Skip to Main Content
Skidmore College

Special memo: Employee COVID-19 testing information

January 26, 2021

As a reminder, effective this week, Jan. 25-31, Skidmore College has resumed its testing program for most employees who will be on campus during the spring semester. This week, employees working on campus only need to be tested once. Unless you fall under one of the following limited exceptions, please be sure to get tested this week:

  1. Employees who work remotely
  2. Employees who are not scheduled to work on campus 
  3. Employees who may need to be on campus briefly, such that they are on campus no more than twice per week and for a period that amounts to no more than 30 minutes each time. An example would be coming in only to pick up mail or make a copy.
  4. Employees who have tested positive in the past 12 weeks are exempt from Skidmore College’s testing program. Employees who test positive should resume weekly testing after 12 weeks.  

Employees who will be on campus irregularly but who do not fall within the third exemption above must be tested before working on campus. Therefore, we ask that employees and supervisors be mindful of any occasional need to be on campus and to plan accordingly so employees are tested at least 24 hours prior to coming to work on campus.   

Testing during the weeks of Feb. 1 and Feb. 8

For the first two weeks of the semester, every employee working on campus will be tested twice weekly. These tests should be taken at least 72 hours apart. Unless you are not scheduled to work, all employees who are required to get tested should get the first test on Monday or Tuesday. To prevent long lines and promote social distancing, please follow the following schedule for your testing window: 
 
LAST NAME            DAY                  TIME SLOT 
A – B                     Monday                 8-10 a.m. 
C – D                     Monday             10 a.m.-noon 
E – G                     Monday              Noon-2 p.m. 
H – K                     Monday                  2-4 p.m. 
L – M                     Tuesday                 8-10 a.m. 
N – Q                    Tuesday              10 a.m.-noon 
R – S                     Tuesday              Noon-2 p.m. 
T – Z                      Tuesday                  2-4 p.m. 
 
Employees who are not scheduled to work on Monday or Tuesday should get their first test on their first scheduled day of the week. Employees should coordinate with their supervisor to select a testing time. Similarly, employees who are unable to get tested during the scheduled times posted above should work with their supervisors to select an alternative testing time. Faculty members may select a testing day and time that works best with their teaching schedules. 
    
Faculty members who are teaching remotely during “safe shelter mode” and any other employees who are working remotely are not required to test twice per week unless they will be on campus. Faculty members must test and receive a negative result prior to their first day of in-person classes. Please plan on taking the test within 72 hours of the first time you are coming on campus and resuming regular testing from that date. 
 
Faculty members and other employees who do not live locally may obtain a COVID-19 test in their local community and provide their negative test results to HR (svero@skidmore.edu) prior to their first day of returning to work on campus.
 
Employees who are required to test twice per week during the weeks of Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 should follow the schedule below for the first two weeks of classes:

WEEK 1

Test 1                                     Test 2 
Monday, 2/1                     Thursday, 2/4 
Tuesday, 2/2                      Friday, 2/5 
Wednesday, 2/3              Saturday, 2/6 
Thursday, 2/4                    Sunday, 2/7 
Friday, 2/5                         Monday, 2/8

Week 2

Test 1                                     Test 2 
Monday, 2/8                     Thursday, 2/11 
Tuesday, 2/9                       Friday, 2/12 
Wednesday, 2/10              Saturday, 2/13 
Thursday, 2/11                    Sunday, 2/14 
Friday, 2/12                        Monday, 2/15 (this is the only test you will be                                                           required to take for the week of 2/15) 
 
Employees who are not scheduled to work on Test Day 2 should get tested during their next regularly scheduled shift. 
 
Where to Get Tested: All employee testing will be held at Falstaffs. 
 
When to Get Tested: To accommodate twice weekly testing, from Feb. 1-14, testing will be available during the following times:
 
Monday               8 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Tuesday               8 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Wednesday        9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Thursday             9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Friday                  9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Saturday             9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Sunday                9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
 
You must bring your Skidmore College ID for proper identification. Masks must be worn, and employees must maintain appropriate social distancing at all times.   
 
Positive Test Results or Close Contact with a Positive Individual Off Campus: As a reminder, employees who test positive for COVID-19 outside of Skidmore College’s testing program or are subject to quarantine because of close contact with a positive individual off campus must notify Laura Goodwin (lgoodwin@skidmore.edu) in HR immediately.   
 
Daily Health Certification: The Daily Health Certification must be completed before or upon arrival to campus each day.  
 
Recording Absence Time Due to Quarantine: Any employee who is unable to work as a result of a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine will receive up to 14 days of College Emergency Leave. Employees should record this time as College Emergency leave when completing their timecards. Employees who are quarantined but who can work remotely are not eligible for College Emergency Leave.  
 
Thank you for your support and cooperation in keeping the Skidmore community safe. If you have any questions, please contact the interim HR director at svero@skidmore.edu.