President Conner updates staff on spring plans, outreach to students
President Marc C. Conner and College administrators briefed staff on recent developments, including unsanctioned social gatherings of students over the weekend of Oct. 30-31, continuing efforts to build a more inclusive campus community, plans for the winter break and spring semester, and other topics.
Conner, who spoke during the monthly staff meeting on Friday, Nov. 6, expressed strong concern over a large off-campus party on Oct. 30 and an altercation the following day at an unsanctioned party in Case Center that left a female student of color injured.
The president also received feedback and questions from staff about his outreach to students of color, efforts to maintain dialogue during the upcoming break, ways for faculty and staff to support and mentor students, and the particular needs of international students and students who are studying remotely.
“What I am hearing is a real call for me to listen to the experiences of our students of color,” he said. “Listening to our students is my total focus for the rest of fall semester and then turning to the positive steps that can follow.”
The president also discussed plans for the winter break and spring semester. Although most students will leave campus before Thanksgiving, around 200 others will remain on campus until the formal end of the semester on Dec. 5. Up to 40 students are expected remain on campus during the winter break, he said, adding that those students will receive support during that period.
Conner said that Skidmore was assuming that the same health conditions and the necessary precautions and guidelines that have been in place this semester would remain in place for the spring semester, which begins Feb. 2. “We will assume the same health conditions until and unless scientific evidence tells us otherwise,” he said.
Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Orr said that courses for the spring would be equally divided between those that will be offered remotely and those that will include an in-person component. More information about the numbers of students returning in the spring would become available in the coming weeks.
Sarah Delaney Vero, interim director of human resources, lauded Skidmore employees’ adherence to strict safety protocols, including weekly testing and wearing of masks. With most students away after Nov. 20, she encouraged employees who can work remotely during that time to do so. Vero announced that employees who only come to campus sporadically and work alone in offices, and those who work in the same workspace but who do not have proximate contact with others, would be temporarily exempted from weekly COVID-19 testing, which will be conducted only on Monday and Tuesday. No testing will be done while the College is officially closed from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3.
Other important reminders included:
- Open Enrollment for 2021 employee benefits continues through Nov. 20.
- Ongoing training for the Oracle Cloud System, which will become operational in January.
- Skidmore Cares donations are being accepted daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 13.
President Conner also announced plans for employee appreciation the week of Nov. 23.