Employee News

RSVP for the I&R/FBS Staff Dialogue Mixer: Nov. 20

Nancy Portner — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:08:54 +0000

RSVP for the I&R/FBS Staff Dialogue Mixer: Nov. 20 Nancy Portner Wed, 10/01/2025 - 12:08

You’re invited to the first-ever I&R/FBS Dialogue Mixer! Join us for an engaging morning of connection, conversation, and community-building as we continue to integrate our two divisions.

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: �鶹��Ѱ��Recreation Center, Ice Rink Overlook Large Meeting Room

Save your spot now — space is limited! To attend this training, please check with your supervisor to ensure coverage during your absence, then register here.

Calendar invitations will be sent to everyone who registers.

What’s a Dialogue Mixer?
Participants engage in a series of short conversations in small groups. If you attend, you’ll connect with colleagues from across I&R and FBS, share your experiences, and listen to different perspectives in a dynamic and welcoming environment.

Who can attend?

All I&R and FBS staff are warmly welcome! Whether you are new to �鶹��Ѱ��or a long-time member of the community, this event is designed to help us:

Build relationships across units
Strengthen understanding and collaboration

What will we talk about?
Together, we’ll explore questions like:

What does “community” mean in our daily work?
How can we collaborate more effectively across units?
What would it look like to co-create a culture where everyone feels valued and able to thrive?

You’ll leave with new connections, fresh insights, and practical ways to strengthen our collective community.

Registration closes October 31. Don’t wait — reserve your spot today!

We can’t wait to see you there.

The FBS Dialogues Design & Admin Team
Kelsey, Nancy, Noah, Melanie, Kristen & Kathryn

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Launching a New Supervisor Community of Practice (CoP) - Oct. 16

Nancy Portner — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 01:58:10 +0000

Launching a New Supervisor Community of Practice (CoP) - Oct. 16 Nancy Portner Tue, 09/30/2025 - 19:58

Supervisor Community of Practice (CoP), a new space for supervisors across Finance & Business Strategy (FBS) and Infrastructure & Resilience (I&R) to connect, learn, and grow together.

Our first session kicks off October 16th, and we’d love to see you there. These in-person gatherings will be both engaging and practical, offering opportunities to build community, share insights, and strengthen your leadership skills. Plus, food will be provided and you’ll have the chance to win �鶹��Ѱ��swag, Rec Center one-month passes, and Rec Center day passes in our raffles.

October CoP Details

📅 Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
⏰ Time: 9:00–11:00 am
📍Location: �鶹��Ѱ��Recreation Center – Ice Rink Overlook Meeting Room
🍴Food will be provided

If you are able to attend, please register here – a calendar invite will be emailed to you after you register using this link.

What to Expect

Community: Meet and connect with fellow supervisors across FBS/I&R
Practical Skill Building: Engage in required trainings on topics like performance management in a supportive learning environment
Leadership Lessons: Hear directly from leaders and share your own tips and real-world experience.
Active Participation: Contribute to discussions and help shape how we lead as one team.

Session Overview

Introduction to the Community of Practice
FBS and I&R department introductions
OneTeam Norms, Boundaries and Expectations
An open leadership discussion.

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You are invited: Division-wide Zoom meeting with Todd Haggerty

Nancy Portner — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:11:32 +0000

You are invited: Division-wide Zoom meeting with Todd Haggerty Nancy Portner Tue, 09/30/2025 - 16:11

Join us for an upcoming division-wide (FBS and I&R) meeting where you will hear updates from SVC Todd Haggerty. Learn how I&R and FBS are working together to support campus operations and learn how you can contribute to, and benefit from division-wide initiatives.You should have received a calendar invite with the link to the Zoom meeting:

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, 9:00 am to 9:55 am.

If you are not working during the meeting time, or if your job duties do not allow you to join, don’t worry—the meeting will be recorded and a short summary will be shared with everyone afterward.

If you did not receive the meeting invitation, please reach out to fbs@colorado.edu and they will resend the invite to you.

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Red Sunflowers on the Rise: A Main Campus Experiment

Nancy Portner — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:36:31 +0000

Red Sunflowers on the Rise: A Main Campus Experiment Nancy Portner Tue, 09/30/2025 - 15:36

If you’ve walked past the sunflower beds on �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Main Campus lately, you might’ve done a double take—some of the blooms aren’t just yellow. They’re red. Really red.

That’s thanks to a multi-year experiment led by �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder horticulturists Jason Wiley and Aaron Shapiro. It’s Jason’s second year growing sunflowers on campus, and last year, most of them turned out the usual bright yellow. But a few had a deeper, reddish tint—and that sparked an idea.

“Genetics are the biggest factor in how red or yellow they’ll be,” Jason explains. “Extremely hot weather can bleach out the color, and we’ve noticed that red veining in the leaves might be linked to red petals.”

So this year, Jason and Aaron decided to lean into the science. They harvested seeds from the reddest flowers from last season and hand-pollinated only the red ones—using watercolor paintbrushes, no less.

“By crossing reds with reds and collecting seed only from those plants, we increased the likelihood of producing red offspring,” Jason says. “We’ll keep doing this each year to see how far we can push the color.”

And it’s working. This year’s patch has noticeably more red throughout the petals, and one plant in the circle planter is so dark it’s nearly black.

For home gardeners hoping to grow red sunflowers, Jason has some advice: “Hand-pollinate only the red flowers with a watercolor paintbrush and save seeds only from those plants. To boost your chances, clip or remove nearby yellow-flowered sunflowers. You can sow seeds densely, then thin them out by pulling the yellow ones as they bloom.”

It’s a slow and steady process, but the results are already turning heads. So next time you’re on Main Campus, stop by the sunflower beds located off the Broadway bike path, just across Broadway from “The Sink Crossing.” You might just catch a glimpse of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s very own red sunflower evolution in progress.

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Need a refresher on AssetWorks ReCoup? Join an upcoming Q&A session

Nancy Portner — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:38:49 +0000

Need a refresher on AssetWorks ReCoup? Join an upcoming Q&A session Nancy Portner Thu, 09/18/2025 - 11:38

Need a refresher on AssetWorks ReCoup? Have questions or need clarification? Join us for one of our upcoming Q&A sessions — open to anyone looking to learn more or get support with AssetWorks ReCoup.

Upcoming Sessions:

November 10, 2025 | 10:00–11:00 AM
Online via Microsoft Teams

February 11, 2026 | 1:00–2:30 PM
In-person at 3300 Walnut St. Unit B
Includes a tour of our facility and the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Surplus Store

April 30, 2026 | 1:00–2:30 PM
Online via Microsoft Teams

Advance registration is required and space is limited — sign up today to reserve your spot

Register Now

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Get ready for Microsoft multi-factor authentication (MFA) - coming Oct. 7

Nancy Portner — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:55:57 +0000

Get ready for Microsoft multi-factor authentication (MFA) - coming Oct. 7 Nancy Portner Tue, 09/16/2025 - 09:55

Starting Oct. 7, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder will begin using Microsoft’s multi-factor authentication (MFA) system to better protect your account. It works a lot like Duo, which you already use to log in to the MyCUInfo portal—it’s an extra security step to confirm it’s really you.

If you use campus tools like email or Microsoft Teams, you’ll need to set up Microsoft MFA. Eventually, Microsoft MFA will replace our current Duo MFA. The initial setup process takes about 15 minutes.

We recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your �鶹��Ѱ��FacMan cell phone, if you have one. You can also use the app on a personal cell device.

Important: Before logging out and reauthenticating, make sure you have a cell phone or another physical phone number added to your list of MFA devices. If your only registered device is a TEAMS phone, you will get locked out and won't be able to receive the MFA prompt - this means you won't be able to log back in until you contact OIT (IT Service Desk) to have them reset your MFA settings.
If you don’t do the verification and enrollment steps now, you will have to do them on October 7 when the enhanced policy is rolled out to everyone on campus.
The new policy will only be applied to primary �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder accounts (e.g. buffalor@colorado.edu, rabu1234@colorado.edu), not secondary accounts (e.g. ralphie-su@colorado.edu, OIT@colorado.edu, etc.).
The MFA Management Tool can only be used to enroll primary accounts.
Note: Alumni and retirees already have the MFA policy applied to their accounts, they don’t need to do anything more at this time.

How to set up Microsoft MFA:

Connect to campus: Make sure you’re on campus Wi-Fi or connected to the campus VPN.
Save your work: Close any open Microsoft files before starting.
Open the MFA Management Tool: Click on the "MFA Validation" button to check and update your MFA settings.
Make sure you have a valid MFA device. Before logging on and reauthenticating, ensure you have a cell phone or physical phone number added to your MFA devices.
Choose your MFA Method: FMIT supports several options:
- Microsoft Authenticator app (Preferrred) - Download and install on a CU-issued or personal cell phone.
- Phone Number – You can use a mobile phone (personal or work) or any outside phone line. Note: �鶹��Ѱ��does not reimburse personal phone use. If you need a work-issued phone, ask your supervisor to submit a request to FMIT@Colorado.edu with authorization and SpeedType for monthly charges and initial cost.
- TEAMS Phone – Can be used only if you have another backup method added first, during the validation step. If your only registered device is a TEAMS phone, you will get locked out and won't be able to log back in until you contact the IT Service Desk (5-HELP) and verify your identity with a photo ID.
- YubiKey – A physical USB device ($50–$60 each). Only one device per person is allowed. If lost or forgotten, you’ll need to use another method. �鶹��Ѱ��does not support other USB MFA devices. To request YubiKeys for your department, email FMIT@Colorado.edu with quantity and SpeedType.
Reauthenticate: You’ll be asked to log in again using MFA for Microsoft services. You’ll usually only need to do this once per device or browser session.
Fix issues if needed: If your MFA isn’t working, you can update your security info to add or remove additional methods.
Finish setup: Once everything is working click the "enroll in strengthened MFA service" button on the MFA Management Tool to turn on the new protection.

Why is this change needed?

Over the past few years we have had to respond to a rapidly evolving cybersecurity threat landscape by implementing many new security measures and we appreciate your help to secure our shared information technology environment. Recently, U.S. cybersecurity and intelligence agencies issued a joint advisory warning of potential cyber-attacks from state-sponsored or affiliated threat actors. As a result of these heightened security risks, we must be extra cautious and make use of all the security protections at our disposal.

MFA is a foundational element in a security strategy since it can significantly decrease the likelihood of your account becoming compromised while also safeguarding the university’s data, finances, and reputation.

Questions?

You can learn more about this new Microsoft MFA policy and the verification and enrollment process on the Multi-Factor Authentication FAQ page.

If you are running into setup issues please contact fmdesktop@colorado.edu.

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Register for Social Security and Medicare webinars (10/7 and 11/7)

Nancy Portner — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:09:10 +0000

Social Security and Medicare are complex systems with different uses and decisions for each person. Employee Services is here to help you navigate your options with two fall sessions of our Retirement Ready webinars: Social Security Basics and Medicare 101.

These interactive talks cover the basic tenets of the Social Security and Medicare programs, such as pre-retirement planning, retirement benefits, hospital insurance, medical insurance, Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans. Time is reserved at the end of each session for a question-and-answer period.

You must register for the Zoom webinar to receive the link to the event. These webinars will not be recorded. Don’t wait to register, spaces will fill up!

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Please Delay iOS 26 Update – Compatibility Issues with AiM, ReADY, and Go App

Nancy Portner — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:08:24 +0000

Please Delay iOS 26 Update – Compatibility Issues with AiM, ReADY, and Go App Nancy Portner Thu, 09/11/2025 - 12:08

Apple is releasing a new version of iOS 26 on Monday, September 15, and we’re asking all staff to hold off on updating their iPhones or iPads, at this time.

The new iOS version has not yet been tested for compatibility with our key applications:

AiM
ReADY
Go App

Updating your device could result in unexpected issues or disruptions when using these tools. Our IT team is currently working to test and verify compatibility, and we’ll send a follow-up once it’s safe to proceed with the update.

In the meantime, please ensure your device is running version iOS 18.6.2.

18.6.2 has been tested with the work management apps.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Chuck or Sandy in FMIT.

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Free BCycle memberships for �鶹��Ѱ��Employees

Nancy Portner — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:52:26 +0000

Free BCycle memberships for �鶹��Ѱ��Employees Nancy Portner Tue, 09/09/2025 - 08:52

Starting August 1, 2025, all �鶹��Ѱ��employees are eligible for a free Boulder BCycle �鶹��Ѱ��student and employee membership, thanks to a partnership between �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder's Environmental Center and BCycle. Previously, employees received a discounted rate.

This membership gives you unlimited 60-minute rides - perfect for getting around campus or between �鶹��Ѱ��locations. Just download the Boulder BCycle app and use your identikey@colorado.edu email address when registering.

Bike sharing is a convenient, eco-friendly way to connect to public transit, run errands, or simply enjoy Boulder - no need to worry about parking, locks, or maintenance. �鶹��Ѱ��employee and student participation is expected to help push annual BCycle rides past 750,000!

Benefits of Boulder BCycle

A bike when you need one - you get unlimited 60 minute rides each day. Pick up a bike at any Boulder BCycle station and drop it off at a station near your destination
No need to buy a bike - with bike docking stations all across the city, it’s super convenient and easy to access a bike when and where you need one!
Connecting to public transit is a breeze - ride to a nearby Boulder BCycle dock and hop on the bus - no need to lug your bike on/off those bus racks
Not a mechanic? Not a problem - Boulder BCycle handles all the bike fleet maintenance so you don’t have to worry about flats, chains or tune ups
Safety-approved - all bikes have bright front/rear lights and a built in lock on every bike
No spandex necessary - Boulder BCycle bikes have a step-through frame and a comfortable seat, so you don’t have to bring a change of clothes to ride these bikes. Chain guards, fenders and mudflaps and a large front handlebar basket on all the Boulder BCycle bikes keep your work/school clothes squeaky clean

�鶹��Ѱ��Students and Employees: Free Membership

Thanks to the Environmental Center and their partnership with BCycle, �鶹��Ѱ��students and employees get unlimited trips for 12 months as long as they are under 60 minutes; trip fees apply to all BCycle trips over one hour.

Sign up using the Boulder BCycle app:

Download the Boulder BCycle app to set up your account.
Click on the "Get a Pass" button.
Select the “�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Student and Employee” option.
Click on the blue "create account" button. Be sure you use your identikey@colorado.edu email address when registering (this is not your first.last@colorado.edu email address).
You can use the app to check out and return bikes at any Boulder BCycle station

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Volunteer leave available to I&R staff

Nancy Portner — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:32:02 +0000

Volunteer leave available to I&R staff Nancy Portner Thu, 09/04/2025 - 12:32

I&R allows volunteer hours to be granted from work to serve the community in various ways. Volunteer time is credited on a fiscal year basis (July 1 through June 30). Some examples of this service may be as a volunteer worker at a charitable organization or attending a school function for one’s child or relative.

Volunteer leave must be requested from your supervisor and approved by the appointing authority.
16 hours of leave time is granted each fiscal year (pro-rated for appointments less than 100%). Staff who start on or after January 1 receive eight hours of volunteer time to be used before June 30.
Any unused portion as of June 30 is forfeited (hours do not roll forward).

Questions? Ask your supervisor or reach out to any member of the I&R HR team.

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Employee News

RSVP for the I&R/FBS Staff Dialogue Mixer: Nov. 20

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Launching a New Supervisor Community of Practice (CoP) - Oct. 16

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You are invited: Division-wide Zoom meeting with Todd Haggerty

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Red Sunflowers on the Rise: A Main Campus Experiment

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Need a refresher on AssetWorks ReCoup? Join an upcoming Q&A session

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Get ready for Microsoft multi-factor authentication (MFA) - coming Oct. 7

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Register for Social Security and Medicare webinars (10/7 and 11/7)

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Please Delay iOS 26 Update – Compatibility Issues with AiM, ReADY, and Go App

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Free BCycle memberships for �鶹��Ѱ�����Employees

Sign up using the Boulder BCycle app:

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Volunteer leave available to I&R staff

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Free BCycle memberships for �鶹��Ѱ��Employees