COVID-19 Alert Level Change

Dear Skidmore Community, 

I write to inform you that effective immediately, Skidmore will move from COVID-19 safety Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. The one exception to the Level 3 guidance is that students may still gather safely in small groups in designated outdoor spaces.

We are taking this precaution in response to a significant increase in positive COVID-19 test results that have come in over the past 48 hours, and a corresponding increase in quarantine figures. 

This change is necessary to safeguard our entire community. If the number of positive cases, and corresponding required quarantines, continues to increase, we could find ourselves in a very difficult situation that could threaten the remainder of the in-person semester.  

I encourage everyone to visit the Campus Planning website to carefully review detailed information about Alert Level 3 and its impact on key services, operations, activities and expectations.  

With that in mind, I want to highlight key changes to be aware of that take effect in Level 3: 

• Dining Services is now to-go only. Meal pick-up will occur at Murray-Aikins Dining Hall.
• Additional testing is required for affected students, faculty and staff. Those affected will be contacted directly.
• Classes will continue to be held as scheduled. However, faculty may opt to go remote.  
• Informal gatherings are suspended. However, students may gather in designated outdoor spaces.
• Visits of any kind are not permitted in campus housing. Students may not visit others in residence halls or apartments. Students living off campus may not be in campus housing. Students in campus housing may not visit off-campus residences.
• Students living off campus should not visit others living off campus in separate residences from their own.
• Athletic competition is paused.  
• Travel is restricted to emergency or essential only.
• The Scribner Library building is closed. However, unaffected classes meeting in the library will be held as scheduled, curbside pick-up will be available, and resources will be available virtually.
• Mail and package pick-up times will be assigned.   

Any additional changes to the alert levels or scenarios impacting on-campus activities and operations will be communicated to all faculty, staff, students, and parents by email as well as via the Skidmore Urgent Notification System (SUNS), Skidmore Weekly Bulletin, and the Planning website. 

This change in alert levels is a reminder that we are still in the midst of this pandemic and circumstances can change rapidly. This is especially true given the more contagious and potentially more harmful variants that are circulating.    

We will continue to provide the latest figures on the Dashboard as results come in. 

Please continue to diligently exercise caution, get tested, social distance, avoid indoor gatherings or travel and wear masks everywhere on campus and elsewhere, particularly indoors. 

Sincerely, 

Marc Conner
President