News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

COVID-19 Updates

Important updates to campus COVID-19 policies

In response to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement last Tuesday that most COVID-19 restrictions in the state have been lifted, and in response to a campus vaccination rate of well over 70%, the guidance outlined in this message, shared with the Skidmore community last week, is now in effect.

Skidmore News

Artwork by recent graduate featured by renowned jazz festival

Through a partnership between Skidmore and Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), recent graduate Maddy Tyler '21 is the artist behind the official artwork for the 44th annual Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival at SPAC.

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 hosting its pop-up grill every Tuesday, Wednesday and now Thursday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The grill features hamburgers, hot dogs and plant-based burgers and more on the walkway outside Burgess Café. 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.

Burgess Café is also offering novelty ice cream to help beat the heat.

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

Meet Taj Abu

Taj Abu works as a Campus Safety officer, helping to ensure the safety and well-being of the entire campus community. 

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

Lori Acee, assistant to the director of Scribner Library, chaired the Village of Ballston Spa’s Public Safety Committee on Police Reform and Reinvention. Read more >>

Emmanuel Balogun, assistant professor of political science, has been named a Council of Foreign Relations international affairs fellow and diversity, equity, and inclusion fellow at Bridging the Gap. He also published a paper and spoke at a conference. Read more >>

Vojta Kejzlar, assistant professor of statistics, is the lead author on a scientific paper. Read more >>

Jason Ohlberg, associate professor of dance, was invited to stage a work for the University of Washington’s Chamber Dance Company. Read more >>

Masami Tamagawa, senior teaching professor of Japanese, was quoted in a news article. Read more >>

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

Announcements

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.

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame offers free admission with Skidmore College ID

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs will present the exhibition “Muybridge and Motion: Selections from the Tang Teaching Museum Collection” from July 1 through Jan. 2, 2022, and is offering free admission to anyone with a Skidmore College ID throughout the duration of the exhibition. The exhibition features a series of groundbreaking animal locomotion photographic studies from the late 19th century by English photographer Eadweard Muybridge (1830–1904), paired with equestrian paintings by American artist Henry Stull (1851–1913) from the National Museum of Racing collection. “Muybridge and Motion” is organized by Victoria Reisman, curator of the National Museum of Racing, and is part of a regional collections sharing project organized by the Tang called “All Together Now.” For more information about the Racing Museum, visit its website or call 518-584-0400.

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, June 30. 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.

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. 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

Didn’t see something you’re looking for? Please let us know by email, and we will be happy to look into it. Visit the Shop online at skidmoreshop.com.

Athletics News

Skidmore College head women's basketball coach Jessica Turner has added Richard "Ziggy" Ziegler to her staff for the 2021-2022 season.

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