Safety

Simple actions to reduce Boulder Creek contamination

Megan M Rogers — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:57:17 +0000

Simple actions to reduce Boulder Creek contamination Megan M Rogers Wed, 05/20/2026 - 07:57

At ��Ƶ, we are fortunate to have beautiful waterways, including Boulder Creek, integrated into our campus ecosystem. Keeping these waterways healthy requires our collective effort.

Boulder Creek is considered an impaired waterway by the state of Colorado due to excess amounts of Escherichia coli bacteria (E. coli). While Boulder Creek is not currently considered impaired by nutrient pollution, raising awareness about nutrients is key to help prevent future impairment.

Nutrient pollution: What is it and why should we care?

Nutrient pollution occurs when excess compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus enter our waterways, often from sources like fertilizers, pet waste and improper disposal of organic material. These nutrients can be washed off lawns and gardens during rainfall or irrigation, flowing directly into storm drains and, ultimately, into our stormwater systems.

Once in the water, they can cause algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels, harm aquatic life and degrade water quality.

How you can help reduce nutrient pollution

Fertilizer use: Avoid over-fertilizing lawns and gardens, and never apply fertilizers near storm drains.
Organic waste: Properly dispose of lawn clippings, leaves and other organic material instead of letting them wash into storm drains.
Pet waste: Always clean up after your pets. Pet waste contributes to both bacteria and nutrients that pollute stormwater.

E. coli contamination in Boulder Creek

In addition to nutrient pollution, E. coli, a common bacterium from multiple sources, also impacts Boulder Creek. Urbanization reduces the number of porous surfaces and increases contamination sources that wash into the storm sewer, promoting bacterial growth. The university actively monitors and mitigates against E. coli contamination of the creek from campus stormwater discharges.

Steps you can take to reduce E. coli loading

Pet waste: Clean up after your pets and dispose of waste properly. Boulder ordinance requires immediate cleanup.
Trash disposal: Place all garbage in waste containers, and avoid feeding wildlife, which can increase waste in waterways.
Report issues: If you see illegal dumping or clogged storm sewer inlets on campus, contact Facilities Management at 303-492-5522.

A collective effort

As a large, eco-conscious community at ��Ƶ, we have a great opportunity to work together to protect our stormwater resources and embody the university’s sustainability values. By adopting simple habits like cleaning up after pets, properly disposing of waste, and being mindful of fertilizer use, each of us can make a positive impact.

No matter how small your actions may seem, they can make a big difference in preserving the health of Boulder Creek and other local waterways. Together, we can change the way we look at water quality and ensure a cleaner, safer environment for everyone.

For more information, visit the Environmental Health & Safety stormwater guidelines webpage or contact 303-492-6025 or ehs@colorado.edu.

At ��Ƶ, we are fortunate to have beautiful waterways, including Boulder Creek, integrated into our campus ecosystem. Keeping these waterways healthy requires our collective effort.

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Charges filed in August 2025 swatting incident at Norlin Library

Nicole Cousins — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:48:48 +0000

Charges filed in August 2025 swatting incident at Norlin Library Nicole Cousins Thu, 04/30/2026 - 13:48

The Department of Justice has announced that federal charges have been filed against a juvenile following a rash of swatting calls aimed at universities and other institutions in August 2025, including a swatting call that targeted Norlin Library on Aug. 25. The ��Ƶ Police Department (CUPD) supported the nationwide investigation and worked directly with the FBI on the case.

FBI seeking impact statements

The FBI is encouraging anyone impacted by the swatting incident to contact 1-800-225-5324 (1-800-CALL-FBI) for information about how to share their personal impact statement.

The defendant in this case was a self-identified member of the cybercriminal group “Purgatory” and selected the victim institutions at random. Authorities have found no evidence that ��Ƶ was uniquely targeted, that the individual was ever on campus or that there was any plan for an actual attack on the university.

Swatting calls have become an increasingly common crime because the perpetrators are often part of larger online cybercriminal communities and believe they will not be caught. The result of this case proves otherwise. CUPD investigators provided critical information to the FBI that ultimately led to this arrest.

“These types of crimes pull critical safety resources from real emergencies within our campus community, disrupt campus operations and can lead to fractured trust between the Division of Public Safety and our campus community,” said CUPD Police Chief Ashley Griffin.

“I’m grateful that the partnership between CUPD and the FBI, specifically the collaboration between CUPD detectives and FBI agents, led to a successful apprehension of the juvenile suspect. Engaging in crimes that undermine public safety on our campus will not be tolerated, and CUPD remains committed to fostering a safe campus environment for all.”

Public safety on campus is a shared responsibility. CUPD encourages anyone who sees concerning behavior that may threaten public safety on campus to report it to CUPD.

Stay updated on public safety at ��Ƶ

Learn more about ��Ƶ three levels of alerts and download the ��Ƶ Safe app to receive alerts in real time by visiting ��Ƶ's public safety resources webpage.

The FBI has announced that federal charges have been filed against a juvenile responsible for the swatting call that targeted Norlin Library on Aug. 25, 2025. The filing follows a nationwide investigation that was supported by the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department.

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5 things everyone should know about consent

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:46:34 +0000

5 things everyone should know about consent Megan M Rogers Mon, 04/13/2026 - 09:46

Health and Wellness Services

Learn what consent really means, why it's so important and how to practice it in your own relationships.

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7 things to know about drug-facilitated sexual assault

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:14:28 +0000

7 things to know about drug-facilitated sexual assault Megan M Rogers Tue, 04/07/2026 - 10:14

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and understanding the realities of drug-facilitated assault and drink spiking is a critical step toward prevention and support.

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5 things everyone should know about sexual assault

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

5 things everyone should know about sexual assault Megan M Rogers Tue, 03/31/2026 - 00:00

Health and Wellness Services

Sexual assault is all too common and can have lasting impacts on individuals and communities. Here are five things everyone should know about sexual assault.

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Division of Public Safety begins rollout of locking devices for large classrooms

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:45:17 +0000

Division of Public Safety begins rollout of locking devices for large classrooms Megan M Rogers Fri, 03/27/2026 - 14:45

As part of ongoing campus security enhancements, the Division of Public Safety (DPS) Security Services team and Infrastructure & Resilience are installing classroom locking devices in 39 large classrooms and auditoriums across campus, beginning this month.

This spring, three classrooms—CHEM 140 and CHEM 142 in the chemistry building and MATH 100 in the mathematics building—have had the new technology activated for initial testing. Security Services and Infrastructure & Resilience will activate locking devices in 17 classrooms across 10 buildings throughout the spring and summer months. In total, the project will include 39 classrooms across 23 buildings.

Eric Jergenson, assistant vice chancellor for Security Services within DPS, said, “We are always looking for new ways to innovate and enhance campus security for our students, faculty and staff. This is an exciting new addition to our ability to respond to a threat and provides an additional layer of security when seconds count.”

These upgrades are supported in part by $3.4 million in state of Colorado controlled maintenance funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s CRI-TAC program. After an assessment, the university began addressing security enhancements as part of a broader phased strategy to improve classroom safety campuswide. The assessment identified the 39 large classrooms as priorities for the new technology.

The funding also supported additional security upgrades, including improved door locks in more than 200 smaller classrooms across campus and exterior card readers where needed.

The buttons to be installed in the large classrooms are used in the event of an imminent threat (e.g., campus attacker), connect directly to dispatch, and lock the room until an officer arrives. When activated by an instructor during an imminent, life-threatening emergency, all closed classroom doors and exterior building doors lock. ��Ƶ Police Department dispatch is automatically notified and officers respond immediately. Once secured, only law enforcement personnel can enter the locked classroom or building, though anyone can still exit.

Classroom locking device use

1. Lift the plastic cover. An internal alarm will sound.

2. Push the red button.

Once activated—classroom doors that are closed are now locked. Exterior doors of the building are also locked.

Note: Occupants may leave the room at any time, but only emergency personnel can enter the room. If you leave the room, you will not be able to reenter. Have a plan or escort before leaving the room.

This button should only be pushed for imminent life safety matters—if you are experiencing a health emergency, dial 911.

To learn how the button works, view the instructional video.

DPS will continue to reinforce ��Ƶ Run, Hide, Fight guidance so students, faculty and staff understand how to respond during an active threat.

Emergency alerts are always shared on the ��Ƶ Alerts website and the ��Ƶ Safe app.

Students, faculty and staff will soon notice new physical security enhancements in classrooms across campus.

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CUPD introduces Blue Envelope Program to support inclusive police interactions

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:25:26 +0000

CUPD introduces Blue Envelope Program to support inclusive police interactions Megan M Rogers Thu, 03/26/2026 - 14:25

The University of Colorado Police Department (CUPD) is introducing the Blue Envelope Program, a new voluntary tool designed to support clearer communication and understanding between police officers and community members who may need additional accommodations during an interaction.

The program aims to reduce the potential for miscommunication—particularly for individuals with invisible disabilities—by allowing officers to receive key information quickly and respectfully. The Blue Envelope provides a way for community members to share helpful details without the pressure of explaining their needs during a stressful or time-sensitive situation.

“This program is about awareness and trust,” said Joshua Ferguson, CUPD police commander. “The Blue Envelope helps our officers better understand the needs of the person they’re interacting with, while giving community members a simple way to communicate information that may support a calmer, clearer interaction.”

How it works

All CUPD staff have been trained on the Blue Envelope Program, including common accommodation needs and best practices for engaging with individuals who may communicate differently or experience heightened stress during police encounters. The training reflects CUPD’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful, professional interactions with students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

Participation in the program is entirely voluntary. Any community member may request a Blue Envelope at the CUPD Records Desk, located at 1050 Regent Drive, Boulder, CO 80301. No participant list is maintained, and no information is stored by CUPD.

The envelope is designed to be kept in a vehicle’s glove box and presented to an officer at the beginning of an interaction. Inside, participants may include copies of documents such as a driver’s license, registration or insurance. The exterior of the envelope also offers guidance for both the driver and the officer, including optional notes about communication preferences, medical or neurological considerations, and emergency contact information if the participant chooses to provide it.

Why Blue Envelope?

The Blue Envelope Program is also used by Boulder Police and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.

While CUPD believes the Blue Envelope Program can support clearer communication, the department emphasizes that all community members are still expected to follow the law. There may also be situations where officers must take appropriate safety measures to ensure everyone’s safety. As the program is new, first responders from other jurisdictions may not yet recognize the Blue Envelope.

“This is one way we are continuing to support thoughtful, professional police interactions,” Ashley Griffin, CUPD police chief said. “We want members of our community to feel informed and respected when they engage with CUPD.”

The Blue Envelope Program reflects CUPD’s broader commitment to inclusive public safety practices and to fostering understanding and trust across the ��Ƶ community.

The University of Colorado Police Department is introducing the Blue Envelope Program, a new voluntary tool designed to support clearer communication and understanding between police officers and community members who may need additional accommodations during an interaction.

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@cuboulderpolice social media handle changing to @CUBoulderDPS

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:59:05 +0000

@cuboulderpolice social media handle changing to @CUBoulderDPS Megan M Rogers Fri, 03/13/2026 - 10:59

The Division of Public Safety today launched a process of transitioning its social media channels from ��Ƶ Police Department (@cuboulderpolice) to ��Ƶ Division of Public Safety (@CUBoulderDPS).

For more information about DPS and campus safety resources, visit @CUBoulderDPS on social media.

The change reflects DPS’s ongoing work to enhance communication, increase transparency and help the campus community better understand the full range of safety services available at ��Ƶ. It also aligns to the university priority of aligning resources and infrastructure to our mission.

While CUPD has represented the university’s public safety presence on social media for over a decade, the evolution of public safety on campus through DPS drives this change. DPS is an integrated organization that includes CUPD, Public Safety Operations, Security Services, Threat Assessment, Flight Operations and a range of safety education and prevention programs.

“Students and employees interact with DPS in many ways beyond traditional policing,” said Marlon Lynch, vice chancellor for public safety. “This change allows us to communicate more clearly about who we are, what we do and how our various teams work together to support campus.”

The renaming process is taking place across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X. While the process for X, Facebook and YouTube are complete, the process for Instagram is still underway because of technical difficulties, with a resolution time potentially being lengthy.

Current followers will automatically remain connected, and the content will remain familiar—including timely information, safety education, community engagement and updates from across the division.

Importantly, emergency alerts will continue to appear on X and Facebook, along with other non-social media channels, ensuring the community maintains uninterrupted access to fast, critical information during urgent situations. The channel names will change, but its role in emergency communication will not.

DPS will introduce a short educational series on the newly named accounts to help the community learn more about its departments and programs. Topics will include how campus building access is managed, how emergency alerts are issued, what the threat assessment team does and what safety tools—such as the ��Ƶ Safe app—offers students and employees.

The goal of the transition is to make it easier for students, faculty and staff to understand the resources available to them and to strengthen awareness of the teams working behind the scenes every day within DPS.

The ��Ƶ Police Department’s social media handle is transitioning to @CUBoulderDPS to better reflect the broader work of the Division of Public Safety and its integrated public safety model.

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Squad goals: 4 ways to look out for each other

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:46:15 +0000

Squad goals: 4 ways to look out for each other Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/09/2026 - 07:46

College life is full of unforgettable experiences. Whether you're celebrating something special, heading out to a concert or planning a night on the town, here's your guide to keeping friends safe and making the most of every adventure.

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Register your party, avoid potential drama and tickets

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:36:33 +0000

Want to host a party without worrying about noise complaints or expensive tickets? Register your party with Off-Campus Life and the Boulder Police Department.

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Safety

Simple actions to reduce Boulder Creek contamination

Nutrient pollution: What is it and why should we care?

How you can help reduce nutrient pollution

E. coli contamination in Boulder Creek

Steps you can take to reduce E. coli loading

A collective effort

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