News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

COVID-19 Updates

Important employee COVID-19 testing information for the fall

Out of an abundance of caution, Skidmore is now requiring that all employees, regardless of vaccination status, conduct re-entry surveillance testing between Thursday, Sept. 2, and Wednesday, Sept. 8. Details regarding this new requirement and information on further surveillance testing, contract tracing, and protocols for employee illness, positive cases, and exposures to positive cases are outlined in this fall testing policy for employees, which was emailed to all staff and faculty on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Skidmore is also now requiring that all students, regardless of vaccination status, test every seven days for the first five weeks of classes, through Oct. 8. The complete fall testing policy for students is posted to the Campus Planning website.

Fall semester guiding principles, health and safety protocol

The College’s detailed guidelines for masking, social distancing, visitors, gatherings, and dining are posted to the Campus Planning website, and updates to frequently asked questions are being posted as soon as information becomes available.

Details regarding pre-arrival and on-arrival testing, move-in, quarantine, and more, were shared with students and families on Aug. 12.

Current indoor masking requirement on campus

Indoor masking is currently required for everyone on campus, regardless of vaccination status, due to a "substantial" to "high" COVID-19 transmission rate in Saratoga County, as categorized by the CDC.

Fall vaccination requirement for faculty and staff

All new and current faculty and staff (union and non-union) 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 of the policy and links to required forms were emailed to all employees on July 30 and can be found here.

Skidmore News

Summer recap: Stories you may have missed

It was a busy summer for the Skidmore community. Catch up on the stories and campus activities you may have missed.

Parking, traffic information during student arrivals

Students will begin arriving on campus on Thursday, Sept. 2. Please be aware that this high volume of arrivals will significantly impact traffic and parking on campus.

On both Thursday, Sept. 2, and Sunday, Sept. 5, the Jonsson Tower and Wait parking lots will be closed to all employees, as they will be used to accommodate arriving students. Additionally, the west side of Case Lot will be closed to accommodate arriving student unloading. There will be very limited parking available on the east side of Case Lot. 

Lots that will remain available for employees, students, and visitors are:

• Palamountain Lot (upper and lower sections)
• Tang Lot
• North Hall Lot
• North Hall East Lot
• Sports Center Lot (closed on Sunday, Sept. 5)

The highest volume of traffic is expected Thursday, Sept. 2, and Sunday morning, Sept. 5, as we welcome our first-year students to the Skidmore campus. For these two days:

• The main entrance to the College will be closed to all vehicles except arriving first-year students. We ask that employees and staff please access campus through the Clinton Street entrance. The service entrance off North Broadway will remain open and accessible for deliveries.
• All lots at Zankel (Arts Quad A) will be closed, including EV charging stations.
• Perimeter Road at the front entrance will be closed to traffic (except for first-year arrivals), so employees should avoid that area.

The east shoulder of North Broadway, from East Avenue to the main entrance of the College, will be coned off as a “No parking zone.” Admissions tours will continue to have access to the parking lots off North Broadway.

Bus stop to be temporarily moved: The CDTA bus stop will be temporarily moved to the Tang Parking Lot from Thursday, Sept. 2, through Sunday, Sept. 5. Signage at Case Center will direct CDTA riders to the temporary bus stop location.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping our new and returning students and their families have a smooth move-in experience.

Dining Services

Please visit the Dining Services website regularly for updates, Spa specials, hours of operation, and other information.

While the College is operating at a “yellow” status level (“substantial” to “high” Saratoga County COVID transmission rate), Murray-Aikins Dining Hall will be open to students only during the fall semester. The Spa and Burgess Café will remain open to everyone, regardless of the campus status level.

Burgess Café is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and offers a selection of grab-and-go items.

The Spa is open to staff, faculty, and students. It will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6, for Labor Day.

A Soco Creamery representative will be offering free samples of their ice cream in The Spa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9. Soco Creamery ice cream is sold in both The Spa and Atrium Cafe.

Human Resources

Change in internal postings for open positions

Starting next week, Human Resources will shift from notifying employees of open positions by email to providing this notification in the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin. The purpose of this change is to reduce the number of emails employees receive each week and to treat the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin as the primary resource for news from the Human Resources Department.

Free one-on-one retirement consultations with TIAA-CREF

TIAA is offering one-on-one retirement counseling sessions for Skidmore College employees on Wednesday, Sept. 15. All appointments will be scheduled as phone consultations; there will be no in-person meetings due to the spread of COVID-19. Call 1-800-732-8353 to schedule an appointment or visit the TIAA website.

Free one-on-one retirement consultations with Vanguard

Vanguard is offering one-on-one sessions for Skidmore College employees on Monday, Sept. 13. All appointments will be scheduled as phone consultations; there will be no in-person meetings due to the ongoing pandemic. You can sign up for an appointment with a representative over the phone by visiting the Vanguard website and selecting New York/Skidmore College/Saratoga Springs/One-on-one sessions.

Return to Campus Policy

The College has begun 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. A full return to on-campus work is expected by Sept. 2, 2021.

While 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. 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

All new and current faculty and staff (union and non-union) 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 of the policy and links to required forms can be found here.

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.

Fall surveillance testing

Out of an abundance of caution, Skidmore is now requiring that all employees, regardless of vaccination status, conduct re-entry surveillance testing between Thursday, Sept. 2, and Wednesday, Sept. 8. Details regarding this new requirement and information on further surveillance testing, contract tracing, and protocols for employee illness, positive cases, and exposures to positive cases are outlined in this message, which was emailed to all employees on Aug. 31.

Protocol for employees who test positive for COVID-19 or are exposed to a positive COVID-19 case

Any employee, regardless of vaccination status, who tests positive for COVID-19 must not come on campus to work and should stay home until it is safe for them to be around others. You may return to work after:

• 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
• 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.

Unvaccinated employees who are exposed to a positive COVID-19 case and who are required to quarantine by order of the Department of Health should provide a copy of their quarantine order to their supervisor.

Employees who can work remotely should do so during their isolation or quarantine period. Employees who cannot work remotely may be eligible for paid time off during their isolation or quarantine period and should contact Human Resources for additional information.

Vaccinated employees who are exposed to a positive COVID-19 case and who show no symptoms of COVID-19 are not required to quarantine. In accordance with CDC guidance, the College expects fully vaccinated employees to get tested three to five days after their exposure, even if they do not have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public spaces for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

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 staff (union and non-union) 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

Meet Shaun Woods

Shaun Woods is an area coordinator in the Office of Residential Life and oversees McClellan Hall, Penfield Hall, Wiecking Hall, and the east end of Northwoods Village. 

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Click here for details about the achievements below.

Yelena Biberman, associate professor of political science, has published an article in a scholarly journal. Read more >>

Peg Boyers, lecturer of English and executive editor of Salmagundi, has published a book of poetry. Read more >>

Kristofer Covey, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, was interviewed by a French media outlet about his research. Read more >>

Charlotte D’Evelyn, assistant professor of music, edited a special issue of the journal Asian Music and published an article. Read more >>

Ron Seyb, associate professor of political science, was interviewed by NBC5 Plattsburgh. Read more >>

Denise Smith, professor of health and human physiological sciences, has been awarded a major grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Read more >>

Saleema Waraich, associate professor of art history, published a chapter in an edited volume. Read more >>

Timothy Wientzen, associate professor of English, has published his first book. \Read more >>

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

Announcements

New Student Convocation

New Student Convocation for the Class of 2025 will take place at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5, in the Williamson Sports Center and will be livestreamed. Please support our new students by viewing this event virtually. Due to current COVID-19 measures, this event is limited to students and participating staff. Everyone in attendance will be expected to follow all current COVID-19 guidelines as set forth by the College.

Founder's Day Celebration

Skidmore’s annual celebration of the life and legacy of Lucy Scribner will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7, under the tent, Upper South Park. Due to current COVID-19 measures, this event is limited to students. Everyone in attendance will be expected to follow all current COVID-19 guidelines as set forth by the College.

Scribner House Reception Canceled

The Opening Reception scheduled for Friday, Sept. 10, at Scribner House has been canceled.

Save the date: Presidential Inauguration

Skidmore will celebrate the inauguration of its eighth president, Marc C. Conner, on Saturday, Oct. 16. Further event details will follow.

Fall 2021 tent use

As mentioned in the fall return-to-campus community forums, the College has placed a number of tents around campus for outdoor gathering. The tents may be reserved for use through Oct. 31 and have been added to the College’s EMS reservation system. Use the Space Request template and search for the tent you seek to reserve to see availability. Tent features and equipment vary, and a brief description of each tent and rules for use can be found on the Scheduling Office website. Please contact schedule@skidmore.edu for assistance.

EMS Trainings

Need a refresher on how to use EMS, Skidmore’s online event system, this fall? Training sessions will be held in Scribner Library, Room 222, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday Sept. 8, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15, and from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29. We will cover reserving a room, adding catering, media services, and event setup. Please email Megan Bove if you plan to attend a session or if you prefer a one-on-one lesson.

Purchasing disinfectant wipes and masks

Based on scientific data, the CDC has indicated that the risk of COVID-19 transmission via surfaces is low. Therefore, there is no longer a need to wipe down all surfaces after each use, and disinfectant wipes will not be distributed by Facilities on a routine basis. Departments will have the option to purchase additional disinfectant wipes directly, utilizing their individual department budgets, should they choose to. The College will be distributing washable masks to all employees and students. Disposable masks may be purchased directly by individual departments as well.

LGBTQ+ Staff and Faculty Email List

As we begin a new academic year, interested staff and faculty are invited to join the College’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) staff and faculty email list. The LGBTQ+ email list serves as an easy way to share information and updates about Skidmore and regional LGBTQ+ activities, news, and events. Any Skidmore staff or faculty member is welcome to subscribe to the list. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please complete this form. If you are already a member, you will remain on the list. Please contact Mariel Martin with any questions.

Fall 2021 vegetable CSA shares now available

9 Miles East Farm will be delivering freshly harvested vegetables and herbs to subscribers in the Skidmore community for 12 consecutive Fridays starting Sept. 3. Shares are available by subscription only. Sign up online. Joining a CSA is a great way to support the local farm community. There are only 100 shares available for the entire campus community, so sign up now. Contact the farm by email for more information.

New exhibition opens Saturday: ROOM•MATE: Living with Tang Art

Preview the 50 artworks available for students to borrow as part of the Tang’s student art loan program, Roommate: Living with Tang Art, starting Saturday, Sept. 4. Launched by the Tang Student Advisory Council, a volunteer group of students, in 2020, Roommate invites Skidmore students to borrow artwork from the Tang collection to hang in their dorm room or apartment. The exhibition and program feature works by a wide variety of 19th and 20th century artists, including Salvador Dalí, Nan Goldin, Corita Kent, Pablo Picasso, Malick Sidibé, Henri Matisse, Romare Bearden, and many others. On Sept. 17, at 6 p.m., a viewing party and reception will be open to the public. And on the morning of Sept. 19, students with a Skidmore ID will have the opportunity to bring those works home for the spring semester. For questions, contact Kelsey Renko, student art loan program coordinator.

Lunchtime Crochet: Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef

Associate Curator Rebecca McNamara hosts an online lunchtime drop-in crocheting session from noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8. 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.

Glenn Adamson and Nicole Cherubini in Conversation

Join us in person at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 9, for a conversation on American craft with art historian and curator Glenn Adamson and exhibiting artist Nicole Cherubini, whose exhibition “Nicole Cherubini: Shaking the Trees” is on view in the Mezzanine. Adamson is a curator and writer who works at the intersection of craft, design history, and contemporary art. His latest book, “Craft: An American History,” was published by Bloomsbury in January. Contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost with any questions.

SEFCU Skidmore branch new open

The SEFCU (credit union) branch on campus is now open. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The branch, which does not close for lunch, is located between the Dining Hall and Jonsson Tower. All students, faculty, and staff associated with Skidmore, as well as their immediate family members, are eligible to be members. For more information, stop by the branch, contact branch staff by email, or call 800-727-3328.

Blood Drive in Memory of Lilly Kishore '21

The College will sponsor a Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, in the Williamson Center IM/Dance Gym. Please consider donating blood in memory of recent Skidmore graduate Lilly Kishore '21. To schedule an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code SKIDMORE.

Skidmore Shop

The Skidmore Shop is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 4, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Sept. 5. It will be open for normal business hours on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 6).

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. 

Skidmore College

 815 North Broadway

 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

518-580-5000