COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Update

Dear Skidmore Community,  

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College’s priority has been the safety of our community, and Skidmore has followed the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) most updated recommendations and guidance. Throughout the spring semester, the COVID-19 Logistics Working Group, President Conner, and the President’s Cabinet have continued to monitor the latest COVID-19 developments, including the federal government’s decision to end the COVID-19 public health emergency after May 11, 2023, as well as the CDC’s updated vaccine guidance, issued in April, which no longer recommends the original vaccine series but instead that all eligible adults receive at least one updated bivalent shot.   

In response to this transition out of the emergency phase of the pandemic and the updated guidance, the College has evaluated our current vaccination policy through careful consultation with the College’s COVID-19 Logistics Working Group, Health Services, local health experts, our NY6 peer institutions, and others. IPPC has also been consulted on this policy.

In turn, effective immediately, the College will no longer require the COVID-19 vaccination for faculty, staff, or students. However, the College highly recommends that all community members receive their vaccinations, including the COVID-19 bivalent booster, as recommended by the CDC and individuals' healthcare providers.  

Throughout the pandemic, Skidmore has closely followed Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, along with recommendations issued by the American College Health Association and state and local health departments. As this evolving guidance reflects, we are in a different place today than we were when the vaccination requirement was implemented. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination are well established with respect to protection against severe illness, which is why the College highly recommends community members receive the bivalent booster in accordance with the most recent CDC guidance.

To this end, the College plans to host bivalent booster clinics early this fall to provide convenient access to vaccination for all members of our community. Incoming and returning students are, however, encouraged to receive their bivalent booster prior to returning to campus for the 2023-24 academic year so they are fully protected upon arrival.   

The College’s response to COVID-19 will not change with respect to the following:

Masking  

• Skidmore will continue to be a mask-supportive and mask-friendly community. Individuals, including those at high risk, should feel free and comfortable to wear a mask whenever and wherever they wish.  
• Faculty may continue to require masking in their classrooms or labs, and staff and faculty may continue to require masking within their personal office space. Masking will continue to be optional everywhere else on campus.   

Testing   

• Free rapid tests will continue to be available at Campus Safety for all students and for employees who are concerned about possible workplace exposure.  
• The College will discontinue use of the COVID-19 Dashboard effective immediately.

Isolation  

• The College will continue to require community members to follow CDC guidelines regarding isolation for individuals who test positive for COVID-19.   
• Detailed information regarding illness and isolation support and processes will be provided to all incoming and returning students and families this summer.  

Important healthcare updates for employees  

As a result of the public health emergency ending, effective May 12, 2023, individuals covered by the College's healthcare plans will experience some changes to their out-of-pocket costs for COVID-related healthcare, including:  

• COVID-19 at-home test kits will no longer be covered; you will pay 100% of the cost  
• COVID-19 medical visits will be considered standard medical visits with a member cost share (subject to deductible and copay like other medical visits) 
• COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be available at a network pharmacy at $0 cost share  
• COVID-19 treatments will continue to be available at a network pharmacy; you will pay a member cost share (subject to deductible or copay like other drugs)  

The end to the public health emergency does not mean that COVID-19 is no longer with us, but how we live, work, and learn alongside it continues to evolve. Skidmore is a community that cares, and we ask that all members of our community continue to demonstrate kindness alongside a commitment to protecting the health and wellness of themselves and others as we navigate this next phase, together.

Sincerely,

The COVID-19 Logistics Working Group  
Adrian Bautista, (Co-Chair), Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs 
Sarah Vero, (Co-Chair), Strategic HR Advisor   
Abigail Caldwell, Director of Health Services   
Jacqueline Conrad, Vice President for Communications and Marketing  
Pat Fehling, Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor for Health and Human Physiological Sciences  
Julia Routbort, Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Health and Wellness