Fall semester update from President Conner

Dear Skidmore Community,

It’s hard to believe we are already about a third of the way through the fall semester! We have now conducted over 11,000 COVID-19 tests on campus since Aug. 16 and just three have come back positive, with one new active case emerging at the end of last week. Quarantine, isolation and tracking measures have been taken in response to the latest case, and we remain optimistic about our ability to keep the coronavirus at bay through continued vigilance.

I want to again express my gratitude for your adherence to all health and safety guidelines, but I cannot state often enough that this is an all-in effort that requires a commitment from every person who sets foot on campus. The College takes all COVID-19 requirements very seriously and is taking disciplinary action when necessary. One student has been suspended, and other reported violations are being actively reviewed. These measures are in place to protect our entire campus community, as well as our Saratoga Springs neighbors, and of course to make possible the on-campus learning experience for all our students, staff and faculty. So we will all keep getting tested, wear our masks, socially distance and always make responsible and indeed heroic choices.

I have been providing these weekly updates since June, as they have been an important part of the College’s transparent communications throughout the critical fall planning process and the implementation of these plans. Now that our modified fall semester is well underway — thanks to the hard work of so many in our community — I will provide fewer of these scheduled messages in the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin and instead encourage you to view the daily updates to the College’s COVID-19 Dashboard and monthly updates on the Racial Justice Initiative website. However, I will continue to deliver messages to the community when the need arises, in addition to regular updates I will provide during monthly staff and faculty meetings.

The position we find ourselves in today, four weeks into the semester, is testimony to what we can achieve when we work together toward a common goal and look out for one another. Of course, there are plenty of uncertainties ahead and I cannot overemphasize the importance of staying focused on our mission and our values. We will need to apply the same spirit to other tasks and challenges ahead, and I have the utmost confidence in the strength of this community.

Sincerely,
Marc C. Conner
President