Friday, Jan. 5 is the deadline for fall master's graduates to update their diploma name or address in Buff Portal. 

Mental Health First Aid training helps a person with no clinical training assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. Participants are introduced to risk factors and warning signs, engage in experiential activities, discuss relevant professional and self-help resources, and learn a five-step strategy to provide support. Mental Health First Aid for Higher Education provides tailored content for members of the higher education community.

This training is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the UMC. 

Wildfires can happen at any time of year in Colorado, even in December and January, which makes fireworks particularly dangerous in the Boulder area. It's important to find other ways to celebrate the new year in Boulder.

The city of Boulder’s fireworks laws are more restrictive than other areas of Colorado. Laws prohibit items like sparklers, snaps, snakes, bottle rockets, roman candles and smoke bombs, in addition to fireworks that leave the ground or explode. You may also be held responsible for fireworks used by roommates and guests.

Possible legal penalties include:

• Fines up to $2,650
• Court fees
• Possible arson charges
• Possible jail time
• Liability for property or personal injury damages.
• Referral to ⁠CU Boulder Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution

Unused fireworks can be brought to the Boulder Public Safety Building at 1805 33rd St. without penalty. Connect with ⁠Student Legal Services or visit ⁠Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations to learn more about common citations and Boulder ordinances.

Language, Development, and Cognition Lab researchers invite you to participate in an online language production study conducted via Zoom at a time that is convenient for you. The study is open to mothers of 3- to 5-year-old children who are acquiring English as a first language.

You will engage in a task in which you will be shown simple animated actions on a screen (e.g., putting an object on a table) and asked to instruct a hypothetical child or adult listener to perform those actions using props. The total time for the study is 40–45 minutes or less, depending on number of breaks.

We will send you an Amazon gift card worth $20 within one to two weeks of study completion (and a gift card worth $5 if you complete part of the study).

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) final competition, an annual tradition that showcases graduate students' ability to distill their nine-hour thesis down to three minutes, returns to campus.

This year's event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Feb. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m., in the University Memorial Center’s Glenn Miller Ballroom. Ten students will be competing.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your research? Join the I-Corps Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop—by Venture Partners at CU Boulder—designed for innovators motivated to translate their research, get funding and make a lasting impact. 

Starting Blocks equips researchers, creators, engineers and scientists from any research institution with the tools and resources needed to bring their innovations to those in need and enhance their competitiveness for funding. Over three weeks, gain a deeper understanding of the commercialization process, develop a solid foundation in business concepts and accelerate your journey toward commercialization.

Application deadline is Jan. 12.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you live off campus and are planning to stay in Boulder over winter break.

• Remember that snow must be removed from sidewalks 24 hours after the snow stops falling. Check with your landlord if its your responsibility to clear snow.
• Keep your heat at about 60 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Plan ahead when walking, cycling or driving in winter weather. Watch for black ice, slush and other hazardous conditions.
• Turn your front porch light on at night and lock up whenever you're not home.
• Remember that fireworks are illegal in Boulder. Find other ways to celebrate.

Contact ⁠Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations if you have any questions.

We're seeking native speakers of less commonly spoken languages to assist in proficiency exams. If you're fluent in a language (or more!) beyond the mainstream (e.g., Swahili, Nepali, Amharic), your help is invaluable.

ALTEC offers a $50 honorarium to proctor a 45-minute online assessment. To sign up or learn more, contact ALTEC at altec@colorado.edu. Your support enhances our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion—thank you!

UROP encourages CU Boulder’s academic and creative community to serve on the Review Board to evaluate proposals, learn more about the process and ensure timely decisions. 

Reviewers will have the option to recuse themselves from evaluating proposals that present conflicts of interest, so mentoring a student with an application does not disqualify someone from evaluating proposals.

Eligibility: All tenured/tenure-track, research faculty, contract instructors, postdocs and graduate students at CU Boulder are eligible to evaluate proposals.

Learn more and join the UROP Review Board! Sign-up closes on March 1. Contact urop@colorado.edu with questions.

Buff Buses will be running with additional hours during finals week and reduced service over winter break.

Finals week Dec. 16–20

Buff Buses will be running with additional hours during finals week. See the finals schedule.

Winter break Dec. 22–Jan. 15

There will be no Route W, Route WL or Route B Buff Bus service from Thursday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 10. Route S will continue to run on an adjusted schedule, except for the holiday closure (dates below).

Holiday closure

There will be no Buff Bus service from Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1 (campus closed).

Visit the bus route information page for more information.

With finals week and winter break approaching, the CU Boulder campus will follow different building access protocols.

Finals week Dec. 16–20

• CU Boulder affiliates can access most academic buildings on campus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., you will be able to access these buildings with your Buff OneCard.
• For buildings that house a 7:30 p.m. exam, doors will remain open until 8 p.m. before the Buff OneCard protocol kicks in.
• Outside these hours, you will need to have previously been granted Buff OneCard after-hours access permissions.

Winter break Dec. 22–Jan. 15

• Most buildings will be available via Buff OneCard swipe between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
• On university holidays and administrative leave days during the break (Dec. 25–29, Jan. 1 and Jan. 15), building access will only be available for affiliates with Buff OneCards who have been provisioned for 24/7 access to their respective facilities.

University Libraries, the Recreation Center, the UMC and Health and Wellness Services publish their respective hours on their websites.

For more information about building access protocols, visit the campus building access page.

It’s been cooking for months, and CU’s self-funded and self-administered Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program will take effect on Jan. 1. Read more on the Work/Life blog.

The 2024 BFA Excellence Awards are now open for nominations through Jan. 31.

The awards specifically recognize outstanding work and a concerted effort to make advances in the academy. The chancellor provides financial support for these prestigious awards and a ceremony in the spring recognizes the winners and features a keynote by the Hazel Barnes awardee for that year. 

The 2024 TRANSforming Gender Conference is now accepting program submissions. The conference raises awareness about issues and identities in the trans community.

Staff, students and community members are encouraged to submit session proposals that address our key themes:

• Parent and family Q&A
• Intersex 101
• Queering biology
• Transgender youth advocacy
• Medical transition
• Education for mental health providers

For full consideration, please submit your proposal by Feb. 19.

Save the date

2024 TRANSforming Gender Conference
March 16–17
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Koelbel Building

“Zen out” while you prep for finals! Stop by the first floor of the UMC to take a break, relax or meditate in a comfy area. Read more healthy tips to finish the semester strong.