News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

COVID-19 Updates

Fall vaccination requirement for faculty and staff

To prevent or significantly reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 at Skidmore College and protect all members of the College community from infection, all new and current faculty and non-union staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 3, 2021, unless exempted from this requirement as a reasonable accommodation of a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief.

 

Evidence of full vaccination, unless granted an exemption or leave of absence, must be submitted by Sept. 3. Details were shared in a message to the Skidmore community last week, and Human Resources is following up with employees directly to provide additional information and links to required forms.

 

Additional information can also be found in policy FAQs posted to the Campus Planning webpage.

 

CoVerified will soon be discontinued

CoVerified will be discontinued on Aug. 19 and Health Services will no longer have access to those records. Any questions should be directed to Health Services at 518-580-5550.

 

Current campus COVID-19 policies

The guidance outlined here remains in effect on campus.

Skidmore News

Photo essay: Scenes from summer at Skidmore

With collaborative research projects, art exhibitions, concerts, unique opportunities to try — and learn — new things, and even a marriage proposal, Skidmore has been an exciting place this summer.

Read More
Battling invasive plants in the North Woods

Stella Piasecki ’23, an environmental studies major working as a North Woods Steward this summer, pens a story about her experience removing invasive species and protecting the North Woods. 

Read More

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, 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, in accordance with division and unit plans created as part of the College’s Return to Campus Policy. The phased return will begin 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. 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, and all new and current faculty and non-union staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 3, 2021, unless exempted from this requirement as a reasonable accommodation of a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. If you have not already done so, please 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. 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 recently announced that all new and current faculty and non-union staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 3, 2021, unless exempted from this requirement as a reasonable accommodation of a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. 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

Amy Mangiaracina is coordinator of the Summer Experience Fund (SEF), which provides awards to students pursuing unpaid summer experiences. 

Read more
Meet Amy Mangiaracina

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

 

Kristofer Covey, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, contributed to a scientific paper and was interviewed on a public radio program. Read more >> 

 

Dan Curley, associate professor of classics, published an essay with a recent alumna. Read more >> 

 

Catherine Golden, professor of English, led a teacher training workshop. Read more >> 

 

Stephen Ives, associate professor of health and human physiological sciences, published a scientific paper. Read more >> 

 

Christopher Mann, associate professor political science, was interviewed by CBS 6 Albany. Read more >>

 

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

Announcements

International Friendship Family Program is Recruiting

Student Academic Services is recruiting new and returning International Friendship Family Program (IFFP) hosts for the fall. Moving forward, host families will be limited to Skidmore faculty and staff. Even just a little of your time, knowledge, and friendship would make a huge difference in the lives of our newest international students. To become a returning or new host, please complete this sign-up form and return it to Chloe Jaleel or feel free to direct questions to her as well.

 

Pressure-washing on campus walkways

Contractors will be pressure-washing along covered walkways and in other areas of campus beginning Monday, Aug. 2. Please follow the signage to avoid these areas. Please contact Desiree Palmateer in Facilities Services for more information.

 

New work order ticketing system: Maximo

Skidmore rolled 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. 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. Please contact Facilities Services if you have any questions.

 

Curator’s Tour of ‘Opener 33: Sarah Cain — Enter the Center’

Join Dayton Director Ian Berry on Thursday, July 29, at noon, for a curator’s tour of Opener 33: Sarah Cain — Enter the Center.” This event is free and open to the public. Contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost with any questions.

 

Upbeat on the Roof with Laveda

Join us at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 29, for a performance by Laveda on the lawn outside the Tang. The genre-blending dream pop/rock group sets nostalgic and cinematic moods with a '90s-esque sound reminiscent of The Sundays and My Bloody Valentine. Founded by Jake Brooks and Ali Genevich, the Albany-based duo released its acclaimed debut album “What Happens After” in 2020. Highly textural sounds back up dreamy lyrics for a sound that is equal parts thoughtful and danceable. This is the group’s Upbeat debut. Visitors are invited to bring picnic blankets, camping chairs, and their own food and drink to make it a night! In case of inclement weather, the concert will be canceled. Contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost with any questions.

 

Family Saturday: What’s in a Picture?

Join us for Family Saturday: What's in a Picture on July 31. 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 stunning portraits by Malian artists Seydou Keïta on view in the exhibition Next to You and by Malick Sidibé from the Tang collection, an art-making activity, and a moment to share new creations. There are two sessions on Saturday, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information and how to make reservations, visit the Tang website. For questions, contact Sunny Ra, the Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs at the Tang.

 

Crochet Circle: Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef

Join us on Saturday, July 31, between 2 and 4 p.m., for an in-person craft circle as we create corals for the Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef,” part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef project by Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute for Figuring. Bring your own materials and your works in progress or start something new. Corals submitted to the Museum will be assembled together to form the Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef, which will be exhibited as part of Radical Fiber: Threads Connecting Art and Science,” opening in January 2022. This event is open to all, and all skill levels including those looking to learn crochet for the first time are welcome. Visitors are welcome to drop in and come and go during the event. For more information, contact Rebecca McNamara.

 

Tang at Home Studio: What’s in a Picture?

Join us for Tang at Home Studio: What's in a Picture? at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1. This hourlong online event features discussions about the artwork by Nigerian-born artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby, 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.

 

Tang Guide Tour with Alexandra Steve

Join Tang Guide Alexandra Steve ’22 at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, for a tour of the Tang and current exhibitions. This event is open to the public and visitors are invited to stay after the tour and look around the museum’s galleries. The Tang Guides program is an exciting new program that introduces students to the Tang and the museum world, trains them how to be gallery ambassadors and tour guides, how to talk about art, and gives them valuable real-world experiences interacting with visitors. Contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost with any questions.

 

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, Aug. 4. 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.

 

Defensive Driving Course

The Department of Campus Safety has scheduled a two-day, six-hour classroom-based Defensive Driving Course (sponsored by the National Safety Council) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, and Tuesday, Aug. 24, in Tisch 208. The course is open to students, employees, faculty, spouses, significant others, and family members. Participants must hold a valid driver's license or learner’s permit. The cost is $35. Class size is limited. Please contact Lori Parks or Kelly Simons if you are interested in attending.

 

Skidmore Shop

Get FREE AirPods with each Apple MacBook or iPad Air and Pro models you purchase at the Skidmore Shop. Check out the Shop’s selection of Apple products here.

 

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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

 

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 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

518-580-5000