COVID-19 alert level change

Dear Skidmore Community,

I am pleased to inform you that effective immediately, Skidmore will move from COVID-19 safety Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1.

As test results indicate that the spread of COVID-19 has been well contained on campus over the past two weeks, and members of our community continue to get vaccinated, we feel comfortable in taking this encouraging step.

However, with two weeks remaining in the spring semester and three weeks to go until we hope to see our seniors walk across the SPAC stage to receive their diplomas, it is important to continue to mask, social distance, test regularly and take every precaution necessary to safely finish out these next few weeks.

Some key changes and notes under Alert Level 1 include:

• Small-group gatherings, consistent with public health guidance (currently 25 individuals) are permitted when individuals are masked and socially distanced at all times.
• Students may visit others in residence halls, apartments and off-campus residences (one visitor per room, apartment or house). All students must be masked and socially distanced at all times and cleared in CoVerified. Students living off campus must meet all guidance expected of on-campus students.
• Please continue to restrict your travel to emergency and essential travel as much as possible.

Additional information about Alert Level 1 and its impact on key services, operations, activities and expectations can be found on the Campus Planning website.

We will continue to provide the latest case figures on the COVID-19 Dashboard as test results come in, and any future changes to the alert level or scenarios impacting on-campus activities and operations will be communicated to all faculty, staff, students, and parents by email and via the Skidmore Urgent Notification System (SUNS), Skidmore Weekly Bulletin, and the Planning website.

Also, as noted in campus communications issued on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, we will continue to require that all members of the campus community, and visitors, continue to wear a mask everywhere on campus, after consideration of the latest CDC guidance regarding outdoor masking for fully vaccinated individuals. We believe this decision is in the best interest of our community and successfully closing out the semester.

This is cause for thanksgiving and praise to our community. Getting all the way to Level 1 before the end of this extraordinarily challenging academic year is a great achievement by us all. Once again, I applaud your commitment to the health and safety of our entire community, and I remain extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together.

Sincerely,

Marc C. Conner
President