Board of Trustees October meeting report to campus
Greetings, Skidmore Community:
I am pleased to share the following report from our October 2025 Skidmore College Board of Trustees meetings. We had the privilege of welcoming five new trustees: Susan Dake ’71, Billy Etkin ’78, Susan Kettering ’80 P ’15, Neil McKinnon ’97, and Natalie Sternberg ’18. These talented new Board members bring a broad range of experiences and skills that will further strengthen our Board, and each shares our passion and commitment to contributing to Skidmore’s continued success.
We are now in the first year of our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. In alignment with this focus, the Board reviewed and approved this year’s Strategic Action Agenda (SAA) with this year’s theme “Strategy into Action.” Additional key areas of Board discussions included enrollment; budget planning; risk management and contingency planning; progress toward our Middle States reaffirmation of accreditation; and preparations for the upcoming capital campaign.
The Board’s committee meetings began on Thursday, Oct. 16, with the Strategic Planning Committee’s review of the SAA. This year’s SAA focuses on implementing strategic plan initiatives; sustaining our long-term financial future; maintaining and strengthening the inclusive community; and preparing for the Middle States reaffirmation of accreditation. The Board then unanimously approved the goals of the SAA for 2025-2026.
Middle States reaffirmation of accreditation leaders Interim Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs Natalie Taylor, Professor of Chemistry Kelly Shepard, and Institutional Effectiveness Specialist Amy Tweedy joined us to provide an overview of our internal self-study. The self-study document reflects a comprehensive review of Skidmore’s performance and compliance with accreditation standards as we prepare for our upcoming visiting team chair visit next month.
The Budget, Finance, and Infrastructure Committee first discussed two potential major capital projects: residence hall renovations and Tang Teaching Museum infrastructure. The committee also received an update on the fiscal year 2025 positive financial results and the final enrollment results for this year’s entering class. Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jess Ricker noted we accepted just 24% of more than 12,000 applicants and enrolled a strong, mission-aligned first-year class of 692 students and 20 transfer students, but that we fell short of our net tuition revenue goals. She highlighted the enrollment shortfalls of a number of our peer institutions. The Board discussion emphasized the need to adapt to broader trends in higher education.
Though we continue to maintain financial stability through careful management despite the difficult market landscape, once again projecting a balanced budget for the current academic year, the Board discussed strategies for increasing revenue and reducing costs. During our lunch session, the Board heard from Skidmore’s Career Development Center Executive Director Shannon Rodriguez, along with panel members Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Carly Connors, management and business major Zach Dines ’26, and Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee Kelly Sheppard.
The Student Life and Enrollment Committee meeting began by focusing on residential experience improvements and the development of a “residential curriculum” that would maximize the living-and-learning opportunities at Skidmore. The committee also discussed international student recruitment with Associate Director of Admissions and Coordinator of International Recruitment Darren Drabek. He noted that while the U.S. remains a top destination for international students, more students are now applying to universities in multiple countries due to visa delays and constraints. Alvin Zhang ’26 and Keya Shah ’27 spoke to the Board about their own personal experiences as international students and what convinced them to choose Skidmore.
An update on the search for our next Collyer Vice President for Advancement was provided during the Advancement Committee meeting while Interim Co-Vice President David Hargadon discussed the strategic vision and initiatives for the division during the interim period. He emphasized the importance of positioning the division for the upcoming campaign and attracting a new Collyer Vice President.
Campaign consultant Emma Kieran then presented the findings of the campaign feasibility study. A draft case statement, focusing on financial aid, residential life, and faculty and student support, was reviewed. The committee discussion explored ways to strengthen the case statement and frame Skidmore’s aspirations to remain and grow as a top-tier liberal arts college for years to come with the signature credo of Creative Thought Matters.
The Academic Affairs Committee meeting discussed three upcoming priorities: artificial intelligence, international education, and faculty development, all of which align with the Strategic Plan and campaign goals. We talked about AI’s impact at Skidmore and its implications for education and creativity. Professor of English Barbara Black and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences Kris Covey shared their perspectives on AI in the classroom and discussed some of the risks and potential benefits of this new technology.
With all that is occurring within the higher ed landscape, immediately following the May Board meeting, the Board created a Contingency Fund Working Group to explore ways to ensure that the College has an additional layer of protection should significant and unexpected risks materialize. The working group recommended, and the Board approved, establishing a fund with special rules and obtaining a line of credit at low interest rates.
After a full day of meetings, we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Tang with a dinner that included former Board Chairs Joanie Dayton ’63, Sue Thomas ’62, Janet Whitman ’59, Judy Eissner ’64, Nancy Hamilton ’77, and special guests Oscar Tang and his wife Agnes, who were able to join us for the evening. And we viewed the wonderful contemporary art collection of Trustee Ann ’62 and Mel Schaffer. It was a special and touching evening in the Payne Room at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery. At the formal Board meeting on Friday, we reviewed reports from each Board committee and the Board chair’s report, which included the Board’s six priority areas of focus for the current academic year and ideas for a Board-level dashboard that would provide a snapshot of the College’s ongoing progress. We also reviewed the findings from the May Board Effectiveness Survey. Several resolutions were approved including December’s conferral of degrees for winter graduates, establishing a special contingency fund and line of credit, the Strategic Action Agenda, and plans that support the launch of the upcoming capital campaign. As is our usual practice, we concluded the meetings in executive session with President Conner and then just with Board members.
Following the in-person Board meetings, the ad hoc Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee met virtually and discussed the shift of the federal government’s approach to inclusion efforts and how we are responding. We also received a report on In It 10 programming. As always, thank you to all who contributed to making these Board meetings so productive and successful.
Jon Achenbaum ’77
Chair, Skidmore College Board of Trustees
