COVID-19 policy updates, and protocols for the next two weeks

January 28, 2022

Dear Skidmore Community,

Thank you to all our students, faculty, and staff for adhering to the precautionary measures put in place to help ensure our safe return to campus. We have been closely monitoring transmission and cases on campus and in the region and are confident that our testing, masking, and distancing measures in dining, combined with promising trends in declining caseloads locally and nationally, have successfully helped to mitigate significant cases in our community thus far.

However, we must continue to exercise caution as the nationwide Omicron wave persists. To continue to protect the wellness of our community, effectively respond to cases, and minimize operational challenges as much as possible, the following guidelines will remain in place from Monday, Jan. 31, through Friday, Feb. 11:

Testing

Please note: Rapid antigen tests are now available for purchase at The Skidmore Shop.

For Students

All eligible students must continue surveillance testing weekly (every seven days). Effective Jan. 31, testing hours on campus will be on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ONLY of each week. Please plan accordingly. The full testing schedule can be viewed here.
We encourage students who share a room to test on the same day, if possible, so that their test results will arrive at the same time.
Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 should not test for 90 days following the initial positive test. Students who have recently tested positive must notify Health Services by emailing health@skidmore.edu to be exempted from surveillance testing requirements.
While students who have recently tested positive do not need to participate in surveillance testing, they should contact Health Services for next steps if they become symptomatic.

For Employees

Any employee who has been approved by Human Resources for an exemption from the vaccination requirement will be subject to weekly testing.
Employees with circumstances that result in specific workplace-related concerns prompting them to seek a test within the College’s testing program may contact Human Resources at hr@skidmore.edu to discuss their unique circumstances and request a test through the College’s testing program. Such requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis and are subject to the availability of testing resources.

Classes

Beginning Monday, Jan. 31, all classes will be taught in person. Faculty members who test positive for COVID-19 may temporarily teach remotely while they isolate, if they feel well enough. Similarly, faculty members who must care for other members of their household or have unanticipated childcare needs due to school or daycare closures may also teach remotely for short periods as necessary but should notify their department chair or program director. Faculty members may also request temporary permission from the Dean of the Faculty to teach remotely if a substantial number of their students are required to isolate and it becomes impractical to provide instructional access for so many absent students.

Masks

Please note: KN95 masks are now available for purchase at The Skidmore Shop.

A KN95 mask (or equivalent mask, i.e., N95 or KF94) is required for everyone on campus when indoors in public spaces.
Students in need of new or additional KN95 masks can pick them up at the Murray-Aikins testing site during testing hours or at Campus Safety outside of testing hours.
For employees, individual departments may have one representative submit a request for additional masks by email to facilities@skidmore.edu and arrange for pick-up.

Dining

Murray-Aikins Dining Hall will continue to operate with a grab-and-go option. Limited, physically distanced seating will be provided in the Dining Hall, The Spa, and Burgess Café. Individuals must not move tables or chairs at any dining location. As a reminder, Murray-Aikins is currently open for student dining only.

Visitors

UPDATE: Effective Monday, Jan. 31, external visitors are permitted on campus but are required to wear a KN95 mask (or equivalent mask, i.e., N95 or KF94) at all times when indoors. Visitors must also show proof of vaccination and booster to the department, program, or office sponsoring the visit.
Non-Skidmore community members are not permitted in any student housing, regardless of vaccination and booster status.
Students may continue to visit others in residence halls, but only one visitor per resident (who must be present) is permitted at a time.
Students may continue to visit others in apartments, but as with residence halls, only one visitor per resident (who must be present) is allowed at a time.
If you are in a room, apartment, or space other than your assigned residence, masks are required.
Off-campus students are not permitted in on-campus housing and must follow the same guidelines as on-campus students at their own residences.

The College will continue to assess and review these protocols as we monitor transmission and cases within our Skidmore community and the region during the next two weeks. We will provide timely updates regarding any changes. Thank you for your continued attention to these guidelines and the health and well-being of our entire community.

Sincerely,

The COVID-19 Logistics Working Group

Donna Ng (Co-Chair), Vice President for Finance and Administration & Treasurer
Gail Cummings-Danson (Co-Chair), Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics
Sarah Delaney Vero, Interim Human Resources Director
Pat Fehling, Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor for Health and Human Physiological Sciences Department
Sara Miga, Director of External Relations and Strategic Communications
Tim Munro, Director of Campus Safety
Bruce Murray, Assistant Director of Facilities
Kelley Patton-Ostrander, Assistant Vice President for Financial Planning & Auxiliary Services
Ann Marie Przywara, Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Residential Life
Julia Routbort, Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Health and Wellness
Angela Valden, Strategic Communications Editor