The International English Center is offering 10-week professional communication courses for international students on pronunciation, public speaking and academic writing beginning Feb. 8.

The ESL Credit Program helps international students build and refine their English communication skills through interactive and challenging courses that utilize academic texts, materials and activities relevant to their specific area of study or profession.

CU Boulder's Division of Continuing Education offers a limited number of scholarships for ESL Credit Program courses. These scholarships are available to current CU graduate students and may be applied one time to one course. Students interested in receiving a scholarship must complete a competitive application process.

The University Libraries welcomes students back to campus after winter break and our remote start. We've got all your needs covered, from access to our collections, answers to your research questions, study rooms, the Ask a Librarian service and more. 

Jan. 27 update: Due to inclement weather, the mobile food pantry is canceled. Students, staff, faculty and community members are invited to visit the Buff Pantry between 2 and 4 p.m. to receive food. 

For those that who plan to visit the Buff Pantry, please note quantities and selection will be limited in comparison to the mobile food pantry. The Buff Pantry is located in the University Memorial Center (UMC) basement, 1B73, near the lower level of the CU Book Store.

The mobile food pantry was originally scheduled to take place from 2 to 4 p.m. today on the UMC South Terrace Plaza.

The Conference on World Affairs is accepting requests for speaker classroom visits during the event April 6–9. The deadline for full consideration is Friday, Feb 4.

We are collecting meal swipe donations to fight food insecurity on campus. Anyone with a meal plan can donate one meal swipe Jan. 31–Feb. 2. Just tell the cashier that you would like to donate.

Accepting donations at the following locations:

• C4C Dining Center
• Village Center Dining
• Alferd Packer Grill
• The Alley
• Sewall Dining Center
• SEEC Cafe

Only one meal swipe can be donated per person.

Don’t have a meal plan, but still want to help? Donate here.

The Student Arts Program collects original art created by the CU Boulder student community and displays it throughout the UMC and the Rec Center.

We are looking for original pieces in the following media: painting, drawing, sculpture, textile, printing and photography/film/technology.

Awards will be given for top submissions. Artwork is reviewed by a panel of judges that decides which artwork is accepted into the program and where that artwork will be displayed. The UMC covers the cost of framing, hanging and securing the artwork.

Deadline to submit: Feb. 11, 2022 

We are seeking current CU undergraduates of all majors and backgrounds to participate in a research study investigating the Mindful Campus Program, an eight-week course designed to promote mindfulness, compassion and community engagement. 
 
You can earn up to $220–225 by participating in this study.
 
Participants will attend eight 90-minute sessions (these will be held in person or remotely, depending on the group), complete surveys at three time points, and participate in focus groups to give feedback on the Mindful Campus Program. You must be 18 years old or older to participate. The IRB protocol number for this study is 21-0001.

By participating in this research, you will not only have the opportunity to learn and practice in a community setting, but also you may contribute to the creation of programs and policies to support undergraduate wellness and CU Boulder. Please reach out if you’re interested in learning about sections of the Mindful Campus course specifically for BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ students. 

Please send an email to mindfulcampus@colorado.edu if you’re interested in learning more, or sign up to participate.

Students: If you're located outside of Colorado and/or you won't be on campus while taking classes, it's important for us to know where you are so we can make sure you're getting equitable access to educational opportunities.

Should you pay taxes on your retirement funds now, or after you retire? Learn about Roth contributions with TIAA.

It’s tempting to put things off—washing dishes, calling the cable company, paying taxes—but retirement planning is something you shouldn’t put off. One important consideration in retirement planning is whether to pay taxes up front on retirement savings—and withdraw those savings tax-free in retirement—or save untaxed money now and pay taxes later on your retirement distributions.

The University of Colorado offers both ways to save for retirement—traditional and Roth contributions. Join Ivana Stanisic, a senior financial consultant with TIAA, to learn more about the Roth savings option and get your questions answered. You'll learn:

• What is the after-tax Roth contribution option
• Why the after-tax Roth contribution option may be right for you
• How the after-tax Roth contributions compare to pretax contributions
• How to make after-tax Roth contributions in the CU 403(b) Voluntary Plan

If you go

Thursday, Jan. 27
Noon to 1 p.m. MT
 

The Graduate and Professional Student Government has opened applications for spring grants. Learn more.

Join us for free events and activities at the Main Student Recreation Center during Spring Kick-Off!

Spring Welcome is a great opportunity to engage with your fellow Buffs and to meet campus faculty and staff.

In-person events taking place this month are open to students who are currently living on campus and students living off campus in the surrounding community to provide resources and support.

On Jan. 7, Leonard H. Gemmill Engineering, Mathematics & Physics Library experienced a flood due to a broken water pipe. The library will be closed for at least a month, and during that time there will be no access to the collection housed there. Please check the Gemmill Library website for the most up-to-date information.

Read the full announcement to learn how to access resources, services and spaces for engineering, math and physics while the Gemmill Library is closed.

The New Venture Challenge (NVC) connects the CU Boulder campus with the Boulder community to develop and fund innovative ideas. Participants attend year-round events, network and collaborate with mentors to refine their ideas and form startup teams to pitch for funding (more than $100,000!) at the NVC Championships.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31.