Report on the Board of Trustees Meeting
Winter 2003

Skidmore’s Board of Trustees came to campus Feb. 19-21 for the second board meeting of 2002-03. New trustee Dennis Dammerman attended for the first time. In addition to formal committee meetings, the agenda included a reception and rededication of Colton House as the new Alumni Welcome Center, with Trustee Emeritus George Colton and his wife, Ruth, as special guests; and dinner with faculty and students, both on Thursday evening. Friday evening featured the annual Scholarship Dinner at the Canfield Casino, an event that brings together scholarship donors, the students who receive scholarship aid, and faculty members chosen by the students.

The general meeting of the board took place Friday afternoon at the Surrey Williamson Inn. In her introductory remarks, Sue Thomas ’62, chair of the board, remarked, “We have had many good discussions on the difficult issues facing us. We have come to a greater understanding and can move forward together.” She continued, “Skidmore is in a good position. The College is nationally recognized. Our faculty is excellent and our students are in good shape. Applications and the annual fund are up. We have a strong community and a fantastic campus. I have the feeling that we are all dedicated to the institution and are willing to move it forward.”

President Studley, having opened the meeting Thursday with an overview of the College’s financial picture, steps under way to identify and implement changes, and a summary of the goals of the board meeting, expressed satisfaction at the candid, constructive discussions, especially those among board and faculty members. She also thanked “all those who make these meetings possible. As we show our appreciation for faculty and more visible members of the staff for their efforts, it’s appropriate to thank those who work behind the scenes as well.”

Below is additional information and a summary of the resolutions adopted by the board on Feb. 21.

Nominating Committee
The board approved a motion to award the Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award to Charles V. Wait, who stepped down from the board last year after 18 years of service. The Kemball-Cook award, named in honor of a former trustee, recognizes the personal qualities and extraordinary commitment of trustees who have given “sacrificially of wisdom, time, and talent in generous service to Skidmore.” It was announced that John Humphrey, PA ’06, chief executive officer of Humphrey Enterprises and chair of the board of the Boston Ballet, will join the board in June.

Academic Affairs Committee
Charles Joseph, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, joined Trustee Dale Owen Coxe ’64 in making the committee’s report, in which he noted that one full-time faculty position will be eliminated from one department next year and that the Liberal Studies Audit program has been retired. The LS audit program enabled faculty who were considering teaching an LS course the opportunity to obtain a course release to audit the LS course. He added that all new program proposals are on hold while the College works through the current budget situation.

The committee approved resolutions for faculty tenure, promotions, and sabbatical leaves as follows:

Tenure and promotion to associate professor granted to Katherine J. Hauser and Amelia F. Rauser, Art and Art History; Corey R. Freeman-Gallant, Biology; Mary M. Crone, Lubin Family Professor for Women in Science, Chemistry and Physics; Steven T. Frey, Chemistry and Physics; Jennifer A. Delton, History; Christine M. Page, Management and Business; and Denise L. Evert, Psychology.

Untenured leaves were approved as follows:
• Full-year leaves -- Susan Belden, associate professor of management and business, and Ngina S. Chiteji, assistant professor of economics;

• Fall-semester 2003 -- David D. Weis, assistant professor of chemistry, and Deborah R. Hall, assistant professor of art;

• Spring-semester 2004 -- Robert C. Turner, assistant professor of government.

Sabbatical leaves were approved as follows:
• Full-year -- R. Daniel Hurwitz, professor of mathematics; Regina M. Janes, professor of English; Susan Kress, professor of English and Class of 1948 Professor for Excellence in Teaching; Mary C. Lynn, professor of American Studies; Monica Raveret Richter, associate professor of biology; and Deborah Rohr, associate professor of music.

• Fall-semester 2003 leaves were granted to the following professors: Steven A. Hoffmann, government; Roy J. Rotheim, economics; Sheldon Solomon, psychology; and David Domozych, biology.

• Spring-semester 2004 leaves were granted to Gerald M. Erchak, professor of anthropology; Regis C. Brodie, professor of art; Gautam Dasgupta, professor of theater; Mary DiSanto-Rose, associate professor of dance; Patricia Fehling, associate professor of exercise science; Jane S. Graves, associate professor, visual resources/arts librarian; Bernard Possidente, professor of biology; William J. Standish, associate professor of physics; Aldo C. Vacs, Joseph C. Palamountain Professor of Government; and Marc-André Wiesmann, associate professor of French.

For spring and fall 2004, Holley S. Hodgins, associate professor of psychology, pending external funding.

Student Life Committee
The committee’s report included an update from Mary Lou Bates, dean of enrollment and student aid, who announced that the Class of 2007 has presented “the largest and strongest applicant pool in our history.” Applications for the class exceeded 5,900, a new record. The median SAT of the applicant pool is 1,250, an increase of 10 points. Applications from students of color increased 24 percent (following a seven percent decrease last year) while applications from non-U.S. citizens rose 46 percent. Overall, Early Decision applications were down six percent with about 10 fewer students accepted through Early Decision. The median SAT of those accepted ED was 1,230.

The percentage of applicants seeking financial aid remains at approximately 54 percent.

The goal is to enroll a class of 600 students on campus and another 36 students for the first-semester program in London.

Budget and Finance Committee
The board approved the four major parameters for developing the operating budget for
the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2003. The final budget, to be approved in May, will be
based on an opening enrollment of 2,140 students (with a first-year class projected to total 600 on campus and 36 in London); an increase in the comprehensive fee of
5.95 percent (from $35,535 to $37,650); a financial aid budget of $16,875,000; and a
total compensation budget of $57,182,000. The compensation budget includes funding for two new faculty positions, allocates a small amount for changes in positions, and covers contractual obligations for union members. No allocation was made for a general salary adjustment.

The committee discussed the proposal from the Financial Policy and Planning Committee that a one-time payment of $700 be provided to employees with annual salaries of $30,000 or less and encouraged the President and President’s staff to seriously consider the proposal in developing the final budget recommendation.

Infrastructure Committee
The board approved recommendations to release funds from the FY 2004 budget in two areas as follows:

• $1,882,300 in “early start” capital renewal projects to facilitate bidding, scheduling of contractors, and ordering of supplies. These projects include such items as a new roof for Filene and Jonsson Tower and renovation of Penfield Hall.

• $625,000 early release of capital funds for computer replacement.

Trustee Update

Edgar Wachenheim III recently became a trustee emeritus. A member of the board from 1993 to 2001, he served on the investment committee and was a leader in supporting the Tang Museum. Even in his retirement, he has agreed to remain involved in managing Skidmore’s endowment.

Wachenheim’s commitment to ensuring and enhancing Skidmore’s well-being is both fiduciary and familial: the chair of Greenhaven Associates investment firm, he is the son of Betty Lewis Wachenheim ’31 and the father of Lance ’85, Kim ’88, and Amy ’01. In January he was toasted by fellow trustees past and present at a reception in New York City.

The newest member of the board is Dennis Dammerman, who joined last month. A manager at General Electric since graduating from the University of Dubuque in 1967, he brings considerable financial expertise to the board, as he has been GE’s chief financial officer and a director of GE Capital Services for nearly 20 years. In 1994 he was elected to the board of directors of GE. In 1998 he was honored with a lifetime achievement award from CFO magazine.

Dammerman, who recently retired as vice chair of the board at Fairfield University, will serve on the Skidmore board’s financial, investment, and audit committees. He and his wife are active in the community of Saratoga Springs, where they maintain a summer home.

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