News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

Skidmore News

American flags

Skidmore faculty experts will hold a post-election forum at 6:30 (EST) this evening via Zoom, and all members of the community are invited to join and submit questions. The event is meant to address questions about the election and offer informed perspectives. Additionally, resources for students, faculty and staff are available here.

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Skidmore Cares

Monday, Nov. 9, through Friday, Nov. 13

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pine Cottage Annex (the last building on North Broadway, past the Office of Admissions)

 

Join us in celebrating 15 years of giving back! Drive up to the Pine Cottage Annex and drop off your donations at the Skidmore Cares donation tables outside. We’ll make sure your contribution reaches local agencies in need. If you are unable to drop off your donations during these times, please contact Megan Buchanan or Michelle Hubbs to make arrangements.

 

President Conner and Barbara Reyes-Conner will be at the Pine Cottage Annex to help collect donations at the following times:

  • 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Nov. 10
  • 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11
  • 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12
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Votemore table

In person and by mail, members of the Skidmore community cast their votes in the historic 2020 U.S. presidential election.

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Tang class

Two exhibitions at Skidmore's Tang Teaching Museum honor the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment as an opportunity to explore how far women have come — and how much more still needs to be done.

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Dining Services

Bread sale: Order on the Dining Services website by Tuesday, Nov. 10, for pickup on Friday, Nov. 13, between 3 and 5 p.m. in the Atrium Café. Bread flavors are nine-grain, crusty Italian with sundried tomato, pumpkin chocolate chip, vegan banana and blueberry, ciabatta and sourdough. Two-packs of large apple dumplings with caramel dipping sauce are also available. Everything is $4 each.

Esperanto Oboy “Take and Bake” party packs will be available for pickup from The Spa during the final week of classes, Nov. 16-20. The Oboy is a natural blend of mild spices, chicken breast, cheeses and green onions, wrapped in golden brown dough. Orders must be placed through the Esperanto website and pre-payment is required. During checkout, please specify in the optional notes section that you will be picking up at The Spa and indicate the day you would like to do so.

The Spa, the Atrium Café and Burgess Café are open to students and Skidmore employees. Murray-Aikins Dining Hall, including the new Murray-Aikins Dining Hall Express, are open to students only this fall. Hours of operation and Spa specials are available online.

Oracle Cloud System

Skidmore will roll out an upgraded Oracle Cloud system for financial and human resources functions in January 2021. Updates to the Oracle Cloud training website this week include instructions for entering time for non-exempt (hourly) staff, requesting a purchase order, changing your address and changing your phone number.

 

Finance staff will host a Zoom training session on “Requesting a Purchase Order (Entering a Purchase Requisition)” from 11:30 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 6. We hope you will join us for this opportunity to ask questions and understand more about this new, enhanced system.

Human Resources

Important changes to the definition of “close contact” and the New York State Travel Advisory

Human Resources recently issued an important message regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's change to the definition of "close contact" and new guidance from Gov. Andrew Cuomo regarding the New York State Travel Advisory. If you have not already done so, please review the message here. If you have any questions, please contact Interim Human Resources Director Sarah Delaney Vero.

 

You’re invited: Zoom training sessions

Human Resources and LEDS are partnering to offer a two-part Zoom training opportunity for employees.

 

Session 1: Zoom: Your Questions Answered, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10

Join the LEDS team virtually to get your questions answered relating to Zoom basics. We will cover a range of Zoom functionality you will want to be familiar with. The session will highlight these key components:

  • How to schedule on-the-fly and recurring meetings
  • How to troubleshoot audio and mic issues
  • How to share your desktop, whiteboard and use the chat and virtual backgrounds
  • How to create recordings and where to store them
  • How to make sure your meetings are secure

 

Session 2: Setting up your remote studio, 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11

Zoom meetings can be wonderful or less than stellar. While factors like internet connectivity are often beyond our control, Zoom does afford each of us an opportunity to create a remote studio that can improve the online meeting experience for you and others on the call. Join your LEDS colleagues as we detail our home office transformation. This interactive session will include peer discussion, set design techniques and great tips and tricks to produce the best quality set design for your meetings.

 

Employees must register for these programs via the LEDS training calendar.

 

Reminder: Harassment prevention and minors compliance training

As a friendly reminder, all employees must complete the annual workplace harassment prevention and minors compliance training courses on or before Monday, Nov. 16. Instructions can be found here to access the training portal. Thank you for your participation in this important training and working together to make Skidmore College an inclusive environment for all community members.

 

Open enrollment update

Open Enrollment for 2020 Benefits is Nov. 9-20. The College will host informational Zoom sessions on Nov. 9 to provide employees with information about the College’s benefits and a chance to ask questions of our vendors. Zoom details will follow. Additional information will be posted on the Benefits website prior to Monday, Nov. 9, so check back frequently. For those employees who do not work in front of a computer, the College will make arrangements for these sessions to be broadcast to small groups with appropriate social distancing measures in place. Employees will have the opportunity to schedule meetings (virtually or socially distanced on campus) with Human Resources to provide assistance with the enrollment process.

 

TIAA-CREF individual counseling sessions

Employees are invited to participate in individual counseling sessions over the phone with TIAA-CREF from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, or Thursday, Dec. 3. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-732-8353 or sign up online.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

 

David Domozych, professor of biology, co-authored a paper. Read more >>

 

Mary Kate Donovan, assistant professor of Spanish, published an academic article. Read more >>

 

Daniel Johnston, visiting assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, co-authored an academic article. Read more >>

 

Juan Navea, associate professor of chemistry, has been selected for a prestigious award. Read more >>

 

Rodrigo Schneider, assistant professor of economics, was interviewed by media. Read more >>

 

Auden Thomas, managing director of the Office of Special Programs, has been appointed to serve on a community board. Read more >>

 

Elizabeth Tybush, administrative assistant for engagement and stewardship in the Office of Advancement, published a new book. Read more >>

 

Juliane Wuensch, visiting assistant professor of German, co-authored an academic article. Read more >>

Announcements

Tang Live: Dance as a Tool for Social Activism

On this week’s student-run Tang Live at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, on the Tang Instagram account, Tang curatorial intern Lilas Mitchell ’21 will discuss with fellow Skidmore dance majors how current trends in the dance community function or masquerade as activism. For more information, visit the Tang event webpage.

 

Tang at Home Studio: Art in Action

At 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, via Zoom, Tang at Home Studio: Art in Action will explore Julie Mehretu’s work “Untitled” from the exhibition “Never Done: 100 Years of Women in Politics and Beyond.” Small in scale and filled with explosive energy and action, Mehretu’s mark-making seems to go far beyond the edges of the paper. Be ready to share your ideas about this work and gather your art materials to make your own energetic drawing in an action-packed art-making session. Registration is required. For more information, visit the Tang event webpage.

 

Post-Election Debrief

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, via Zoom, join political science faculty members Chris Mann, Beau Breslin and Flagg Taylor as they address the questions and controversies that remain following Election Day. This event is a public program of the exhibition “Never Done: 100 Years of Women in Politics and Beyond" and is presented by the Political Science Department and the Tang Teaching Museum. Register via Zoom.

 

Lecture on Anti-Racist Pedagogy with Bettina L. Love

Bettina L. Love, a professor and scholar whose research seeks to understand and contextualize the educational experiences of marginalized youth and focuses on the intersection of race, education, abolition and Black joy, will deliver a virtual lecture from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9. Love is the author of the recently published “We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom,” which encourages teachers, parents and other community leaders — in their attempt to reform education — to approach education through an abolitionist lens. RSVP is required for this event. For more information about Love, visit her website. The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Leadership, Teaching and Learning, American Studies, Black Studies, Education, Intergroup Relations, Latin American and Latinx Studies, Sociology, the Dean of Faculty’s Office, and the Presidential Racial Justice Initiative Fund.

 

Skidmore Encore presents “Conceptions of Humanness”

The remaining session of the popular lecture series Skidmore Encore will be presented live online in two 45-minute webinars on Nov. 10. Next week’s theme is “Conceptions of Humanness.” On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Associate Professor of Art Matthew Wilt will consider “Bowls with Souls” from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., and Professor of Psychology Sheldon Solomon will discuss “Being and Time, For the Time Being” from noon to 12:45 p.m. The program is free for Skidmore students, faculty, staff and the College’s retirees. Visit the Skidmore Encore webpage to register.

 

Annual Critical Futures reading with President Marc Conner (Zoom ID revised)

Skidmore President Marc Conner will read from “The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, via Zoom (Meeting ID: 924 5757 5528, Passcode: English). The event is presented by the English Department.

 

Skidmore Shop

Want to get ahead on your holiday shopping? The Skidmore Shop will host its annual holiday sale from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Stop by and spin the wheel to get a deal, and for every $25 you spend you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a MacBook (12-inch 256gb space gray).

 

International Education Week

The Office of Off-Campus Study and Exchanges invites you to be a part of International Education Week, a weeklong campuswide initiative to promote international education, Nov. 16-20. Contact Kendra Nelson for more information.

 

Skidmore-Saratoga County EOC Thanksgiving Basket Project

The annual Thanksgiving Basket Project helps local neighbors in need of a family holiday meal that they may prepare at home. To make a donation or learn how to help in other ways, visit the Saratoga County EOC website. Please indicate that you are affiliated with Skidmore.

 

Beatlemore Skidmania 2020

Beatlemore Skidmania will celebrate its 20th anniversary concert virtually at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. Students have come up with imaginative interpretations and beautiful video presentations of select songs from the entire Beatles catalog. Also included will be some important conversations about the relationship between the Beatles and Black American songwriters and musicians. T-shirts for this year will be available at the Skidmore Shop. All proceeds go to local charities. For more information, email the Beatlemore account.

 

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Accessing College Resources

The following resources and services are currently available to the Skidmore community. Updates and additions to this list will be posted each week in the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin. Please submit updates to this list by email.

 

Skidmore College continues to provide campus-wide fall semester updates here.

 

Academic Advising

At this time, the Office of Academic Advising is best able to serve students, faculty and parents through phone or Zoom meetings. Appointments can be scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Same-day appointments are often available. Visit the office webpage or find more contact information here.

 

Accounts Payable

Staff are working remotely and strongly encourage sending documentation (invoices, check requests, expense reports and other forms) electronically through scanned email attachments to Accounts Payable. Original signatures are not required, and scanned copies will be accepted. If a preparer or approver is unable to physically sign a document, Accounts Payable will accept an email directly from the individual. Please note in the email, "As an authorized signor for my department, I have reviewed and approved the attached payment request." Please note that most vendor payments are now being made by ACH transfer and employee reimbursements are being processed as a check mailed to your home address on file. Please email Accounts Payable if you have any cash deposits, and special arrangements for building access and drop-off will be made with Campus Safety or the Card Office.

 

Career Development Center 

The Career Development Center continues to support all students. Students are invited to schedule an appointment or have their documents reviewed.

 

Center for Leadership, Teaching, and Learning

Scholarly and Creative Endeavors Work Groups (SCE) are taking on a new format this semester. Three groups will be led virtually via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Zoom details were shared via email. Also, due to budget constraints, the CLTL is no longer able to provide lunch tickets. In addition, for health and safety reasons, Weller Room (Library 212) will not be available for faculty and staff to access this fall. Skidmore ID access has been suspended until further notice.

 

Community Service 

The Office of Community Service Programs continues to share ways to give back. Like the Skidmore Office of Community Service Facebook page for weekly updates. Virtual office hours will be held every Monday from 2 to 2:30 p.m. To schedule an individual appointment, email Michelle Hubbs and she will send you a meeting request. If you are looking for voter registration information, please see "How to Register to Vote In Your State."

 

Employee Assistance Program

Employees seeking counseling services may make use of the Employee Assistance Program.

 

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office is open during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and staff are available by email and by phone at 518-580-5750.

 

First-Year Experience

The First-Year Experience office is working remotely for the fall semester. Email is the best way to contact staff, but you can also call 518-580-8111 and leave a voicemail.

 

Health Services and the Counseling Center

Health Services and the Counseling Center are available to support students.

 

Human Resources/Payroll

Human Resources continues to update Faculty/Staff FAQs on a regular basis, including employee testing questions. The HR team is available by phone 518-580-5800 or email.

 

Non-exempt employees with questions concerning time entry should contact Joan Rivers in Payroll.

 

Information Technology

Information Technology asks faculty to email all Help Desk requests to a new Faculty Help Desk to expedite responses. In your email, it is essential that you include a cellphone or landline number so someone from IT can contact you. Calling the Help Desk phone line will not be your quickest means of support. Staff should continue to submit IT support requests by emailing the Help Desk or calling 518-580-5900 from 8:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

The IT Help Desk is now offering Live Chat Support. The chat function can be accessed by clicking the Live Support button on the left side of the IT Help Desk webpage. It will be green when support is available. This week, chat support will be available from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Starting Aug. 24, Live Chat Support will be staffed by full-time staff from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until midnight and on weekends by Help Desk student assistants.

 

Off-Campus Study & Exchanges

OCSE staff continue to hold open advising hours from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday via zoom. Check out their remote advising webpage for the Zoom link or to schedule an appointment. Follow @globalskidmore on Instagram and watch for upcoming events.

 

Opportunity Program

The Opportunity Program remains available to offer support to all OP students, on campus and off. While staff are mostly working remotely this fall semester, the office is staffed with one to two staff members Monday through Thursday to assist with printing or other emergencies. Staff also offer advising, academic and social support and OP students should feel encouraged to reach out to staff by email and/or schedule video conferencing for any needs that arise.

 

Post Office

The Post Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Skidmore IDs and departmental purchasing cards are the only form of payment accepted; cash is no longer accepted. Until further notice, distributions and notices are no longer accepted. For more information, email the Skidmore Post Office.

 

Print Services

Print Services is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Until further notice, all finished jobs must be picked up at Print Services; delivery service has been suspended. Skidmore IDs and departmental purchasing cards are the only form of payment accepted; cash is no longer accepted. If you are experiencing a service issue or have a printing question, contact Jim Pfoh. 

 

Purchasing

The Purchasing Office is fully operational and accessible by emailing Anne Petruzzelli or Carol Schnitzer or leaving a voicemail at 518-580-5848 or 518-580-5849.

 

Registrar’s Office

The Registrar’s Office is working remotely for the fall semester. Email is the best way to contact staff, but you can also call and leave a voicemail. Contact information for staff can be found here.

 

Residential Life

The Office of Residential Life is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and available to support students. Staff are working on campus and remotely and can be reached by calling 518-580-5765 or by email.

 

Scheduling Office

The Scheduling Office collaborated with Academic and Student Affairs to ensure students have space for quiet study and extracurricular activities while following health and safety guidelines. Academic building hours are posted. For policies regarding use of space this fall, visit the webpage or check availability in EMS. For more information about policies or how to request a space in EMS, email the Scheduling Office.

 

Scribner Library

Scribner Library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday with all floors open. A valid Skidmore ID is required to enter the building, and students need to present their cleared CoVerified screen. The library is circulating physical books with pickup available at the Circulation Desk. To request materials, fill out the library’s online form. For research help, visit the “Ask Us” page to access FAQs and connect with a librarian through chat, phone or email. Email your subject librarian to make a one-on-one Zoom appointment. Consult the library's welcome packet for additional information about access, resources and help. Please note: there are additional printers for students in Case Center — one on the second floor in the SGA lounge and one next to Print Services.

 

Sponsored Research

The Office of Sponsored Research is working remotely for the fall semester. Email is the best way to contact staff, but you can also call and leave a voicemail. Contact information for staff can be found at the bottom of the Sponsored Research webpage.

 

Student Academic Services

Student Academic Services (SAS) makes professional one-on-one academic support available to all Skidmore students. SAS serves students interested in strengthening their academic performance and offers assistance in developing a wide range of academic skills and practices. Academic counselors are available by appointment

 

Tang Teaching Museum

The Tang is open for scheduled classes and faculty appointments during the week, and for drop-in hours for students, faculty and staff from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit the Tang’s COVID response page.

 

Writing Center

At the Philip Boshoff Writing Center, trained student tutors offer one-on-one consultations for writers at every stage of the writing process, from assignment sheet to final revisions. This fall, all appointments will be online. Zoom will be the primary tool for online appointments, but the center will also support tutoring through Google Docs, Skype, FaceTime, WeChat, voice or some other method of communication. Fall 2020 tutoring hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Students may check the schedule for appointment times.

 Please send submissions to the Office of Communications and Marketing. 

Skidmore College

 

 815 North Broadway

 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

518-580-5000