SKIDMORE COLLEGE

Committee on Admissions and Student Aid (CASA)
Annual Report 2002 - 2003

The Committee on Admissions and Student Aid met 8 times during the 2002 - 03 academic year. The committee received monthly reports on admissions and student aid from Mary Lou Bates and Robert Shorb.

The fall was devoted to establishing an Athletic Admissions Policy as recommended by the Athletic Review Committee of 2002. John Young, the Director of Admissions and Jeff Segrave, the Athletic Director, drafted a proposal that was reviewed and revised by the CASA, President's Staff, Academic Staff and the Athletic Council. CASA held an open meeting for all community members to discuss the proposal. The policy was adopted in December. A copy of the final proposal is attached. This new process provided consistency in communication between admissions and athletics this year.

The committee also considered the following issues:

1. CASA began compiling data and discussing special populations of applicants including legacy, staff dependents, non-HEOP M/C, and special interest students. Further discussion of a policy for admitting special populations will be discussed in early fall. These applicant pools should become aware of the guidelines for acceptance to Skidmore before the acceptance letters are sent. CASA suggested an informational meeting with all prospective faculty/staff parents during the student's junior year in high school. Criteria for acceptance, tuition exchange and financial aid would be discussed. In the past this invitation has gone out to faculty and staff but the attendance rate was very low. A more urgent notice could be sent. Additionally, those with an interest in Skidmore would be encouraged to have an interview with Mary Lou Bates. With a transcript, Bates could give them an accurate sense of their chances of admittance. Additional data and discussion will take place during the 2003/04-year.
2. Dean of Students Pat Oles was invited to CASA to discuss "profiles" of students who do well at Skidmore academically and socially. The three most challenging issues facing his offices are: 1. Alcohol, 2. Drugs and 3. Academic engagement. Many students enroll at Skidmore for social reasons and many students withdraw to attend a more academically perceived institution. Dean Oles suggested ways that admissions might consider identifying students at risk including maintaining high school records and revising the interview process. Additional discussion and suggestions will be considered by CASA in the fall of 2003.
3. THE POSSE FOUNDATION. Representatives from POSSE made a presentation at Skidmore on Wednesday, March 26th. POSSE is an organization that identifies, recruits, and trains youth leaders from urban public high schools and sends these groups as "Posses" to colleges and universities in this country. CASA decided to table this discussion until a new president of Skidmore is in place.

2002-03 Membership

Mary Lou Bates, Dean of Admissions & Student Aid
Bob Shorb, Director of Student Aid & Family Finance
John Young, Director of Admissions
Kate Leavitt (chair) Department of Art and Art History
Michael Clapper, Department of Art and Art History
Katie Hauser (1 year replacement) Department of Art and Art History
Christina Levith, Associate Director, Dean of Studies (ex-officio)
Sue Layden, Director of Higher Education Opportunity Program (ex-officio)
Erika Entinger '06
Cheryl Jacobs '06

2003-04 Membership

Sandy Baum, Economic (on leave 03-04) 2004
Tim Burns, Government (1-yr replacement for Baum 03-04)
2005 TBA (to replace Clapper)
2006 Mark Hofmann, Mathematics & Computer Science, Chair
Mary Lou Bates, Dean of Admissions & Student Aid
John Young, Director of Admissions
Robert Shorb, Director of Student Aid & Family Finance
Susan Layden, Director of Higher Education Opportunity Program (ex-officio)
Christina Levith, Associate Director, Dean of Studies (ex-officio)
(Returning student representatives Erika Entinger '06
Cheryl Jacobs '06)