News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

COVID-19 Updates

Current campus COVID-19 policies

In response to the lifting of most state COVID-19 restrictions last month, and with a campus vaccination rate of well over 70%, the guidance outlined here is in effect on campus.

Campus Alert

Aggressive fox seen around campus; please exercise caution

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is working with Campus Safety to locate and remove a fox in the area of campus that has exhibited aggressive behavior. If you are on or around campus, please be cautious and aware of your surroundings. If you see a fox, do not approach it and immediately contact Campus Safety at 518-580-5567.

Skidmore News

Center for Integrated Sciences' East Wing is taking shape

President Conner participates in a ceremonial bricklaying to mark a milestone in the second phase of CIS construction.

Uncorking the liberal arts: Shelby Perkins '95

From supporting nuclear waste cleanup efforts to running an artisan wine operation during a tumultuous 2020, Shelby Perkins '95 says she has been "a constant academic" throughout a creative career path spanning science, art and business.

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 Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 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.

Facilities Services

New work order ticketing system coming soon: Maximo

Skidmore will roll out a new system for managing Facilities work orders, Maximo, on Tuesday, July 27. This new system will improve efficiencies, as Facilities staff will have real-time access to review and update work orders. The information needed from Skidmore community members for work orders is unchanged, but an enhanced feature for communicating a work order’s status will be added. Click here to access the Maximo system once it has launched on July 27. Find instructions on how to enter a work order here, or watch this video. This information and more can be found on the Facilities Services webpage.

Human Resources

EAP Reaching Out Newsletter

The July edition of our Employee Assistance Program’s (EAP) Reaching Out newsletter is here. There are a range of interesting articles that we hope you find helpful.

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 month. 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 Ty Stacey

Campus Safety Officer Ty Stacey says his job is to ensure safety for the entire campus community while treating everyone with respect.  

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

Kristofer Covey, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, secured funding to support summer student research. Read more >>

Evan Mack, senior teaching professor of music, is the subject of a magazine profile. Read more >>

Ryan Richard Overbey, assistant professor of religious studies, has been awarded a scholarly grant. Read more >>

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

Announcements

Volunteers needed to test game

The newest iteration of Scribner Library’s escape room/scavenger hunt for FYE classes, “Save Scribbler – Secrets of the Pharaoh’s Tomb,” is ready for beta testing. The library is looking for 15 to 20 volunteers to take part in a beta test from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, in the library classroom (LI 118). Anyone is welcome to participate. If you played earlier versions, you can play again this year, as it’s a completely new version. If you’d like to participate, please contact John Cosgrove.

Early arrival sponsorship

Departments have the option of sponsoring students who will be living on campus in the fall, to allow them to arrive earlier than the scheduled move-in date of Sept. 6. Students can be sponsored beginning Monday, Aug. 23. Students who reside in a residence hall are required to be on a meal plan, and you should contact Darlene LeBaron. Please complete all fields on the Early Arrival Spreadsheet no later than 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 19, and contact Residential Life by email or at 518-580-5765 with any questions.

Tang exhibitions

Four exhibitions are now on view at the Tang — “Ellsworth Kelly: Postcards,” “Opener 33: Sarah Cain—Enter the Center,” “Next to You,” and “Elevator Music 41: Laura Ortman—Dust Dives Alive,” — as well as the evolving exhibition “Nicole Cherubini: Shaking the Trees” and the student-curatorial project “Hyde Cabinet #12: Everyday In-Between.” Museum hours through Aug. 29 are Thursday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Members of the campus community — faculty, students and staff — can also make appointments for research and classes Monday through Friday during regular business hours. For more information, contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost.

Family Saturday: Just Hangin’ Around

Join us for Family Saturday: Just Hangin’ Around on July 17. The 90-minute, in-person event for children 5 and older and their parents, grandparents or other guardians features a close-looking exercise at the work of artist Sarah Cain, an art-making activity, and a moment to share new creations. There are two sessions on Saturday, at 1 and 3 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information and to register, visit the Tang website. For questions, contact Sunny Ra, the Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs at the Tang.

Tang at Home Studio: Scrolled Stories

Join us for Tang at Home Studio: Scrolled Stories at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 18. This hour-long online event features discussions about art, art-making, and sharing — all conducted via Zoom. Reservations are required. For more information and to register, visit the Tang website. For questions, contact Sunny Ra, the Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs at the Tang.

Lunchtime Crochet: Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef

Associate Curator Rebecca McNamara will host a lunchtime drop-in crocheting session from noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 21. 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.

“All Together Now” exhibitions now on view throughout region

“All Together Now,” the regional collection-sharing project organized by the Tang Teaching Museum, has announced that five of the six exhibitions at partner institutions are now on view: “Summer Bomb Pop: Collections in Dialogue” at The Hyde Collection through Oct. 31; “Muybridge and Motion: Selections from the Tang Teaching Museum Collection” at The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame through Jan. 2 (free admission with Skidmore ID); “Brighten the Corners: Art of the 1990s from the Tang Teaching Museum Collection” at Saratoga Arts through Aug. 14; “The Social Lives of Hats” at Saratoga County History Center through October; and “Chromatic Scales: Psychedelic Design” from the Tang Teaching Museum Collection at Saratoga Performing Arts Center through October, with special public viewing hours of noon to 5 p.m. daily from July 17 to 30 (visitors are asked to enter through the Route 50 gates). For more information, visit the "All Together Now" webpage.

MVP Living Well Programs

MVP Living Well Programs has announced new programs for summer, and the extension of some previous favorites. Registration for all programs is available through the MVP Living Well Programs Event Registration Survey. MVP Living Well Programs are open to all Skidmore employees (MVP members and non-MVP members) and MVP Medicare members. For more information, email MVP Living Well Programs. To view additional MVP Living Well Program opportunities, visit this calendar.

Skidmore Shop

Get free AirPods with each Apple MacBook or iPad you purchase at the Skidmore Shop. Check out the Shop’s selection of Apple products here.

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