News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

Skidmore News

Strategic Planning Update

A midpoint review of Skidmore’s 2015-2025 Strategic Plan, Creating Pathways to Excellence, shows substantial progress toward meeting the 10-year plan’s goals. In a focused Strategic Action Agenda for the current academic year, President Marc Conner has outlined five specific goals that are fully aligned with that Strategic Plan and address the present and future needs of the College.

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Campus Master Planning project announced

Skidmore is embarking on a new Campus Master Planning project to determine how future changes to the physical structure of campus can best support the College’s strategic priorities, needs and aspirations.

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Holiday wishes from Skidmore College

President Marc Conner and Barbara Reyes-Conner reflect on the Skidmore community’s good will and strength in the face of incredible challenges and extend wishes for a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

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Looking back at 2020

Around the world and close to home, 2020 presented enormous challenges but also offered moments of incredible perseverance and compassion. The entire Skidmore community also demonstrated true heroism, resilience and — most of all — creativity.

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Virus-fighting tech invented by two Skidmore graduates

Elliot Kreitenberg '14 and Leejay Pollacchi '13 are behind a groundbreaking UVC disinfection system being used to sanitize airplane interiors and potentially reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 during air travel.

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Dining Services

Hours of operation and Dining Services updates are available online.

Oracle Cloud System

Skidmore will roll out an upgraded Oracle Cloud system for financial and human resources functions on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Please click on this link to access the Oracle Cloud training website. Updates this week to this website include how to request a cash advance, how to receive against a purchase order, how to request a new supplier and various approvals for supervisors. 

 

Finance staff will host a general Q&A training session from 11:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 17, via Zoom using this link. We hope you will join us for this opportunity to ask questions and understand more about this new, enhanced system.  

 

Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 6, Finance staff will host daily open office hours from 11 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. Please click on this link to access the Oracle Cloud training website and Schedule of Zoom Sessions. The first 30 minutes of each session will generally be open Q&A, with the second 30 minutes reserved for specific transactional support. Zoom breakout rooms will be used to facilitate screen sharing. 

 

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 6, nonexempt staff can access and enter timesheets for the Dec. 26-Jan. 8 pay period. Oracle Cloud timesheets will follow the normal payroll schedule and are due on Monday, Jan. 11, for the first payroll processed in Oracle Cloud. 

Human Resources

Employee Development Series

Human Resources sincerely thanks those employees who were able to attend the second of five Employee Development workshops. We hope you enjoyed the program and gained valuable material that you can implement to create the best possible work environment. Please click here to view the presentation slides. We will continue the employee development series with Ahern, Murphy and Associates in January 2021.  

 

Employee COVID-19 Testing Information

As a reminder, the Daily Health Certification must be completed before or upon arrival to campus each day. Important reminders for those who are returning to campus and who will continue to require COVID-19 surveillance testing through winter break:  

  • Testing days and times - Testing will be on Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon. All employees who require testing will need to make arrangements to be tested during these times. Due to the increase in cases locally and nationally, it is unlikely that you will be able to obtain asymptomatic surveillance testing in the community. 
  • Testing location - All testing will be located at Falstaff's. 

 

Employees who will be working on campus with regular proximate contact with co-workers (working in the same workspace) or students are expected to participate in Skidmore's COVID-19 surveillance testing program. Employees who will come into incidental (e.g., hallways, Spa, etc.) contact, who work in shared spaces but on different days or who work alone do not need to get tested. Those employees who meet the testing criteria have been identified and their names will be provided to the testing staff. Due to more limited availability of tests from now until students return on Jan. 25, 2021, only those employees who meet the criteria may be tested over the break. If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor or HR

 

Inclement Weather Policy

While the campus mission requires us to be operational 24/7 on a 12-month basis, there are some occasions where the campus will experience a delayed opening, early release or closure impacting non-designated essential personnel due to particularly severe winter weather. Employees are encouraged to read the full Inclement Weather Policy. For more information, contact Sarah Delaney Vero

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

 

Gwen D'Arcangelis, associate professor and associate director of the Gender Studies Program, published a book. Read more>> 

 

April Bernard, professor of English and director of creative writing, published a poem in an anthology. Read more>> 

 

Giuseppe Faustini, professor of Italian, participated in a forum about his books. Read more>>

 

June Paul, assistant professor of social work, was named a Periclean faculty leader. Read more >> 

 

A Tang exhibition curated by Rachel Seligman, Malloy curator at the Tang Teaching Museum, and Minita Sanghvi, assistant professor in the Department of Management and Business, received a favorable review. Read more>> 

 

We welcome submissions from faculty and staff related to professional accomplishments and scholarly endeavors.

Announcements

Next Bulletin: Jan. 6, 2021 

The next edition of the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin will be published Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. The Office of Communications and Marketing wishes the Skidmore community a happy holiday season. 

 

Information Technology: Okta implementation

Skidmore will move toward Okta dual-factor authentication starting Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. Okta will also be used to access Oracle Cloud. On Monday, Jan. 4, you will receive a notice to activate your Okta profile by logging in with your current username and password. Please contact Dwane Sterling, chief technology officer, if you have any questions

 

2021 staff meetings

Skidmore staff meetings will be held virtually from 1 to 2 p.m. on the same day each month as scheduled faculty meetings. Zoom details will be provided before each meeting. Dates for the 2021 meetings are as follows:  

  • Feb. 5 
  • March 5 
  • March 26 
  • April 30 
  • May 2021 — Date to be determined. 

 

Skidmore Shop

Congratulations to Katie Michaels '23, the winner of the holiday MacBook raffle! To hear about our giveaways, sales, events, promotions and more, sign up here to join the Skidmore Shop email list

 

Skidmore grants update

New content has been added to the Skidmore Grants website. This month, the website highlights Associate Professor of Theater Eunice S. Ferreira and her award from Project Pericles as part of the Periclean Faculty Leadership Program. In addition, upcoming funding announcements and articles of interest have been updated. Visit the Skidmore Grants website for more information

 

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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 campuswide 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 will continue to support all students throughout the winter break. Students are invited to schedule an appointment or have their documents reviewed. For all seniors, the Senior Success Series is coming Jan. 11-15. Stay tuned for more details.

 

Center for Leadership, Teaching, and Learning

Scholarly and Creative Endeavors Work Groups (SCE) are taking on a new format next semester. Three groups will be led virtually via Zoom in spring 2021, starting the week of Feb. 8. In addition, there will be a Winter SCE camp the week of Jan. 18-22.

 

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.

 

Employee Assistance Program

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

 

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Office staff are available remotely, by email and by phone at 518-580-5750, and via Zoom by appointment.

 

First-Year Experience

The First-Year Experience office is working remotely. 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.

 

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. Staff are working remotely until further notice. Staff will continue to 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

Through Friday, Jan. 15, the Post Office will be closed on Wednesdays. Window hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Departmental deliveries will be Tuesdays and Fridays. 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

Through Friday, Jan. 15, hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All finished jobs must be picked up at Print Services; delivery service is still 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. Petruzzelli is generally in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m. Schnitzer is available for in-person appointment/meetings as requested.

 

Registrar’s Office

The Registrar’s Office is working remotely. 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

For policies regarding use of space under current health and safety guidelines, visit the Scheduling Office webpage or check availability in EMS. Academic building hours over winter break are posted. Email the Scheduling Office with any questions.

 

Scribner Library

For library hours and updates, check the library website. To request materials, fill out the library’s online form. For research help, visit the “Ask Us” page to access FAQs. Consult the More Access Information page for additional information about access, resources and help.

 

Sponsored Research

The Office of Sponsored Research is working remotely. 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) academic counselors will be available until the semester ends on Saturday, Dec. 5. International Student and Scholar advisors and academic counselors will be available for consultation and support throughout the winter break. To schedule an appointment, please email SAS.

 

Tang Teaching Museum

The Tang Teaching Museum welcomes the Skidmore community during the intersession. Faculty, students and staff can make appointments to visit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, Dec. 1-18 and Jan. 5-29. Faculty members especially are invited to make appointments to visit the museum in preparation for their spring semester classes. Faculty interested in teaching with exhibitions may contact Rachel Seligman, assistant director for curatorial affairs. Faculty interested in teaching with collections may contact Kara Jefts, collections registrar. All other Skidmore community members, please make an appointment by using this form or calling 518-580-8080. Please make your appointment at least 24 hours in advance of your visit. Exhibitions on view include “Energy in All Directions,” “Never Done: 100 Years of Women in Politics and Beyond” and “Nicole Cherubini: Shaking the Trees.” The exhibition “We’ve Only Just Begun: 100 Years of Skidmore Women in Politics” is on view online. The museum’s spring semester hours will be announced in January 2021.

 

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. Writing tutors will continue to work with students (remotely) during study days and exam week. Students may schedule an appointment 72 hours in advance; please 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