University of Colorado Boulder Student Portal: Your Comprehensive Guide
The Buff Portal is CU Boulder’s online portal for students that replaced the student tab in MyCUInfo on December 30, 2019. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the University of Colorado Boulder's Student Portal (Buff Portal), designed to help students navigate and utilize its features effectively. The new platform is working to unify campus tools and processes so that students have a seamless and unified online experience. Buff Portal is available to all CU Boulder students and most alumni.
Getting Started with Campus Technology
To begin, familiarize yourself with the basics of campus technology using the OIT's Quick Start Guide. This guide will help you navigate the essential tools and resources available to you as a CU Boulder student.
Confirming Enrollment and Submitting Transcripts
Depending on your program, you may need to confirm your intent to enroll. Similarly, some programs require the submission of official transcripts. Ensure you complete these steps to finalize your enrollment process.
Accessing the Buff Portal
Get to know the CU Buff Portal. The Buff Portal, also known as the student portal, is where you’ll manage your student transactions while you’re at CU Boulder.
Connecting with Your Program Advisor
Program advisors are here to help you identify academic and professional goals, access any university resources you might need to achieve those goals and help you focus on life and learning.
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Orientation
Orientation provides critical information about your program, courses, faculty, staff and learning management system (the space where you’ll be taking your courses).
Community Accountability Course
Complete the online Community Accountability course. The course should appear on your Canvas dashboard after logging in.
Setting up VA Education Benefits
In addition to the other check-list items, military-connected students are encouraged to start setting up their educational benefits early.
Navigating the Buff Portal Interface
The Buff Portal is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. Here’s how to navigate its key features:
Tasks (Holds & To-Do Items)
Task-Holds and Tasks-To Do’s are now combined as one: Tasks (Holds & To-Do Items).
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Mobile Navigation
The new navigation works on mobile devices, with slight differences.
Accessing Menu Options
After clicking any icon on the Student Center, a new browser page will open to that area’s menu.
Course Information
Select the drop-down arrow next to Course Information to view information about the course. You can add this class search to your favorites by selecting the Add to Favorite Courses link.
Accepting or Declining Awards
The workflow to accept or decline an award is the same with a slightly different layout. After a student selects Accept or Decline from a drop-down menu, they will select Submit.
Making Changes
Navigating and making changes are intuitive. For example, to add a new address, a student would click Addresses, then the Add Address button.
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Pre-Registration Tasks
If you haven't finished pre-registration tasks, you'll need to complete it now.
Adding Courses to Shopping Cart
If you wish to add the course to your shopping cart, select the Add to Shopping Cart option.
Student Account
Besides the page opening in a new tab with the left-side navigation, little has changed under Student Account.
Direct Deposit Student Refunds
Under Direct Deposit Student Refunds, the same information is shared with an option at the bottom to enter your direct deposit account number, confirm and submit it.
Customizing Your Buff Portal Experience
The Buff Portal allows you to customize your experience to focus on the information and tools that are most relevant to you.
Finding What You Need in the Menu
Open the menu at the top left of Buff Portal. You can search for what you need in the search bar or browse the card groups in the menu.
Customizing Card Display
Select the favorite button at the top right of the card to add a card to your favorites card group. You can find your favorites at the top of Buff Portal and in the menu. Currently, students cannot make changes to the homepage.
Notifications
Select the notifications bell at the top of Buff Portal to view unread holds and to-do’s. You can also find the holds & to-do’s card on the homepage.
Profile Management
Open the profile at the top right of Buff Portal to access your name pronunciation and pronouns, student ID number, employee ID number (if applicable), major and residency status. To make changes to your profile, select Account Settings. To update your address, phone number and other personal information, select Profile and Privacy. To log out of Buff Portal, select Log Out at the bottom of your profile.
Key Functions within Buff Portal
The Buff Portal serves as a central hub for various essential tasks and information.
Advising and Registering for Classes
- Making an Appointment with Your Advisor: The Buff Portal provides access to schedule appointments with your academic advisor.
- Registering for Classes: You can register for classes directly through the Buff Portal.
- Enrollment Dates: Find the enrollment dates card on the homepage. This card has your enrollment dates for upcoming semesters.
Tuition and Financial Aid
- Tuition and Fees Information: Access your tuition and fees information within the portal.
- Financial Aid Package: Type financial aid into the search bar in the menu to quickly find the financial aid card. Select view financial aid for information about your financial aid package. You can also find this card in the finances card group in the menu.
Campus Resources and Technology
CU Boulder provides a wide range of technology resources and support services to enhance the student experience.
Canvas
Canvas is CU Boulder's online learning environment, providing an additional space for instruction, communication and grading. Instructors and students can also use integrations to seamlessly access external applications within Canvas. Create a Canvas course today to get started.
Network Connectivity
CU Boulder provides wired, wireless and VPN connections for all campus affiliates. Whether in class, in a residence hall, on the Buff Bus or working off-campus, stay connected to the CU Boulder network and access all campus resources. Visit the Networking and Internet Services page for more information.
Software and Hardware
Students have access to the full Microsoft 365 suite of services, which includes Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint and Microsoft 365 desktop apps. OIT also offers Google collaboration tools to the campus, including Docs, Drive, Sheets and Sites. Learn more on the Google Workspace service page.
Printing
Students have access to wepa cloud printing kiosks, which allow users to print from campus labs, personal computers, mobile devices and cloud storage. Visit the Student Printing Services page for more information.
Teaching and Learning Technologies
OIT provides a wide range of technologies to support teaching and learning across all instructional modalities. Supported platforms include Canvas, Zoom, iClickers, Turnitin, PlayPosit and more. OIT also maintains and supports approximately 400 technology-equipped classrooms and computing labs. These tools help facilitate collaboration, enhance student engagement, and streamline course delivery and management. Instructors can get help with the use of these campus technologies through in-classroom support, consulting and training.
Research Computing
The research computing group provides support and training for computational needs beyond your desktop. Services for researchers include large-scale computing, storage of research data, high-speed networking, consulting and training, and partnering on grant proposals. More information can be found on the Google service page.
Application Information for Prospective Students
For those considering applying to CU Boulder, here is some important information:
First-Year Students
You are considered a first year student (freshman) at CU Boulder if you have not enrolled at another college or university since graduating from high school.
Application checklist:
- Complete Common Application
- Application fee
- One personal essay
- One short answer question
- Academic letter of recommendation
- High school transcript of equivalency (official or unofficial)
- SAT or ACT score (optional)
Transfer Students
You are considered a transfer student at CU Boulder if you have enrolled at another college or university since graduating from high school.
Application checklist:
- Complete CU Boulder Transfer Application
- Application fee
- One academic interest question
- High school transcript of equivalency (official or unofficial)
- College transcript (official or unofficial)
- SAT or ACT score (optional)
For more information on how to apply as a transfer student, visit our how to apply page at colorado.edu/admissions/process/transfer/apply.
Faculty and Staff Resources
CU Boulder also provides resources for faculty and staff to support their roles within the university.
Faculty and Staff Quick Start Guide
A quick start guide is available to help faculty and staff familiarize themselves with campus technology and resources.
Campus Identity & Access
Information on campus identity and access management is available for faculty and staff.
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