News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

COVID-19 Updates

Governor announces lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions

As announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, June 15, the state has reached the critical threshold of having 70% of adults vaccinated against COVID-19 and, as a result, most restrictions are lifted effective immediately. This is a momentous announcement that paves the way for the College to return to normal operations this summer and into the fall. The College will send out a communication to the entire campus community within the next few days regarding how this announcement impacts College operations.

Skidmore News

Skidmore names new director of the Office of Student Diversity Programs

Christopher Barnes, whose career experience in an interdisciplinary liberal arts college setting includes a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, has been selected as Skidmore’s new director of the Office of Student Diversity Programs.

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Skidmore summer reading provides opportunity to (re)open our society

Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to be an Antiracist” is the First-Year Experience's summer reading. A memoir, the book details Kendi’s real-life encounters with racism and his advice on eliminating it.

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Dining Services

Please visit the Dining Services website regularly for updates, specials, hours of operation (including new summer hours), information about summer policies and other information.

 

Pop-up Grill: Dining Services is now hosting a pop-up grill featuring hamburgers, hot dogs and plant-based burgers on the walkway outside Burgess Café from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday this summer. A $7 lunch combo meal includes your choice of a grill item, two sides and a beverage. A la carte pricing is also available. The grill is available to the entire Skidmore community. Pay inside Burgess Café and come out to the grill, where the crew will take care of you. Credit/debit card and Skidmore Card are accepted for payment.

Human Resources

Return to Campus Policy

The College is looking forward to beginning a phased return to campus of all staff who have been working remotely. The College’s Return to Campus Policy was announced to all employees last week. Division and unit heads have also received an email from Human Resources with instructions for completing their division or unit's Return to Campus Plan. Human Resources is available to assist division and unit heads in completing their Return to Campus Plans and to answer any employee questions regarding the phased return of remote staff to campus. Employees will be notified by their supervisors of the date the phased return to campus will begin for their unit or division. That date will be no later than Aug. 2, 2021, with a full return to on-campus work by Sept. 2, 2021.

 

The College looks forward to welcoming remote employees back to campus in the coming months. The College also acknowledges that this will be a transition that involves mixed emotions for many employees. The College reminds employees that Human Resources is available to provide support, answers to your questions, and resources during this transition period. Employees may also speak confidentially to a support professional from the College's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by calling 518-793-9768 or 1-800-734-6072.

Employee COVID-19 Information

Reminder to Report Your COVID-19 Vaccination Status

As a reminder, employees who are fully vaccinated are now exempt from COVID-19 testing requirements. As federal and state health and safety guidelines evolve to consider individuals’ vaccination status, the College will continue to align its testing program, health and safety policies, and anticipated return to full, on-campus employment with these guidelines. If you have not already done so, Human Resources requests that all employees complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Status form promptly. Employees who have not already submitted a copy of their vaccination card may do so by emailing vaccine@skidmore.edu. Please include [OME] in the subject line to encrypt your message.

 

The information submitted through the COVID-19 Vaccination Status form and vaccination records will be maintained confidentially by Human Resources. Skidmore College continues to strongly encourage all faculty and staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible as the next step in returning to a normal learning and working environment. If you have any questions regarding this process, please direct them to Interim Director of Human Resources Sarah Delaney Vero.

 

Summer Surveillance Testing

As a reminder, employees who are fully vaccinated (14 days past last dose of COVID-19 vaccine) are exempt from the College's surveillance testing program effective May 24. Testing after May 24 will continue to be required on a weekly basis for all non-vaccinated employees who will be working on campus with regular proximate contact (working in the same workspace) with co-workers or students. Non-vaccinated employees who will only come into incidental contact with others but who otherwise work alone (either in their own private office or in a shared office space but who will work alone because of staggered staffing arrangements) are also exempt from the College's surveillance testing program effective May 24. For those employees who must still participate in surveillance testing over the summer, all campus COVID-19 testing will take place in Palamountain 201. More information and the testing schedule can be found here.

 

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 and who are not fully vaccinated. Non-vaccinated new hires should be tested within 72 hours of their first day of work on campus.

 

Paid Time Off for Vaccine Appointments During Work Hours

Skidmore strongly 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. The amount of paid time off will depend on the time and location of the vaccination appointment (e.g., local appointments may require 1 to 2 hours of paid time off to attend, while an appointment in Plattsburgh could require 4 hours of paid time off to account for the additional travel time.)

Skidmore Spotlight

Shannon Rodriguez, associate director for integrated sciences and health professions in the Career Development Center, helps students and alumni evaluate their abilities and interests, helps develop skills needed to conduct an effective job and internship search, and supports those considering graduate and professional school. 

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Meet Shannon Rodriguez

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

 

Beau Breslin, professor of political science, published a piece as part of a project to draft a new constitution. Read more >>

 

A project led by Kris Covey, assistant professor of environment studies and sciences, is a winner of the Morgan Stanley Sustainable Solutions Collaborative. Covey also appeared in a media interview. Read more >>

 

Kate Graney, professor of political science, was keynote speaker for an international panel. Read more >>

 

Jeffrey Segrave, professor of health and human physiological sciences and chair of the Department of Music, published a book chapter. Read more >>

 

Kurt Smemo, associate professor and associate director of the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program, published a scientific paper. Read more >>

 

Masami Tamagawa, senior teaching professor of Japanese, appeared in an interview about the LGBTQ+ community in Japan and participated in an online panel discussion. Read more >>

 

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

Announcements

Commemorating Juneteenth

A message about the significance of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, from President Marc Conner and Winston Grady-Willis, professor and director of the Black Studies Program, will be shared with the Skidmore community on Friday, June 18, along with a recording of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” by local musician Garland Nelson. MLK Saratoga will host a “Juneteenth – Celebrate Freedom” event from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, in Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, followed at 2 p.m. by “Opera Saratoga Presents America Sings: A Juneteenth Celebration,” featuring Opera Saratoga's 2021 Festival artists, which will be livestreamed from Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs. For more information on these and other local events, visit the MLK Saratoga website.

 

Spring issue of Scope magazine

The spring 2021 issue of Skidmore’s Scope magazine will be mailed to employees’ home addresses, but there may be delays. Please contact James Helicke if you do not receive a copy of Scope by Wednesday, June 30. The magazine is also available online.

 

Scribner Library Book Club

The Scribner Library Book Club will be meeting in person this summer on the second-to-last Wednesday of each month. Our non-traditional book club encourages attendees to “show and tell” a book they’ve read with the group. Please check our page for more info. The book club will be meeting from noon to 1 p.m. June 23, July 21 and Aug. 18 on the Adirondack chairs outside Scribner Library. We will follow any health and safety guidelines that are in place at the time of each meeting. Hannah Matecko-Conti is happy to field any questions, but please feel free to simply show up.

 

Skidmore Shop

Check out our new and featured items at skidmoreshop.com. New inventory includes sweatshirts, Hydro Flasks and more! The Skidmore Shop is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Masks are required. Can’t get to campus? Visit us any time at skidmoreshop.com.

 

Share news in the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin

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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. 

Skidmore College

 

 815 North Broadway

 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

518-580-5000