I&R Employee Newsletter - April 2025 | Infrastructure and Resilience

I&R Employee Newsletter - April 2025

VC's Corner

Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure & Resillience Chris Ewing

Spring Updates: Employee Engagement Survey & Commencement Volunteer Opportunity

Dear Infrastructure and Resilience team,

I hope you're all enjoying the spring weather!

Engagement survey: Campus HR is conducting an engagement survey to better understand your experiences and gather insights that will help us improve our work environment. Your input is valuable, and I encourage each of you to take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your honest feedback will guide us in making meaningful changes that benefit everyone. More information about the survey is below. I will also add there has been some friendly banter among the vice chancellors on whose division will have the highest response rate. It would be great if I&R is the winner, so please take the survey when you have time.

Commencement volunteers: It’s that time again - we are recruiting volunteers to help out with Commencement. It's a fantastic chance to be part of a special day for our graduates. As I’ve mentioned in past years, this is also an opportunity to showcase our beautiful campus as we celebrate this day with our graduates and their families.

I also want to give a big shout-out to all of you for the hard work and dedication you put into getting the campus ready for all the Commencement activities. Your efforts ensure everything goes smoothly, which in turn creates an unforgettable experience for our graduates and their families. Thanks for all you do!

With gratitude,
Chris Ewing, vice chancellor for infrastructure and resilience

News and Notes

91�� launches 2025 faculty and staff engagement survey

91�� is once again working with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to conduct a survey on faculty and staff engagement. The survey will give faculty and staff a formal opportunity to share their thoughts about their workplace. On April 8, all staff (excluding retirees and temporary staff) will receive an email with details and a direct link to the survey. Staff will have until April 22 to complete it. I&R Human Resources is planning to host some computer help sessions to offer assistance to staff who may need extra help in accessing the survey. The survey will also be made available in several languages. Learn more about the 2025 faculty and staff engagement survey.

Sustainability Council campus listening session

The Sustainability Council will hold an in-person campus engagement session on April 11 from 12-1:30 p.m. It will be held at the Rec Center’s Ice Overlook Large Meeting Room, and light food and refreshments will be provided. No registration necessary.

Chancellor to speak at Campus Sustainability Summit

The 32nd Annual Campus Sustainability Summit brings the 91�� community together to share, learn and celebrate 91��’s sustainability accomplishments. On April 23 at 1 p.m., join Chancellor Justin Schwartz in conversation with Jane Zelikova, Executive Director of CU’s new Sustainability Research Initiative and Andrew Mayock, the inaugural Vice Chancellor for Sustainability. They will explore their shared visions and map out the path forward for campus sustainability and climate action. The Summit is open to all 91�� students, faculty, staff, and community members.

CU’s 2025 open enrollment: April 21 – May 9

Starting April 21, benefits-eligible employees will have the opportunity to update or change their benefits plans during CU’s annual Open Enrollment. Faculty and staff can take some steps to prepare, including verifying your contact information, checking the status of your dependents and signing up for enrollment text reminders.

CU’s tuition assistance benefit

Tuition Assistance applications for Summer 2025 will open on May 1. The tuition assistance benefit can be used by you, the employee, or you may transfer it to your dependent(s). Employees and dependents can receive up to 12 credits waived per academic year. Dependents of 91�� employees who are 91�� students can receive a 40% discount each semester.

Take your Kids to Work Day - April 24

Staff Council, in collaboration with various campus departments, have a fun day of discovery for on Thursday, April 24. There will be a kickoff party at the Rec Center and various activities throughout the day.��

Mark your calendars! Holidays for 2025

Check out the 91�� holidays for 2025. Please note that this year Juneteenth will be observed on Thursday, June 19. We know we sound like a broken record with these leave time reminders… but June is going to be here before we know it! Get the information you need on vacation leave here.

Notary services available for I&R staff

We are excited to offer notary service for all I&R staff members to notarize business-related documents. This service is for paper documents only (we do not offer electronic or e-notary services). Learn more and make an appointment.

Volunteer leave available to I&R staff

I&R allows volunteer leave to be granted from work to serve the community in various ways. Volunteer hours are credited on a fiscal year basis (July 1 through June 30). Some examples of activities that qualify for this leave include working as a volunteer at a charitable organization or attending a school function for one’s child or relative. Read more about volunteer leave at 91��.

Employee Spotlight

Adam Ambrose, Mail and Package Services Supervisor

How long have you been working at CU? 6 years
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? Play bass in a couple of projects
Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I was only supposed to be in Colorado for 6 months, it turned out to be 30 years. ��
What do you love about 91��? Getting to interact with every department in this “city within a city.”
What is your favorite type of music? In the same day I could listen to: Metal, Folk, Rock, Synthwave, Polka, Jazz (not smooth) and many more!

Safety Toolbox

PPE pizza recap

During the monthly Facilities Management safety committee meetings, we focus on a specific topic for our team members to share with their shops. For the March committee meeting, our topic was personal protective equipment (PPE), and the theme was “PPE Pizza.” The idea was simple: bring some PPE and get some pizza! Volunteers presented in front of our group, discussing the use of their PPE while enjoying pizza. Rich Stebbins and Craig Miller from Transportation Services shared their process for servicing our electric buses. Their presentation was very impressive, and we appreciate all their efforts! Whether you are working on campus or at home on a project, always remember to have the right tools and PPE.

Need new safety shoes?

The Work Wear safety shoe truck will be on campus at the GROC parking lot on Thursday, April 24 from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. If you work in Facilities Management Operations and your work shoes need replacement, please plan to stop by. Please bring your signed shoe authorization form and have your shop speedtype when you come. More information on the FM Safety Shoe program is available on our .

FM Safety Committee

The FM safety committee meets the third Tuesday of every month to discuss general safety concerns, review safety reports and 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, please reach out to your area representative on the or contact our Safety Specialist Don Fitzpatrick.

Infrastructure & Resilience Opportunity for Change Committee (IROCC)

April is a great month to expand your horizons and explore opportunities for change with two fabulous annual free events held at CU:

Conference on World Affairs (CWA) April 7-10, is a free event open to everyone on campus and in the 91�� community. Topics include Arts, Business, Human Condition, International Affairs, Politics & Media, and Science & Technology.
The 32nd annual Campus Sustainability Summit invites faculty, staff and students to share, learn and celebrate 91��’s wide array of sustainability leadership and accomplishments and rise to the challenges posed by the Campus Call to Climate Action. ��

The I&R Opportunity for Change Committee (IROCC) hopes to see you at these events! If you want more information on IROCC, or want to get involved, visit the Infrastructure & Resilience Opportunity for Change Committee (IROCC) webpage.��

I&R IT Tech Tips

AI tools for Facilities Management: efficiency and security

Curious about how AI can make your work life easier? Fun fact: Did you know that O365 Copilot Chat can summarize long email threads in seconds? Discover the difference between O365 Copilot Chat and M365 Copilot, both are vetted for security and privacy. From summarizing emails to managing your schedule, these tools can transform your daily tasks. Read the full article here.

I&R Star and Constellation Awards: March 2025

Joshua Bertolini (Facilities Services and Operations), nominated by Michael Butryn (Building Manager, SEEC/SEEL)

Josh goes above and beyond to provide excellent service. ��Josh communicates well and accommodates the needs of the building and its end-users.

Steven Stuart (CBS), Bradley Eckhardt (CBS), Brandon Kulachkosky (CBS), nominated by Michael Butryn (Building Manager, SEEC/SEEL)

Steven Stuart, Bradley Eckhardt, and Brandon Kulachkosky always go above and beyond to meet the needs of the building. They work closely with building management to provide a clean, safe, and well-maintained environment for students, faculty, and staff -- they are essential to our mission here at SEEC/SEEL. Additionally, they are always friendly, welcoming faces for occupants and visitors, and help us maintain productive relationships with those groups
��

March comings and goings

New Hires
��

Karle Bartholomew, Facilities Maintenance Operations, PMT II / Pipefitter
Taylor Heflebower, Business Services, Utility Accountant
Chitra Adhikari, CBS, Custodian
Steven��Hoyt, Outdoor Services, Lead Equipment Mechanic
Hannah Stringfellow, EH&S, Hazardous Materials Specialist
Bertha Mojardin, CBS, Custodian
Jesus Mojardin, CBS, Custodian
Sujata Karki, CBS, Custodian
Sonja Muniz, Transportation Services, Campus Bus Driver - CDL
Reyes Chaves, Transportation Services, Campus Bus Driver - CDL
Lisa Montoya, Transportation Services, Campus Bus Driver - CDL

Promotions/Transfers

Violeta Luna, CBS, Custodian II / Custodial Team Lead - Housing Fac Svcs (formerly Custodian)
Deji Yangzong, CBS, Custodian, ��(formerly Custodian - Housing Facilities Services)
Zhaoyin Huang, CBS, Custodian, (formerly Custodian - Campus Dining Services)
Joshua Robinson, Outdoor Services, Grounds & Nursery II, (formerly Groundskeeper)
Mike Beck, Distribution Services, Materials Handler II, (formerly Materials Handler)\
Andrew Calvo, Facilities Maintenance Operations, Business Process Manager, (formerly Data Analyst)
Deven Chavez, Facilities Maintenance Operations, Electrical Trades Supervisor, (formerly Electrician)
Maria "Bea" Antequera, Business Services, Information Technology III, (formerly Information Technology II)
Darren Willett, Outdoor Services, Tech V - Main Campus Turf & Irrigation Manager, (formerly Tech V - Housing Facilities Services)

Moving On

Alan Slinkard, CBS, Projects Specialist (retired)
Thomas "Tom" Roller, Facilities Maintenance Operations, Interim Planner/Scheduler (retired)
John Flagiello, Outdoor Services, Grounds & Nursery II
Conchita "Kristina" Castaneda, CBS, Custodian
Trisha Jernberg, Facilities Maintenance Operations, Service Dispatcher
Karma Gurung, CBS, Recycling Collections Crew
Somboun Sayavong, CBS, Recycling Collections Crew

Quick Links

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