Summer gathering, event and visitor guidance

Skidmore College has historically been a vibrant space for our community during the summer. We are eager to resume select operations this summer, while maintaining a safe environment for those who live, work, visit and conduct research here. In turn, the following guidance related to gatherings, events and visitors will be implemented effective Monday, May 24.

This guidance is aligned with, and is subject to change by, the state of New York’s plan, New York Forward, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local health officials, and the specific needs of our community. Importantly, this guidance is based on current guidance, which is rapidly evolving.

While the CDC and New York state recently announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in most outdoor and indoor settings, the College‘s summer guidelines must also comply with a variety of state guidance that applies to event venues, food and beverage service, and office and other workplace safety standards. These state requirements, including guidance for masking and social distancing, are continuously being updated by New York state. Therefore, the following Skidmore guidance is subject to change.

Please be cognizant of your own risk in making decisions about masking and safe physical distancing. All members of our community must be respectful in their communication with others regarding mask wearing and vaccination status. While individuals may voluntarily disclose their vaccination status, the College expects all community members to exercise sensitivity to individuals’ unique circumstances. This includes refraining from asking an individual why they have not been vaccinated.

In-person academic classes and collaborative research

• For classes and labs in which everyone is fully vaccinated, masking and a seating chart will not be required. Instructors will be notified if their entire class meets this fully vaccinated status. To respect the privacy of all, only aggregate information will be shared rather than individual vaccination status.
• For classes and labs in which not everyone is fully vaccinated, masks must be worn at all times, and an attendance record, seating chart and safe physical distancing of six feet must be maintained.

Visitors in residential facilities

• Masks and social distancing are not required if everyone is fully vaccinated.
• All other housing policies and guidelines must be followed.
• Gatherings of 15 or more people in residential facilities must be approved by Residential Life.

Meetings to conduct official college business (including meetings with outside vendors, candidates for employment and similar visitors)

• Where the vaccination status of all individuals in the meeting is not known and the meeting takes place indoors, all individuals must wear a mask and maintain safe physical distancing of six feet in accordance with current Department of Health recommendations. For outdoor meetings, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask.
• If all individuals are fully vaccinated, attendees are not required to wear a mask.
• For indoor and outdoor meetings, individuals who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a mask and maintain safe physical distancing of six feet.

Indoor and outdoor gatherings/events for up to 50 attendees

Any group/department/division that would like to host a gathering or event (single day or multiple days) for 50 or fewer attendees must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Maximum attendance is based on the capacity of the proposed space, limited only by the space available for attendees to maintain the required physical distance of six feet where the event includes both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
• Where the vaccination status of all individuals is not known and the gathering/event is indoors, all individuals must wear a mask and maintain safe physical distancing of six feet in accordance with current Department of Health recommendations. For events/gatherings that take place outdoors, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask.
• If all individuals are fully vaccinated, attendees are not required to wear a mask.
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a mask and maintain safe physical distancing of six feet.
• If applicable, space requests must go through EMS.

Indoor and outdoor events for more than 50 attendees

Any group/department/division that would like to host an indoor or outdoor event with more than 50 attendees must contact Conferences and Events (conferences-events@skidmore.edu) for approval and event-specific guidance.