A warning to anyone who uses popular payment apps like Venmo on their cell phones: Protect your phone and treat it like a credit or debit card. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Police Department is investigating three cases of theft where victims lost hundreds of dollars each, after being convinced to hand their phones over to a stranger.

Police say it can happen anywhere (cases are also being investigated at other college campuses and cities in Colorado), and the popularity of payment apps among college students makes them especially easy targets. 

The scam goes like this: Unsuspecting victims are approached by someone claiming to have an urgent need to make a phone call. When victims hand over their phones, the person locates the Venmo app and pays themselves with the touch of a button. Police say once money is transferred, it’s nearly impossible to get it back. 

“As much as you wouldn’t hand your wallet to someone, don’t hand your phone to someone,” said Sergeant Eric Edford of the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department (CUPD). Edford recommends, if you’re feeling especially kind-hearted and decide to offer assistance, keep your phone in-hand and make the call for help yourself. 

Other tips to avoid cell phone scams: Keep security settings activated for all banking or cash apps, log out of those accounts after each use and lock your phone, keeping passcode or face ID enabled.

The Marinus Smith Award recognizes faculty and staff members who have had a particularly positive impact on our students. Honorees are nominated by those they teach, mentor, support and serve. 

The faculty and staff receiving this award embody the true meaning of Be Boulder as they inspire, educate and motivate our community through innovation and passion. The award winners leave a long lasting impact on our community. 

Deadline to nominate is March 18. Learn more and submit a nomination.

During system-wide maintenance that affects the portals, such as the maintenance scheduled for Sunday, March 13, you can directly access Canvas and some other services that are provided through the portals. Read more from OIT.

Researchers in the Neurophysiology of Movement Lab on Main Campus are conducting a study to evaluate the influence of light electrical stimulation on walking and balance capabilities in healthy adults. 

Subject requirements:

• 65–85 years of age
• Free from neurological impairments
• No recent lower body injuries 
• Ability to walk for six minutes unaided

The study consists of two visits to CU Boulder Main Campus on separate days (approximately 2.5 hours each):

• In each session, we will apply mild electrical stimulation using a TENS device and assess subjects' walking and balance capabilities.
• Compensation: $50 for the two visits

If interested, please contact Mohammed Alenazy for more information: moal4255@colorado.edu, 720-231-9767.

UROP celebrates mentorship with the Faculty Mentor Award, which recognizes campus faculty supporting undergraduates on research and creative projects. 

Students are invited to nominate their mentors regardless of program funding, and we welcome submissions from early-stage researchers and creative practitioners. 

To support their work, award recipients will have the option to award an assistantship to an eligible undergraduate of their choosing in the next grant cycle.

Submit a nomination by April 1.

Buff Bus has upgraded its Transit app with improved software designed to provide real-time bus location information based on GPS tracking, rather than predicted route schedules. The new software went live in January.

“It’s important for our riders to know when to expect the bus, and when the buses are running off-schedule,” said Tom Christian, senior operations compliance program manager for Buff Bus operations at CU Boulder. “We are trying to improve the Buff Bus experience, and this upgrade makes it easier for our riders to plan their daily schedules.”

Previously the app relied on regular schedules to predict when a particular bus was supposed to arrive, but if the buses got off schedule due to weather or traffic delays, the app didn’t offer GPS based tracking. Now, with this upgrade, the Transit app is able to feed data real-time from the bus’s GPS unit to determine its real-time location and more accurately predict how long it will take to reach the next stop.

Showcase your talents!

The Diverse Musicians' Alliance (DiMA) at CU Boulder invites performers of music, dance, poetry and other forms of art to participate in "Roots and Branches," an annual show featuring diverse voices and art forms, on March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the College of Music's Grusin Recital Hall.

Applications to perform are due March 5.

All types of performances are welcome. Performances must be no longer than 10 minutes. We are not able to provide amplification equipment other than a single handheld microphone. The performance hall is intimate and has excellent acoustics. Amplification is rarely needed.

We are looking for diverse acts and are especially interested in personal, unique and thought-provoking performances. The Diverse Performance Concert is a longstanding tradition of the Diverse Musicians' Alliance and has taken place on campus for more than 14 years.

Please apply by March 5. While we want to showcase as many performers as possible, if we receive a large number of applications, the committee will select a program that represents diverse voices and art forms. We will be in touch soon after the deadline.

The New Venture Challenge is still looking for volunteers for future upcoming NVC events! This is your opportunity to get introduced to the New Venture Challenge and give back to your community. Please email riwi7057@colorado.edu for more details.

Planning to host a party soon? Stop by one of Off-Campus Housing and Neighborhood Relations' Party Registration Stations over the weekend to receive a 20-minute warning if your party receives a complaint. Party registration is free, unlike a nuisance ticket, which could cost up to $2,600.

Enterprise database maintenance on Sunday, March 13, will cause two 5- to 15-minute outages, between 8 a.m. and noon for many campus services, including MyCUInfo, Buff Portal, Canvas and more. Read more from OIT.

CU Boulder students can now use a new tool to find CU student-led Discord servers and connect online through Discord! Read more from OIT.

Men of color, register for free haircuts, conversation and food offered through the Center for Inclusion and Social Change's Men of Excellence initiative and learn about resources available through the campus's Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS).

As a Challenge Course facilitator, guide groups through team-building activities on our Challenge Course including games, challenges, low and high elements.

This is a flexible part-time position, requiring a flexible schedule including weekends. This position requires working outside in all weather conditions, particularly summer sun and heat.

This position is open to students and non-students.

Join fellow transfer students on a 3.6-mile hike to the Flatirons, where you can meet new friends and manage your personal well-being. We will meet at the base of the Chautauqua loop at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 12.

Get a free ticket to see the Denver Nuggets take on the Toronto Raptors at Ball Arena in Denver! Pick up your ticket March 8 at 10 a.m. in the Center for Student Involvement (UMC 330).

One ticket per student with valid Buff OneCard. If you want to go to the game with a friend, please pick up your tickets together. No tickets will be held.

You can use your RTD pass to take the bus for free to Denver for the game. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event are required for entry to Ball Arena. Masks are required at all time while in the arena. Read full Ball Arena health and safety guidelines.