News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

COVID-19 Updates

Vaccine Eligibility Update

Gov. Cuomo has announced that individuals age 30 and over are now eligible for vaccination. That update is reflected on the state’s appointment scheduling tool, available here. Beginning Tuesday, April 6, all individuals age 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, the state Department of Health also provided a helpful clarification on vaccine eligibility for "essential in-person staff" at colleges. According to the department, staff who are working remotely because they are not vaccinated but would begin working in person once they have been vaccinated are eligible to be vaccinated within this category, assuming they then begin to work in person. This includes employees who plan to be on campus for work over the summer.

Vaccinated? Tell HR!

Employees should notify Interim Human Resources Director Sarah Delaney Vero by email once they are fully vaccinated. This information is used for contact tracing purposes, as employees who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine if they come into close contact with an individual who tests positive. This information will also be key in planning for the fall semester and the anticipated return to work on campus. Please note, all health and safety protocols continue to apply to all employees, even after vaccination, including testing for in-person staff, wearing a mask at all times on campus and maintaining appropriate social distancing.

Please see the Employee COVID-19 Information section below for more information.

Skidmore News

Commencement 2021 Update

President Conner shares important new information, including news that Commencement will be held at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and will be open to the entire senior class, including remote seniors and January and August graduates, provided that state and local health and safety guidelines allow.

President Conner, College administrators brief Skidmore staff

President Marc Conner and college administrators updated Skidmore staff on a variety of important topics, including staffing plans for the summer and fall, efforts to prepare a new Campus Master Plan for Skidmore, Commencement plans, developments in admissions and searches for important leadership positions at the College.

2020 graduates defied pandemic economy, report shows

Members of Skidmore’s Class of 2020 are finding fulfilling success and demonstrating remarkable achievement in pursuing employment, education and other opportunities after graduation, a new report from the College’s Career Development Center shows.

Skidmore faculty offer global perspectives on the United States

Skidmore faculty members are encouraging students to take a deeper look at the role of the United States in the world by considering the international ramifications of events in the United States and global attitudes toward this country.

Athletics Update

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced that spectators will be permitted at college sporting events beginning Saturday, April 2. In line with Liberty League guidelines and to help continue to ensure the health and safety of the Skidmore community, attendance at Skidmore home athletics events will be permitted but limited to Skidmore students, faculty and staff only. Parents, families and other guests are not permitted to attend and are asked not to sit in their cars and watch from the parking lot or street. Again, these measures are intended to support the health and safety of the Skidmore community and to allow us to complete the spring semester successfully. Livestreams of select athletic events will continue to be made available through the Skidmore Athletics website. Attendance will be capped based on the indoor or outdoor venue. Any Skidmore employee or student who wishes to attend as a spectator will be required to sign up here in advance. Social distancing and mask rules will be in place for all events, and all attendees will be required to abide by all health and safety requirements. Faculty and staff who plan to attend will be required to fill out the Daily Health Certification on the day of the event. We are particularly pleased to be able to make these safe activities available to our students.

Campus Master Plan Community Kickoff Meeting

A Community Meeting regarding Skidmore’s Campus Master Planning process will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 5. As announced in December 2020, Skidmore is embarking on a new Campus Master Plan process to determine how future changes to the physical structure of campus can best support the College’s strategic priorities, needs and aspirations.

During this meeting, President Marc Conner will provide a brief overview of his vision for the Campus Master Plan as well as the planning process. Representatives from Ayers Saint Gross, an internationally recognized design firm selected to lead Skidmore’s efforts in crafting a coherent and comprehensive campus plan, will then present an educational session about campus master planning. The meeting will be recorded and made available to all. There will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end of the presentation as time permits.

Check your Skidmore email for Zoom contact and meeting ID details.

Dining Services

The Spa, Burgess Café and Atrium Café are open to Skidmore employees. Please visit the Dining Services website regularly for updates, specials, hours of operation and other information.  

Information about flavors for this week’s bread sale is available on the Spa Specials webpage. 

Human Resources

Virtual Retirement Planning Workshops

We are pleased to announce the College is offering a Retirement Planning workshop remotely through Zoom for faculty and staff to be conducted by David K. Carboni, an authority in the field of retirement planning. This special workshop has been conducted by Dr. Carboni at Skidmore over the last few years, receiving high ratings from participants. The three, 90-minute sessions are good opportunities to help you plan for a successful retirement. Participants will receive electronic copies of the presentations as well as lists of helpful readings and websites.

Unlike workshops offered by financial service providers, this program is strictly educational, as Dr. Carboni sells no financial products or services. Remember, you do not have to be “on the verge of retiring” to benefit from this program. In fact, the earlier you begin planning the better.

We are limiting enrollment to 25 participants, and it will be on a “first-come, first-served” basis, so don’t delay. Workshops will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, Monday, April 19, and Wednesday, April 21. To enroll in any of the following workshops, please register on our HR training website here.

Employee COVID-19 Information

Vaccination Update

Please be advised that the Aviation Mall in Queensbury recently opened for vaccination appointments. Eligible employees may schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine by visiting this website. Instructions for the New York state-operated vaccination sites are detailed on the homepage of this website along with a COVID-19 vaccine tracker. Eligible employees may also call the New York State Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829). Answers to many questions regarding the vaccination and Skidmore College’s policy can now be found on the FAQs webpage.

Paid Time Off for Vaccine Appointments During Work Hours

Skidmore encourages all employees to get vaccinated. All employees who cannot schedule vaccination appointments outside of regular work hours will receive paid time off for work time missed due to receiving the vaccine. Exempt and nonexempt employees should record any work time missed due to traveling to and receiving the vaccination as sick time. Union employees should record this time as College Emergency Leave. To be eligible for paid leave, employees must provide proof of their vaccination appointment to their supervisor, who will work with Human Resources to approve a sufficient period of paid time off for each vaccine injection.

Return to Work

With a gradual reopening in the coming months anticipated and return to on-campus presence in the fall, many employees understandably have questions about returning to work from remote work arrangements. At this time, employees whose work requires them to be present for in-person classes, programs, services or projects should expect to work on campus this summer. Those who can continue to work remotely should plan to do so. Updates regarding summer and fall operations, including testing requirements for those who work on campus this summer, will be provided to the community as soon as information becomes available.

Daily Health Certification

Please remember to complete the Daily Health Certification before or upon arrival to campus each day. New York state recently announced that quarantine will no longer be required for domestic travel entering the state as of April 1, 2021. In accordance with this guidance, the Daily Health Questionnaire will be updated effective April 1, 2021, to remove the question regarding out-of-state domestic travel. Please note: Out-of-state travelers are still required to fill out the Traveler Health Form and must monitor for symptoms for 14 days after their return and immediately self-isolate if symptoms emerge. Fully vaccinated individuals who remain asymptomatic and asymptomatic individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past three months and have since recovered are not required to quarantine following travel or potential exposure to COVID-19 under current guidance.

Where and When to Get Tested

The College continues to require all employees who work on campus to be tested on a weekly basis. All testing is held at Falstaff’s during the following times:

• 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday
• 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday

Please note: Testing at Falstaff’s is for surveillance testing only. Staff who are experiencing symptoms should contact their primary care provider.

You must bring your Skidmore College ID for proper identification. Masks must be worn, and employees must maintain appropriate social distancing at all times.

Testing for New Hires Working on Campus

Hiring managers should reach out to Leslie Miakisz to coordinate testing for new hires who will be working on campus. New hires should be tested within 72 hours of their first day of work on campus.

Skidmore Spotlight

Meet Jessica Turner

Jessica Turner just completed her third season as Skidmore women’s head basketball coach.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

Nurcan Atalan-Helicke, associate professor and director the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program, has received a grant. Read more >> 

Scott Berliner, golf assistant coach, received the Northeastern New York PGA Player of the Year Award. Read more >> 

Rachel Cantave, assistant professor of international affairs, published an article. Read more >>

Anders Mattson, golf assistant coach, received the Northeastern New York PGA Professional Development Award. Read more >> 

Marla Melito, student academic development coordinator in the Office of Academic Policy and First-Year Experience, published an essay. Read more >> 

Tom Oppedisano, golf head coach, received the Bill Strausbough Award from the Northeastern New York Section of the PGA of America. Read more >> 

Kurt A. Smemo, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, published a scientific paper with a Skidmore alumnus. Read more >> 

David Vella, professor of mathematics and statistics, has published a new textbook. Read more >> 

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

Announcements

The National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) survey is available to your students

As part of the College’s efforts to create a diverse and inclusive community for everyone, Skidmore students are encouraged to participate in the NACCC survey to help us gain deeper insights into racial dynamics on campus and better equip our campus to respond to student experiences involving racism and bias. We also ask for your assistance in spreading awareness of this survey to students. The survey takes 15 minutes and offers a platform for students to share their thoughts and experiences about the racial climate on campus to help build a more inclusive Skidmore community. Students can access the survey via emails from helpdesk@nacccsurvey.org, which contains a personal survey link for each student. The survey is available until April 20. For more information visit the NACCC survey website.

Camp Northwoods registration opens for Skidmore employees on April 1

Online registration for Camp Northwoods, Skidmore’s summer day camp for children entering grades one through six, will open for Skidmore employees at 9 a.m. on April 1. Employees should watch their email for instructions. Sports camps will begin accepting online registrations April 1. Choose from basketball, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, rowing and field hockey this summer. More details are on the program website. Questions may be directed to Christine Merrill.

Tang accepting applications for named internships

Applications for the Tang’s four, yearlong named internships are now available. Rising juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply. You can read more about each internship and how to apply to them at the links below. Students may apply for as many of the internships as they like; however, a different cover letter is required for each application. The 2021-22 named internships are the Eleanor Linder Winter ’43 Endowed Internship (available to rising seniors), the Carole Marchand ‘57 Endowed Internship (available to rising juniors), the Meg Reitman Jacobs ’63 Endowed Internship (available to rising juniors or rising seniors) and the Charina Endowment Fund Endowed Internship (available to rising juniors or rising seniors). Please contact Tom Yoshikami for more information.

Tang guided tour with Fatou Diop

Join Tang Guide Fatou Diop ’22 at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 1, for a single-object tour and conversation of “Untitled” (from The Kitchen Table Series), by Carrie Mae Weems, featured in the exhibition “Never Done: 100 Years of Women in Politics and Beyond.” This event takes place in person in the museum, and is free and open to Skidmore students, staff and faculty following campus safety guidelines. For more information, contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost.

Tang Live: Stompin’ Soles

Join us at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 1, for Tang Live, a weekly Skidmore student-run event on the Tang’s Instagram. The Stompin’ Soles, Skidmore’s tap-dancing club, will discuss the history of tap dance and perform several numbers, including a response to the online exhibition “Pandemic and Protest.” For more information, contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost.

“We’ve Only Just Begun” curators’ talk

Join us at noon on Friday, April 2, for a Zoom conversation about researching, organizing and designing the online exhibition “We’ve Only Just Begun: 100 Years of Skidmore Women in Politics,” a revealing tour through the Skidmore archives. Rachel Seligman, assistant director for curatorial affairs and Malloy Curator, will moderate a discussion with her exhibition co-organizers Katherine Graney, professor of political science, and Natalie Taylor, associate professor of political science, and collaborator Jane Kjaer, special collections, Scribner Library. Register for this Zoom event. For more information, contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost.

Davis Project for Peace book drive

Katy Ballo ’21 is holding a book drive through April 2 as part of her Davis Project for Peace. For her project, she is creating the first community library in her former high school, Collège Saint Michel (CSM), in Ivory Coast, Anyama, to provide its students with access to books and computers. Those interested in assisting this effort are asked to make a purchase from the wish list at this website. For more information, contact Katy Ballo.

Q&A with Curly Velasquez

Raíces is excited to work with the Speakers Bureau, the Latin American & Latinx Studies Program, and the World Languages and Literature Department to bring actor and producer Curly Velasquez for a Q&A session at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 3. Please RSVP on SkidSync and submit your questions to Curly using this link. Follow us on Instagram @raicesskidmore for updates!

LALS Presents: Narrative Disrupted: Voices of the Black Atlantic

Cecilia Lisa Eliceche and Kyrah Malika Daniels will participate in “Inspired by the Haitian Revolution,” moderated by Rachel Cantave (International Affairs) and Lisa Jackson-Schebetta (Theater) at 9:30 p.m. Monday, April 5.

Lunchtime Crochet: Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef

Associate Curator Rebecca McNamara hosts a lunchtime drop-in crocheting session from noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 7. Join at your leisure to crochet and chat as we create corals for the “Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef.” Open to everyone, and all skill levels are welcome. For more information, contact Rebecca McNamara.

OSDP Keynote: “Strategies for Cross Cultural Moments in a Time of Racial Battle Fatigue”

Racial battle fatigue, coined by William A. Smith, is the set of outcomes that can result from the cumulative effect of racism and microaggressions. Those who want to participate in difficult cross-cultural moments about race often need ways of coping with the stressful moments that would otherwise require a shield. How can those who find cross-cultural moments draining ensure that they care for themselves and avoid the physiological, cognitive, and mental stress that can come from intergroup moments? Join this 90-minute webinar at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, with Rhonda Fitzgerald, managing director of Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, to learn how to deal with key moments and cope with the stress inherent to race talk in 2021. All Skidmore students, staff and faculty are invited to attend.

Cooking classes with Skidmore compost managers

Join the compost managers for three low-waste, virtual cooking classes every other Thursday night in the month of April. We will have three nights of cooking, starting with Chef Rose and Chef Greco at 6 p.m. April 8. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn about food, cooking, compost, and how to reduce food waste in these events sponsored by Skidmore Sustainability, the compost managers and Alumni Relations. Register up to the time of the event.

Altered Book Contest

Entries for the fifth annual Lucy Scribner Library Altered Book Contest, open to Skidmore students, faculty and staff, will be accepted through noon Friday, April 9. Register online. Visit our webpage for more information or contact Johanna Mackay.

11th Annual Freirich Competition finals

The Skidmore community is invited to join this year’s Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition final presentations at noon on Friday, April 9. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m. The winning teams will be awarded cash prizes and business services. Please visit the Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition website for more information.

Freirich Business Competition student survey

Student competition participant and business owners Hana Sadoff and Cecily Szady need your help to collect data and statistics that will help them move forward with their business project. The survey takes 3-5 minutes to complete. Contact Hana Sadoff and Cecily Szady for more information. 

Student Performance: Jonathan Goff ‘21, Piano Senior Recital

Filene Scholar Jonathan Goff ’21 is a physics major and a business minor. As a pianist at Skidmore, Jonathan has participated in several Filene Scholarship Winners Concerts with solo and chamber contributions, including a performance of “Sull'aria” from Mozart's “Marriage of Figaro” with fellow Filene Scholars Thabi Khumalo '21 and Senior Artist-in-Residence Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins '94. He is currently a piano student of Distinguished Artist-in-Residence Pola Baytelman. Join his senior recital at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

All students, faculty, and staff are invited to join and continue the movement against sexual assault, harassment, and abuse by participating in a month of activities encouraging awareness and prevention. Learn more about what Skidmore and its partners are offering on SkidSync or the SGBM website! Please contact Gabriela Melillo, Title IX deputy coordinator for student affairs, for more information.

BikeMore Update

It is finally spring! This means the return of BikeMore bikes from storage. Be on the lookout for the bikes returning to the racks by Scribner Library by mid-April. All BikeMore members will be emailed when the bikes are available. All staff, faculty and students are eligible to join our free bike share - you can find the registration link here! You can contact BikeMore with any questions.

North Woods Winter Trail Reports

The Sustainability Office is now posting weekly North Woods winter trail reports. Review trail conditions and equipment recommendations to help you plan your route before heading out on the trails.

Student Academic Services

Student Academic Services (SAS) is open for quiet study and computer use from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Starbuck Center lower level. Please sign up in advance.

Peer Academic Coaching

Peer Academic Coaching sessions have begun. Please visit the PAC website for schedules and further information.

Racial Justice Teaching Challenge

Earlier this year, the American Studies Department and Black Studies Program launched the Skidmore Racial Justice Teaching Challenge (RJTC) in conjunction with the third component of Skidmore’s Racial Justice Initiative. To date, over 60 faculty members have contributed 95 courses. Faculty who wish to share examples of success in the classroom or notable accomplishments, projects, etc., resulting from these courses may email Idalia Sepúlveda with a brief note and description. Examples and testimonials will be compiled for possible use in future communications or stories about the RJTC. Faculty who submit examples may be contacted if further information is needed.

DEI Events Calendar

In a continued effort to better coordinate and advertise events, lectures and programs that aim to engage with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) on campus, please consider sharing any upcoming events that you would propose adding to the monthly DEI web calendar. You may submit events here.

Lost and found website

Campus Safety maintains a webpage listing items that have been lost and found on campus. Please visit the website to report a lost or found item, or to review a list of items that have been reported to Campus Safety. Items found last semester are also listed.

Skidmore teams continue return to play

Men’s and women’s tennis, ice hockey and softball are the latest Skidmore teams to get back to competition. The men’s tennis team extended its Liberty League win streak to 42 with a 9-0 win over RIT, while the women pushed its league win streak to 34 with a 7-2 win against RIT. The hockey team played a weekend exhibition series with Hobart, dropping 1-0 and 4-1 decisions. The softball team opened its schedule with a pair of Liberty League losses at Union College, 7-5 and 8-3. Visit the Skidmore Athletics website for the latest scores and schedule updates.

Skidmore Shop

Want a chance to win a MacBook Pro? Buy an Apple device with us from now until April 30 and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a 2019 Space Gray 15-inch MacBook Pro with touch bar, 16GB Ram, 256GB. The Skidmore Shop is an Authorized Apple Campus Store that offers education pricing on the latest models as well as deals on previous years’ devices. Visit the website for full drawing details.

Share news in the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin

Please help reduce bulk emails by posting your announcement in the Bulletin, which reaches all faculty, staff and students.

Accessing College Resources

A comprehensive list of current resources and services available to the Skidmore community is now available online. This website will be updated frequently. Updates and additions to this list can be submitted by email.

Skidmore College continues to provide campuswide updates on the Campus Planning 2020-21 website.  

 Please send submissions to the Office of Communications and Marketing. 

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