News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

Skidmore News

Photo essay: Excited to be back on campus

The entire Skidmore community is enjoying the start of a 2021-22 academic year filled with dynamic courses, athletics competition, beloved traditions, and — most of all — the return of all students, staff, and faculty to campus.

COVID-19 Updates

Daily Health Certification, training video required for all employees

Effective Sept. 6, 2021, New York state has designated COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease under the NYS HERO Act. As a result, Skidmore College has activated its Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan , effective immediately. All employees must now complete the Daily Health Certification form at the beginning of each work day. Any employee with symptoms of COVID-19 must contact their healthcare provider and follow their instructions, including referral for a COVID-19 test. Clearance by a healthcare provider or proof of a negative COVID-19 test must be submitted to Human Resources at hr@skidmore.edu before returning to work on campus. Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must notify Human Resources for further instructions. All employees are also required to review the College’s plan and watch this training video as soon as possible and notify their supervisors when they have completed this requirement. If you have any questions after reviewing the plan and viewing the training video, please contact the HR Hotline at 518-580-5801 or hr@skidmore.edu.

Social distancing clarification

In accordance with NYSDOH/CDC guidance, physical distancing is not required for fully vaccinated students, faculty, and staff on campus for institutions of higher education where everyone is fully vaccinated. While the College's Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan states that everyone should maintain social distancing as feasible, it is not a mandate that our classrooms are set up for social distancing.

Pick up a free Skidmore facemask at the Skidmore Shop

All students and employees may pick up a complimentary Skidmore facemask at the Skidmore Shop. Just show your Skidmore ID to receive your mask.

Fall semester COVID-19 guidelines, testing, and related protocols

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. The College is currently at a “yellow” status level, due to a "substantial" to "high" COVID-19 transmission rate in Saratoga County, as categorized by the CDC. Therefore, indoor masking is currently required for everyone on campus, regardless of vaccination status.

The College’s fall policy for 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, and posted to the Campus Planning website.

Dining Services

Please visit the Dining Services website regularly for updates, 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, Atrium Café, and Burgess Café remain open to everyone.

Late night at The Spa is back Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Human Resources

New open positions

Human Resources would like to invite interested Skidmore staff to submit their applicant materials for the opening listed below. This is a current, approved, budgeted position that is being filled due to a vacancy.

Installation Assistant, Tang Teaching Museum

To apply, please access the Okta portal. Click on “Me” and then click on “Current Jobs.”

Breakfast with HR: Supervisor Roundtable

The first Breakfast with HR: Supervisor Roundtable discussion with Human Resources of the new academic year will be held from 9 to 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 30. The topic of this month's roundtable will be "Leading the Readjustment from Remote to Office Work" and will be led by Brianna Herman, assistant director for employee relations, training, and development, and Sarah Delaney Vero, interim human resources director. Supervisors wishing to attend must register via our HR training website.

Free virtual Diabetes Prevention Program

In addition to new MVP Living Well Program opportunities, MVP is pleased to announce the next free virtual Diabetes Prevention Program from St. Peter’s Health Partners. The program begins Oct. 21 and will meet weekly — from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays — for 16 weeks, then meet bi-weekly, and then monthly.

Skidmore Spotlight

Meet Sascha LaRosa

Sascha LaRosa works as barn manager and riding instructor in Skidmore’s stables. Her responsibilities include providing lessons to students, managing the care of Skidmore’s 40 horses, and exercising the horses while the students are on summer break.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

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

Yelena Biberman-Ocakli, associate professor of political science, moderated a panel for the Atlantic Council. Read more >>

Anna Brezny, assistant professor in the Chemistry Department, co-authored a scientific paper. Read more >>

Pushkala Prasad, professor and Zankel Chair in Management for Liberal Arts Students, delivered an invited workshop. Read more >>

Sunny Ra, Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs at the Tang Teaching Museum, appeared on WMHT-TV. Read more >>

Kirsten Hogenson, assistant professor of mathematics, co-authored a book chapter. Read more >>

Lectures

Constitution Day Lecture

Political Science Professor Beau Breslin will discuss his new book “A Constitution for the Living: Imagining How Five Generations of Americans Would Rewrite the Nation's Fundamental Law” with critics Henry L. Chambers Jr. of University of Richmond School of Law and Keith E. Whittington of Princeton University at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, in Gannett Auditorium. Open to Skidmore students and employees only.

Afghanistan: The Causes and Consequences of America’s Longest War

Yelena Biberman-Ocakli (Political Science), Gwen D’Arcangelis (Gender Studies), Jonathan Lohnes (History, Cornell University), and Pushkala Prasad (Management and Business & International Affairs) will discuss the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and its recent withdrawal from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29. Register here for this online event.

Tsou Music Scholar Series: Lecture by Nancy Yunhwa Rao

Nancy Yunhwa Rao will consider the “Transpacific History of American Music” at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30. Please register here for this online event.

Alice Wong, Disabled Activist, Writer, Media Maker

Join Alice Wong for an in-depth conversation hosted by Sarah DiPasquale (Dance), Nick Junkerman (English), and Jamin Totino (SAS/IGR) and an introduction by Aymon Langlois ’23 and Caroline Shea '22 at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 4. Closed captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. Registration is required for this online event.

To view all upcoming lectures and for details on how to submit information about upcoming Skidmore academic lectures, named lectures and faculty panels, visit the Skidmore Lectures webpage.

Announcements

Open house tours at The Center

Students, staff, and faculty are invited to open house tours of The Center from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 24, through Friday, Oct. 8. Learn about the vision and mission of The Center, as well as ways in which you can get involved. Drop by The Center (located on the second floor of Case Center across from the Office of Campus Life and Engagement) during a two-hour window. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, each tour is limited to 60 participants. RSVP online.

Blood Drive and Dedication 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 Sports 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.

The blood drive will be followed by a dedication in Lilly's honor at 4:30 p.m. on the Williamson Sports Center Walkway.

Employee Fitness Classes are back!

Williamson Sports Center is offering a 10-week employee fitness program for $50. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to current employees. Classes start the week of Sept. 20. Class descriptions and the schedule are available online. Please register online and submit this payroll deduction form to Lacey Largeteau in the Williamson Sports Center or send her a check made out to Skidmore College.

Thoroughbred Society recognition ceremony

Faculty, coaches, staff, and administrators are encouraged to join us in celebrating the academic achievement of our student-athletes at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23, in the lobby of the Williamson Sports Center.

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.

Skidmore Encore returns live online this fall!

The popular lecture series Skidmore Encore returns lectures each Tuesday morning from Oct. 12 through Nov. 9. Details are available on the Encore schedule webpage. Registration is open and is free for those who register using a valid Skidmore email address; the fee is $95 for all others. Please contact Coleen Stephenson for more information.

Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition

The Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition was established by Kenneth A. Freirich ’90 to foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity among Skidmore students. All Skidmore students are invited to attend an information session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28, under the Upper South Park tent. Snacks will be provided. More information is available on the Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition website or by contacting College Events.

The Writing Center is open

The Writing Center offers support for all student writers, in every class year, and at every skill level. Hours (by appointment only) are noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. English Language Learner Specialist Thad Niles is available to work with those whose first language is not English.

2023 OCSE Travel Seminars

OCSE is excited to invite individual faculty, faculty teams, or faculty and staff teams to submit proposals for short-term, faculty-led Travel Seminars for January, March, or summer of 2023. Proposals are due Dec. 1. Please contact Emily Gaul for more information.

Athletics News

The Skidmore men’s soccer team is off to a 5-1 start, including a 2-1 road win over Liberty League rival Union College. The Thoroughbreds host Hobart College on Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. in a key league match-up. The team’s defense has allowed only two goals through the first six game with four shutouts.

Skidmore Shop

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