I&S Employee Newsletter - February 2021

Dear Infrastructure and Sustainability team,

I hope this note finds each of you well as we prepare to welcome students back to our campus for in-person instruction on Feb. 15. That milestone would not be possible without the great work that all of you did last summer and fall -- and continue to do -- to prepare our campus.

The positive, problem-solving approach of this team came to mind last week as a few of us participated in a training session about growth mindset. For those who might not be familiar with the concept, growth mindset is the idea that every aspect of our lives -- our intelligence, our skills, our relationships, our successes -- is greatly affected by whether we believe these things can be learned, changed or improved upon (growth mindset) or whether we think all of these things are the hand we’re dealt and we can’t change them (fixed mindset).

I am so proud that, when our students and campus needed us most, we faced the challenges head-on to improve and find solutions. Instead of throwing our hands up in despair because none of us had expertise in combating a pandemic, this team dug in and leveraged our collective expertise to grow. When one idea didn’t work, we learned and embraced the philosophy of adapt and overcome. 

That is what the growth mindset is all about -- recognizing that we don’t have all the answers and being open to the idea that we can all improve and fulfill our potential.

As we enter the time of year for performance reviews and planning for the year ahead, I hope each of you takes time to reflect upon not only what worked well and what didn’t over the past year, but also which new skills or challenges you want to pursue over the coming year that will continue your growth. I’m proud of the way this team responded in the face of adversity, and maintaining a growth mindset requires that we build off that success instead of simply chalking it up as a finished achievement.

I encourage you, if you get the chance, to read the book “Mindset” by Carol S. Dweck. There are also several videos about growth mindset available on YouTube, including this summary.  I think you will see that our organization reflects this mindset well, and there are many strategies we can all employ to ensure that we keep improving and avoid slipping into a fixed mindset.

With gratitude for all you do,

David Kang, vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability

Give kudos and share the pride points that make Strategic Resources and Support great! CU Boulder’s Chief Operating Officer Patrick O'Rourke welcomes your success stories, ideas and feedback. Caught someone doing good? Developed a new system, process or collaboration that's making CU Boulder better? Received an award or hit a significant milestone? Failed forward? Use this form to share your stories.

A special video thank you message to our Campus Building Services team from the CU Boulder Theatre & Dance department.

It’s time to submit nominations for the Campus Sustainability Awards, to be presented during the 28th annual Campus Sustainability Summit on April 22, 2021. Since 1997, the awards have served to make sustainability part of CU-Boulder’s ongoing education, research, planning, operational and outreach programs, and to share information about initiatives and activities related to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The nomination deadline for 2021 is March 5.

The W-4 form allows you to determine how much federal income tax is withheld from your pay. At the start of each year, check your W-4 and make any needed adjustments. This is especially relevant if you got married, had a child or experienced other changes in your tax status. Contact CU System Payroll Services if you have questions regarding your W-4.

It is with sadness that we share the news that our friend and colleague in our Campus Building Services division, Lay Vankham, passed away on Jan. 20. Lay leaves behind many family members and good friends. We will all miss her presence; our deepest sympathies go out to Lay’s family members during this difficult time.

With the support of I&S leadership, Business Services is establishing an IT Advisory Board to help guide decisions and share information related to the wide range of technology-related resources utilized by the division. The intent of this advisory board is to ensure that IT decisions are made transparently and with broad support. A group of 10 individuals, representing all of Infrastructure and Sustainability, have volunteered to serve on the board along with Alan Fasick and Jonathan Moore, who will represent the IT departments. Contact Alan Fasick or Jonathan Moore for more information.

When you’re applying for a loan or renting an apartment you typically need to provide proof of employment and salary. CU Boulder staff now have 24/7 free access to employment and income verification services. Contact Tanya Patzer or Jen Salyers for more information.

Campus HR's Organization and Employee Development encourages you to consider the FranklinCovey All-access Pass. With over 300 unique materials, resources, tools, courses and learning modules, the All-access Pass provides a fantastic opportunity to make the most of your department’s professional development budget for only $160. Contact Kelsey Draper for more information.

Campus HR is offering several self-care workshops and support groups in 2021. Topics include cultivating and maintaining healthy relationships, a new moms support group, how to read and improve your credit score, wills and trusts 101 and retirement basics. Register to attend online or contact campus HR for more information.

Early last Spring, with COVID-19 and the pivot to remote work environments for some staff, we were asked by OIT to limit our usage of Zoom and to use Microsoft Teams meetings instead due to licensing and performance issues on the Zoom platform. Licensing and performance concerns regarding the Zoom platform have been addressed by campus OIT, and staff should feel free to use either Zoom or Teams for virtual meetings, whichever is preferable. Contact FM Desktop Support if you have questions.

After the positive response for the fall sessions, we are excited to announce Donna Mejia will once again be joining Vice Chancellor David Kang in a series of events for I&S staff. Please mark the date as Donna presents 'Negotiating Gender Constructs in the Workplace' to take place March 11 from 1-3. Be on the lookout for more information including Zoom information. Please contact Kelsey Draper for more information.