervisor, Christina Sumaya-Orozco or Tanya Patzer.

Leave-eligible employees receive eight hours of leave (prorated for part-time staff) in honor of Juneteenth. This leave needs to be used on or before June 30, 2023. 

• For staff using FAMIS: request in advance, as you do for a vacation day, by entering the leave type “POD” in the FAMIS self-service portal (leave requests).

• For staff using MyLeave: request in advance, as you do for a vacation day, by entering the earnings code “Personal Observance Day” in MyLeave.

If you have questions, please contact your supervisor or Tanya Patzer.

How long have you been working at CU? May 8 will be 15 years.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? Spend time at our cabin in Wyoming, which is time spent with family.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I was born at Boulder Community Hospital while my father was attending CU. We lived in a trailer park on 30th about where the Best Buy is.

What do you love about CU Boulder? The setting, in all the seasons, with the Flatirons above. And I love taking care of our buildings.

What are you currently reading? I have a book going almost all the time. I mostly read fiction and historical fiction, but I’ll read about anything. The little library in the back hallway at the Stadium got me through Covid. I think I read all the books in it, unless there are new ones I haven’t got to.

We had a medical emergency with one of our fellow staff members. Bulmara immediately made the call to 911 to get assistance to the individual, saving critical time for any additional support needed from the first responders. 

Ryan has shown a consistent level of professional courtesy and willingness to overcome challenging obstacles that is not unnoticed by the clients he is working for and inspectors he coordinates while setting a positive example to coworkers. As his supervisor I'd like to thank Ryan for his efforts and make this appreciation known by the star award. Thanks Ryan.

FacMan’s safety committee discussed overhead safety awareness during the March committee meeting. A few reminders include:

• If you are working at heights, be aware of any overheard objects – this includes powerlines, tree branches or any fixed objects.

• We have staff who work in mechanical rooms, tunnels and other confined spaces where the potential for a head injury is common.

• Be careful with clearance when you are driving. The work vehicle could be taller than your personal vehicle.

• Safety tip: Before you begin a project, step back for a moment and evaluate the area for potential safety issues. Remember, practice your “Stop Work Authority” if you feel unsafe. Contact your supervisor, safety specialist or EH&S so they may evaluate the project and work environment.

Ethan Paxton (IPM Technician) – nominated by Troy Muller

Ethan has used the safety hazard app to report three hazards so far. One was a missing step in a staircase, the other two were tripping hazards near building entrances. Ethan’s observant when out on campus, and tries to be proactive by reporting hazards regardless of whether or not there might already be a plan to address them. Even if a hazard seems insignificant, Ethan knows that students can sometimes be distracted and a small tripping hazard could cause injury. He’s taken a couple pictures, fills out the forms on the hazard reporting app, and it is usually addressed within a few days. Thank you Ethan!

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, reach out to our Safety Specialist Don Fitzpatrick.

April at CU Boulder is a great time to learn about how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion relate to sustainability, social justice and human rights at annual events including the Conference on World Affairs. 

Conference on World Affairs

• Human Rights and Climate Justice: A Forward Path Through Activism – Thursday 4/13,  9:30–10:40 a.m. 

• Enacting Climate Solutions Through Human Rights Climate Commitments: Right Here, Right Now Boulder Impact Forum – Friday 4/14, 3:00–4:30 p.m. (full schedule)

If you want more information on ISIEC, or want to get involved, visit the Infrastructure & Sustainability Inclusive Excellence Committee (ISIEC) webpage.

New Hires

• Soukchinda Kolasack, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Palden Sherpa, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Tashi Sherpa, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Ruth Andersen, Transportation Services, Campus Bus Driver 
• Maitri Chaisin, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Troy Manzitti, Utility and Energy Services, Plant Operator 
• Gerardo “Armando” Morales Chavez, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• ​Molly Scott, Campus Building Services, Custodian 

Promotions/Transfers

• Russell Darnell, Utility and Energy Services, Plant Operator 
• Adam Garrett, Facilities Maintenance Operations, Electronic Security Systems Specialist 
• Samuel Parks, Outdoor Services, Assistant Equipment Mechanic
• Khanh Phaimany, Campus Building Services, Lead Custodian 
• Maya Gurung, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Irma Bernard, Campus Building Services, Lead Custodian 
• Osien Namvong, Campus Building Services, Lead Custodian 
• Mario Ibarra, Outdoor Services, Irrigation Technician 
• ​Cheri Baumgartner, Transportation Services, Driver Coordinator

Moving On

• Matthew Peterson, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Joan Dolloff, Facilities Maintenance Operations, Preventative Maintenance Mechanic
• Maria Galarza, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Kongsone Siriphanh, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• Andre Morariu, Campus Building Services, Custodian 
• ​Brandon Boger (retired), Environmental Health and Safety, Director

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• Employee Recognition Program