Skidmore employees welcomed back at staff, faculty meetings

President Marc Conner and administrators welcomed College employees back for the start of the 2022-23 academic year and briefed them on important issues, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the Class of 2026, and precautions against COVID-19.  

The president opened the first staff meeting of the academic year on Friday, Sept. 9, on an optimistic note, expressing excitement about the coming term and gratitude for all the efforts of staff and faculty to make another academic year possible. This year also marks the Centennial of Skidmore College whose collegiate status was recognized in 1922.  

The health and safety of the Skidmore community remains Skidmore’s top priority as the College continues to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) while also delivering a full Skidmore experience to students, President Conner said.  

In line with tradition and Skidmore’s commitment to DEI, faculty and staff affirmed their own commitment to Skidmore’s Diversity and Inclusion Statement, which was read aloud at both the faculty and staff meetings.   

Joshua Woodfork, vice president for strategic planning and institutional diversity, encouraged Skidmore community members to participate in In It 7, a suite of diversity and inclusion programs designed to raise our cultural fluency and strengthen our community, which will take place Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Sept. 30. 

Mary Lou Bates, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid, provided an update on the Class of 2026, which again exceeded Skidmore’s admissions target.  

President Conner invited all community members to participate in one of two Campus Master Planning final presentations on Friday, Sept. 16. The sessions, which follow a 15-month collaborative process, will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. via via Zoom. 

The president also provided updates on searches for three cabinet-level positions: dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid, and vice president for finance and administration and treasurer. Other topics included the opening of the East Wing of the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences, the new campus parking policy for students, student housing, new services offered by Skidmore’s Counseling Center, and Skidmore’s Racial Justice Initiative. 

At the faculty meeting, Michael Orr, dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs, introduced each of 50 new faculty members joining the Skidmore community.  

President Conner welcomed employees and their families at a reception at Scribner House, the first time the gathering has been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Both the faculty and staff meetings were held in a hybrid format, allowing employees to participate in person and online. The next faculty and staff meetings are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 7.