On-Campus Experiential Learning Opportunities

There are a variety of on-campus opportunities for you to get involved and further develop core interpersonal (e.g., service orientation, social skills, cultural competence, teamwork) and intrapersonal competencies (e.g., ethical responsibilities, reliability and dependability, resiliency and adaptability) that are important for anyone pursuing a career in the health professions.

For the most up-to-date information on campus clubs and organizations, visit “Clubs” on the Student Government Association site.

The Pre-Health Club fosters community among Skidmore students who are pursuing majors and careers in the health professions which facilitates the exposure of the entire college community to healthcare.

Skidmore College Emergency Medical Services (SCEMS) is a New York State basic life support-first response agency that provides high-quality and confidential emergency medical care to the Skidmore community. SCEMS is staffed and operated entirely by Skidmore students who are trained and state-certified at the EMT level or higher.

The Peer Health Education program promotes healthy choices and lifestyles through educating and empowering the campus community on a variety of health-related topics. Peer health educators serve as a resource, referral agent, and role model for their peers. They are responsible for providing positive, interactive fun and nonjudgmental programming and education aimed at providing their peers with information to make healthy, informed decisions regarding their health and well-being. In order to work as a PHE at Skidmore, students need to first complete an in-depth training course (HF 215). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and the course is offered every semester. More information can be found here.

Civic Engagement at Skidmore provides a wealth of opportunities to get involved and make a difference in the civic life in your community. The Office of Community Service Programs supports the curricular and cocurricular civic engagement activities of individual students, clubs, athletic teams and academic departments. The office serves as a liaison between the Skidmore community and more than 40 nonprofit agencies in the greater Saratoga region as well as national and international service trips. Helping students become “informed, responsible citizens” is a priority of the office. We do this by providing experiences that encourage students to examine their values, develop practical competencies and apply their learning to find solutions for social and civic problems. The office supports student development by creating and sustaining opportunities for engagement and reflection both on and off campus. For more information, check us out here. Visit us here in order to submit a Student Volunteer Application.

Benef-Action is the community service club on campus. We hope to make students aware of the opportunities available on and off campus to help community members, help with new initiatives, and have general awareness campaigns. We have worked with groups such as Saratoga Mentoring, Special Olympics Swimming, Shelters of Saratoga, B.E.S.T, and the Saratoga Senior Center. For more information on Benef-Action, click here. Click here for Benef-Action's Facebook page.

Diversity-Focused Student Clubs. The Office of Student Diversity Programs (OSDP) promotes cross-cultural understanding and positive relationships in support of student success and an inclusive campus community. OSDP programs are grounded in an understanding of diversity that includes people of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, socioeconomic classes, religious and spiritual traditions, ages, and abilities. The office fosters student leadership and personal engagement by providing support, access to resources, and increasing campus awareness of diversity. We do this by advocating for students, creating spaces for cultural celebration, promoting leadership development and providing opportunities for education and reflection. The diversity-focused student clubs are concerned with diverse issues and offer the opportunity for social interaction and promote cultural and identity consciousness, while increasing cross-cultural dialogue here at Skidmore. For more information click here.

Active Minds is a national organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage those in need to seek help. Active Minds chapters throughout the country are changing the culture on campuses and in their communities by providing information, leadership opportunities and advocacy training to the next generation. Through campuswide events and awareness campaigns, our Active Minds chapter at Skidmore aims to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health issues and create a comfortable environment for an open conversation about mental health issues on our campus. Facebook page here.

Center for Sex and Gender
Skidmore's Center for Sex and Gender Relations is a student-initiated center for advocacy, training, and education pertaining to all aspects of sexual health and sexual conduct. The center forms partnerships with on- and off-campus service providers for information and counseling referral. The purpose of the center is to offer a safe, confidential space where students may have open and frank discussions of sexual and relationship issues. For more information click here.

Voices for Planned Parenthood (Vox)
Through Skidmore's chapter of Vox, students organize events on campus to raise public awareness about reproductive health and rights, educate young people at concerts about sexual health, work with and support their local Planned Parenthood health centers, and mobilize advocates of reproductive rights. Find Vox on Facebook.

HIPS Club
This organization finds ways to spread positive self-image and create a "feel good" vibe to its supporters and the community at large. The mission of HIPS is to help teenagers foster a positive self-image and educate about the necessity for a positive body image as well. HIPS gives teenagers the opportunity to voice their concerns about the media's impact on young children's (both male and female) body image; HIPS brainstorms ways to help prevent related mental illnesses for future generations, as well as fundraiser for organizations that already do so. HIPS has historically donated to the Manna Fund, which provides financial means for the treatment of eating disorders to men and women whose insurance does not cover the required care. For more information, please visit the HIPS website.