University of Colorado nonexempt (federal overtime eligible) employees will transition from a monthly to a biweekly pay schedule in September of 2026.

Sko Serve sends teams of college students to engage in meaningful service during their breaks from school. This weeklong journey over spring break allows students to explore the United States while making a difference through service, reflecting upon their experience and creating long-lasting connections with others.

Learn more about spring 2026 programs and apply by Feb. 5.

On Monday, Feb. 2, Duo Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will update security certificates that may affect users of the Duo mobile app. Make sure your app is updated with the most recent version so you don’t get locked out of Buff Portal or MyCUInfo. Visit the OIT website for more information.

CU Boulder has resources and support for faculty who are critical to the university's emerging global leadership in sustainability education. The founding of the new SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education (SCSE) is critical to this success.

The theme for the inaugural cohort of SPIKE Faculty Fellows will be information integrity and sustainability education. It includes research on climate change and environmental relations that intersect with building societal trust, fostering healthy public spheres of engagements, mis-/disinformation campaigns and transparency of data. 

If interested in joining, please review this PDF to learn more about the program. Submit all application materials by noon to spikecenter@colorado.edu. Decisions will be announced by March 13.

The CU Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE) connects students who care about making a difference with paid summer internships at nonprofits and government agencies. Since launching in 2006, PIIE has helped more than 200 students gain hands‑on experience while working in areas such as animal welfare, education, health, law, sustainability and more.

Applications for summer 2026 are open Jan. 19–Feb. 8. If you’re interested in civic engagement and want meaningful, paid experience, PIIE could be for you—apply now!

Employees who claimed “exempt” from federal withholding tax on their 2025 W-4 form should be aware that their exemption expires Feb. 15, 2026.

Scholarships are available for student leaders and UMC student employees. The UMC Board awards scholarships of up to $1,000 each year.

The James E. Schafer Scholarship is for CU student leaders who currently involved in a Center for Student Involvement-recognized student group or organization.

The Carlos García UMC Director’s Scholarship is for students currently employed by the Basic Needs Center, Center for Student Involvement, CU Book Store, CU Collegiate Recovery Community, Cultural Events Board, Distinguished Speakers Board, Environmental Center, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Ink Spot, Off-Campus Life, Radio 1190, Service Learning & Impact in Community Engagement, Starbucks or the University Memorial Center.

Applications are due by Sunday, Feb. 15, at 11:59 p.m.

If your department is planning a program for any history or heritage month, submit your event to be part of our campuswide celebration. The Division of Student Life will include submitted events from campus departments in marketing and promotional materials.

In the coming weeks and months, CU faculty, staff and students will begin receiving critical documents needed to file their annual income tax returns. For certain international employees and students, this means receiving forms W-2 and/or 1042-S from CU over the next month.

Form W-2 is issued to any employee who receives taxable wages from CU and was required to be sent out to all employees by Jan. 31. If you didn’t receive your W-2 in the mail, visit the Tax Forms webpage to learn how to obtain a copy.

It’s also important to remember that even if they did not earn U.S. income, nonresident F and J students and scholars are required to file IRS Form 8843.

Form 1042-S available electronically through Sprintax Calculus

Form 1042-S is issued to resident and nonresident alien employees to report tax treaty exempt wages. Nonresident alien scholarship and stipend recipients with taxable or tax treaty exempt income will also receive Form 1042-S. Employees and students with more than one type of 1042-S reportable income should expect to receive more than one 1042-S.

Tax year 2025 1042-S forms for employees and students will be available electronically in Sprintax Calculus. Paper forms will be mailed only to individuals who have not provided consent to receive their 1042-S form electronically through Sprintax Calculus. This month, please watch for an email from CUintltax-noreply@sprintax.com with notification that 1042-S forms are available.

Employees and students who provided electronic consent but no longer have access to their campus portal or did not provide e-consent and have not received their mailed form by March 25 should visit the Tax Forms webpage and follow the Form 1042-S request instructions.

Sprintax Calculus integrates with free Sprintax Returns

This year, CU is again partnering with Sprintax to support nonresident alien employees and students in their personal tax filing obligation. The International Tax Office will offer a discount code to access Sprintax Returns online tax preparation tool free of charge.

The discount code will enable nonresident alien employees and students in F or J status to file their 2025 federal tax return and other required forms. Sprintax can also help with state tax filing. However, if you elect to file a state tax return using Sprintax, you’ll need to pay an additional fee.

In addition, Sprintax Returns integrates with Sprintax Calculus, the International Tax Office’s platform for gathering international employees’ documents, saving you time during the tax season. All international employees are required to complete a Sprintax Calculus profile during onboarding and to maintain their profile with updates as their circumstances change.

Together, Sprintax Calculus and Sprintax Returns provide a user-friendly and reliable resource to help international employees:

• Determine resident or nonresident U.S. tax residency status and filing requirements.
• Prepare preemployment tax documents including forms W-4, W-8BEN, W-9 and 8233 which can be signed and submitted electronically to ensure accurate withholding.
• Prepare necessary tax return documents including forms 1040-NR and 8843 which can then be printed, signed and mailed for filing with the IRS and State Department of Revenue. (Some users may be able to file electronically, instead.)
• Ensure all applicable tax treaties are applied.
• Find assistance and information with an available FAQ, blog, YouTube channel and email access to Sprintax tax professionals.

To take advantage of Sprintax Returns, watch for emails from the International Tax Office that include your discount code in February and March.

Visit the International Tax website anytime throughout the year to learn more about your filing obligations.

Sprintax Open Webinar dates, times and registration links

Sprintax will host regular tax webinars throughout the spring where you can learn more about your U.S. tax filing obligations and how Sprintax can help you meet them.

• Thursday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m. MT – Register here
• Tuesday, Feb. 10, 5 p.m. MT – Register here
• Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m. MT – Register here
• Thursday, Feb. 24, 8 a.m. MT – Register here
• Thursday, March 5, 10 a.m. MT – Register here
• Wednesday, March 11, 11 a.m. MT – Register here
• Monday, March 16, noon MT – Register here
• Friday, March 27, 9 a.m. MT – Register here
• Wednesday, April 1, 11 a.m. MT – Register here
• Tuesday, April 7, 6 a.m. MT – Register here
• Tuesday, April 14, noon MT – Register here

Master's students must submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree by Feb. 2. Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School. 

As part of International Love Data Week 2026, the Center for Research Data & Digital Scholarship is holding the annual Buffalization Data Visualization Challenge. To celebrate CU Boulder's 150th anniversary we invite you to use a dataset of historic campus buildings to create a data visualization with your preferred software or tools. Enter by Feb. 15.

CU Boulder faculty and staff are invited to register for the Student Success Conference. Taking place on Feb. 18, this is a chance to engage in professional development and network with colleagues. Register by Jan. 30 to attend.

Journey Leaders are students in New Student & Family Programs (NSFP) that help welcome our newest class of CU Buffs to campus. Journey Leaders help facilitate all NSFP events, ensuring events run smoothly and assisting new students and their families in their adjustment to CU. As a Journey Leader, you will gain valuable leadership experience while meeting new people and getting involved on campus.

Learn more and apply by Jan. 30.

Donate a meal swipe to a fellow Buff in need!

From Jan. 27 to 29, help fight food insecurity on campus by participating in Swipe It Forward. Anyone with a meal plan can donate one meal swipe per day. As you check out, tell the cashier you would like to donate.

Donations are accepted at the following locations:

• C4C Dining Center
• Village Center Dining
• Alferd Packer Grill
• The Alley
• Sewall Dining Center
• SEEC Cafe
• CU on the Run
• Libby Dining

Don’t have a meal plan but still want to help? Donate to the Basic Needs Center or register to volunteer.

If you have questions about this program, email basicneeds@colorado.edu.

On Jan. 31, all 2025 W-2s will be sent to the mailing address employees had on file in the employee portal as of Dec. 15, 2025, and available in the employee portal shortly afterward. Form 1095-C will be available in the portal by March 3 for employees eligible for 2025 health benefits.