There was no World Wide Web in 1967, when I graduated from Skidmore. So after I moved on from Saratoga, my sole contacts with Skidmore were through the alumni magazine, a few letters from the college, and an occasional club event that I attended. That wasn’t a whole lot of information, and I remained largely ignorant of what was going on at Skidmore for fifteen years or so—until I reconnected after a reunion.

I reflected on that the other day, as I sat in front of my computer, trying to avoid a work project that I needed to address. After killing time by checking my e-mail, I found my fingers typing out www.skidmore.edu and taking a turn around the Skidmore Web site. Here is what I found in a half-hour’s visit:

Recent news, including a Boston Globe article on the “Clash of Civilizations” conference hosted by Skidmore in February. Fifteen leading scholars gathered to debate world issues like the conflicts between religious fundamentalism and modern secularism.
A list of the alumni association’s board of directors, citing position held now, past Skidmore volunteer experience, brief statements, and e-mail addresses to help readers get in touch with any of us on the board.
Reunion 2004: the preliminary schedule, a page listing those who have already registered to attend, and Web sites for each reunion class, with copies of class letters, listings of volunteers and class officers—and great ideas for planning future reunions.
The Skidmore Shop, which sells my favorite Skidmore T-shirt with the in-joke “Skidmore Football: Undefeated Since 1922.”
Skidmore 20/20, a new program geared expressly to alums who have been out of college fewer than twenty years.
The online alumni directory.
The faculty and staff newsletter Intercom, where I learned that Skidmore’s new admissions publications won four awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. One of them, “The Skidmore Mind: An Owner’s Manual,” is a brilliantly creative booklet. Intercom also lists the publications and other professional activities of faculty and staff.
The admissions office Web site, which explains Skidmore’s approach to the academic experience: “creative thought matters.”It also features profiles of alumni and students.
A few home pages of the academic departments, among them the clever neuroscience site and the richly colored classics page. Some department sites have an alumni section where majors from all decades tell how their work at Skidmore tied into their postcollege life.
The clubs page, listing all the Skidmore clubs around the country, their presidents, and upcoming events—all the information you need to take part or volunteer.